CORPSE CREEK

While seeking the truth about his brother’s death, Ethan is haunted by visions that demand a sacrifice.

Eighteen-year-old Ethan’s older brother, Brody, drowned in Corpse Creek four years ago. But his hometown of Bleak Haven is cursed, and Ethan is convinced Brody’s death was no accident. Brody loved swimming in the creek, and in the aftermath of his death, Ethan tested the water, seeking answers but found nothing abnormal. When he gathers at the creek with friends on the anniversary of Brody’s death—even though his dad told him not to go there again—Ethan hears Brody’s voice and sees him beckoning. Suddenly, Ethan, who presents white, is hearing voices and seeing shadowy figures. He investigates a 1994 case of a child who apparently drowned in the creek but was later found unharmed and becomes convinced there’s a way to bring Brody back. As his hold on reality wavers, a terrified Ethan faces Brody’s demand of “a life for a life.” This third stand-alone series installment returns readers to Bleak Haven for a tense thriller that leaves readers wondering if Ethan is imagining things or if there really are supernatural forces at play. Ralph explores grief in depth, particularly through Ethan’s strained relationships with his father and concerned, supportive friends. The pacing is steady throughout most of the book, but it comes to an abrupt and ambiguous conclusion.

A haunting and disorienting thriller centered on the grieving process.