Creepy | Big Bearded Bookseller

Jennifer Killick. HarperCollins. (336p) ISBN: 9780755503711

Dread Wood

I’ve had this series on my radar for so long but never quite found the time to get round to it, but recently I received the whole series from HarperCollins and am on a mission to finish them all before the New Year.

This is the first in the series and it is a little bit like the part of a heist movie where they’re getting the gang together.

All of Hallie, Angelo, Gustav and Naira’s personality, secrets, and motivations are slowly revealed as ‘Club Loser’ is stormed and formed as they face dangers, confessions, and so much creeping strangeness.

The level of tension throughout the books is just right, giving reveals at the right points throughout, and ramping it up enough that you weren’t sure when the reveal was going to be.

The janitor/wife combo is wonderful as I’ve never really trusted jannies, I mean who would want to live in the school grounds?

Loved this, the interactions between the kids felt a bit more natural though there was a lot of reveals, it didn’t get in the way of the story, really looking forward to the next in the series and seeing where we go next.

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Gabriel Dylan. Templar Publishing. (224p) ISBN: 9781800784772

Shiver Point: It Came from the Woods

The return of a good horror series for 9-12s is well overdue, and if Shiver Point: It Came from the Woods is an example of what’s still to come we’re in for a real treat.

Set in the fictional coastal town of Shiver Point where nothing ever happens, basement in the library and quirky librarian may be something to watch out for in the future though.

Alex has moved there with his mum and doesn’t want to make new friends but after a strange eerie green meteorite lands in the local woods he is thrown together with a bunch of other kids from his school. Mo, Oli, Riley, and Sophie all have different skills that lead to the creation of a ‘Scooby Gang’ to save the town from the invasion from outer space.

Full of really creepy scenes, anxious moments, and fast-paced chases this hits all the right spots as the ‘Shiver Squad’ try to find out what’s going on, why the cat food is missing, what are the creepy slugs, and how they can stop what’s going to happen.

Well paced and fun creepy adventure for all ages and I’m looking forward to the next in the series as it’s rare to get good horror aimed at this age group.

Out on the 14th of September 2023