Children’s / Teenage fiction: Horror and ghost stories

Book SynopsisTrade Review"The final, riveting chapter of the Truly Devious murder series. Throughout this intricately woven, fast-paced whodunit, Johnson demonstrates how proximity to wealth and power can mold and bend one's behavior, whether with good or—here largely—devious intent. The brainy secondary characters' quirky talents and interests complement Stevie's sleuthing skills; . . . they include diversity in socioeconomic background, mental health challenges, physical disability, and sexual orientation. A richly satisfying, Poirot-like ending for Johnson's inspired and inspiring teen sleuth." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "In this hotly anticipated trilogy finale, Johnson pulls out all the stops, filling the thrillingly nimble narrative with classic mystery conventions. A striking foray into an examination of what mysteries can ever truly be solved, and a satisfying send-off for a series that will be missed." — Booklist “Maureen Johnson brings her delectable ‘Truly Devious’ murder mystery trilogy to a thrilling conclusion, neatly tying together her dueling narrative threads, one set in 1936 and the other in the present day, with an action-packed finale during a blizzard at Ellingham Academy in the mountains of Vermont.” — Buffalo News "This will be essential reading for the many fans of the first two books. This trilogy ender is fun, satisfying, and a genuine treat for teens and adult mystery fans." — School Library Journal “Readers will be eager to know the novel’s conclusion but will never want the book to end. Replete with intrigue, thoughtfulness, and depth, The Hand on the Wall is a mystery of the moment and for the ages.” — San Francisco Book Review “The perfect mix of intimate character moments, intriguing epiphanies, and dangerous situations make it an overwhelmingly satisfying conclusion.” — Hypable “This was an absolutely perfect finale to an engaging series.” — YA Books Central "This inclusive, inventive, and vastly entertaining series has been a boon to YA literature. As a layered, complex character who solves crime while also battling anxiety, Stevie Bell reads like the redoubtable love child of Jessica Fletcher and Adrian Monk. There will hopefully be more Stevie Bell mysteries to come." — Horn Book Magazine “This hip mystery trilogy finale is an addictive page-turner that piles on the murder plots and intrigue in two time periods. This is the kind of absorbing series that teens and up will be reading and rereading for years to come.” — Common Sense Media “With a cast of unique and lovable characters, The Hand on the Wall is an exciting read. You’ll be wondering the whole time who did it and rooting for Stevie with the case, and maybe a little bit with her love life as well. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery.” — Suspense Magazine “A gripping page-turner with twists and turns nestled within every book, this intertwining mystery series is written to seamlessly blend into the next…. Sherlock Holmes collides with Nancy Drew in this modern day crime mystery.” — Independent Voice Newspaper Praise for TRULY DEVIOUS “Be still, my Agatha-Christie-loving beating heart.” — Bustle “Jumping between past and present, Johnson’s novel is deliciously atmospheric, with a sprawling cast of complex suspects/potential victims, surprising twists, and a dash of romance. As in her Shades of London books, Johnson remains a master at combining jittery tension with sharp, laugh-out-loud observations.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review) “Remember the first time reading Harry Potter and knowing it was something special? There’s that same sense of magic in the introduction of teen Sherlock-in-training Stevie Bell. Parallel mysteries unfold with cleverly written dialogue, page-turning brilliance and a young sleuth just as captivating as Hercule Poirot.” — USA Today (four stars) “A suspenseful, attention-grabbing mystery with no clear solution. The versatile Johnson is no stranger to suspense, and this twisty thriller will leave plenty of readers anxious for more.” — Booklist “The Agatha Christie-like ecosystem pairs with lacerating contemporary wit, and alternating past and present scenes makes for a multilayered, modern detective story.” — New York Times Book Review Praise for THE VANISHING STAIR “In this second . . . installment, Johnson gives and she takes away: a few major mysteries are satisfying solved, but other long-standing riddles remain tantalizingly indecipherable, and several new ones come into play by the enigmatic end. Readers, hang tight: there’s one more round to come, and if the signs are right, it’ll be to die for.” — Booklist "Ramps up the intrigue. Throughout this volume, Johnson's compelling would-be Sherlock proves to be as bad at personal relationships as she is adept at solving mysteries. Teen angst soars as Johnson delightfully conjures up more nefarious deeds from the mountain mist." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “Take it from the world’s most impatient reader: If the Truly Devious series is basically one long mystery book, The Vanishing Stair is a middle part so enjoyable you won’t even want to skip to the end.” — Entertainment Weekly “In this second installment of her marvelous Truly Devious series, Maureen Johnson offers thrilling suspense, sly wit, a memorable cast of characters and more pieces of her deliciously intricate puzzle.” — Buffalo News “Waiting for the next installment of Maureen Johnson’s Agatha Christie-Sherlock Holmes-classic mystery homage series was torture, but The Vanishing Stair is oh so worth it.” — Bustle

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisA long-abandoned—and long-haunted—summer camp sets the stage for the sequel to Camp Murderface, perfect for fans of old school scare masters like R.L.Trade Review"An exceptionally fun read." — Kirkus Reviews

Read more less

Book SynopsisFunny, moving, and heart-achingly real, this romantic romp and paranormal romcom debut—through a haunted library with trapdoors, ghosts, and memories—is full of great love that triumphs over even death, perfect for fans of Ninth House and Cemetery Boys.Radcliffe Prep.Trade Review“Perfectly mixes gothic elements with romance and mystery. Moore incorporates the enemies-to-lovers trope wonderfully, penning rapid and engaging banter between the sassy Mateo and curious Este as they try to ignore their connection. This unique novel blends different genres in a magical way, and readers will happily lose themselves in its twisting passages. Recommend to lovers of gothic tales.” — Booklist (starred review) "Lyrical prose builds a complex plot featuring a sympathetic protagonist. A lively enemies-to-lovers romance offers a sweet counterpoint to Este’s poignant grief over her father’s death . . . A compelling, ghostly tale interweaving romance and mystery with a thread of horror." — Kirkus Reviews "Debut author Moore entwines fairy tale horrors and heady romance to craft an eerie boarding school mystery . . . the swoony paranormal courtship between Este and Mateo burns brightly in this dark-academia adventure." — Publishers Weekly "The characters deal with grief and loss in a genuine manner . . . VERDICT Fans of ghost stories and dark academia will embrace this debut novel. Recommended." — School Library Journal "Moore’s debut has cozy chills and spooky thrills perfect for the fall season . . . and Moore’s good pacing and evocative prose offer some light escapism for the dark academia crowd and fans of Netflix’s Wednesday." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books "Poignant, romantic, and at-times laugh-out-loud funny, The Library of Shadows is a haunting paranormal mystery that is sure to keep readers guessing until the very last page." — Kelly Andrew, author of The Whispering Dark and Your Blood, My Bones "Rachel Moore’s beautifully written debut blends ivy-wreathed academic mystery with delightful romcom wit; this is the perfect romantic read for a spooky, new-moon night." — Lyndall Clipstone, author of the World at the Lake’s Edge Duology and Unholy Terrors

Read more less

Book SynopsisGoosebumps meets Wayside School in this spooky new series

Read more less

Book SynopsisGoosebumps meets Wayside School in this spooky new series

Read more less

Book SynopsisA middle grade collection of scary stories that weave into a larger mystery, by a master horror writer.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMagpie Lewis started writing in her yellow notebook the day she walked in on her father having sex with her aunt on her parents'' bed. That was the night her mom started down a spiral of self-destruction. That was the night Eryn, Magpie''s sister, skipped town and left her to fend for herself. That was the night of Brandon Phipp''s party. Now, Magpie is called a slut whenever she walks down the hallways of her high school, her former best friend won''t speak to her, and she spends her lunch period with a group of misfits who''ve all been socially exiled like she has. And so, feeling trapped and forgotten, Magpie retreats to her notebook, dreaming up a place called Near.Near is perfect--somewhere where her father never cheated, her mother never drank, and Magpie''s own life never derailed so suddenly. She writes Near so completely, so fully, that she dreams it into existence, right in her own backyard. It''s a place where she can have anything she wants...even revenge

Read more less

Book Synopsis Three generations of women uncover an ancient evil in this epic genre-bending horror-fantasy -- a fearless Faustian tale perfect for fans of Kendare Blake and Ransom Riggs (Cat Winters). Before the birth of time, a monk uncovers the Devil''s Tongue and dares to speak it. The repercussions will be felt for generations . . . Sixteen-year-old photography enthusiast Zoey has been fascinated by the haunted, burnt-out ruins of Medwyn Mill House for as long as she can remember -- so she and her best friend, Poulton, run away from home to explore them. But are they really alone in the house? And who will know if something goes wrong? In 1851, seventeen-year-old Roan arrives at the Mill House as a ward -- one of three, all with something to hide from their new guardian. When Roan learns that she is connected to an ancient secret, she must escape the house before she is trapped forever. 1583. Hermione, a new young bride, accompanies her husband to the wilds of North Wales where he plans to build the largest water mill and mansion in the area. But rumors of unholy rituals lead to a tragic occurrence and she will need all her strength to defeat it. Three women, centuries apart, drawn together by one Unholy Pact. A pact made by a man who, more than a thousand years later, may still be watching . . . This haunting, captivating, and delightfully disturbing mystery redefines horror and fantasy (Kirkus).

Read more less

Book Synopsis In this New York Times bestselling sequel to Kerri Maniscalco''s haunting #1 debut Stalking Jack the Ripper, bizarre murders are discovered in the castle of Prince Vlad the Impaler, otherwise known as Dracula. Could it be a copycat killer . . . or has the depraved prince been brought back to life? Following the grief and horror of her discovery of Jack the Ripper''s true identity, Audrey Rose Wadsworth has no choice but to flee London and its memories. Together with the arrogant yet charming Thomas Cresswell, she journeys to the dark heart of Romania, home to one of Europe''s best schools of forensic medicine . . . and to another notorious killer, Vlad the Impaler, whose thirst for blood became legend. But her life''s dream is soon tainted by blood-soaked discoveries in the halls of the school''s forbidding castle, and Audrey Rose is compelled to investigate the strangely familiar murders. What she finds brings all her terrifying fears to life

Read more less