REVIEW: If You Go Down to the Woods

If You Go Down to the Woods
Author: Seth C. Adams

Joe moves to Payne, Arizona at 13. It ends up being a summer he will remember for the rest of his life. His new friends, forming The Outsiders Club, the car they find abandoned in the woods, a serial killer....  Definitely an eventful summer.

There is some language in this book that might be very offensive to most people. But....let's be truthful here...there is no middle school or group of tweens/teens where at least some (or even all) of those words don't get used during a fight or disagreement. At times, those words are used in normal conversation even. In fact, I've heard those terms (and worse) used in the lyrics of songs that kids listen to. Wanting a more diverse and kind world is a great thing to strive for....but there is no magic wand you can wave and take hurtful words kids hurl at each other out of the mix. Fat kids are going to be called fat and be subjected to hurtful things. Kids are mean. Wanting them to not be that way doesn't take that magically away and leave middle school and those final years before adulthood a kind, nurturing, happy place and time. It has never been a perfect, happy place for anybody.....but it's a learning time, a place of lessons and memories that last a life time. Good and bad. And the strongest, best friendships, too. To rate down a book because it uses terms that kids actually use saying "It's 2018'' and a book shouldn't use those words.....that's akin to censorship and it's asking authors to make books based on a fake, cleansed picture of the world.  Now....did the story get just a bit over-the-top and trope-y with a few of the characters like the racist, corrupt, disgusting sheriff ? Yes. But, do teen boys hear and say words like retarded, fat, gay, n*****, b*tch, and the like on a daily basis?  Yes, they do. Do nerdy kids or those branded as "losers'' or fringe get picked on and targeted? Yes, they do.  Wanting a kinder planet is unfortunately never going to take those words out of the English language and out of the arsenal that kids use against each other. Does it make those words the right thing to say? NEVER. But authors can't create stories based on a cleansed world that doesn't exist. Nothing good will come from that. Does that mean we have to accept and like words and actions like that? Of course not. But in writing a story about bullies and a group of kids outside the normal social circles, those words are realistic. If I sat in the center of my son's middle school at lunch time, I guarantee I would hear every single one of those words coming from kids in reference to other kids. It's unfortunate......but realistic. That being said....I think calling a character N***** Jim is going over the line. Really? I can tolerate that in Tom Sawyer because it's from another time.  But in this book it was a cringe-worthy moment that pulled me out of the story. One step too far.

In fact, I felt this book went just that step too far several times. Events occurred that went just a step past reality towards melodramatic and bad trope. Actions and characters went just a step past believable towards ridiculous. The sheriff. The Collector. The bullies. Mobsters. Some portions of the story felt like a bad 1980's movie script.

I don't like it when books are marketed as "like Stephen King'' or "for lovers of" some bestseller or popular author. Nobody can pull off Stephen King plots but Stephen King. It was nothing like It or The Chalk Man. This book is just not up to that level of writing or story-telling. Is the story enjoyable?  Most of it is. But at certain places, it failed....and failed hard.

All in all, this story was okay. I would read another book by this author. I think he needs to find his own voice and not strive to emulate his favorite authors. I'm giving it 3 stars based on the portions of the story I liked. The first half of the book was stronger than the last half.

**I voluntarily read an advance readers copy of this book from Harper Impulse/Killer Reads via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Great Hauntings

Great Hauntings
Author: Peter Brooksmith

From a famous haunted rectory to spook lights and screaming skulls, Great Hauntings tells the story of several famous instances of supposed hauntings or supernatural activity. Each story is illustrated with photos or drawings showing the people and places involved in the tale. This is a fun and entertaining book that looks at each incident from all sides.

I enjoyed the stories and photos, but the best thing about the book for me is the fact that it remains neutral about each case. All information is presented, even facts from skeptics and debunkers who have over the years presented information against the veracity of these alleged hauntings. I found the information on Harry Price, a famous supernatural investigator who studied the rectory in the 1930s, to be very informative. Price was actually outed as a fraud in the 1940s following his death. I've been hearing the story of the Borley Rectory for years, but never read about several books published after his death that pointed out his shenanigans and blatant fakery during investigations.

All in all, this was an entertaining book. It's visually appealing. The cover is appropriately dark and spooky. I had read about most of these places or events before, but had never seen photographs of locations and people involved before.

Very enjoyable book!

REVIEW: Murder She Wrote - A Date With Murder

Murder She Wrote - A Date With Murder
Author: Jessica Fletcher :) Donald Bain, Jon Land

I absolutely love Murder She Wrote! I watched the show faithfully each week when it was on television in the 80s and 90s, and I have my DVR set to record reruns even now. I've probably seen every episode at least 10 times. Angela Lansbury was perfect in the part of Jessica Fletcher, a retired teacher and amateur sleuth in Cabot Cove, Maine. She toodled along on her bicycle and solved murders. It was just great television.

A Date With Murder is the first novel based on the show that I have read. I'm so glad I did -- I loved it!! As I read the story, I heard the dialogue in my head in the voice of the actors....Angela Lansbury, Tom Bosley, William Windom. I could visualize the picturesque seaside of Cabot Cove, the characters, the story as it unfolded...and even imagine Jessica's horror as she discovered her friend, Hal Wirth, motionless on the floor of his kitchen during a party at his home. It was like getting to enjoy a new episode of Murder She Wrote after all these years. Some books just make you happy in your heart...know what I mean?

The basics: A Cabot Cove businessman dies after having a massive coronary at his home during a luncheon. After Hal Wirth's death, it is discovered that his finances were in ruin. His memoir reveals that he was unhappy in his marriage and actually used an online dating site once trying to find happiness with someone else. When strange information pops up about the dating site, Jessica begins to investigate the service to see if the site somehow had something to do with Hal's financial ruin and subsequent death. She discovers there is a whole lot more going on at LOVEISYOURS.com than just matching people with dating partners.

I enjoyed this story. It moved along at a nice pace and there were plenty of twists and turns in the plot, plus plenty of suspects. Because this is the first Murder She Wrote book that I've read, I didn't notice any of the differences in writing that some other reviews mention. Donald Bain who wrote the earlier books in the series passed away, and this book was written by another author, Jon Land. I thought he stayed true to the characters, but I'm basing my opinion on the television show and not any prior novels in this series. I did enjoy reading a new Jessica Fletcher mystery, so I plan to go back and read the earlier books. A Date With Murder is the 47th book in the Murder She Wrote series, so I'm not sure if I will read them all....or just cherry pick a few that sound particularly interesting. But I know I will enjoy any of them! I love the television show and the characters! It's always great to re-visit Cabot Cove!

Jon Land is the author of several mystery/thriller novels including the Blaine McCracken series. I enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading more of his work.

**I voluntarily read an advance readers copy of this book from Berkley Publishing via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Haunted Campground Mystery

Haunted Campground Mystery
Author: Dian Curtis Regan

I really enjoy this cute middle-grade mystery series. I read a lot of heavy, dark adult thriller novels, and sometimes between books I just need something lighter, refreshing, kinder to clear my head. I turn to middle-grade books often as palate cleansers. Fun reads....entertaining and a bit of sunshine for a brain a bit weighed down by adult themes. This series is one of my favorites!

Beka and Robbie are twins. But they are a bit different. They've both been dead for 50 years. In 1942, they accidentally drowned. They still live in their old house near Kickingbird Lake, but the house is part of a vacation resort now. The twins get to "meet'' all sorts of people who stay in their former house, and they invisibly help solve little mysteries that pop up. Add in their ghost St. Bernard, Thatch, to the mix and it's just incredi-cute.

The Haunted Campground Mystery is the 6th book in the series. This time a group of Mountain Adventure Club girls (sort of like Girl Scouts) are staying in the house. They are going on an overnight camping trip. One of the girls seems to sense the ghosts are there, and the group quickly starts to get spooked. The twins come along on the camping trip. Robbie wants to give them a bit of a scare....but just for fun. Beka wishes she could be a Mountain Adventure Club member like she used to be when she was alive. Little do they realize that the girls, and the ghosts, are in for a bit of a surprise on this trip!

This is a fun, entertaining and slightly spooky read. :) Everything is definitely age-appropriate. This would be fun to read out loud to kids on a trip, or as reading on a car ride or camping trip.

There are 8 books in total in this series by Dian Curtis Regan. I will be sad when I reach the end! Luckily the author has written several other similar children's books including Monster of the Week and Jilly's Ghost.

REVIEW: Spooky Spinechillers

Spooky Spinechillers
Author: Andrew Donkin

This book is a Dorling Kindersley Reader book targeting students from 2nd to 4th grade. I always enjoyed reading these books with my son when he brought them home from school. The leveled readers are always of highest quality with wonderful illustrations and graphics, and a nice glossary and index in the back.

Spooky Spinechillers is about ghosts, telling seven famous ghost stories from around the world that are allegedly true. From Borley Rectory (a former haunted location in England) to ghosts at sea, the stories are varied and told in an age-appropriate way. Full-color illustrations and photos are on each page.  The stories are well written and there are little facts sprinkled in the outer margins to add in a bit of extra spooky flavor. All in all, a very attractive and interesting book for kids! The stories are spooky but not over-the-top scary. It would be a perfect Halloween read for grade schoolers! As an adult, I enjoyed the stories and even looked up more information on a couple of the tales. Very interesting folklore! I'm definitely going to read more on Borley Rectory and some of the other locations.

Andrew Donkin has written several other books for children including Bermuda Triangle, and Roald Dahl's Life in Stories.

REVIEW: Ghosts Go Haunting

Ghosts Go Haunting
Author: Sorche Nic Leodhas

I am always up for a good ghost story. When I saw this collection of Scottish spooky folklore, I knew I needed to read this book!

Ghosts Go Haunting contains 10 wonderfully quaint ghostly tales:

The Wicked House of Duncan MacBain
The Man Who Didn't Believe in Ghosts
The Man Who Walked Widdershins Around the Kirk
The Tale the Crofter Told
The Wild Ride in the Tilt Cart
The Man Who Helped Carry the Coffin
The Ghost that Didn't Want to be a Ghost
The Lads Who Met the Highwayman
How Tammas Maciver Macmurdo Maclennan Met His Match
The Young Irish Lad from the Hiring Fair

The tales are wonderfully written, colorful and very entertaining to read. From restless spirits to devilish ones, the stories are varied. Some are more humorous, others sinister....but I enjoyed all 10! The tales are accented with artwork by Nonny Hogrogian. The illustrations go perfectly with the stories.

My favorite tale was The Ghost that Didn't Want to be a Ghost. The trials and tribulations of other ghosts having to put up with complaints from a lazy spirit....doesn't want to haunt, doesn't like to clank chains....lots of complaining and moping. Finally the chief of the ghosts steps in to help solve the situation. The final solution to the ghost's problem is both heart-warming and humorous. Great story!

All in all, a great collection of Scottish ghost stories! Sorche Nic Leodhas is the pen name of LeClair Alger. Several collections of Scottish stories were published under the pseudonym, including Twelve Black Cats and Other Eerie Tales from Scotland and By Loch and By Lin, Tales from Scottish Ballads. I enjoyed Ghosts Go Haunting so much I definitely want to read more!

REVIEW: The Missing

The Missing
Author: Caroline Eriksson

Greta, her husband Alex and their daughter Smilla are all together in a boat, rowing across a lake to a small island. They are staying at a nearby cabin and taking an outing together. Once they reach the shore, Alex and Smilla decide to go investigate the island and walk away. Greta stays behind in the boat. Her husband and daughter never return. She waits....looks for them....then rows back to the cabin looking for her cell phone. They're gone. No trace. Greta isn't sure what to do. She feels ill....tries to eat...to sleep a little....thinks about calling the police. Where are Alex and Smilla? As she tries to piece her thoughts together, the chilling truth about Greta and her life begin to take form.

I listened to the audio book version of this novel. At nearly 7 hours long, the audio is excellent quality. Tanya Eby narrates. Her voice is easily understood and she reads at a perfect pace. I listened to the entire book, even though at times I really wanted to DNF and move on to something else. I think if I had been reading the print book I wouldn't have made it to the end. For me, the story is just too disjointed. The strangeness and non-linear story is central to the plot -- it's just how this tale works for its effect. But, I didn't like it. The plot develops too slowly. It took so long for hints about reality to really start coming that I lost interest. The main character comes off as annoying rather than someone I might sympathize with or care about. Her behavior and actions are just too odd. The constant whining, throwing up and strangeness is off-putting. I really struggled to get through this story. Does that mean it's a bad book? No. It just means it isn't for me. And it could also mean that the story lost something in translation to English. I do understand that the story is about a woman's loss of reality and her rambling, disjointed memories and understanding of her life and actions. It just didn't work for me. Too much rambling, confusion and just bizarre weirdness from the main character, not enough coherent story.