"Strange things happen in Fell, New York."
Growing up with two absent parents in a house haunted by shadows, bad dreams, and a ghostly presence none of them ever dared talk about did not leave the three Esmie children with many happy memories growing up. Except for their little brother, Ben, whom they all loved. Ben made everything better. Until the day he disappeared without a trace during a game of hide-and-seek when he was just six. It's the one moment from their past that haunts them all.
Now, two decades later, Violet, Vail and Dodie are headed back to Fell, New York, and their childhood home. It's time to find out what happened to Ben...and to lay all their ghosts. Especially the one they fear the most. If they can.
My thoughts: Eerie. Engrossing. And unsettling. I enjoyed this latest chilling ghost story from Simone St. James. The chapters alternate between the three siblings' POVs, which created nice layers to the mystery of what happened to Ben, because Violet, Vail, and Dodie each have their own memories and perceptions of what happened back then...and they all have their own unique encounters with what's haunting their childhood home now. I liked getting to know Violet, Vail, and Dodie, who are all flawed, but likable, and I enjoyed their sibling interactions...and their mutual adoration of their little brother.
This is not the scariest ghost story I've ever read, but there's a nice building of suspense and the ending is intense...and satisfying. A fun read. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Happy Reading!
P.S. The Sun Down Motel (one of St. James's previous novels) shares the same Fell, New York, setting and is mentioned in this one...which kind of made me want to go back and reread it. The link will take you to my review of that one. 😎
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