The Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould

 

Title: The Dead and the Dark
Author: Courtney Gould
Publish Date: August 3rd, 2021
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Source: Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for review!

Courtney Gould’s thrilling debut The Dead and the Dark is about the things that lurk in dark corners, the parts of you that can’t remain hidden, and about finding home in places―and people―you didn’t expect.

The Dark has been waiting for far too long, and it won't stay hidden any longer.

Something is wrong in Snakebite, Oregon. Teenagers are disappearing, some turning up dead, the weather isn’t normal, and all fingers seem to point to TV’s most popular ghost hunters who have just returned to town. Logan Ortiz-Woodley, daughter of TV's ParaSpectors, has never been to Snakebite before, but the moment she and her dads arrive, she starts to get the feeling that there's more secrets buried here than they originally let on.

Ashley Barton’s boyfriend was the first teen to go missing, and she’s felt his presence ever since. But now that the Ortiz-Woodleys are in town, his ghost is following her and the only person Ashley can trust is the mysterious Logan. When Ashley and Logan team up to figure out who—or what—is haunting Snakebite, their investigation reveals truths about the town, their families, and themselves that neither of them are ready for. As the danger intensifies, they realize that their growing feelings for each other could be a light in the darkness.

Penelope's Review

This was a great story, with some pretty powerful messages. Right away, the book starts with an unsolved mystery. Tristan, Ashley's boyfriend, is missing. No one know how or why, but the residents of Snakebite are convinced the ghost-hunting dads of Logan are responsible. Right from the first page, the book never slows down. Every time I thought I had it figured out, something new happened and I had to start all over with my theories!

Logan was a great character, tough when she needed to be, unafraid and unapologetic. She knew who she was and wasn't going to let anyone tell her otherwise. Yet she had a vulnerable side, and that alone made her quite relatable. I really enjoyed reading from her point of view. Her dads were also great, in their own ways. Alejo was upbeat and positive, while Brandon was more reserved. For some reason, the two of them just worked.

This book had so many twists and turns - it was scary but not too scary. I could read it and go straight to bed after which I loved. I really liked that I couldn't figure this book out until the end. It wasn't predictable, the hints that were dropped were subtle enough that they didn't give the book away but expanded my theories. The messages of love and acceptance and heartbreak and grief were woven into the story really well. I admire the writing style of this author and am excited to see what she comes up with next!

Rating: 4/5 Devils!