The Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould REVIEW

The Dead and the Dark

by Courtney Gould

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Synopsis

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.

Review

Thank you to Wednesday Books for a review copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Dead and the Dark is a YA paranormal horror that is set in the small town of Snakebite, Oregon. Something weird is going on, teenagers are going missing and it looks like the culprits are the popular ghost hunters who have just returned to town after many years. Their daughter, Logan, joins in on the investigation and when she finds things point to her dads she is determined to find out the truth.

This story is so deliciously dark. The slow pacing works well to enhance the overall creepiness. I was drawn into this story. I did figure out certain things before they happened but the how and the why still got me. Courtney Gould executed this book brilliantly from beginning to end. It's a wonderful debut.

The Dead and the Dark gave me strong Pet Sematary vibes. It has similar supernatural elements, dark atmosphere and the same slow eerie pacing. There are also similar themes throughout the book. With all that said, there are quite a few differences in the story that make The Dead and the Dark it's own masterpiece.

**Trigger Warnings** homophobia, child death, murder, claustrophobia, drowning and slurs