The Translucent Boy and the Girl Who Saw Him by Tom Hoffman

The Translucent Boy and the Girl Who Saw Him by Tom Hoffman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Translucent Boy and the Girl Who Saw Him by Tom Hoffman is magical. A coming of age tale with a bit of time travel, this is quite a unique book. The main character is Odo, and he is translucent, not exactly see-through but almost. He appears to have been born that way, all because his Mom likes peach scented perfume. Weird. He has passed through his young life of about 16 years being basically unseen. That is, until he meets a strange girl with the flaming red hair. This is a great mashup of coming of age, teenage angst, rooting for the quiet kids in class, magic and the metaphysical. A great book that features cool and relatable characters, two formidable young people on a special quest, and the essence of vivid imagination. Time travel rounds out the story, making this tale a wondrous combination of exciting, confounding, and humorous adventures. A strong recommendation for this book, and a great addition to any young person's library.

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The Girl Next Door by Phoebe Morgan

The Girl Next Door by Phoebe Morgan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Girl Next Door is a twisty and twisted read by Phoebe Morgan. There is a palpable sense of tension in this book, after the initial crime takes place. You start to wonder who you can trust. It's all about the facades that people and communities assume. But you never really know what goes on behind closed doors, and just how desperate some situations are. The characters are all well developed, some not so likable, but that makes them all the more realistic. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, became immersed in the plot, and only had a slight inkling as to who the murderer was. Evil truly exists in this tale, making it a delectable and un-putdownable read. Highly recommend. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

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Dead God of Holdrege Valley by R.P. Wood

Dead God of Holdrege Valley by R.P. Wood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dead God of Holdrege Valley by R.P. Wood showcases the author's writing talents when it comes to spooky stuff. With the opening pages you feel the tension and unease that permeates this story. A traveling journalist by the name of Brandon Caulfield has pulled a disappearing act while on assignment in the quiet village of Holdrege Valley. No one seems to think that Brandon is in trouble however, except for his best friend Sawyer, and his search if where the action and fun begins. As a debut novel, it doesn't get much better than this, as the author delves into the unknown with a religious cult and it's presence in a sleep little town. The tone and tempo of this book keep you interested and engaged, the dialogue is realistic, the setting is scary, and the plot moves along nicely. Overall, a fun and scary read, guaranteed to keep you up at night. Highly recommend for a fantastic debut horror novel.

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