I wasn't aware that the book was part of a series when I requested it. It had a slow start and for being a short novel, it really felt uber long because it was so slow. I was expecting something else from this. It really wasn't my cup of tea.

J. M. Kelly’s Monster On The Moors is a decently spooky and thrilling werewolf read. I love the setting and the mystery but I wish the characters and dialogue were better written. This is the second book in the series but it works as a standalone.

Clairvoyant Bobby Holmes, his cousin Brenda Watson and their friends Stevie and Michael are in the middle of a horrifying mystery. The friends are vacationing in the spooky North York Moors of England when they find themselves being stalked by an ancient werewolf. With the help of some surprising allies, the friends uncover the depths of this mystery and must save one of their own before more fall victim to the werewolf!

I enjoyed this fast-paced and surprisingly creepy read! I love werewolves and Kelly did a great YA take on the theme. I love the well-written and eerie setting. The opening is wonderfully spooky. There are several surprisingly gory scenes but it should be manageable for teen readers. The book features some good twists. Although some are predictable, they are still enjoyable. I also like the werewolf’s history as well as the other supernatural elements which I really wasn’t expecting. I also like the interesting and mysterious allies.

I didn’t even realize that the book is a modern-day YA spin on Sherlock Holmes. I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing! While I like the characters well enough, I wish they were much better written. They often act very stereotypically and I couldn’t connect with them. Protagonist Bobby is smart and has visions, Stevie is obnoxious, and token girl Brenda is clever. However, I do like that there is some diversity as Michael has Asperger’s. The other characters are kind and respectful of him. However, the characters often acted very implausibly, especially the adults. Even the werewolf sometimes acted too improbably!

Additionally, I know that the children are probably young teens but their dialogue varies between sounding too mature or too childish. The overall dialogue also could have been better written. The characters’ conversations are often stilted, unnatural, and there is a fair bit of info dumping.

Monster On The Moors is a great and creepy YA read. I am not the intended audience but I enjoyed this novel. This is a good introduction to horror reads for young teens. It will also work for adults looking for a quick atmospheric Halloween read. I would definitely read more in this series!



🐺 🐺 🐺 ½ werewolves out of 5!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All Thoughts and opinions are my own.

Unfortunately, I could not get into this novel. It's a short one at around 250 pages, but it took me a while to read. This is part of a series. I haven't read the first novel, but the author did a good job of giving you enough backstory where you felt like you weren't missing anything.

There was autism rep in this book, so that was nice to see.

I may have misunderstood, but I thought this was ya. The language used and the conversations felt much more childish than ya. THere were also over-wordy descriptions that were hard for me to get through.

Sadly, I can't say I'll be continuing this series.

I enjoyed this YA mystery with a modern day spin on Sherlock Holmes. It started slowly, but eventually picked up. I was not aware that this was part of a series when I requested it. There is a bit of the backstory, but I still felt somewhat lost throughout, so just a fair warning.
**I received an advanced copy from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.**

There is nothing better then a good horror novel this time of year. Unfortunately, this one was a disappointment. Far to much exposition and attention to mundane things. It was a chore to read and I found myself wanting something to happen for too long. The story never seemed to get moving, and for horror that is a major flaw. Still, it may appeal to horror fans who are willing to stay with it. I couldn't.

'I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.'

I realized this was a second book, but everything was recapped enough it could be read without having read the first. I liked the idea of the story, love a good mystery. The plot was interesting and the descriptions were easy to follow and painted a really good picture of what was happening, however, the dialogue in this book didn't work for me it felt very chipped or stilted. Also, it was supposed to be in Europe, but I don't think enough research was done to write it from a European POV. Specific words, cops carrying guns, etc.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and the spooky setting in Goathland. Perfect for October.

One thing, that has nothing to do with the rating of my review, the format of the ebook made it very difficult to read. The spacing was off.

This book was creepy and thrilling and totally enthralling. I felt like I was there in person and shivered multiple times though out reading this book. Kelly does an amazing job setting the scene and making this world seem real. Couldn't get enough.

Think young Sherlock Holmes werewolf hunter. If you are a reader who likes suspense, real monsters and mystery, this is a good choice.

Great for upper middle grade readers who like monsters. Perhaps hand to lovers of Cirque du Freak who want a little bit more density in text and mystery.

Be advised that this book is sequel to "The Lost Treasure."

Monster on the Moors is a fun Sherlock Holmes adaptation that after a slow-ish start begins to pick up. Unlike the original Holmes where everything ends up having a logical explanation, this one does include actual monsters and spooky elements, which is a nice touch for modern readers. It's a perfect and quick read for teens during the Halloween season

***Are you aware that the description of this book here on Netgalley, and on Amazon, and Goodreads is literally a summary of the events that happen within, and therefore leave the reader with no valid reason to read it? Literally, all the "shocking" mystery is told to any reader who might be interested in read this, because the "synopsis" is a quick rundown of events, including the ENDING. I would love to see this fixed, because it not, who would pay to read it, when the summary is right there, and tells everyone what happens?***

My review:

Monster on the Moors is a great middle grade book, and I've already recommended it to my ten-year-old niece. As an adult, I found it a fun, quick read, and I think that it's got just the right amount of mystery, horror, and spunky humor that it will easily catch the attention of even the most reluctant reader.  It begins with a bit of a grotesque prologue, but nothing that isn't too overbearing, and the horror aspect of this novel is quite mild, in my opinion. Our four heroes, Bobby and the gang, make up a modern day Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, and J.M. Kelly even uses the sleuthing genius's last names as homage to the great Arthur Conan Doyle's characters. Bobby Holmes, and his cousin Brenda Watson, plus friends Stevie and Michael, make up the team as they begin searching for clues concerning the awful slayings happening on the Moors of England, leading them on many an adventure as they work to decipher Bobby's visions and save those who would be the "monsters" next prey.

While Monster on the Moors is technically the second book in the Bobby Holmes Mystery series, you do not need to read the first novel prior to this one, as each book can stand alone.  

I think the characterization was spot on throughout this novel, with many tidbits to giggle over as the four friends work to make heads or tails of their situation. From train rides to chases amongst the ruins, Bobby and his friends, and their trusty adult side-kick, take the reader on an adventure that they're not soon to forget. I was impressed with the quick pace and Kelly's ability to make sense of a strange situation, creating a world where it worked to have four younsters running amuck by themselves, while many of the adults went about their business. In other words, I didn't find it far-fetched, and that is always a plus for me as a reader. I also liked that I didn't always know what was going to happen next. Some MG books that I've read are extremely heavy on the foreshadowing, but I did not find that to be the case with this read. While I would think that I knew what was going to happen next, Kelly kept me guessing, which is another reason I think this is a great read for tweens and even teens. It's lighthearted enough, with just enough scare to it that I think it's the perfect read for this Halloween night. Four stars.

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**This will go live on Oct. 31 on my blog, A Book Vacation. I believe 10/31 is the publication date, but every site I look at gives me a different piblcation date, so it might help to change that on all the sale sites as well.

Thanks!

Link won't work until 10/31: https://wp.me/p1jhaj-67O

Typical horror mystery made extraordinary by a well written plot and equally well done characters. Perfect to enjoy on Halloween. 5/5 stars for a suspenseful mystery.

The writing style fit the story nicely. Sometimes I would get confused when it got to the perspective of the children, but overall it was an enjoyable read.

MONSTER ON THE MOOR is an exciting YA mystery set in England, the sequel to THE LOST TREASURE. Both star Bobby Holmes, whose mother is a Scotland Yard Special Investigator. Bobby has Second Sight--clairvoyance--which isn't always perfectly revelatory. Bobby, cousin Brenda and her two friends Stevie and Michael in the U.S., find their vacation on the North Yorkshire Moors both enlightening and dangerous as they encounter both a shapeshifter and sorcery.