5/5

Sometimes a family can be a lesbian, her girlfriend, and her two ghosthunting dads, and I think that is truly beautiful. The editor for The Dead and the Dark described it as “like Riverdale, but good,” and they are absolutely right about it. In a quiet town in Oregon on the edge of nowhere, the tragic disappearance of a young boy marks the beginning of a descent into upheaval. Enter into the chaos TV’s resident ghost hunting duo, Brandon and Alejo, returning to their hometown of Snakebite after many years in hopes of solving the disappearance. Joining them in this endeavor is their daughter Logan, who has never felt more out of sorts than she has upon her arrival in the strange town. With more teenagers winding up missing, and still no answers in sight, Logan begins to take matters into her own hands as she enlists the aid of an unlikely stranger. Someone who just might help her discover what lurks behind the shadows.

Upon starting The Dead and the Dark, I began to feel myself slowly unwind as I was led deeper into its tangled web of secrets. Secrets that built up inside my mind until they threatened to crash down the very foundations that had been so delicately composed. All this is an elaborate way of saying that this book not only architectured an intricately layered horror story, but managed to make me cry in the process. A feat that has never been easily attained in my book. Courtney Gould’s inquiry into grief and loneliness is certainly one that evokes emotion, and left me with not much else to do but grapple with all that had been expressed. The novel's subtle exposition of a darkness taking root in a small community, and the ramifications associated with giving such a darkness voice, was such a powerful component throughout. I've found that horror grounded in truth will always triumph over everything else and never fail to leave an impression on me. Which is perhaps the strongest part of this debut, and had me thinking for days afterward about the meaning behind it all. Going into this, all I really had in the back of my mind were two things: sapphics + ghosts, and dammit if either of them weren't flawlessly represented in all parts of the novel. The ghost hunting girlfriend representation the world was waiting for and we all deserve. From the cover alone, I should have known this book would give me everything I needed. A look into an eerie town and the secret’s it contains, and a visualization of the resentment that often follows people from place to place. I loved the deep dive into family dynamics and the commentary on how unresolved trauma can adversely impact the relationship between parent and child. Throughout the sinister undertones, that remained apparent and was touched on well. The twisting nature and Stranger Things vibe of this will certainly draw people in, but much like the darkness at work within the town, they will stay entirely for one messy ghosthunting family.

Trigger warnings: blood, violence, murder, attempted murder, drowning, funeral, death of a main character, homophobia, homophobic language, hate crimes

OK, I admit it--I picked this book because of that stunning cover. But a supernatural whodunit was intriguing; it reminded me a bit of Supernatural's "GhostFacers" episodes. The setting of this small Oregon town was vivid and well done, and I enjoyed the characters. And can I say how fantastic it is to see an uptick in publishing queer stories? And not just the funny gay best friend or the quirky lesbian bartender in the background of a few scenes--front and center queer characters and stories. But as soon as ghosts started sending text messages via some convenient spectral technology chip, I was done. I skimmed to the end just to see what the heck was going on. Without spoiling anything, I appreciated the underlying message of the manifestation, but I just couldn't get on board with the path to get there. Still, I have no doubt this book will find its audience; it just didn't include me.

This debut YA thriller is CRAZY-in the best way possible. Logan finds herself back "home" with her two dads, Alejo and Brandon, in tiny Snakebite, Oregon. This town hasn't changed much over the years and is definitely on the traditional side. When teens start to disappear, it is all-too-easy to blame the gay paranormal investigators.

Though Logan has no real connections in Snakebite, she eventually gets close to Ashley, a popular daughter of a family that seems run the town. Together, Logan and Ashley set out to see if they can uncover the truth behind the disappearances. Are these kids the victims of small town crime or is there something sinister and other-worldly at play?

The mix of real life themes and paranormal activity will keep you guessing. I really enjoyed the writing style and the realism in which the story was written, perhaps especially because it makes the potential threat of true evil all the more real.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books for granting me an ARC. The Dead and the Dark is set for release on August 3, 2021. It is definitely worth checking out!

Interesting supernatural mystery, I felt the author did a good job portraying the different characters handling their traumas and certain personal realizations, and the author didn’t give away too much too quickly. The only things I have to say against it is that it felt a bit choppy at times with the way time would progress and I felt like I needed a bit more explanation about the Dark. But overall an enjoyable book. I read it in a day.

This book was an incredibly well written book about dealing with uncomfortable subjects. There are characters that can see ghosts but are having a hard time accepting this skill. There is a town dealing with the hatred towards gay/lesbian couples. There are people with secrets. There is a malicious entity looking to cause pain and chaos. All of these ideas made me stop and think about my own biases. This book is a good way for people to read about situations they cannot handle and observe how fictional characters dealt with strong emotions.

“‘We know that spirits are made of unresolved pain that lingers somewhere between life and … beyond. Theoretically, I’d say pain that leaves a deep enough impact–pain that kills a piece of a person–could leave ghosts, too. Ghosts are death, but maybe death can mean different things.’”

Teenagers are going missing in the small town of Snakebite, Oregon. Logan Ortiz-Woodley and her dads, hosts of the famous ghost-hunting show ParaSpectors, have arrived to investigate, but their welcome is hardly warm, and their history in Snakebite is fraught. Most everyone believes they had something to do with the disappearances, and Logan has to deal with their suspicions on top of the usual small town bigotry. Ashley Barton’s boyfriend was the first to go missing, just days after Brandon Woodley arrived in Snakebite. Now his ghost is haunting her, and working with Logan might be the only chance she has to find him–alive or dead. The girls launch their own paranormal investigation, and what they find is a darkness that lurks at the heart of Snakebite, a darkness that may only just be getting started. I received a free e-ARC through NetGalley from the publishers at St. Martin’s Press. Trigger warnings: death/child death, drowning, severe injury, homophobia, hate crimes, slurs, threats, bullying, grief.

This is so much my kind of book, it’s ridiculous. I love it so much; I’m not even sure where to start without descending into fangirl shrieking and incoherent rambling. I guess I’ll start by making a list of my favorite things: strong family themes, good representation (mlm, wlw, poc), a delightful mystery, scorching social commentary, and a Gay Dads ghost hunting show that I fervently wish was a real thing. (Every Supernatural Destiel fan and I would watch the shit out of that.) There isn’t a lot about the book that’s overtly frightening, and I think Gould could have played up the haunting aspects a bit more instead of relying on a general sense of “wrongness” in the town, but it’s still effective. In the tried and true tradition of horror, the humans are often a greater threat than the supernatural. More than the horror aspects, it was the mystery that kept me turning pages. Who or what is the Dark, and where will it strike next?

There’s an excellent cast of characters, beginning with Logan, who’s complex enough to take over whenever the action lags. She’s a combination of sophisticated city girl and a kid who desperately wants her fathers to love her. Alejo is an absolute gem of friendliness, jokes, and solid advice. Brandon is distant and hard to read, and the strangeness between him and Logan characterizes much of their family relationship. Ashley is a little more run-of-the-mill, a big deal in her small town, who occasionally makes painful statements about how “people just aren’t gay” in Snakebite. Fortunately, we have Logan there to call her on it, and Ashley probably sees the most personal growth of any of the characters. There are themes of family, grief, and self-discovery that all see excellent arcs.

The book is also a critique of homophobia and generalized bigotry found everywhere, but that seems to be especially concentrated in certain kinds of rural small towns. I’m way more afraid of an entitled white dude than I am of ghosts, frankly, and The Dead and the Dark has plenty to fear on both sides. The horror is expertly woven in with the social commentary, and while I don’t want to get into spoiler territory, I love the direction Gould takes it. I love the way everything in the book is connected, and she pulls it all together for a tense and satisfying ending. Easily my favorite book of the year so far. If you liked Sawkill Girls, this is for you.

I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for providing me an arc of The Dark and the Dead by Courtney Gould in exchange for an honest review!

This book was a mix between castle rock, rosewood, and “riverdale, but good” as the editor aptly labels it. I can’t even begin to describe how much I LOVED this book. It was, and I cannot stress this enough, ADDICTING in every sense of the word. It was dark, twisted, and utterly captivating.

Logan and her dads find themselves back in a small town in which they grew up, but something is different in Snakebite. The weather is changing, a darkness lurks around every corner, and it seems as though secrets are the only thing holding the place together.


Reading this book was like watching a movie-the description was so good that I had to remind myself that I wasn’t actually there, that I wasn’t actually in the woods of Snakebite. The world building was effortless and the way the author included queer representation into this book felt like something other authors could learn from. I will not stop thinking about this book any time soon. READ THIS BOOK!

Young gay love, the paranormal, and a good mystery - the formula for an addicting read that keeps you wondering how the world will settle at the end of it. The little girl that I once was that stay up watching "Scariest Places on Earth" grew up to be the woman I am today who loves True Crime podcasts and thriller novels. Love that this book can combine several of my interests.
And the cover is breathtaking!

4.5/5.

This book had me questioning everything! Very early on I thought I knew what was going to happen, and it was very quickly twisted around to create such an interesting plot that left me gasping in surprise. It kept me invested in the characters and all I wanted was to keep on reading so I could find out more!

In general, I thought the dialogue and text messages were realistic for the characters' ages; lots of times, text messages between teenagers and young adults aren't portrayed accurately. So that was refreshing. The chapters were short enough to make you say "just one more chapter" and keep you engaged. I tend to LOVE stories involving small, tight-knit towns and boy did this book deliver. The characters and the town itself is where this story shines - I loved Elexis, and Brandon and Alejo's relationship, and enjoyed following the somewhat impulsive Logan.

If I had any criticism, it would be about the ending. I find it a bit cliche to have two people fall in love and then immediately run away together/dedicate their lives to each other. Maybe that's just because I'm getting older haha. But the ending was written well, and I still read it and ate it up so...

What an amazing read. If a book makes me laugh or cry or gasp, it's good. And this one definitely delivered.

This was so good! Logan and her parents find themselves in a town filled with disappearances, deaths, hate, and so much darkness. The plot hooked me from the first few chapters and the ending was not what I expected. This is a great thriller, LGBTQ, and enemies to lovers book for anyone looking for a unique take on small town crime.

“You’ll always find your way back home” this line from the song really fits here. This book really captures the small town feel and the pros and cons of living in one, on the judgement and hatred that feels too big for a small town. The way the mindsets of the older generation shapes the younger generation and how harmful it is.

I loved the paranormal aspects tied in, the way Courtney gave the dark a name. The feeling of the dark and how it grew and grew. The dark wasn’t a thing but a feeling/thought in the back of your mind of all the terrible things you could do or be.

I love the way towards the end courtney really explored how hatred could become an identity and the way it takes up your soul to the point you know what you feel is wrong but helpless to stop it.

This book mainly was about Grief, all consuming grief and the way it could alter your actions and mind. The different stages you go through and not letting Grief be the thing you run from.

I'd just finished Courtney Summers' The Project when The Dead and the Dark showed up in my queue. That cover reeled me in, and I couldn't wait to get started.

Logan's not thrilled about going to Snakebite. Scoping out a new location for their paranormal investigation show, Alejo and Brandon drag her anyway, but from the moment they arrive, nothing feels right. A boy has gone missing, and the newest arrivals become the objects of suspicion, regardless of their former ties to the remote Oregon town. But there's something much more nefarious lurking beneath Snakebite's surface, and paired with her sworn enemy, Logan is determined to find out what is.

Okay. So. I *LOVED* this book.

From page one, Logan's voice hooked me. Sarcastic, complex, and yearning, she was the perfect balance between clever and misguided. Where some YA can feel like an adult writing what they think teenagers sound like, Gould captured the essence of the in-between, what I usually think of in terms of "Crossroads" (I'm not a girl, not yet a woman...okay, I'll stop). Logan's on a gap year, searching for a sense of belonging and something more. Answers. Love. Home. She doesn't know, and that's okay--a topic I rarely see explored in the genre that feels so important in the changing academic environment. There's pressure to go to college, get a career, a family, but here, the pressure wasn't centered around this debate so much as Logan's choices were.

Because when it comes down to it, life is more than the college we choose, and Gould's exploration of the dynamics of Snakebite really highlighted bigger issues: identity, sexuality, discrimination, depression. There were a lot of really important conversations happening (in the best possible way), without being voyeuristic, accusatory, exploitative, or condescending. We see characters struggling with change, truth, and growth, and this struck me as both authentic and necessary.

The layers to The Dark--this aspect gave me serious Stephen King vibes. If you've read The Outsider, I think you'll love the atmosphere Gould creates here. I kept thinking The Outsider meets that one episode of Punky Brewster where she battles the darkness in the cave--archaic reference, yes, but I hope at least one other person gets it.

And while I'm not one for romance, I was invested in the relationship arcs here. No spoilers, but every single one won my heart. From romance to friendship to the fluid definition of family, I was ugly crying by the end.

Overall, The Dead and the Dark was a smart, creepy, twisty roller coaster of emotions from beginning to end. For fans of small-town horror with big-time ideas, add this to your TBR immediately and thank me later.

Big thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.

Before I pick up a book, I like to trawl the author’s social media accounts to see how they describe their book in their own words. Courtney Gould’s twitter revealed that, firstly, I desperately want to be friends with her, and secondly, that she describes ‘The Dead and the Dark’ as: ‘gay girl ghosthunters + an isolated small town + a darkness that lingers in the shadows’ and ‘teen lesbians fighting to save a town haunted by dead friends, buried secrets, and a history of hate.’ Ummmmmmm YES PLEASE.

Taking place the summer after Logan and Ashley finish high school, this book is somewhere in the nebulous place between Young Adult and Adult, and I think I let the YA aspect lull me into a false sense of security. I wasn’t expecting something so ominous and creepy...and I fucking loved it. This book caught me off-guard in the best way AND it managed to combine my favorite genres (thriller + horror) with my favorite romance trope (enemies to lovers).

Once you’re able to get past the sinister atmosphere of the book and the creeping sense of unease it leaves you with and come out from whatever blanket nest you’ve hidden yourself in, I implore you to really pay attention to the underlying messages of this book about hate and grief.

This book was dark, unique, and completely consuming. I loved that Logan’s dads were reality tv ghost hunters. I loved strong-willed Logan and courageous Ashley. I loved the setting and the atmosphere. I loved this book.

"The Dead and the Dark" by Courtney Gould is a fast-paced supernatural mystery with spooky scenes, a dark and malevolent entity, and a dash of romance. It won't be a surprise if this story becomes a highly anticipated teen fiction read with Gould's beautifully vivid and understatedly simplistic style of writing.

Dragged from one place to another, Logan's life is in a constant state of disruption with two dads who are constantly hunting down ghosts for their TV show ParaSpectors. To make matters worse, she's skeptical of the whole "ghosts are real" thing. Do they really exist or is it the work of technology and years of acting?

When the trio arrive in Snakebite, the hometown to Logan's dads, they are met with open hostility from the residents. Surprisingly, it's not the show that has people upset but bad history and the suspicion that the disappearance of a local teen has something to do with Logan's dads.

The story is split between Logan (who is desperately trying to uncover her dads' mysterious pasts and how it connects to the disappearance of a local teen), and Ashley (the girlfriend of the missing teen who is doing everything to find out what happened, even if it means befriending the daughter of the detested ghost hunters).

This is definitely a book to pick up and read. Audiences will find the writing is smooth and flows easily as Ashley and Logan's perspectives mix well together. Both characters are sassy, adventurous, and incredibly fascinating people to journey through this novel with as they offer their own insights into the strange events occurring in Snakebite.

A really lovely aspect of the story is the author's dark entity. Gould has successfully created a villain that isn't just a power-hungry figure with a desire to stop the good guys from erasing it out of existence. Rather, the villain is given a lot of agency and even has its own complex origin story that neatly ties in with the plot. The entity or villain of the story is fascinating in its design and its goals, guaranteeing to cause literal chills and paranoia!

The author also deserves major congratulations for being brave enough to write about controversial topics, such as homophobia, and not shying away from the reality of how cruel and prejudiced people can be. Homophobia is an issue that, unfortunately, is ongoing and one Gould has chosen to give some insight into.

Fans of the paranormal and straight-up spooky are going to love this fresh take on ghosts, murder mysteries, threatening entities, and the two teens who build an unlikely partnership to figure out just what kind of crazy has been stirred up in Snakebite.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press (Wednesday Books) for providing me with an advanced copy of this novel to read and review. If this novel interests anyone, add it to your reading lists and save the expected publication date: August 3rd, 2021!

I really enjoyed this murder mystery with a very dark twist! The characters made this a book that I wanted to keep reading. I especially loved the snarky way that Logan dealt with life and how Ashley found her true self.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. This was an amazing book. It let me on the edge of my seat the entire read. I loved how there was a enemies to lovers trope in the book. I did think that the way that they defeated the bad guy was a little corny. But other than that I loved this book and I cant wait to read more from this author.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for an arc!

This book was an absolute delight.

Logan, daughter of the famed ParaSpectors duo, has not really ever felt at home. When her dads decide that they should move back to their hometown to scout for their next season Logan is not too happy. What comes with their arrival to Snakebite is nothing any of them could've prepared for.

Gould exceeded at creating an uneasy atmosphere where you have no idea what could be lurking in the shadows. At one point I was just having a lot of fun being on for this ride.

This really ended up being a story about family and made my heart ache at some of the reveals. I know I say this in every review but I am genuinely looking forward to what Gould brings us in the future! Already have marked Echo Sunset on my tbr!

Something is wrong in Snakebite, OR. Teenagers are 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 but, she can feel there are a lot of secrets here.

Ashley Barton’s boyfriend was the first teen to go missing, and she still feels his presence. However now that the Ortiz-Woodleys are in town, his ghost is following her and the only person Ashley can trust is 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 are ready for. As the danger gets close to home, they realize home may not just be a place, but can be a person too.

Y’all this book is CREEEPPY and dark!! Like, it will give you nightmares. It’s an atmospheric paranormal drama with some heavy subjects spun throughout the novel. If you dissect it, you see it’s about what hate can really do to ones heart and soul. How hate can damage you so much and make you evil. It was wonderfully character driven. I loved Logan. She was complex, lonely, sarcastic and strong (even though she would disagree) I cannot believe this is Courtney’s debut because the writing is just that good. It reads like a movie. I had NO idea where this was going to go and to same from spoilers I will just say preorder this and do yourself a favor!!! So. Good.


Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for my advance copy in exchange for my review!!

Brandon and Alejo are the loveable but melodramatic hosts of the reality television series ParaSpectors. Their eighteen-year-old adopted daughter Logan, tired of relocating, dreams of finding a place she can finally settle down and call home. Alejo and Logan must leave LA to travel to the rural town of Snakebite, Oregon where Brandon has been "scouting out the shows next location" for the past six months. Logan doesn’t know much about Snakebite other than it’s where her dad’s grew up. When they arrive Logan immediately feels that something is wrong with the town. It's not just that the residents are insular, especially towards her queer family, but it feels as if something sinister is lurking. Logan quickly realizes things are worse than she imagined... a teen is missing and Brandon is the prime suspect.
Ashley Barton's boyfriend, Tristan Granger, has been missing for six months but Ashley can still feel his presence. As soon as the other two members of the Ortiz-Woodley family arrive, Tristan's ghost becomes more persistent in delivering his message to Ashley...and then another teen goes missing. She soon realizes the only person she can trust with her secret is Logan. They decide to team up to uncover the truth in Tristan's disappearance, clear Bandon's name, and find out who or what is killing the towns teens.

The Dead and the Dark is an exciting YA paranormal mystery/horror about a queer family of ghost hunters who find themselves tangling with a small towns sinister entity. The beautiful cover was what initially drew me in but once I started reading this one I didn't want to put it down. Logan knows her dad's reality show is phony but once she arrives in Snakebite she begins to question her beliefs. Something dark and sinister is stalking the teens of the small town and targeting her family. Logan quickly realizes her family is keeping secrets that may hold the key to uncovering the truth. As the danger increases, Logan forms and unlikely bond with the town sweetheart, Ashley, who has a few secrets of her own. Together they struggle to piece together the mysterious disappearances before the killer strikes again. If you love paranormal mystery/horror then this is definitely a book to add to your read list for 2021!

oh my GOSH, this book was beautifully written, with a tensely woven plot and twists that kept me guessing! I'll be eagerly looking forward to what Gould writes next.