This is a really compelling, haunting book with complex relationships between the main character and her fathers and also the way that towns treat outsiders. It’s a spooky mystery on top of everything too.

I am a fan of Courtney Gould's writing, so I was excited to read this paranormal YA thriller (even though paranormal is not usually my jam). I enjoyed how this book carried emotional depth with the characters along with the paranormal storyline. I think it's what made the difference for me.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with this book. All thoughts are my own.

4 stars

Generational secrets, the darkness within, and small town murders collide in this atmospheric and unputdownable debut.

Concept: ★★★
Pacing: ★★★★
Sense of unease: ★★★★★
Enjoyment: ★★★★

Watch out for the dark.

Wow, this was such an engaging young adult mystery. As an adult reader who can't seem to stay away from the young adult genre, sometimes there are stories that don't translate out of their age-appropriate market and I feel like I'm the one old person at the young people's party. The Dead and the Dark was not one of those books—I think this one will have more of an all-ages appeal.

In Snakebite, a small town with generations of secrets and shame, things don't change. Visitors never stay, residents don't leave, and those that are different are not welcomed.

Years ago, Logan's two dads left Snakebite under upsetting circumstances, several of which revolving around their status as the only gay couple in town. They've been a traveling duo ever since, with their paranormal TV series dragging them across the country along with their adopted daughter, Logan.

But when one of Logan's dads returns to Snakebite and his supposedly short trip turns into months and months, they family decides to return to Snakebite and see what's going on.

Someone's keeping secrets. And a boy is already missing.

I think The Dead and the Dark works best if you don't know too much about it going into the story, so I'm not going to share any more of the plot. In short: I thought this story took a while to get off of the ground (roughly 75 pages) but then once things started to unravel for Logan and the other characters I could not stop reading this one.

It's a bit ghost-y. A bit queer identity struggle. A bit of small town bigotry. A bit of a romance on the side. A bit of a cold-blooded killer.

This one sits at some interesting cross-sections, so I can see why some readers feel unsatisfied after finishing it. If you're here for just one thing, then the other bits feel like unwanted excess. But I, personally, was here for the entire experience and, outside of some occasionally clunky writing, I thought this story was extremely well done.

Looking forward to seeing Courtney Gould's growth in her next book.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

Paranormal activity is the central theme in The Dead and the Dark. Gould does weave a haunting and twisted tale that spans generations. The reader will feel every emotion Logan feels and her feeling of displacement in Snakebite. The plot is steady and consistent but there are many characters to keep track of. While the story was laid out well, the final encounter and explanation of the dark entity could have used a little more explaining to fully fill in the blanks.

If you're looking for a dark book that will blow your mind and make you feel like the earth is shattering, do yourself a favor and pick up this book.

Logan Ortiz-Woodley is taken to Snakebite, Oregon against her will with her dads to film for their TV show ParaSpectors. Even though Logan thinks she has never been to this town before, she immediately feels something off about the place and teenagers are going missing. The first teen to go missing was Ashley Burton's boyfriend and the only person she can trust is Logan, as much as they despise each other. As the two girls dig deeper into the secrets of Snakebite, family secrets are revealed and The Dark begins again.

I loved all of the great LGBTQ representation that the author included in this book. Having two gay dads and then their lesbian daughter could have been wrote as a cliche but the author did a great job with their roles and exploring how the small town was against their sexualities.

The book was absolutely spine-chilling scary with some crazy twists and turns that I did not anticipate nor see coming. If you are into paranormal/thriller/mystery books with a sapphic aspect, you will definitely enjoy this book. I just wouldn't recommend reading it at night like I made the mistake of doing.

*Many thanks to Wednesday Books for the free copy for my honest review*

I had to think about this one for a little bit before writing a review and I'm a little confused on the high praise. Not that this was a bad book but I found it rather slow and anti-climatic. I had high hopes due to the high praise but I'm disappointed. I still can't decide on my rating so I will just decide on the in between 3 stars. Thank you to netgalley for the advanced copy.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC copy to review in exchange for an honest review.

This book has so much all wrapped into one fantastic story. Ghost-hunting, romance, mystery, great characterization - it is dark, twisting, and so memorable - even months after initially reading. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves paranormal horror/mystery novels. Please give this one a try!

This book was quite interesting. I'm surprised I liked it as much as I did. It sucked me right in and held on.

THE DEAD AND THE DARK is a haunting story about generational trauma and hate, and the lengths people go to save the ones they love. I really found myself immersed in this story. The setting and the feel of this book was both super intriguing and haunting and had some really great Riverdale small town vibes with a paranormal slant to it, and that kind of setting will always hook me in. Gould's writing is really beautiful, and her voice is really poignant and her prose lyrical. I was mesmerized by it at times. I found Logan's story of adoption and her relationship with her parents to be particularly compelling as we return to Snakebite. Gould does a fantastic job laying out the mystery of what was truly happening to the kids disappearing from this small town and how it brings back ghosts of the pass. I was fascinated with the idea of "The Dark" as a sentient force, and through her deft prose Gould reveals areas of darkness in society when hate and ignorance are embraced instead of understanding and acceptance. What is truly dark in Snakebite isn't some supernatural force, but something that can reside in everyday people, and that message is truly haunting. THE DEAD AND THE DARK is a haunting story about family secrets, loss and of the long shadow cast by hatred, and I genuinely enjoyed every moment of it.

This story was not what I expected it to be and it was a little hard to get into it. Although, I did appreciate the themes it presented and the overall message of the story. My personal problem with it was that I could not get into the headspace of the main character as much I could have.

Queer
Romance
Horror
Mystery
Family
Twists
Ghost

This is the words that basically sums up this book. Definitely an enjoyable read.

Wow! The Dead and the Dark was one dark and twisted ya horror and I couldn’t get enough. This book was atmospheric and had everything you could want in a ghost story.

The only thing I found hard to believe was the relationship between Ashley and Logan. With everything else going on in the story their love felt to instant.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. I could see it turning into a mini tv series. I’ve never read a book like this before and recommend it to any horror lover. 4/5 Stars

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc copy in exchange for my honest review.

In this sapphic thriller we follow the dual point of views of Logan and Ashley. This story revolves around The Dark, something that goes around haunting people and taking over them.

This novel includes many different twists and has incredible pacing. Both of those combined made for a very interesting read! The characters are adapted quite well and made the characters seem very real.

The LGBT+ representation in this book is handled exceptionally. The main couple wasn't my favorite but they were still developed nicely. Logan had two dads who are both a big part of the story, their sexuality included. This story depicts that "homophobic small town" trope in an realistic manner.

Overall this was a great book that I would definitely suggest checking out!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Magnificent! Enthralling! Absorbing! This novel is like nothing I’ve read before. The town of Snakebite is described so well it’s like I’m there. The plot is perfectly paced. The twists keep you moving along. This is a plot driven story. The characters are a bit 2 dimensional but I am 100% okay with that. It allows the story to shine. And Logan and Ashley were likable. They had some depth, but no one really changed by the end. This book is atmospheric and you can feel the heat and oppression of Snakebite by the fourth chapter. It consumes you like the dark. Going to sing this books praises from the mountaintops!

Dark, atmospheric, and riveting, with shocking twists and compelling family drama among a queer main cast. Would definitely recommend!

I wanted to like this so much more than I did. Sapphic ghost hunters! Supernatural-esque family drama! But it wasn't for me. I found it very slow except for the falling in love, which was a bit too fast for my taste.

There were some things I REALLY liked about this. The atmosphere and setting of this small town was EVERYTHING. I liked the ghost story and the whole thing just felt very unsettling. But unfortunately, the characters really felt two dimensional and I never really got attached to anyone (except for her dads. They were precious)

Super Dark and so good! I couldn't put it down. This haunting in a small town was perfect for what I was looking for. I need a movie from this one. I could not believe that this was a debut it was just so good. This one will keep you on your toes as you read each chapter. Spooky and dark!

This was a pretty decent YA mystery/thriller/horror novel. I loved the diversity and the relationships between the characters. I would recommend it to readers that are new to the Mystery genre.

Wow! This book is intense. I don't read a lot of paranormal books, but I wanted to give this one a shot because of the glowing reviews. It was super dark, which I was not expecting. Definitely a great ghost story.