There’s just something about middle grade horror that oftentimes scares me more than YA or adult. I think it has a lot to do with how well authors like Lindsay know how to play off of our childhood fears.

For instance, The Shadow People. They reminded me way too much of the time I saw a shadowy figure in the upper corner of my childhood bedroom when I was a kid and probably explains why I am still afraid of the dark 😬

This story was such a spooky adventure and I loved every moment. I really enjoyed Ginny and Leo’s sibling rivalry/bond, and also Will and Ginny’s awkward first crush moments.

I loved that this book had such a happy ending. It was very sweet and had me smiling as soon as Ginny realized what the ghost wanted.

You know what’s super underrated? Middle grade horror. And yes, middle grade horror can be genuinely scary, unsettling, even more so than adult horror and books like Coraline, The Thickety (honestly some of the most memorable and unsettling books I’ve read in GENERAL let alone in middle grade) and Small Spaces are proof of that. Excessive gore, violence, and sex are not needed to make a book scary and middle grade horror strips horror down to its purest form: just pure, well written scares. Lindsay Currie is one of my newest spooky discoveries, and she writes spooky cute books with a touch of childlike innocence to them. I read Scritch Scratch prior to this one while it could’ve been scarier in my opinion, it was exciting to find another middle grade horror author who I instantly saw has the potential to write genuinely unsettling horror novels geared towards a younger audience.

This book sets the stage perfectly, giving me instant Haunting of Hill House vibes from the minute they arrive. Perfect backdrop: a centuries old reputable haunted house surrounded by equally haunted woods. How fun!

It was a bit predictable and not exactly scary tbh, but I enjoyed it. I can see this spooking a younger audience, but as an adult, I’ve read far scarier middle grade novels before. I liked it well enough but was it on the level of Small Spaces or Coraline? Not really. Enjoyable, but for older readers, not exactly scary. Still a fun Halloween read though, especially for younger readers!

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for sending me and advanced copy in return for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc! Lindsay Currie continues to be a masterful writer when it comes to middle grade spooky and mystery books! She will continue be an autobuy author for me!

Read this one with the lights on, no matter how old you are!

A budding mystery author, Ginny is looking forward to a summer writing workshop she's taking with her best friend, but when her dad takes a job at a creepy historical mansion in Michigan, her plans fly out the window. As soon as the families arrives at Woodmoor Manor unexpected, and often dangerous, things start happening. Can Ginny get to the bottom of this mystery before someone gets hurt or will the house claim another victim?

If you wanted a Goosebump's version of The Shining with a good ending, this is it.

Old houses are already great fuel for the imagination, but old mansions? Fantastic. The setting is perfect for our leading little lady Ginny, who is a huge Agatha Christie fan. That made me love her immensely from the get-go. Stuck in the old mansion for the summer with her older brother and parents while their dad renovates it, she is wary of the woods due to the locals' stories. Instead she finds a greater adventure inside the walls of the old mansion. Accompanied by her brother and a local book-loving boy, they set out to uncover the truth behind the creepy happenings. I was impatient to finish it when I was interrupted!

I loved all the Agatha Christie references, they're not too vague as to annoy people who haven't read her works but a nice hat tip to those who have. I'm still trying to decide if I like the title - is it a red herring like in the book? Or just a good title that doesn't really have to do with the bulk of the story? I do wish there was more about the Hitchhikers, aka what the title is alluding to. But it's a small complaint in the face of an otherwise great scary story.

Lindsay has done it yet again! Another chilling to the bone spooky story that keeps you on your toes the whole way through! I just had to keep reading to find out what clues Ginny would uncover next.

I really enjoyed the relationships between the characters that developed throughout the book (especially the one between Ginny and her brother).

I’ll be thinking back on this book for awhile and recommending it to others!

I have quickly become one of Lindsay Currie's biggest fans. She is a master storyteller, and is able to weave together tales of friendship and family, history and ghosts. What Lives in the Woods is Currie's best novel yet. On a trip to Michigan, Ginny Anderson uncovers a mystery at Woodmoor Manor. You won't be able to put this spine tingling page turner down!

This haunted house tale for middle-grade readers features Ginny, a kid whose newly found love of Agatha Christie novels has both informed her vocational plans and given her excellent strategies for dealing with a real-life mystery. It's summer, and Ginny's supposed to be taking a creative writing workshop with her best friend, building toward her goal of becoming an author. Instead Ginny's dad, who does historic house renovations, has been hired to help refurbish a dreary estate's image. Great summer getaway for the whole family, right? Nope. Even Ginny's snarky older brother can't help but notice some strange things about the old place. Between the solitude, the bad wiring, and the nonexistent phone service, even a budding new friendship with another vacationer can't salvage Ginny's summer, and if she doesn't find out why the house doesn't seem to want her there, she and her family could be in danger. This is excellent middle-grade horror with strong characters and relationships; even those who aren't normally into the scary stuff will enjoy this determined protagonist's story.

What Lives in the Woods is just the right amount of heart and suspense for younger readers. A ideal purchase for libraries needing spooky titles.

I have a confession to make. I have never read a Goosebumps book.

*GASP*

I know. It's terrible. Even as a kid I loved creepy things, ghost stories, and mysteries so I have no idea how I never picked one of those books up. I've seen Lindsay Currie's books be compared to the series multiple times and if the comparisons are right, I am definitely missing out.

This was a fantastic middle grade ghost story that was perfect to read in the summer. Saukatak Michigan was a great setting and I loved the descriptions of the creepy old mansion, Woodmoor. Ginny, an Agatha Christie-loving aspiring writer was such a fun protagonist. I loved her curiosity and I know I would've have related to her when I was younger as I think most kids who pick up this book will. It's nice to read about a mystery-loving character within a spooky mystery.

Lindsay Currie did a great job of setting the atmosphere for a spooky mystery that kept me turning the pages. There was enough action and creepy goings on that I needed to find out what was going to happen next. I definitely plan on going back and picking up Lindsay Currie's other two spooky MG titles, The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street and Scritch Scratch.

If you know a middle grader that likes scary books, mysteries, or ghost stories, this is a great one to pick up for them when it releases in September. Hey, if you're an adult that likes books like that, I still think you should pick it up ;)

Thanks to Sourcebooks Kids and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lindsay Currie is quickly becoming the queen of spooky mglit and this book is no exception. Mystery, suspense, ghosts, and lots of heart. I'd love to see a sequel featuring these characters.

Rating 4.5

This is the second book I’ve read by Lindsay Currie and I’m pleased to say it didn’t disappoint. I love her writing style and how easy the words flow together. I was never once confused or bored. The pacing of this book was on point. Since it is a mystery/suspense book it has to continually keep moving so the interest of the reader doesn’t get lost. Currie does a great job of building the suspense starting out with a little bit of eeriness then moving onto bigger and creepier scares. I chose to read this book only at night before bed and what a mistake that was! Even though I’m an adult and this book is marketed for middle grade I definitely got creeped out at certain points. But that only added to the fun of reading this book. Reading this book reminded me of reading “Goosebumps” as a kid. It gave me that same satisfaction and had the same type of creepy tone/feeling.

The main character Ginny Anderson is obsessed with Agatha Christie novels and plans on attending a writing workshop over summer vacation. Unfortunately, the dad gets a job to remodel Woodmoor Manor which means Ginny has to miss her writing workshop and stay at the Manor for a month. Before going Ginny finds out some local tales about the Manor being haunted and while staying there she witnesses some encounters herself. Ginny is forced to solve the mystery behind the Manor and find out if it is truly haunted or all in her imagination. I absolutely adored Ginny’s character. She had such a huge personality and I loved that she was into reading and writing. She is a quiet reserved person but she knows when and how to go after what she wants. She managed to keep her courage and strength no matter what the Manor threw her way. She was smart for her age and would use reason when faced with a problem and I liked that. I can see a lot of preteens learning from her or being able to relate to her. I enjoyed the side characters in the book. Her relationship with her brother was typical but nice to see. Her parents were loving and supportive. Her friendship with Will was cute and helped bring her out of her shell. I loved that they shared a mutual interest in books. Overall, this story was fantastic and I’m so glad I read it.

Should you read “What Lives in the Woods”?
Yes, Yes, Yes! I challenge you to read this book at night. It is such a great spooky/creepy/eerie read that will not disappoint you. Younger kids will find this story creepy as will adults. If you're looking for a scary haunted house story with heartwarming characters then this book is for you.

**Received an advanced copy through NetGalley in return for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. **

12 year old Ginny Anderson and her brother Leo think their summer is ruined when they find out they are spending a month at a run-down mansion called Woodmoor Manor in Saugatuck, MI. When they hear rumors of mutant creatures in the woods around the mansion they realize that it's not just run-down. How are they going to convince their parents to let them go home? Ginny meets a boy named Will who has a story of his own about Woodmoor. Together they decide to figure out what is going on. What Lives in the Woods gives us a phantom ticking clock, faceless mannequin, skeleton key, shadow people, creepy whispers and locked doors. With just the right amount of tension and suspense, Ginny, Leo, and Will follow the clues (and the clues in the clues) to solve the mystery. This is a fun book with a couple twists and turns that readers will enjoy.

This "middle grade gothic" is great for summer reading. All main character Ginny wants to do this summer is relax - and maybe write her first mystery novel. However, her family is going to stay in a mansion in the forest for a month. Sounds like it could be relaxing, right? Wrong. The woods around the mansion are reportedly full of mutants and locals whisper about people disappearing into these woods and never returning. Okay, maybe not so relaxing.

I was surprised and delighted by how creepy this novel actually was. It had a bunch of my favorite things - an isolated mansion, a plucky heroine, a gloomy setting, and something mysterious and dreadful lurking. I read this at night and actually had to put it down a couple of times - it was just the right amount of scary. If you're an Agatha Christie fan (I'm ambivalent), the AC connection in this novel will be really fun for you.

I want to buy a hard copy of this novel when it comes out. This is the first time I've read anything by Linday Currie, but now I'm interested in checking out her backlist.

3.5- 4 stars
This one is tricky.

Pros: just like Scritch Scratch, the creepy atmosphere and building suspense was awesome. I legit got goosebumps during some of the scenes and an old mansion is such a great creepy setting. The unraveling mystery was well executed and thought out and I liked the introduction to some basic mystery novels ideas, like Red Herrings and Agatha Christie's Detectives. Plus, Ginny, her brother Leo and new friend Will were all endearing and nice characters to root for.

(spoiler) Cons: Based on the title and description, I was really hoping for a mad scientist, chimera' animal monster story. Not that I don't love ghosts, and Currie obviously does them well, I just got super hyped for the idea of the Hitchhikers and urban legends and was disappointed once I realized that wasn't where the story was going. Also, I LOVED the aspect of true crime in Scritch Scratch and all the ghost stories based on real tragedies that happened Chicago, and even though I know this was meant to feel different, I really missed that aspect in this book.

Overall, this was a good, spooky middle grade novel with likeable characters and a great atmosphere. Thanks for Netgalley for the eArc!

What Lives in the Woods? That's for Ginny and her family to find out.
This is a chilling tale of ghosts and ghouls perfect for young fans of horror stories.
Ginny and her family have to spend the summer in an old, creepy, run down mansion, to make matters worse the local townspeople tell stories of monster's in the woods and ghosts in the house. When Ginny starts experiencing strange things she takes it upon her self to investigate Woodmoor manor and its past.

I was completely gripped with this story, it pulled me in and kept me reading from the first chapter.
So wrapped up in the chilling atmosphere of Woodmoor was I, that reading late into the night frightened the bejesus out of me, I had never expected to find a middle grade so delightfully scary!
Lindsay Currie paints the perfect picture of a haunted house and adds to that suspenseful and spooky events that horror and ghost fans love to create a story that keeps you guessing to the last chapter.

I really enjoyed the mystery writing references to Agatha Christie, inspiring Ginny to live her own mystery, find clues and inspire her own writing.

I flew through this book and delighted in all its characters, Ginny learns a lot throughout the story and matures in front of your eyes. The relationships between all the characters develop beautifully and and give a real sense of growth.
We see development between siblings, friends and parents and I loved the feel of those relationships by the end of the book compared to the opening chapters.

This book is perfectly timed in its release for a spooky Halloween read and I will certainly be recommending it. Il also be hoping and preying that Lindsay Currie returns to Woodmoor manor again some time in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Kids for an early ecopy of this book in exchange for my honest review, it was hugely enjoyable.

Ginny Anderson is looking forward to a mystery writing class with her best friend Erica the summer between 7th and 8th grades. What she receives instead was a month-long “vacation” in Woodmoor Manner, her father’s latest work project. So Ginny, her parents, and her brother, Leo pack up to head to Michigan. Upon arrival, Ginny discovers that not only does she have to give up her writing class, but she will also be staying in a dark, musty, hot, creepy 27 room mansion that does not seem happy with the family’s being there. Ginny, with the help of Leo and new friend, Will, hatches a plan to return home in time for the class.

Author, Lindsay Curry, does it again with this middle grades mystery/horror novel, What Lives In The Woods. She artfully weaves together setting, mood, and just enough doubt about the reliability of the narrator (Ginny) to keep readers turning pages and wanting to read beneath the covers with flashlights--unless they scare easily, like this reviewer. I would recommend this novel for 5th-8th graders. The possibility of “young love” between Ginny and Will coupled with the honest portrayal of many sibling relationships between Ginny and older brother Leo offer human drama which adds layers to the ghost/creepy aspects of the novel.

I really could not wait to get to the “scary” part of the novel. And “BAM!” When I thought that, I received the payoff in the next couple of pages. It was high intensity from then on. This the second of Curry’s novels that I’ve read, and I can honestly say--I am a fan!

This is a voluntary review in exchange for a free E-ARC. Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley.

Young aspiring writer Ginny Anderson and her family are moving into the mysterious Woodmoor Manor to spend the summer. Having recently found out about Agatha Christie, her curiosity towards the mystery surrounding the spooky manor was piqued even more. There, she discover moving mannequins, heard whispers in the dark and saw weird shadows among other things, suspecting that she’s the only one noticing these. She also befriended a boy in town named Will to help her investigate and try to solve these mysteries.

This was a very fun book to read. The characters are well-developed and all are very likable too. I particularly loved the dynamics between Ginny and her older brother Leo. As for the mystery part of the book, I thought it was well-paced within the story. I loved that there’s really this creepy atmosphere about the place and even its people. There was no gore in the book since it’s intended for the middle grade but the author is still very, very effective in setting the mood here.

If there’s one criticism I have for the book, it’s probably its ending. It just felt anticlimactic for me. I mean, it was happy and all but I would’ve pushed a bit, and expanded it a bit more. Overall, as a middle-grade novel, it’s absolutely a fantastic read – there’s mystery, great characters, fun and adventures and just a feel good ending. It’s easily one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read so far this year.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Kids for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really fun book. Ginny Anderson thought her summer was going to be fun. She thought she was going to writing camp but instead she gets to spend a month in Michigan at a spooky old mansion. Being from west Michigan made this story even more fun. I’ve been to the places described in the book. I really enjoyed how the author used inspiration for Woodmoor Manor and based off of the real Felt Mansion. Being a local I can say all the creepy stories really do circulate about the woods and mansion. I loved the accurate descriptions. I felt like I was actually in Saugatuck. The story was creepy without being gory or too disturbing for middle grade. I even found myself a little creeped out by the shadows in my room. My one tiny critique is I wish the ending had been more dramatic. I felt like it happened very fast and was just boom done. For all of the creepy things happening it felt almost too neat and tidy. Overall it was a good book and I would definitely recommend it. Even as an adult I enjoyed it.

Ginny isn't thrilled that she has to give up her summer writing camp with her best friend to spend a month in Woodmoor Manor, but since her father's job is to help renovate it, she doesn't have a choice. Her older brother Leo is a little more on board, but will miss playing basketball. The manor is a museum that needs lots of work, although there were previous renovations to bring the utilities up to code, and Ginny's room has a creepy, featureless mannequin in it. Right away, she hears the creepy whispering of her name... although that ends up being Leo playing around with the communication tubes. Every time something occurs, her father blames the old house and its vagaries even though there are local legends about creatures called hitchhikers that inhabit the woods that surrounds the house. Ginny tries to channel her fears into writing a mystery book like her favorite author, Agatha Christie, but is still terrified of the Shadow People who seems to be after her. She has an ally in Will, a local boy who works in the book store in town. He and his brother, Chris, had a terrifying experience there in the ballroom, and the two caution Ginny to be careful. But when mannequins move, typewriters write by themselves, and creatures with bloody red glowing eyes seem to be everywhere, is there any way for Ginny to be safe?
Strengths: As with all of the best mysteries, I can't say a whole lot lest I give away some of the delicious twists and turns. The creep factor on this one is just right for middle grade-- lots of creepy threats, but not a lot of blood and gore. The historical mystery behind the mystery is solid, and Ginny has the help of Leo and Will to solve it. As creeptastically good as this one is, though, what I liked best were the relationships. Leo is a fantastic big brother who alternates between trying to scare Ginny and supporting her. Will is a good friend, but there's also a bit of a crush, and they share a love of reading. The parents are both around and supportive, and the mother's attempts at baking on a catering scale are interesting to see. Currie's Scritch Scratch is solidly set in Chicago, but this summer trip to Saugatauk, Michigan also gives good descriptions of place.
Weaknesses: In my 25 years in a middle school library, I have never had an Agatha Christie fan, even though I love her work myself. (Although, really, Dorothy Sayers is a bit better!) This is not to say there aren't middle school fans of Christie's work, and maybe this will encourage readers to rescue Murder on the Orient Express from the middle of the Matt Christoper books.
What I really think: Definitely purchasing, and am very glad that I live in a neighborhood with more fields than woods near me! I'm just going to stay out of the woods for a little while...