When I saw this book described as Riverdale meets Stephen King I was sold.
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In the town of Snakebite, Oregon teens are disappearing, the weather is not normal and all signs point to the tv ghost hunters who are in town.
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The ghost hunters show, ParaSpectators is hosted by a couple. The dads came to Snakebite along with their daughter Logan to scout for the show. Logan meets Ashley, who’s boyfriend was the first to go missing. In a small town every web is weaved and there are mysterious circumstances around every corner.
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Ashley and Logan investigate who or what is haunting Snakebite in this fast paced book with an ending I didn’t see coming.

Suspense. Missing teens. Ghosts.

It has it all. I loved the eerie chapters and the representation of queer characters. It is really well written and kept me on my toes.

If you like YA mystery/thrillers then I recommend this book. A teenage boy disappears from a small town just when a family who left years ago return. This is told in two point of views. It has a lot of twist and turns and a supernatural element that had me guessing until the very end.
The narrators did a great job with the audiobook as well.

The Dead and the Dark was an emotional read that was more than a mysterious ghost story – at its heart, it examined family and the ugliness of homophobia.

Logan’s two dads traveled across the country looking for the next ghost story to highlight on their TV show “ParaSpectors.” Logan’s family is quickly uprooted from Los Angeles to Snakebite, Oregon, a small town that Logan’s dads seemed to know intimately. When teenagers go missing, Logan teams up with a local girl who help clear her dads’ names and discover what darkness is infecting the town.

The Dead and the Dark delivers in the spooky while also digging deep into both family and small-town secrets. On the surface, The Dead and the Dark a simple ghost story with one girl trying to clear her dad’s name and another grieving her boyfriend’s disappearance. Gould also explores the complexity of sexuality and concludes in a sweet relationship between Logan and Ashley. Lastly, The Dead and the Dark is a story about family, acceptance, and all of the messiness that comes with it. Interspersed with scenes from ParaSpectors episodes, The Dead and the Dark is a reading experience that cannot be missed.

Audiobook fans will recognize Soneela Nankani almost immediately. Nankani’s performance drew me in as she embodied the darkness that lived in the sleepy town and both Ashley and Logan who were both at a crossroads in their lives. I highly recommend the audio as it makes for a more engaging listen.

The Dead and the Dark is a ghost story that will stay with you for a long time.

A pretty creepy and cool atmospheric paranormal thriller!

I thought this was good, though I found it to be a bit on the slow side. I thought the story was well thought out but I was hoping for a bit more oomph. The father-daughter relationships was nice to read and I enjoyed the LGBTQ+ themes. Overall, I think it was a good story, very spooky and mysterious but just wanted a bit more. That being said I am still looking forward to see what this author does next.

The Dead and the Dark is a chilling, yet absolutely stunning debut.

In the small town of Snakebite, Oregon, mysterious things are afoot. From missing (and occasionally murdered) teenagers to unfathomable weather, no one knows what to make of it. When Logan Ortiz-Woodley shows up with her über-famous fathers (and hosts of one of the most popular ghost hunting shows on broadcast television -- ParaSpectors), the town seems to speak to her.

Local teen, Ashley Barton has been dealing with her boyfriend's mysterious disappearance and his subsequent haunting. His ghost won't leave her alone and she's not sure who to turn to, but Logan seems to be her best, and possibly only, option. The two teens decide to team up and figure out what is happening in Snakebite, no matter what the truth may cost them. Neither the teens nor their families are ready for the danger that accompanies what they discover, and neither Logan nor Ashley are ready to admit what they could really mean to each other.

This book got under my skin. I found myself looking over my shoulder IN MY OWN HOUSE. That's how you know it's good. Because I listened to it, I was able to picture the scenes as they were described. I also loved the LGBTQIA+ representation in this book, as it opened yet another genre for writers and readers to enjoy. A ghost-hunting novel with sapphic leads is the perfect way to warm up for everyone's favorite season (yes, I'm talking about Halloween, and yes I'm aware it's July... 'Tis the season). I loved how Gould created a multi-dimensional narrative of grief, darkness, and love all in one book.
I highly recommend this book and hope you enjoy it as much as I have. I can't wait to get my hands on this book when it's released.

Trigger Warnings for TDatD: homophobia, child death, murder, slurs, drowning, and claustrophobia.

Overall rating: 4.5/5 (rounded to 4)

The Dead and the Dark will be available for purchase on August 3rd. Be sure to add it to your Goodreads shelf and see where it's available to buy. Also, be sure to check out Courtney Gould’s website!
I was lucky enough to be able to read this Advanced Reader's Copy through my partnership with NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Something is soo wrong, so very wrong in Snakebite, Oregon.
The teenagers are disappearing.
The weather is abnormal.
Some of the teenagers are being found dead.
The whole town is on edge and they love to blame a local who has turned into a popular to a TV's most popular ghost hunter who has recently returned to the town with his family.
Ashley's boyfriend was the first one to disappear and she has been seeing his ghost and feeling his presence around her. Her friends worry about her and do not really understand everything that Ashley says she teams up with the ghost hunter's daughter Logan.
Since Logan and her fathers have returned to Snakebite, she feels that something has been wrong since they got there and has a feeling there are many more secrets than what she originally thought!
This was an amazing read! This is definitely a creepier read and for the fans of LGBTQIA+ friendly.
Now, this may be a trigger for some because this book does deal with some serious issues like homophobia, depression/loneliness, and grief.
But, do not let that deter you from picking up this book! I absolutely adored the relationships that were made especially with Logan and Ashley! I loved the spooky/mysterious aspect! This is perfect for a weekend spooky read! For this being this author's debut, I am really excited to see her next work!
I listened to the audiobook thanks to Netgalley & Macmillian Audio for the opportunity to read this one!

The Dead and the Dark is a mystery thriller in a small town that had all the creepy vibes of those ghost hunter shows. This YA follows Ashley trying to figure out what happened to her boyfriend. Then all her friends start to mysteriously go missing too. Logan Ortiz-Woodley and her two well-known ghost hunting fathers come to town, and quickly Logan is the only person Ashley can trust to solve this mystery.

I did a combination of listening and reading this book. It held my attention the whole time because I needed to know what happened to this small town. I also appreciated the LGBT and BIPOC representation in the characters. I would recommend this YA paranormal thriller. You won’t guess what happens.

Thank you, St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan, and NetGalley, for my ebook ARC and ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Thoroughly enjoyed! I’m always a bit hesitant with a book geared toward the supernatural but It felt more mystery bound then supernatural, overall. In a way it reminded me of The Sixth Sense because I wasn’t sure what was going on with the characters. Although it was easy to follow, I truly had no idea as to where the ending was going to go and I LOVE that! Although it didn’t take course over a long period of time, the character growth and honesty was superb - they get like people you knew who are growing through things you can relate to (for the most part!). As someone who isn’t a huge reader of YA novels, I would recommend this to anyone & everyone who enjoys a good mystery!

Yessss I chose this book based on the cover from the Thriller category. I had no idea what to expect. I finished this last night.

Well Snakebite, Oregon has a problem. Teenagers are going missing.

Logan & her 2 dads show up in Snakebite. The dads have a Snakebite history. One dad is compassionate & the other feels a little stand offish. The dads are ghost hunters. Logan is a lesbian. The small town is homophobic & fearful hate mongers prevail.

Logan meets 2 “cousins” at the Bates motel. That took me out & drew me into the book. The two boys are uber gamer nerds.

Logan is isolated and lonely. The book deals with this well. She meets Ashly who is the GF of the latest missing boy. They have a connection.

More kids vanish. The girls become closer & share their spooky/creepy stories.

Logan & her fathers are the targets of hate crimes & are thought to have brought the bad times back to town.

Atmospheric, supernatural, psychological, thriller. A lonely outcast in a fear & hate-filled small town.

Things happen, murder, attempted murder, something supernatural, something human, it’s a little bit all over the place but it’s a fun ride. The character interaction is believable.

It took me a little longer than usual to get into the book, possibly 20-25% before I was hooked but then I read it strait through. I personally enjoyed it and it had a good ending.

Thank you NetGalley & the publisher for providing me with a copy of the audiobook.

A modern and extremely fun book to listen to. Narration was fantastic. I did not expect this story to end at all the way that it did and it was honestly the perfect ending to a great story. I could definitely see this being turned into a movie or show.

I thoroughly enjoyed this mysterious ghostly read. I felt just as lost and frustrated as our main characters, Logan and Ashley, n the best way possible. The way the story plays out you feel the creeping dread of not knowing what’s happening, what’s real, or what’s imagined. It’s a ghost story unlike ghost stories I’ve read before. The ending was satisfying and while some stories either end too quickly or drag on, this one didn’t. The resolution made sense and the author gave it just the right attention it needed.

The narrator managed to embody the ghostly feel as well, particularly during the “interludes”. Definitely a good eerie read to pick up.

The Dead and the Dark is a fascinating and unique thriller. The novel takes a unique celebrity reality tv couple and rips the sheen off to expose the flawed humans beneath. Told through the eyes and experiences of their daughter, it's a fascinating look at the consequences that can follow us throughout our lives.

This was good but not great. I enjoyed the story but was hoping for more depth and a more unsettling/creepy atmosphere. The relationships were not as fleshed out as I would have liked. I I am excited to see what this author does next, though.

A very cool supernatural thriller. I can sort of see where the comparisons to Riverdale come in. Only Archie would be the first victim.
Logan Ortiz-Woodley is in the tiny town of Snakebite, OR so that her fathers, who star in a paranormal ghost-hunter-type show, can scout a location for their tv series. Only it comes to light that her fathers actually grew up in the small-minded town of Snakebite. And it's not a friendly place. Kids are being murdered and no one can figure out who is killing them. Unfortunately, the murder and the weird weather and the other paranormal happenings seem to coincide with Brandon Woodley coming to town 6 months before Logan and her other dad, It seems like Logan might be the only one who can help figure out exactly what is happening in Snakebite.

*Special thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this audio version.*

Thank you to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, Macmillan Audio, Courtney Gould, and Soneela Nankani (narrator) for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook of The Dead and the Dark in exchange for an honest review.

I used the NetGalley Shelf app to listen to this audiobook. The audio narrator, Soneela Nankani, did an excellent job portraying the two different narrative perspectives of Logan and Ashley.

Logan accompanies her two fathers to a small town called Snakebite. It's just another location to film their show ParaSpectors. But when teenagers start mysteriously disappearing, heads begin to turn to Logan's family.

Ashley's boyfriend was the first teen to go missing. She holds out hope that he is still alive. She doesn't have much interest in Logan and her fathers' TV show, only that it seems odd that they had been in town for months without filming, and teens begin to go missing. Coincidence?

Logan and Ashley learn to work together to solve the mystery of the missing teens. They might find out more than just solving the mystery: they may find they are interested in being more than friends. Logan also learns that one of her dad's might just have a dark secret in his past when it comes to the town of Snakebite.

This is a highly enjoyable listen. It is always fun in a mystery to try and solve it while reading along. This novel took a twist I did not expect with the culprit, and the "dark" mentioned in the title seems to be a more foreboding fantastical presence, which only slightly dissociates the realism of the novel. The relationships of family, friendships, and romances in this novel are developed well, and the reader is tagged along for the ride of solving the mystery right alongside Logan and Ashley. This is a great thrilling mystery for young adult readers and listeners that doesn't get too frightening or too graphic. It's perfect for early appreciators of the genre, and the audiobook is a definite recommend.

The Dead and the Dark is the story of a high school girl who is moved around the country by her dads' who run a ghost tv show, until one day they end up back in their hometown investigating murders/missing teens. This story had lots of LGBT+ rep along with some dark themes, lots of murder and mayhem.

Unfortunately I couldn't get into the story. I felt like the mystery element didn't pull me in to the book, and then none of the characters felt well rounded enough, I really was interested in the relationship between Logan and her fathers, but over time I wanted more to happen with her other relationships. Generally I was just bored by the story and felt the ending was VERY predictable. I think if you absolutely love YA Mysteries this would be one you enjoy, but it didn't feel special to me beyond the LGBT+ aspects.

I also had a hard time hearing the narrator. I think this had more to do with Netgalley's app than the actual narration, but it was something I wanted to mention.

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for giving me a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Kids have been disappearing from Sanekbite, Oregon, and when Logan and her fathers (hosts of the show ParaSpectors) show up, everything is wrong. Logan meets Ashlet, who's boyfriend Tristian just went missing helps Logan try to solve the mysterie surrounding this small, conservative town.

I love a good paranormal story, especially something set in the PNW! I will say while it started and ended a bit spooky, I felt that the book asa whole had very little paranormal activity in it. I think that was the biggest draw back. I was so ready for lots of spookiness!

I did like the sweet friendship-turned-romance between the two, and the twist at the end really saved it for me. Overall, a pretty decent read and a great narrator with good pacing!

I didn't realize how much I enjoyed this until I caught myself telling my friend over and over what was happening. I don't read many paranormal mysteries because it usually means there will be an unrealistic twist but I was happy with the way the ending played out-- even if I hoped for one more final twist on the last page. You'll like this book if you like: mysteries, paranormal experiences, books about teens coming into their own, and stories about small town culture and life. I like this book more each time I think about it. I listen to most of my books so I was excited when the publisher and NetGalley let me download the book early. The narrator is good and I found myself looking for opportunities to listen.

I don’t often read YA, as a 42-year-old, but I was fortunate to receive this book from Macmillan Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for my review. I’m a lifelong reader and decided to view it through my 17-year-old eyes. I didn’t need to. This story is unique, the characters beautifully-developed and interesting. I was invested quickly and it never let me down.

I will seek out more from this author and definitely recommend this book, it’s a perfect Summer read!