5 stars and a devoted fan for Brooke Lauren Davis. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an AudioARC in exchange for an honest review.

Roxie Clark is a fan of all things spooky. She hosts her own ghost tour telling of the demise of her ancestors at the hands of the dreaded "Clark curse". A year after the unsolved murder of Colin, her sister's boyfriend, Roxie and her sister Skylar begin to investigate the murder. Skylar is convinced that Colin's murderer is his half brother, Tristan....who happens to be Roxie's best friend. What truths will be uncovered? Or will the Clark curse bring more death Roxie and Skylar's way?

Y'all....this book.....is EVERYTHING YOU COULD WANT. The whodunnit is fantastic, but what really shines is the story telling. Not only did the author gift us with a great mystery, but all the stories Roxie shares on her ghost tour are just *chef's kiss*. THIS is true mastery of literature. Characters who pull you in, ghost stories that make your hair stand on end, and a pinch of romance make After Dark with Roxie Clark a top 5 book of the year for me so far!

Heavily recommended, especially with Halloween right around the corner. Five bright stars and anxiously waiting for this author's next project.

I keep telling myself that I should stop reading YA books because I just don’t seem to be into them anymore, but then a gem comes along that convinces me I should keep trying.

This wasn’t that gem. I’m just explaining why I read it. Haha

Listen. This was a decent story. The pacing was great and I was invested in knowing the outcome of the mystery. It certainly isn’t because it was YA that I came to feel “meh” about it. In fact, it felt more like a middle grade read (barring the underage drinking at parties, characters being able to drive, etc.). I have nothing against middle grade. I tend to have great luck with those books. But it’s bothersome when the characters are supposed to be on the cusp of adulthood yet they seem so much younger.

After Dark With Roxie Clark appealed to me because of the ghostly tour and the murder mystery, but what really sold it for me was the fact that it was described as “thought-provoking” in the blurb. That aspect, along with emotional depth, always draws me into a story. Unfortunately, the thoughts I had while reading this were probably not the ones it was meant to provoke. The novel was a disappointment in that area.

And then there was Skylar. Grieving Skylar. Wholly unlikable Skylar. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t have to like someone to experience empathy for them when they’ve endured something awful, but it would have been helpful for her character to have some nicer characteristics to balance her out.

I’ll give the author points for shocking me with the big reveal. I did not see that coming at all. But, like everything else, it did not prove satisfying. I found it to be quite over-the-top to the point of seeming silly.

But, ya know, I am a few decades older than the target audience and maybe that really is all there is to it. No matter what, I wasn’t the right reader for it, and I’m sure there are plenty of right readers out there.

I am immensely grateful to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for my audio review copy. All opinions are my own.

This mystery was fine - good for a one-time read. I like that it didn't go the way I thought it would and that I kept changing my guess on what happened.

I found it hard to tell the male characters apart at first. I'm not even sure why, but I just kept mixing up Tristan, Colin, and Jackson so that's probably why it took me a little longer to get into. Once I was into it, they were easy to tell apart. Just took a little bit.

Although I liked that the mystery kept me guessing, I thought some elements were a bit muddled. There's a "cursed" line of Clark girls, but not really. I also found the how/why of the bank robberies a bit unclear. So although I enjoyed the story just fine, I feel like I couldn't tell you much about it.

Over all, it was a good story with twist after twist till the very end. Although, it did take a few hours to get to the part when someone finally asks “who did it?” And starts the mystery. On top of this, there’s quite a bit of back and forth from present day to the past. With a physical copy this probably won’t be an issue, but with the audio version it took a few minutes to realize when that switch happened.

This was SO fun!!! It took me a second to really get into it, but when that first foot drops it just goes and goes until the book is over. What a great look of how grief can warp your reality and how your love for a family member can cloud your vision. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves a good mystery/thriller!

5 Haunted Stars for Roxie Clark After Dark!

In the beginning of the book After Dark with Roxie Clark it didn't feel much like a mystery. It started with some spooky ghost stories (which I loved) and some character building. I complain a lot about how most mysteries don't do that but this one excelled in character development as well as unfurling a mystery that I couldn't solve right up until Roxie knew what really happened.

At its core the book is the entwined story of two sets of siblings who are also entwined with each other. Most of the book tells about Roxie and her sister, Skylar, and all the way the Clark women have met their deaths via a curse or maybe bad choices or bad luck. This one has a lot of good Halloween stuff and a lovable main character who adores the macabre. Along the way we meet a lot of side characters most of whom I suspected of being the killer at one point or another. This one is akin to taking a long walk and not knowing what's around the next turn.

It also explores how stories tie us to the past and the future and how they keep us connected to those who aren't here anymore. I'd recommend this one to anyone who likes a good YA mystery with a lot of Halloween vibes, character building/growth, and of course a mystery I didn't solve.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an early arc of this book.

This was really fun and was easy to read! It was a bit tough in the beginning getting through the "not like other girls" jargon but if you can get past it, it ends up being a fun read.

After Dark with Roxie Clark
by Brooke Lauren Davis 

Hey Brooke Davis I'll give you 5 out of 5 birds for After Dark with Roxie Clark. Now I wish I was still having more kids so I could name a little girl Roxie, I loved her character. I could totally relate.... being the one person who likes really dark crap and am fascinated with it and everyone else is like "girl you're crazy." Roxie and I felt like kindred spirits. This book was as twisty as a maze. I think it's a perfect YA thriller/mystery read. I thought it wasn't scary, there were maybe a few swear words but pretty clean. I'd let me teen read it. I thought the atmosphere of the book was well done and the mystery itself was not what I expected. Overall, I really liked it and would recommend as a creepy Halloween read! Thank you to Netgalley for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

#amreading #mrsbirdswords #booklover #Bibliophile #bookaddict #bookreccomendation #goodreads #fiction #bookshelf #YAHorror #YAThriller #YAmystery #goodreads #contemporaryYA #brookelaurendavis #AfterDarkwithRoxieClark #netgalley

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an advanced audio book in exchange for an honest review.

4+ stars

Roxie Clark spends her time researching her cursed family and giving ghost tours. Her sister Skylar’s boyfriend was murdered a year ago and the killer was never caught. Roxie helps Skylar figure out what really happened to Colin.

I loved Roxie so much. Great character who was very interesting with unusual hobbies. I loved hearing her family stories during her ghost tours.

Excellent narration by Jordan Killam.

I was so confused but in a good way. Roxie was a great character. I liked that she liked spooky things had her own business. I don’t care much for her sister and the mystery was sad to solve.

This was a really quick and entertaining YA thriller. Skyler was annoying at times, but I guess it made sense how obsessive and had a one-track mind, considering her grief. There were some repetitive phrases and it got ridiculous over half-way though. But I still liked it and I would recommend it for anyone looking for a good YA thriller.

This was a fun mystery that got real dark real quick. I thought I knew where the end reveal was going, but I was actually caught off guard by which way it went in the end. It was all longer than expected, but it kept moving really fast which I was excited about. I would absolutely recommend or read again.

After Dark with Roxie Clark isn't a typical whodunit, it explored grief and family and friendship, I was surprised at how well it was done and how much I cared about the characters and what happened. Add on top of that great characterization, dark, twisty plot, MC that's obsessed with hauntings and true crime, a possible family curse (AND MORE) and this was a great read for me! I listened to this on audio and it was fantastic, perfectly paced and utterly engrossing! Perfect for spooky season, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it's a new favorite YA mystery/thriller of mine!

ROXY CLARK AFTER DARK is a mix of mystery, thriller, and teen drama. At times it seemed to tip more teen drama at times more mystery. I liked the main character, Roxy, her ghost obsession, and love for all things creepy.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Brooke Lauren Davis for providing me with a complimentary digital audiobook ARC for After Dark With Roxie Clark coming out October 4, 2022. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Roxie Clark is a member of the renown cursed Clark family. Her ancestors and even her mother have died tragically. She chooses to make the most of her tragedy by giving ghost tours of her gruesome family history. However, nothing prepares her for finding her sister Skylar’s boyfriend Colin Riley, murdered in a cornfield. 

A year later, Roxie's desperate to help Skylar find closure and heal. Skylar is still angry and wants to find the killer. As they work together to find out what happened, they find more people who have lied about that night. Can they solve the case and find the killer?

Roxie has a crush on Colin’s brother Tristian, but Skylar starts to think Tristian killed Colin. I know Skylar is grieving, but sometimes I thought she was pretty cruel to Roxie. I was slightly annoyed with how she treated her when she was trying to help.

Overall, I loved this story! It kind of surprised me because I didn’t know what to expect. It was definitely fun to listen to. It had all of my favorite plot points. I loved the Halloween spooky vibes.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys creepy murder and ghostly stories.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. "After Dark With Roxie Clark" was a very engaging mystery novel. It reminded me of Truly Devious meets A Good Girl'S Guide to Murder. Roxie was a fun and unusual heroine who loves history and horror. She leads the a ghost hunting tour based around the deaths and mysteries of her own ancestors. One death is off limits. A year ago her older sister Skylar's boyfriend Colin was brutally murdered. He and his brother Tristan were the closest friends Roxie and Skylar had. Now Skylar is withdrawn and brokenhearted and Tristan seems to be struggling with his own, secret problems. A series of events cause Skylar and Roxie to be thrown into a search for Colin's killer. All the clues seem to point to someone who might be close to them. I'm struggling now to not give away plot points or hints at the book's outcome. I will say that the final twist in the book did push my suspension of disbelief a bit. Not in a 'that could never happen' way but more in a 'that is so unlikely to ever happen' way. Still I enjoyed these characters, especially Roxie and her grandma, and enjoyed all the clues and hunts for the killer. I really could see this becoming a series as Roxie is just such a strong character. It doesn't appear to be one for now, but maybe if other readers enjoy this and scream it loudly to others, that could happen.

After Dark with Roxie Clark is a story about grief, how people make sense of tragedy, and the lengths that people will go to because they love somebody. There are some spooky moments, teenage angst, and a cast of relatable characters who each deal with death in their own ways. Davis treats each character with compassion, and even the unlikable characters tend to have redeeming qualities that show the complexity of people as neither entirely good or bad.

I love unreliable narrators, and Roxie Clark is an unreliable narrator, but also a natural born storyteller. Sometimes she takes risks and she spins tales that may not all be entirely accurate, but she is intent on seeing her ancestors and their tragedies as a story to be told, instead of a curse that is coming to get her. Her sister is her polar opposite, logical to a fault. Both have experienced tragedy, both distant with the loss of family, and more recently with the loss of a boyfriend / friend. Roxie has her ghost tour and throws herself into her business, and Skylar shuts down entirely.

The sisterly dynamics in this book are authentic and possibly some of the most authentic I've seen in YA. Both sisters make mistakes in their relationship. Both sisters have good moments in their relationship. Neither sister can read the other's mind, and thus some conflict is unavoidable.

Jordan Killam, the audiobook narrator was fantastic, keeping the story interesting from beginning to end. Some of this was just the excellent writing by the author, but much of it came from the talent of the reader.

This is a perfect read for the Halloween season combining a murder mystery, family secrets, and how sisterhood can both make and break you.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook ARC. All opinions are my own.

After Dark with Roxie Clark by Brooke Lauren Davis
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Genre: 𝐲𝐚 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫
Format: 𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤
Length: 𝟗 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝟒𝟕 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬
Narrator: 𝐉𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐧 𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐦
Trigger Warnings: 𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡, 𝐦𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫, 𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞

📌Release Date: 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟒𝐭𝐡, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘦 𝘔𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘦-𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.

“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥.”

This book was a spooky good time! It was the perfect way to get into the fall season.

✨Read this book if you enjoy✨
All the spooky vibes
Murder mysteries
Family dynamics
Young love and heartbreak

I was so excited to get approved for this arc because there is nothing I love more than a good halloween / spooky vibe book.

The women in Roxie’s family are cursed, no really, most of them have died in unexpected accidents throughout the years. Roxie has spent most of her life learning about her ancestors and using these stories to improve her local ghost tour.

But Roxie’s life gets more complicated when a new body is found in town, her sister’s boyfriend, Colin. Now a year after his death, Skylar (Roxie's sister) is still very much a shell of herself. Until one day, Skylar decides that she is going to solve Colin’s murder and asks Roxie for help. But their investigation uncovers more truth than either of them could have expected.

Do yourself a favor and add this one to your spooky TBR. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. So much that sometimes I would completely ignore my responsibilities because I couldn’t stop listening, I had to know what was happening next.

The reasons I decided to give this book 4 stars instead of five are:
1. Skylar was driving me insane 90% of this book. I get she’s grieving but her bias was frustrating to say the least.
2. The ending felt a little rushed, I still don’t know how everything worked out exactly.

What I really enjoyed:
- Roxie was such a fun main character, I loved being inside her head. I would absolutely be friends with her. She’s creative, driven and all sorts of weird.
- Tristian, I am a Tristan Stan forever. Misunderstood love interest? Yes please.
- The murder mystery was done well, I genuinely had no idea who killed Colin until it was revealed.
- I loved learning about Roxie’s family and their curse, her haunted ghost tour was so fun and definitely something I would go to in real life.

I really enjoyed about the first 75% of this book! I loved how it gave A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder vibes and I really liked Tristan and Roxie’s relationship. It started to take a turn when Skylar started being a jerk and the whole murder plot seemed to get even more far fetched. I had a hard time buying into the fact that Skylar was so very smart but was completely fixated on Tristan being the murderer and completely missed some glaring inconsistencies.
I felt like while the mystery was solved at the end, the twists were too over the top and it didn’t feel resolved enough for me.
The narrator had her moments but at times seemed too robotic and matter of fact for a fun, ghosting, mystery story.

Fantastic YA thriller.
Skyler Is a jerk She's such an Elsa.. Her mind was so closed to all other options and was so rude to Roxie the whole time. Such a whiny brat.