If you enjoy YA mystery/thriller genre, then I recommend you pick up this book. It is told from two different POV's. A teenage boy goes missing around the same time a family who left shows up.. The story is full of so many twists and turns, it kept me guessing until the end.

This has got to be one of the top YA paranormal love stories I’ve ever read or listened to. Not that I’m putting is squarely in these genres – there are also strong elements of horror and mystery and a fair amount of thriller vibes to really get your blood pumping!

There are so many things I loved about this book set in Snakebite, a small tight community in Oregon. It is remote and it is unforgiving and the people there don’t like different. When one of Logans ghost hunting dads’ heads back to Snakebite to get a feel for the next show, Logan and her other dad, Alejo soon follow. They’re met with contempt, judgement and suspicion and soon Logan finds out why; not long after her dad Brandon arrives, a local boy goes missing. Soon kids are being murdered and the obvious signs point to Logans dads but there could be something darker at work.

There are many secrets within this novel and the slow revealing of them is delicious and dark; Brandon and Alejo, originally from Snakebite have plenty of secrets but the town itself has a few of their own and Logan is determined to find out how they all tie together. She’s aided in this by Ashley, the girlfriend of missing teen Tristan and soon an alliance forms earning a negative response from the townsfolk.

TDATD has the perfect haunting atmosphere with characters that I grew to love, it has twists that are beautifully plotted and a pace that kept me engaged – literally turning pages and listening until I finished in just under two days. It is terrifyingly creepy and I loved every word. Ghostly apparitions, demonic dark voices, LGBTQ+ Rep and small town secrets are cat nip to this little kitty soul.
TW: Murder/Death, Homophobia, Gore, Child Death

Wow, what a dark and twisty book. This was a great debut novel by Courtney Gould! This book is so atmospheric and creepy from its first pages to its last. It had me turning page after page, wanting to find out what would happen next. Horror isn't my genre of choice, but I occasionally like to pick up a creepy book and this book fit the bill.

What makes this even more amazing is that this book looks like it is strictly a horror novel, about missing teens, but it is a look at being queer in a small town and even more a look at father-daughter relationships. Gould does a great job of capturing a small town in Snakebite, as well as the politics that often exist within these small towns. I wasn't only gripped by the horror aspect, wanting to find out what would happen next, but by the story of family, relationships and friendships.

Overall this was an excellent novel, and I pretty much loved everything about it. The atmosphere and relationships made this top notch. Courtney Gould's debut was excellent and I look forward to seeing what she comes out with next. I received a copy of this from NetGalley and the publisher for an open and honest review. All opinions are 100% mine.

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.

4.5 stars rounded up,

Courtney Gould really reached into my chest and tore out my poor gay heart with this one.

I don't typically love YA horror, but The Dead and the Dark's perfect balance of supernatural elements and claustrophobic small town vibes really really worked to build a sense of dread that kept the story moving forwards. As a queer person who, for a time, lived in a stiflingly small community, I relate so much to the feeling of being so full of sadness and loneliness and rage that Logan's dad felt, and that Logan feels. There's a point where it's too much to bear and it just feels like it is going to explode out of you, and the idea of all of that feeding this malevolent force created by the hatred and anger of the town. I literally want to scream about this forever.

Courtney Gould perfectly captures what it's like to live in a small, tight knit community, and what it's like to arrive as an outsider. Simultaneously everyone knows everyone else's business and yet the town is so full of secrets. I also found it really interesting that it was hard to guess who the host was because The Dark literally came from the people who lived in Snakebite and the hate and anger that had been passed down for generations. The behaviour of the townsfolk was just as sinister as that of The Dark, which made the story that much more compelling.

I definitely see where other reviewers are coming from with the pacing of Logan and Ashley's relationship, and it's definitely the piece keeping The Dead and the Dark from being a five star read in my opinion. But, I also get that there's also a relatable aspect of being in a grade with a dozen people and suddenly having one person change everything. Things move differently when something you've never considered suddenly becomes an option. Still though, Ashley's witness statement and her reaction to the lake thing are...... questionable at best.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed The Dead and the Dark and I look forward to checking out Echo Sunset and more from Courtney Gould.

TWs: homophobia, slurs, hate crimes, child death, murder, claustrophobia (buried alive), drowning, attempted murder, funeral, grief, police (as always we love an author who includes content warnings in their books)

This ARC was provided to me from Wednesday Books in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars

I want to start off by saying that I think my expectations were too high at the start, so high that any book probably wouldn’t have lived up to them.
I loved the concept of this book, loved the exploration of grief, loved the atmosphere of Snakebite, but there were some things that just didn’t work great for me. Ashley and Logan’s relationship felt like instalove, and also had some very questionable decisions happen in the second half of the book. I felt like the Dark could have been creepier or done in a better way. But all in all, it was enjoyable and a fun fast read.

An interesting read. Dark and twisty. I was not too interested in the main characters but the book kept my attention. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

This was really really creepy and compelling. I agree with other reviews that the relationship was not the strongest part of the story, but I did feel as though Ashley and Logan were both really well-developed: I certainly didn't agree with everything they did but they were certainly fleshed out.

Mystery wise, this did keep me guessing until the very end and it all did come together quite nicely. Not a super shocking reveal but it was well built up.

The creepy small-town vibes were top tier and I'd love to reread this on a spooky fall night!!

Billed as a paranormal thriller, The Dead and The Dark takes place in a small town. We follow a family, two dad's and their freshly graduated daughter Logan. Who also happens to be gay.

One member of the family is Hispanic. He occasionally speaks Spanish and we learn that Logan has been attempting to learn it as well but he's not around to help her practice much.

Why? Because her father's have a ghost hunting show that takes them around the country. Logan gets moved around and hasn't had a place that feels like home. Everywhere's been temporary.

Her relationship with her father Brandon is cold. It really did hurt to see the distance between them.

I love paranormal thrillers and the concept of this book was amazing. It was just so slow. There's slow burn and then there's "I'm bored". And I got bored.

Not because the writing was bad, it wasn't. It was actually nice to read. I just got so bored waiting for something to happen.

We do get a few chapters from the dark's point of view which was an interesting touch.

I'm giving the book three stars. There's a Sapphic romance sublot which didn't really sit right with me and I wish it had.

Why? Because the love interest is looking for her missing boyfriend. She and Logan spend a lot of time together and fall for each other. While the love interest is still looking for her missing boyfriend.
It felt gross.

This is where the spoilers come in so the rest of this will be available on my blog theworldsbetweenpages.wordpress.com

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for access to this ARC

In theory, I should have LOVED this book. But the reality was that this book fell flat for me. The characters were mostly annoying (and not in a good way) and I just wasn't able to get sucked into the story like I wish I could've. So it's a pass for me.

A paranormal thriller, The Dead and The Dark, is a YA debut novel by Courtney Gould. The story takes place in the small town of Snakebite in Oregon where children have gone missing since the arrival TV personality who hunts ghosts.

”The Dark has been waiting - and it won’t stay hidden any longer.”

An entertaining, unique paranormal story with a romance subplot. The book left me longing for more as the ending felt abrupt. What happens to the show, the dads and the town?

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for the complimentary copy.

The fact that this is a DEBUT novel. WOW! I cannot wait to read more by this author. We start this book off by following Logan as she travels to Snakebite, Oregon with her ghost hunting fathers. There has always been something off about Snakebite and now a boy named Tristan has gone missing. Logan eventually meets up with Ashley, Tristan’s girlfriend, as they try to discover what happened to Tristan and what is going on in this town. This book deals with homophobia, darkness, grief and most importantly love. Because Love is the only thing that can truly beat the dark. This book gave me riverdale/ supernatural vibes with all the ghost hunting. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review

It has been a hot minute for me since I've cried as hard as I did over a book like this one. That being said, it was a truly joyous experience even if it got me all in my feels. I'm going to say a little bit below in my review that isn't exactly a spoiler but it does give away a little bit of content. For everyone interested in this book, I think you should go in blind with nothing more than the summary. The way the plot unfolded was a joy to read. I think Courtney Gould is going to be an author to look out for.

Snakebite, Oregon is not a normal town. It wasn't normal ten or so years ago when Brandon and Alejo Oritz-Woodley were driven out and it is certainly not normal now that kids are going missing. Since leaving, Brandon and Alejo have made a name for themselves as TV ghost hunters. One clear downside is that the nature of the television show has left them and their daughter Logan unable to put down roots. When something takes them all back to Snakebite, what are they going to find?

Another abnormal part is that people don't leave Snakebite. Ashley Barton has grown up in Snakebite and until her boyfriend went missing, she viewed it as the perfect place to live. But things feel different in Snakebite--things that the adults say they have felt before.

Courtney Gould's decision to have the Dark, in part, be a physical manifestation of homophobia, prejudice, hatred, and pain is so poignant. It provides incredible commentary on the pervasiveness of hatred and how it breeds in environments of hostility. Gould expressed this message through horror and fantasy elements, and I think it was a really superb way to do so.

I think the message of this book is incredibly important and it is a beautiful story on top of that. It contains the hard truth that queer youth and adults experience, but it has just enough hope to remain optimistic while staying true to the tone of the entire work. 5/5 stars, one of my all-time faves.

**I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!

Wow. This book. I don't typically wade into the horror/thriller genre much -- I'm a big scaredy cat. It did not help that I chose to read this entire book while on vacation .. in a cabin in the woods. That being said - please take it with a grain of salt because I was so engrossed in the story itself that I was spooked and read through the last quarter of it in an attempt to calm my racing mind down. This story is gripping and your heart will race right along with the main characters' for the entire journey. My only complaint, IF I was being forced to choose one, was that the twist happened so fast, it took me almost an entire day to process it. The first 80% of the book I was present for the entire time, but I think that may have had more to do with the fear-speed reading than it does the book itself. This is definitely a book I will be recommending as often as possible.

This debut book surprised me from beginning to end and I can't wait for more people to read it.
It's eerie, creepy, disturbing, relatable and twisted. A well written, inclusive YA mystery book.

Upon reading the description, I was intrigued. The cover grabbed me, but it's the well paced story with interesting characters that kept me turning the pages. Logan is the daughter of Alejo and Brandon. Their lives are accepted in the big city, but when their small hometown of Snakebite, Oregon pulls them back, everything turns upside down.

Alejo and Brandon have made a name for themselves shooting a show where they are basically ghosthunters. They have the tools and they enjoy what they do. But soon, Brandon feels compelled to return to the town where they grew up. Something is pulling him back there. Something dark. But there is something more going on in Snakebite than anyone cares to admit. Kids are going missing and Logan's dads are getting the blame since they are outsiders and different from everyone else.

Logan seems to be the glue holding her family together and connecting them to their town. The town seems more accepting of Logan, but maybe that's because they don't know her and she's just a kid. Logan, meanwhile stays true to herself and tries to make the most of their situation. She makes friends with some other kids while they are there, including a girl named Ashley. Ashley's friend/ex-boyfriend Tristan has gone missing and they team up to find out what happened to him and soon other kids.

This story is told from Ashley and Logan's POVs so it seems to be geared more towards young adults. But don't count this story out if you are older because I definitely appreciated the story telling and the way the story flowed. It was surprising and had so many scary and believable elements to the supernatural feel.
I loved that we got inclusivity of the LGBTQ community within this YA thriller. I don't see a lot of that with this genre and it definitely added to the small town feel. You can see Snakebite through their eyes and the whole atmosphere is dark and foreboding. I didn't expect a few things, but I like how all the relationships developed and played out. We got to see Logan repair a relationship with one of her fathers and we got to see Ashley discover who she was. The small town never became more accepting to their family, but once they came together to solve what was happening, I think people were more open. Just not quite there, which made it relatable.

If you like a well written book that is dark with some ghost elements, you will enjoy this book. Courtney Gould created a town and characters that fit the story. They grew as the story progressed and connected the readers to the story in a very cohesive manner. From beginning to end, this book was developed well and added some shocking WTF moments at just the right time. I can't wait to see what Ms Gould will write in the future!
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Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

All quotes are taken from The Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould.

//CW: homophobia, child death, murder, claustrophobia, drowning, slurs, violence, alcohol//

// Quick Statistics //
Overall: 5/5 Stars
Plot: 5/5 Stars
Setting: 5/5 Stars
Characters: 5/5 Stars
Writing: 5/5 Stars
Memorability: 5/5 Stars

// Quick Review //
The Dead and the Dark is a deliciously haunting novel that explores the depths of grief, sexuality, love, and family. The enemies to lovers' slow-burn Gould concocted left me breathless and in love with the characters.

“She could still feel him here, like there was a line connecting them. Wherever he was, he just needed someone to find him. He just needed someone to bring him home.”

// Other Information //
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Page Count: 352 pages
Release Date: August 3, 2021
Series: None
Genre: YA, Horror, Fantasy, LGBT, Lesbian, Paranormal, Mystery, Thriller, Queer

// Book Description (via Goodreads) //
The Dark has been waiting for far too long, and it won't stay hidden any longer.
Something is wrong in Snakebite, Oregon. Teenagers are disappearing, some 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 before, but the moment she and her dads arrive, she starts to get the feeling that there's more secrets buried here than they originally let on.

Ashley Barton’s boyfriend was the first teen to go missing, and she’s felt his presence ever since. But now that the Ortiz-Woodleys are in town, his ghost is following her and the only person Ashley can trust is the mysterious 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 of them are ready for. As the danger intensifies, they realize that their growing feelings for each other could be a light in the darkness.

// Characters //
The Dead and the Dark tells the story of Logan Ortiz-Woodley and Ashley Barton’s crossing paths, entangling them in a web of disappearances, murders, and ghosts. An unlikely duo, Logan and Ashley team up to investigate the disappearance of Ashley’s boyfriend, Tristan Granger, and attempt to clear Logan’s dads’ names.

Logan comes from a dysfunctional, gay, ghost-hunting family called the Ortiz-Woodleys. Logan is closer to her father Alejo rather than Brandon, who run their ghost-hunting show, ParaSpectors, together. Logan is lesbian (yay!) but the author does a great job of not using their characters as a token. Despite hating her new ‘home’ of Snakebite, where her fathers are originally from, she attempts to clear her father’s name since the locals are determined to place Tristan’s disappearance upon her family, specifically Brandon. Lovable, spunky, and badass, I found myself in love with Logan’s character.

A polar opposite, though also lesbian, Ashley has grown up in Snakebite, a town that is not too welcoming of those who are not straight, white, cis, and Christian. And by not too welcoming I mean, as Logan describes it, “‘...I haven’t seen any pitchforks yet.’” Seeming to be the only one determined to find Tristan, Ashley decides to team up with her ‘enemy’s’ daughter, Logan. Ashley’s friends, Bug and Fran, are also featured quite often in the novel.

The dynamic between Ashley and Logan was truly powerful. Despite the pressures, expectations, and opinions of those around them, their love for each other prevailed, as did Alejo and Brandon’s. (Gosh, I love those two.) Gould’s characters are vibrant, realistic, and captivating.

“The silence was pointed like a weapon. These strangers weren’t strangers at all. They were enemies.”

// Writing and Setting //
The Dead and the Dark is not just a novel but a piece of art. The beautiful imagery that Gould utilizes allows the reader to become not only attached but a part of the story.

The novel takes place in Snakebite, Oregon; a rural conservative town that is not very accepting of differences or outsiders. It also takes place during modern times. Snakebite, besides its non-welcoming position, is also haunted by the Dark, a force of havoc that causes all kinds of tragedies.
“They were still three lost things, but they were infinitely far apart. Home wasn’t family now. Home was nowhere.”

// Plot //
Logan, despite not wanting to, moves to Snakebite, her father’s hometown. Not welcomed, especially by Ashley Barton, Logan spends most of her time in her family’s motel watching ParaSpectors. That is until Logan realizes Brandon is accused by the entire town of having something to do with Tristan Granger’s disappearance. Tristan just happens to be Ashley’s boyfriend.

The unlikely duo team up in order to find Tristan and clear Brandon’s name. They don’t have to be friends, right? You’d think that. As the story progresses, Logan and Ashley slowly become closer as everyone around them seems to vanish into thin air. Personally, I’d appreciate someone at my side while interacting with ghosts and finding the missing.

A dark, twisted truth unfolds itself as the story progresses, but will it push Ashley and Logan together, or pull them apart? I guess you’ll have to read The Dead and the Dark to find out.
“She’d never felt so far away from everyone. She would find him. They would have more nights under the stars. They had skies left to see.”

// Overall Review //
The Dead and the Dark was a perfect combination of romance, horror, family, and mystery. Gould has a unique writing style on their hands that is not only intriguing but breathtaking. I cannot wait to read more of Gould’s works in the future.

“This was the kind of thing that snatched the words from people’s tongues. There was a killer on the loose.”

All I needed to read was strange happenings and ghost hunters to jump at requesting this book. Dark, intense, intriguing, mysterious – does this description give you an idea of what this story is like? I honestly could have read it in one sitting but had to split it into two days.

Snakebite, Oregon isn’t very welcoming to newcomers or even to some of the previous residents who visit. It’s a small town, but cliques are prevalent in both the teenage and adult crowds, and like most small towns secrets are nearly bursting out of the closets they’re barricaded in. Logan’s dad, Brandon, has been in Snakebite scouting the location for his TV show ParaSpectors. When Logan and her other dad, Alejo arrive, they learn a teen boy disappeared around the same time Brandon rolled into town six months ago. The locals don’t consider this a coincidence and make it known to Logan and her family at every turn. Logan is the curious type and isn’t content to sit around the hotel room watching TV all day and before long, she’s caught up in a tangled web of secrets involving her family. Although adversaries at first, Logan and Ashley, a local resident, make a pact to discover the truth together after it becomes evident Ashley’s mother is involved.

Something I really liked about this novel is the relationship between Logan and her dads. In most YA books, parents don’t play large roles, but that’s not the case here. She enjoys an easy camaraderie with one of them, but has a strained relationship with the other (which is explained, but no spoilers here). Besides the paranormal occurrences, a parent’s overwhelming love for their child, finding your place in the world, and learning acceptance are strong themes in this story. Readers will also be shipping the budding romance between Ashley and Logan.

I guessed a couple of major plot points early on, that didn’t prevent me from devouring this book. Murders, ghosts, mediums, and some cool ghost hunter gadgets held me spellbound. The story skillfully builds to a nail-biting climax, but I did feel like the ending wraps up a little quickly. This is a strong debut novel, and I’ll be looking out for future releases by this author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Horror / paranormal is not usually my genre, but a trusted friend wouldn’t stop raving about this book to me so I decided to pick it up. I’m so glad I did because I really enjoyed it! At its heart, The Dead and the Dark is a story about love, both familial and romantic, amidst a paranormal investigation.

After years of moving around because of her fathers’ paranormal investigation show, Logan is upset at having to uproot her life to move to Snakebite, Oregon where both her dads, Alejo and Brandon, grew up. Brandon has been there for months for reasons he won’t explain to her. When they arrive there, Logan discovers that the town is disapproving of their family, especially after teenagers disappeared shortly after Brandon arrived. She teams up with Ashley, the girlfriend of the first kid who disappeared, to investigate Snakebite themselves. As they grow closer, they realize the town and Logan’s parents have more secrets than they could have ever imagined.

I quickly fell into the writing from the first chapter. The prose was so soft and lent a gentle yet urgent tone to the book. We slowly uncover a mystery, and I liked how the writing set the pace from the beginning. I’m excited to read more from this author in the future!

Both Logan’s and Ashley’s character arcs were so well done. Logan is a strong character from the start; she’s sure of herself and who she is. This is in opposition to Ashley, who’s always thought she knew who she was: the heir to the woman who owns the entire town, Tristan’s girlfriend, someone who is fine staying in Snakebite for the rest of her life. Now that she’s met Logan, she starts realizing that she’s done so much simply because it was expected of her, namely dating a boy.

I think it was really interesting how this book explores this comphet Ashley has experienced over the years. Snakebite is a highly homophobic town, which was the reason Alejo and Brandon left all those years ago. Logan being a publicly out lesbian helps Ashley understand that she does not have to live her life the way Snakebite wants her to, that she can come out and be happy too.

Following this, I really enjoyed the romance between Logan and Ashley! It was slow then sudden; we built up to a certain point until the feelings came rushing in. It was also very well balanced with the plot.

What I really loved about this book was the family dynamics. Logan loves her parents, but she’s also held Brandon at arm’s length after he began pulling away years ago. Despite Alejo’s urging that they spend time together, she doesn’t know how to connect to him. Over time, we see the reasons for this, as well as just how much love exists between Alejo and Brandon and Logan. This love is central to the story.

I’m honestly not much of a mystery or a horror/paranormal person, but the plot here was intriguing. I never knew what was going to happen next; I really enjoyed the pace and how the book slowly hinted at secrets before the final reveal.

The Dead and the Dark was an intriguing mystery about the secrets a town can hold and the love in between. I really loved the characters, as well as the family dynamics. If you’re looking for a horror book with a sapphic relationship and/or strong family ties, you should check this book out!

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.

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for giving me a copy of the ebook 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!