A tense mystery/thrilled with a hint of supernatural or otherworldliness, an examination of how we relate to our past and present, and a reminder that we don’t always know everything about our parents. Reading this was a well-spent afternoon.

This book was a hard one to read in the best of ways. Gould really put these characters through so much and the resilience of Ashely and Logan was astounding. Alejo and Brandon's story was both beautiful and astoundingly sad. The side characters throughout the book were complex and felt very real (and not always in a good way). I especially loved Bug and her sheer protectiveness and innate care for her friends. The mystery totally had me hooked and every time something new was uncovered, I felt my heart leap a little from the stress. The emotions of the characters translated so well off the page which made it that much more intense of a story. The nuances in the story of grief and love and hate made it so powerful. Ashley and Logan had such a complicated start relationship and I felt that Gould really did their relationship justice by addressing the homophobia in Snakebite along with all the other pressures the girls faced. The characters were deeply intertwined in just about a million ways and I'm definitely planning on rereading this to see if there were any clues I missed along the way. The ending felt like the closest thing to a perfect ending the characters could get and the climax leading up to the ending was very emotional. Overall this was a fantastic, quick, mystery read.

I'm not a huge thriller reader, mainly because thrillers tend to bore me as they usually don't make me feel emotionally invested - I often end up finding the characters too flat.

This one, I could not put down, and that's mainly because I was so invested in Logan and her family. This was a really atmospheric, well written book, but what mainly made it stand out to me was the complicated family dynamic between Logan and her dads. This even ended up making me cry.

Talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular - it's like Lady Gaga was talking about this book.. Gould's debut novel is all of these things. I could not put it down, was completely mesmerized from the very first page on. "The Dead and the Dark" is a YA horror mystery thriller, a mash up of different genres that left me completely breathless. It is incredibly well written in a captivating style that makes it an unputdownable pageturner.
The plot sounds, on the surface, like every other thriller there is out there: Kids keep disappearing and turning up dead in a small American town where everyone knows everyone, making the crime something deeply personal in itself. But "The Dead and the Dark" is so much more than that. It's truly is dark and twisted, playing with supernatural themes, exposing the darkness of humankind as well as the power of grief, hatred, desperation, loneliness - and also love. Love is one of the central themes of this novel, and it's not even the romantic kind of love (even though the romance between the two protagonists is absolutely wonderful despite all the darkness surrounding them), it's the love that parents have for their children and vice versa. This novel is creepy, creating an eerie atmosphere from the start, never letting the reader off the hook - but it's also deeply emotional on so many levels. It deals with heavy topics like grief, death, homophobia, but at the same time never lets us forget that there is good in the world, too.

The characters are just... ugh. I don't even know how to express my love for them, which is a very rare thing for me, to be honest. I rarely connect with characters from thriller/horror/mystery type books like I did with Logan, with Ashley, with Brandon, with Alejo. They are complex, utterly likeable and unique. Brandon especially really hit home with me, even though he is the most tragic character of them all. The whole "tv ghost hunter" angle was really fun, too, even though it didn't really add much to the plot in the end. Listen, I just really really love this family of two dads, their lesbian daughter and their 'redneck princess' daughter-in-law.

Does everything make sense in this story? No, probably not. There is one decision the "big bad" makes that made me wonder if they're maybe a giant idiot, because really, they should know better for various reasons. Does that have any negative influence on just how much I enjoyed this book? None whatsoever.

This novel is honestly so good, I'm going to read anything Courtney Gold will release in the future. Even if it's just her forking shopping list.

I really enjoyed this book. From the beginning, it really pulls the reader in. T reader also gets invested in the main characters of the story and what is happening in the town. there are a couple of things I did not like about the book. Some parts of the book are a little cheesy. For example, the name of the town. The author could have used more imagination. Also, the whole ghosthunter show thing is cheesy. The author also does not delve into some of the characters deeply enough. It is unrealistic to think that an entire town will turn against a person because they are gay, maybe 20 years ago, but not today. Other than those things listed, I found the book quite entertaining.

I love love love the premise of this book. An updated ghost hunters, but so much better. I loved the characters, the story development, and the writing. Definitely recommend!

OMG... What did I just read? My head is exploding after finishing with what I think will be one of my top 5 books of 2021. It should be noted that my favorite genre is fantasy. I don't read many thrillers but this one has simply blown my mind. Courtney Gould is going to set the bar very high with this amazing debut.

I love the queer representation that we find in the book. Bisexual and gay parents with a lesbian daughter? Take all my money. The narrative of the book is excellent, fluid and charged with a mysterious and supernatural terror. In some sections it was like reading something from Stephen King mixed with a Teen TV show but in a good way. Although our life situations are different, I felt deeply connected with Logan's loneliness and her search for the truth of what is happening in the town.

I loved this book and can't wait to buy a physical copy and reread it. Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with this advanced copy of this twisted story full of mystery and representation that is as unconventional as it is necessary.

This is the ghost hunting thriller you didn’t know you needed until you crack the book open and read the first two sentences!

I was Entranced from the first sentence, hooked by the first intro, and spellbound the entire novel. I wanted to figure out who the murderer was the entire time. Who was attached to The Dark? How was this intertwined with the town and Alejo, Brandon, Ashley, and Logan? What secrets were being kept? What was the author foreshadowing? The relationships that fueled this novel were captivatingly beautiful, raw, and real. The author did an amazing job at depicting life like characters that were relatable.

I have to admit there were some seriously spooky moments while I was reading! If you’re a fan of Karina Halle’s Experiment in Terror, this may be your jam! I read it in one go without putting it down. I will definitely be putting this author on my list of up and coming! This was a great read and I’m excited for other novels!

I received an ARC from NetGalley for review.

Logan has spent her almost 18 years feeling alone while her dads are off filming their paranormal hunter show, leaving her counting down the days when she will turn 18 and can escape her current life to find a better one. Her dads' new filming location just happens to be the town they grew up in, a tiny close minded town that doesn't want any of them there. It seems a boy went missing and her father is the number one suspect and it is up to Logan to try and uncover the truth, no matter how hard it might be.

The Dead and the Dark was full of spooky ambiance and mystery and I loved getting sucked into the story. I read it mainly at night and it really creeped me out which was fun. I had no idea what was going on or what would happen next but I was totally there for it. I can say the plot was completely unique, the small town setting great for the loneliness and isolation the story built, and the two main characters were very well developed and relatable.

I will say that the ending was a big disappointment for me. The story built to epic heights and I expected an ending to live up to what the story built, but instead everything felt very rushed and was basically a HEA wrapped up in a bow. I wanted more and I felt like what I got didn't match the rest of the book- like a great horror movie that runs out of money or time and shoves a terrible ending as filler. Keep in mind this is just my opinion, you might really like the direction the story took.

I love a good mystery and add it a paranormal twist and I’m hooked! I got this from Netgalley, this book was so good from start to finish! I read it in one day because I couldn’t put it down! I had no idea where this book was going and all the secrets plus Logan’s relationship with Brandon just kept me so confused, but in a good way! There was such a theme of loneliness to this book that it was gut wrenching! I like that it even came from characters who didn’t realize they were lonely until they’d lost someone, like Ashley! Courtney Gould also did an amazing job of depicting what hate and fear can do, not just to a person but to a place as well! This was such a good book and I can’t wait to read it again!

Gay parents with a gay daughter in a tiny town; sounds awesome, right? Add in some unsolved murders and some spooky darkness and it's (almost) perfect!
The beginning was a tad slow-moving and I'm not one for "mystery" books but then I was sucked right in. It takes place in Oregon in the present day but the world building manages to make the small-town setting something special. You can practically smell the lake and feel the breezes. It simply played like a movie in my mind.
The murders aren't the only mysteries--you might think you have a character pegged, just to have their true motivation surprise you in the end.
I felt the weakest part was the "supernatural" aspect. Maybe because it was so creepy throughout the book, I wanted a shocking reveal and definite resolution. That was not the case for me but, taking the journey with these characters was very much a great ride.
#Netgalley

Wow! I am blown away by how this all came together. The Dead and the Dark is about the things that lurk in dark corners, the past that cannot remain hidden, and about finding home in places you least expected.

Logan Ortiz-Woodley wants to live a normal life. She wants one place to call home instead of the many, many hotels she’s lived in, and she’d really like to make her own path. Her dads are the stars of TV’s most popular ghost hunters show ParaSpectors, so she’s spent most of her childhood going from one haunted place to another for her dad’s show.

Snakebite, Oregon is a typical small-town that everybody’s forgotten about. But something lurks there and teenagers are disappearing, some turning up dead, the whether is acting up and people point a finger at Logan’s dads, Alejo and Brandon.

Ashley Barton is a native of Snakebite, Oregon and her boyfriend is the first teen to go missing. She’s felt his presence ever since and refuses to believe he’s dead. With the Ortiz-Woodleys in town, his ghost following Ashley, the only person she can trust is the mysterious Logan. Ashley and Logan team up to figure out who is haunting Snakebite, their investigations reveals truths about the town, their families, and themselves that they may not be ready for.

Alejo and Brandon are so completely adorable that I cannot handle it. It does break my heart that Logan thinks Brandon hates her since she doesn’t know what actually happened. The enemies to friendship then to blossoming relationship between Ashley and Logan is so wonderful and heartwarming to see. I’m also a sucker for the enemies to love trope!

This was unique and mind-blowing book with twists and turns. I was actually shocked about what was going on in Snakebite and it was fascinating to see every couple of chapters these inside thoughts from this dark, terrifying thing that is haunting the town.

Truly, there is something that haunts the town but the beauty of Gould’s book is that it’s really the town itself, the people, the hatred, the prejudices. The more people hate and judge and discriminate the more the darkness grows and becomes more powerful. In our day and age, the message that comes across in this story is more important than ever to listen to and understand. We cannot let our own hatred become toxic, to sink so far into the soil that there is no escape.

The press for this book hyped "Riverdale crossed with Stephen King's The Outsider" and I've never wanted to read a book more! Definitely agree with these comp titles. Absolutely love the mix of real human drama with paranormal suspense. Gould's voice is crisp and startling. The Dead and the Dark is a book I won't soon forget!

I loved this book. I kind of want everyone I know to read it. Except intolerant asses. Or maybe especially them so they can see themselves being intolerant asses in this book.

Logan is awesome. Logan’s dads are awesome. Most of the people of Snakebite are…not so awesome at all.

The story is dark, creepy and, at times, completely heartbreaking. The paranormal aspects of the story meld beautifully with the murder mystery and the author brings us a reason behind everything that’s just utterly unique. When I finally realized the reason behind one thing, my mouth just dropped. I was wonderfully shocked by it.

This is the kind of book that stays with you after you finish the last page.

5 stars.

*ARC via Net Galley

I give this book 5 stars for building suspense, 4 stars on character development, and 3 stars for the finale.

I read this with a friend over two weeks and it killed me to stop each day instead of continuing. I had so many questions and people were dying and I just needed to know what was going on. Logan was investigating and her dads wouldn't tell her anything and it was so frustrating. With all the horrible events happening, I couldn't believe they were keeping so much from her. It's no wonder Logan and Ashley took things into their own hands and started tracking the paranormal events. I thought they made a good team and together they were pretty clever and uncovered a lot.

Ashley is going through a lot and I had to remind myself a couple times to cut her slack. Her boyfriend is missing, kids are dying, and she isn't sure what to do about her feelings for Logan. Ashley didn't always make the best decisions, but she tried and I admired her for standing up to her small town.

Things built up so much that the climax of the story was disappointing. It seemed over too quickly and easily and I would have liked more of a fight. If this had been written differently, I would have given it five stars. At least most of the book is exciting and suspenseful and I think the author did a good job with this. I'm looking forward to seeing what else she comes out with.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the copy.

The Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould is a queer supernatural YA thriller mystery. It’s a complete genre mashup, and that aspect of it worked really well. It follows Logan, whose TV-paranormal-inspector dads have just brought her back to their hometown, only to find teens going missing. In this tiny town – think a high school senior class of ten students – Logan and her family aren’t welcomed back with open arms, but suspicion, both due to the recent disappearances and the lack of tolerance for queer couples. Eventually, Logan teams up with local teen Ashley, whose boyfriend is one of the missing kids, to try and solve the mysteries of the town before it’s too late. And honestly, the concept is pretty great and I loved the bi rep. But the execution kept frustrating me to no end. It is one of those books that rely on characters not actually communicating, and that is one of my biggest pet peeves in stories. There were also quite a few moments where I felt that plot/character arcs didn’t progress naturally but in a rather stilted way. I think I’m curious to pick up another book by the same author to see how she grows, but the flaws that this one had keeps me from wholeheartedly recommending it.

incredible. amazing. breathtaking. this book is so freaking good, I couldn't put it down but also wanted it to last. the atmosphere is so rich - the setting of snakebite is a character of its own, so potent and cloying and vivid. I loved the family element which is so rare to read about, especially like this. amazing. courtney gould is fantastic and I will read whatever she writes.

I really enjoyed this book. it is unique and innovative. I would recommend it. Perfect for ya readers who are looking for new exciting books that are unlike other books you read in the genre.

The Dead and the Dark follows Logan and her two dads as they move to Snakebite for the summer. Snakebite is a small closed minded town that drove Logan’s fathers away years ago. This book had great tension and atmosphere for most of the book. Logan’s dads quickly become suspects in the disappearance of local teens.
I really enjoyed the Logan and Ashley storyline and wish the whole book at been from just their POVs. Ghosts and other supernatural elements are major plot points. This book will not be for every reader. The mystery of what is happening in the town and who is murdering the teens propels the plot. I wanted more about the Dark. How it really came to be, not how it woke up. It seemed to get destroyed too quickly. The resolution of this plot point was too quickl.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

This spooky YA novel is coming out August 3rd and is perfect for fans of Stranger Things. I enjoyed the mystery but thought the resolution was a little rushed. It bugs me when there is a big info-dump (usually by the villain) to explain the mystery and that was my only complaint about this book. Overall I enjoyed it!