Thanks to St. Martins Press and Wednesday Books for the ARC of The Dead and The Dark for my review.

Let’s talk about the book shall we? Once I saw this cover and synopsis I knew I was hooked! Supernatural YA Thriller with f/f enemies to lovers? Yes please!

We find our two main characters Logan and Ashley on a edges blade when the book opens. Logan’s dads are ghost hunters traveling all over the country searching for answers, dragging Logan around to where she’s never felt she has what’s truly a home. She’s close with one dad Alejo, while the other , Brandon has been distant, an answer to a question she can never ask. All of her insecurities and lack of answers comes to a head when they up a relocate to Snakebite, her parents hometown, in the middle of nowhere, but the center of the mystery.

Ashley meanwhile is suffering from the devastation of her boyfriends sudden disappearance and the strange occurrences that start to happen when the Ortiz-Woodleys come to town.

Together they unexpectedly and reluctantly team up to solve the mystery of the disappearance and subsequent murders of teens. Because everyone thinks Logan’s dads have something to do with it, except her. And everyone believes it’s hopeless, except Ashley.

This book kept me up multiple nights! Either from reading a creepy scene and needing to put it down for sleep, or remaining up to blow through the climax up to the end. There were so many layers and mysteries to uncover and a constant question of “whodunnit and HOW?!”

There are some parts of this book that were confusing, purposely so from the viewpoint of an unknown narrator. Whenever I got to those point I often had to reread the passage to try to get some clarity or clue as to where this was. But that added to the mystery.

There is great LGTBQ rep with the dads, bi/gay, and their daughter Logan who is gay and not shamed even when they enter back to the small-town homophobic bubble. But that adds to the tension that cuts through the pages. How a towns past, can wrap around you again when you return and the darkness that grows from that.

It was great to see relationships grow and shatter on the page, with scenes written with such beauty that I could see it playing out in my mind like a movie.
Loved it, would definitely want more from the characters stories.

4/5

CW: Homophobia, Hate Crimes, Murder, Attempted Murder, Blood, Violence.

This is officially the best paranormal book I’ve read. I mean, to be fair, I haven’t read many paranormal books, but this book was literally amazing. Everything - the plot, characters, romance, gore, <i>darkness</i> - was so perfectly balanced, this book is so wonderfully well rounded.

The plot and flow of the story are amazing, with the right pacing at exactly the right times, I was on my toes throughout! We love the representation, we love the enemies-to-lovers, and we love the ghosts. What more could we ask?

I stayed up until 3 AM to read this book, which seriously has to count for something. This was a complete page-turner, I could not put this down! The story is absolutely atmospheric, putting a reader into their feels and straight into the eerie setting of Snakebite, Oregon.

This story is so beautifully layered, weaving through multiple perspectives in the third person tense (which I haven’t seen in forever! Most books of today always use first person, but third person here worked out so effectively and wonderfully for this book!) The book starts off with a bang, instantly introducing us to “The Dark” and all the messed up, concerning things to go along with it.

“The Dark” is a terrifying thing and I’d stay as far away from it as I could, but its backstory was told so beautifully with such rich flashbacks that I could completely understand why things happened the way they did. The author incorporates all of the different plots and elements in a perfect balance throughout this book, allowing “The Dark” to keep it weight as a fear factor for the entirety of this read.

The Dead and the Dark is told primarily though the perspectives of Logan, daughter of ghost hunters, and Ashley, “princess” of Snakebite.

I loved both of our main characters! Logan and Ashley were such unique and original characters in their individual ways, each having so much depth and hurt in their beings. I loved watching them grow on each other and get to the bottom of all the disappearances and supernatural elements. Their relationship is adorable!

Logan is such a strong character, and I love a girl MC who doesn’t let anyone push her down. Literally an icon- and then Ashley, she started off annoying and then grew into her own person making her own decisions, rather than letting the prejudices of her town bring her down (ooh the rhyme tho-)

Even the side characters were significant throughout, adding actual important factors to the story. I loved Logan’s dads and their relationship with each other and Logan. The finale outcome of this book just brought everything together so perfectly in reference to the dads, and it makes me so happy! Logan’s cousin was also a cool guy, but I’m currently blanking on his name- anyway the side characters were great (except for the one’s that aren’t supposed to be great, obviously) and I’m glad things worked out the way they did :)

And the ghosts! We can’t forget the ghosts! This whole story telling, paranormal stuff going on was just perfect. I was totally creeped out throughout, everything was absolutely unpredictable, and the twists threw me off track every step of the way. Even the supposedly nice ghosts scared me throughout- we seriously get an authentic feel of the MC’s emotions, terror, grief, pain throughout their adventure

That ending though! It’s literally the most satisfying thing I’ve ever read and I am so happy everything turned out exactly the way it did, I could not have written it any better! This book kept me guessing throughout, and even with my suspicions, the result was as surprising as ever. I did suspect the whodunit early on, but that’s only because I make wild predictions and expect none of them to be true- imagine my surprise when I figured out I was right for once!

When it was finally time for me to turn the last page and go to sleep, I could not close my eyes without worrying that something would pop up from somewhere. Absolutely terrifying, I could not sleep for a while. Was reading this in the middle of the night a mistake? Yes. Would I do it again? Also yes :)

And this cover though? Gorgeous~

I’ll definitely be waiting for more from this author!

Thank you to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and Courtney Gould for a complementary copy of this incredible book!

The Dead and the Dark was a story I picked up after slugging 25% way through another book in my library. I needed something more alive, and exciting. The Dead and the Dark was that and more. It was effortless to finish this book in under 24 hours, each page was fresh and full of emotion. Each emotion that the characters felt, I felt as well. The character development was spectacular and the plot was unique. While The Dead and the Dark was not my usual genre of choice, I was left with no disappointment. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who picks it up off the shelf.

this is probably going to be one of those 2 star books that i read and enjoy but never really think about again. so not a bad book (i enjoyed my time reading it), but not something that is particularly memorable.

what I liked
- the vibes = the dark, small-town vibes were awesome
- the discussions = Gould tackles small-town homophobia in a genuine way

what I didn't like
- the romance = oof. I was super excited for the f-f romance, but this was super underwhelming. I didn't feel the connection between the characters.
- the resolution = the mystery ending is... just okay?
- the characters = they were okay, but I wasn't really connected to them. logan was more interesting than ashley tho (imo).

This book was not what I had expected. For some reason, looking at the cover and the title had make me conjure an entirely different story in my head than the one I ended up finding in the book. I was not necessarily disappointed, just a little jarred. I had envisioned a book with more fantasy elements that perhaps drew on myths from other cultures. This turned out to be a ghost mystery.

It took me a while to get into the story, but once I did, I was more or less intrigued. The main romance was not something I particularly cared for, mostly because I didn't really see what drew them together romantically other than that they were both interested in women. I appreciated the small-town setting and the backdrop of homophobic, conservative townspeople, yet I found myself wanting a little more from the general setting.

The characters were quite lacking. I was not interested in any of them, but it did not detract from the story too much because I did not despise any of them enough for me to stop reading.

I liked the general plot quite a bit. It was intriguing, slightly different, and had a nice flow. The inciting incident transitioned smoothly into some rising action. And I definitely liked the eventual reveal and resolution.

However, though the book was generally satisfying, it did not intrigue me all that much, and I probably will not remember a vast majority of this book in the future. Nonetheless, if this is a genre you like, the book is not that long and might be a read that you briefly enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC copy of this book!

This book is definitely a paranormal thriller, and it's super creepy at times and has you on the edge of your seat. However, unlike other books of this genre, it isn't so scary that it will legitimately scare you. I appreciated that -- and that it has more of the thriller aspect (and less of a horror). I'd definitely recommend this.

This was a fun book! Not usually what I read but it was a great thriller. Nothing scary but filled with enough drama to keep you interested

Social Justice Topics:
▪️LGBTQ+

Is the small town of Snakebite haunted? Or is a murderer on the lose? Two girls go out to find out what is going on. Ashley is a Snakebite native—her goal: find her dead(?) boyfriend. Logan is visiting Snakebite with her dads for their paranormal show—her goal: to clear her dad’s name so they can get the hell out of Snakebite.

Although cliche at times, I loved this hauntingly gay, horror, mystery novel. I already ordered by copy and I highly recommend you do the same.

What a thrilling ride.

I was pitched this by a publicist as a dark, mysterious thriller perfect for fans of Courtney Summers. And holy moly, how perfect was that pitch!

This book follows two young women trying to uncover the secrets that are being hidden about their town, their families, and themselves.

Filled with brooding mysteries that simmer on the surface, The Dead and the Dark is a wonderful novel of uncovering the truths that we hide from each other and ourselves.

If you like stories with twists you never see coming, make this your first read in August.

14+ ya suspense. Good book for its target audience! Suspenseful, with just enough intrigue. Some scenes felt a little forced but I enjoyed the book as a whole. Creepy without giving the reader nightmares and two girls who you can’t help but care about.

Those of us who love Ghost Hunters will be thrilled by this book! I am so glad that I had the chance to read this original, atmospheric book. I raced through this and I'm sure teen readers will as well.

The novel follows a Paranormal investigative couple and their daughter as they go back home. Snakebite, Oregon has been experiencing a string of dark events, including the disappearance of a young man.

I had high hopes for this book based off the synopsis. I thought it would be very much in the horror genre. To my disappointment it came across as rejected pilot for the CW. It was underwhelming.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy.

Creepiness hung over this book that explored deeper issues of loneliness and homophobia. The story unfolded in a way that made you turn on the lights and jump at the slightest sound. Most of the characters had an arc of finding their way. It made your heart heavy for them. There was one aspect that while equally creepy and heart-rending didn't wholly make sense when all was revealed. All in all a creeptastic read.

If you love twisted thrillers, this is the book for you. Logan’s Dads are paranormal “hunters” and are researching an episode for their show in a small town in Oregon where “weird things” are happening. Starting with the disappearance of one teen the story escalates to more and more bizarre things happening and the pages turning faster and faster while you sit on the edge of your seat waiting for the next twist.

This would make the perfect horror movie as it is so vividly written that you envision mentally what is happening in Snakebite as you read the book. As each new section unfolds you are drawn deeper and deeper into the story and feel the terror that the town and the characters are experiencing.

Thank you NetGalley, Courtney Gould and Wednesday Books for this edition and hearing my honest review. Looking forward to reading more with you
#partner

This was such a good book. I have been interested in this book since I originally found out about it, and the premise sounded so interesting: A girl moves to an insular small town with her ghost-busting fathers and gets wrapped up in the mystery of a missing teenage boy which she starts investigating with the help of the boy’s girlfriend. This book ended up being exactly what I wanted but also more than I thought it would be.

The writing, first of all, is so good. It’s not overly-flowery, but there are some lines that just hit you, and you can picture everything going on so well, like you can see it playing out on a screen. I could so easily picture the various settings, from Logan’s motel room to the cabin by the lake to the local bar where everyone hangs out. Everything was so atmospheric, like you could feel yourself within each setting.

Next, the characters. I adore Logan. She is one of those characters that are snarky and cynical and with just enough of an attitude, but in a way that is so relatable. She says what she is thinking or feeling most of the time and isn’t afraid to call people out or question them. At the same time, she also has a soft spot and wants somewhere to belong to be accepted and cared for by those around her. I really loved Ashley, too. Ashley grows so much throughout the book, and you learn more about her and her own struggles, which are much different from Logan’s but just as relatable. And the two of them together are just perfect. They compliment each other and also balance one another out. Additionally, I loved Logan’s dads. So often in young adult or even middle grade books, the parents are conveniently missing, allowing the kids to get into all sorts of shenanigans. Brandon and Alejo are so well developed and are so important to the story, and I really loved learning more about both of them, especially Brandon. The rest of the characters in the small town also feel like fully fleshed out characters, even if many of them played smaller roles. Every character included felt important in some way.

I ended up really loving this book, and I really can’t recommend it enough. I cannot wait for Courtney Gould’s next book because this was an excellent debut.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.7

I really enjoyed this read. The plot had a lot of suspense and the multiples perspectives kept me on my toes. I also loved the representation of queer romances and the representation of how they are treated in a small closed-minded town. The only problem with this novel that I have is that this is not a story I could ever reread since there isn't anything that could change my vision of the story or be new the second time around, But this is the perfect novel to read if you want to have a quick thrill but still be able to sleep at night.

Wow, wow, wow, what a mind blowing, chilling, and emotional read! Warning it may contain stiff that could trigger you, as it’s got some very hard topics entwined throughout and is quite emotional! I loved that it was a paranormal thriller, but also much, much more! The character development was phenomenal, making me need to know what was going on, what would happen, and how relationships would develop! I found it to be very original, and even though paranormal was within, very realistic in many ways! Shocking, fast paced, unputdownable, CHILLING, and more! Highly, highly recommend!

Will buzz around and use low Amazon reviewer number on release!

Snakebite, Oregon is a small, tight knit town. It’s also the home of Logan Ortiz-Woodley’s ghost hunting dads, or it was until they were driven out thirteen years ago by the homophobic locals. But is that the whole story?

When Logan’s father Brandon goes back to Snakebite to scout for another episode of their TV show, Paraspectors, a disappearance not long after leaves the locals suspicious and wishing he’d never come back. A few months later, Logan and Alejo (Logan’s other father) join Brandon in the middle-of-nowhere town to uncover the mysteries that plague their past and the darkness that hovers over their lives.

To start, this was really enjoyable. Courtney Gould’s writing had a way of pulling me in and kept me reading until I’d finished it in one day.
Logan and Ashley’s relationship (eventually) was really intriguing. Logan was raised by two gay dads, Ashley grew up in a small town that sneered at anybody who was other. It was an interesting dynamic as they grappled with their feelings for each other while trying to uncover the mystery of Ashley’s boyfriend’s disappearance.

The atmosphere of The Dead and The Dark was eerie, commingled with short sections of The Dark as it took hold of a townie. I also have to say, I was smugly thinking ‘I know who did it’ the entire book. I was wrong, that was a really good twist, I definitely wasn’t expecting it. The cover’s vibes are extremely accurate, I loved looking at it after finishing the book and being like ‘oh’.

Overall, I can’t wait to have a physical copy of this book in my hands and I’m eagerly awaiting Courtney Gould’s next book!

The Dead and the Dark gave me the TV show Ghosthunter vibes, and I was LOVING it. I plowed through this book; I was compelled to know what was happening!!
**
There are quite a few stories in this book, and while all the ghostly, sinister dark references held my attention- it was the relationship between Logan and her father Brandon I wanted answers for the most. You see Logan is the adopted daughter of Brandon & Alejo, who hunt the paranormal on their TC series ParaSpectors. The one time when Logan was on the show, something shifted between her and Brandon, she felt as if he hated her and she didn’t quite belong any more. At the start of this book Brandon is back in his and Alejo’s hometown of Snakebite; after being there for 6 weeks ‘scouting’ the town for their next show location, Alejo and Logan join Brandon in Snakebite to see what’s going on.
A local teen, Tristen, went missing a week after Brandon’s appearance, and of course the town thinks he is the dark evil over their town. While Brandon and Alejo do their digging, Logan is left with questions of her own. Questions she and Ashley, Tristen’s girlfriend, both want answers to. So the unlikely two pair up; and what the find along the way is more bodies of friends and more questions they’re not entirely sure they want the answers to.
*
My hat is off to the author for snagging her readers attention and keeping tight hold of the reigns until the very end! Thoroughly enjoyed this book and hope to read more paranormal adventures from Courtney Gould.

CW- death, grief, murder, child death, homophobia, hate crime

The Dead and the Dark follows Logan and Ashley as they uncover the paranormal secrets in their small town and work to find the town’s missing teenagers, including Ashley’s boyfriend.
-
I LOVED this book. It was a twisty paranormal thriller complete with an eerie cabin in the woods. I loved the atmosphere, the setting of a bright shining town with secrets was just so perfect, and it really brought me into the story.
-
The characters were great! Each of them was multi-layered, and I was on the edge of my seat the entire story. I loved Logan and Ashley, and I thought they had great characterization.
-
Overall, I would recommend this to thriller fans and fans of books like Wilder Girls.
-
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.