Member Reviews
As with most books I read, I didn’t know too much about this one going into it. I knew it was going to be a young adult thriller with a supernatural element, which is exactly the kind of book I’ve been consuming lately, and I knew it was going to be queer. I’m glad I didn’t know anything more than that, however, because taking in this book as it unfolded before me was an amazing experience, and one I wish I could relive.
Logan arrives in Snakebite, Oregon with her two dads, and something is off about the small town. It starts with the fact that a teenager has gone missing, but beyond that, there’s a darkness that lives just below the surface. As the mystery deepens, Logan realizes she’s more connected to this town than she ever could’ve imagined. Her dads are keeping secrets, the town has turned on her family, and there’s a girl she shouldn’t like but can’t stop thinking about.
My favorite part about this story was the pacing—it’s perfectly written to give us a slow burn while simultaneously teasing a new aspect of the mystery in every single chapter. As one question was answered, another three would float to the surface, and the final reveal was undoubtedly worth the wait. But this book was so much more than the mystery—it’s also about that feeling of darkness and depression that lives in all of us; it’s about standing up to hate and realizing we’re not as different from each other as we might think; and it’s about queerness, love, acceptance and, most importantly, hope for the future.
More of a 3.5 star, but this was a really touching story! I think if I had prepared myself a little more for the immense amount of homophobia working throughout the plot of this book, I would have been in a better mindset for taking the story in. However, I understand why it was included and what points were made, though I think at a certain point it became redundant. Overall I really enjoyed the queer relationships and representation of family, and I loved the ghostly aspects. This is a creepy and lovely story about grief and queer connection!
This book is perfectly creepy for spooky season. In addition to the perfect fall vibe, it centers on a queer dysfunctional family and a small town where discrimination still runs rampant.
Logan's relationship with her fathers is mostly that of an absent relationship - her fathers are typically on the road filming their paranormal tv show as seasoned ghost hunters. Then Logan is forced to return with her fathers to their hometown, Snakebite. There, Logan is faced with instant bullying from the other teens in town. Despite the underlying current of discontent, Logan teams up with an unlikely ally as they try to solve the mystery of the unexplained disappearances and deaths plaguing Snakebite since the arrival of her fathers.
The character building in this book is spot on and the plot keeps you guessing throughout. The journey of finding happiness, even in the worst of situations, struck a chord for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC of this in exchange for my honest opinion.
Gould’s debut is moody and atmospheric, just what I wanted from a mystery in a small Oregon town. A great read as we head into fall for some spooky vibes—but also, it may have made me cry, because Gould isn’t afraid to also tug at the heartstrings. I can’t wait to read what she writes next.
I received a digital advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
DNF due to life circumstances. Husband gravely ill, so I just don’t have time to get to all the books! Sorry!
I really enjoyed this book! The sapphic romance was a nice slow burn, enemies to lovers, and so sweet. The paranormal aspects were really interesting-I especially enjoyed the scenes from the perspective of"The Dark"-that was so chilling to read!
This was a really excellent and atmospheric book with complex (and often unlikeable) characters, a unique voice, and a macabre look into small town American life. I will definitely be interested in future works by this author!
This book is so dark and twisty, and I absolutely love it. It was a bit creepy, but not so much that I needed to put it down at any point. I love the way that ghosts guided Ashley through her parts of her story. The twist in the end about Logan was shocking! I never had any idea that it was coming.
This is a great book, and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.
"The Dead and the Dark" is a deliciously dark tale about two girls - one born of darkness and grief and one surrounded by hatred and. paranoia. When Logan comes to Snakebite, the town seems to hate her family for more than just homophobic reasons - their children have started to disappear and blame is being shifted to her dads. Ashley is the golden child of Snakebite, girlfriend and friend to the vanished teenagers - she just wants her friends back and is curious about the mysterious new girl. Together they work together in this haunting story about love, grief, and the lurking darkness in all of us.
Wow did I not enjoy this. Logan and her dads were the only things that kept me reading. everybody else sucked. Snakebite is such a weird combination and the entire plot hinges on how unaccepting the whole town is. The ending saved it from being a one star read, but that's about all I enjoyed. Also the author lists Riverdale as an influence/inspiration for this book--enough said.
Okay, but this book is a must read for everyone. Queer, spooky, small town vibes. Ghostly elements. And everything in between. I’ve been excited for this book for longer than I can think of. And it did not disappoint. It gave me everything it was meant to. I feel like the more I enjoy a book, the harder it is for me to find the words to describe it. And I’m lacking words majorly right now. I would recommend this to everyone. It’s so worth it.
This was a slow, creeping mystery that isn't quite your typical love story. I didn't really know exactly what to expect going into this book, but I was instantly hooked on the mystery of a missing teen and some mysterious presence that seemed to be haunting this small town. As it dragged on I lost some of that interest, but stayed for the compelling characters and the intensity of the few dramatic scenes that cropped up from time to time. I really liked our two main characters and loved seeing their development, but I would have liked to see a bit more action building up to the dramatic conclusion
The Dead and the Dark is a deliciously creepy and quietly grieving story that makes for a perfect autumn read. Come for the queer rep and the chills, stay for the well-written relationships. Highly recommend giving it a read!
I had no idea that the relationship between Logan and her dads would be my absolute favorite thing about the book, and yet it was. Brandon especially was so interesting and heartbreaking.
This book is quite literally about queer girls and ghosts, and how the shadows we carry can hurt as well as save us. The mystery is engrossing, the setting compelling and tangibly alive, and the characters a delight. I will admit that the only thing that didn’t quite land for me was the romance between Logan and Ashley just because it didn’t seem that they interacted all that much to form such a profound relationship, but I still enjoyed it. Honestly it was just so nice to read a story about queer girls, being one myself. This book hit so many of my favorite things that it was easy to enjoy it and have fun.
I was lucky enough to end up getting an ARC of this book (in audio and ebook format) However, I was busy at the time and thought I would start the audiobook as I love to multitask. Unfortunately, I feel like I would have enjoyed the ebook more. Because weeks after listening to it, I have already forgotten most of it. The Dead and the Dark had a captivating ambiance and as teenagers disappear our main character is trying to figure out what is really going on in this creepy town. Again, it might have been my fault for choosing the audio instead of the ebook. Perhaps I'll take the time to re-read it in another format but I don't think I will considering my never-ending TBR.
(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)
The dead and the dark is a story about a small town and family secrets.
I was expecting this to be a bit more of a horror and mystery theme. I do like how it flips points of views between the darkness, Ashley and Logan. I think this added to the story. However I think there was a bit of unneeded filler and I found myself getting bored during it and losing interest. This is where I enjoyed the print over the audiobook. When you can skim it quicker than having to listen to every single word read. I think one of the things that helped redeem this story for me in that area was I didn’t see the end coming. I was sure I knew who the killer was and it was a nice suprise finding out there were surprises I didn’t see coming.
I also believe the author did a good job of putting a spot light on how people in some small towns treat members of lgbt+ community. It shows it both in the past when Alejandro and Brandon were growing up in snake bite but also in the present when they return.
Overall I wish I had enjoyed this story more because it’s not a bad story. Just too slow for me at times which is never a good sign for me when it comes to mystery novels. I feel like it pulls me from the story.
I received a copy through netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
Although I was a bit disappointed overall by this book, I did enjoy a lot of this book. I especially enjoyed the family relationship. I didn't really get the eerie, haunting vibe that was supposed to peppered around the prose. Overall, a solid thriller.
I started this story and quickly found out some terrible news. I'm sharing this because my mind was totally consumed by sadness and grief. Yet, this story was something that I was able to focus on for short periods of time and kind of escape. So, I have to give credit to a story interesting enough to do that.
Aside from that, the story was pretty unique. Personally, I haven't read anything quite like it. If I was a Young Adults Librarian (Systems Librarian), I would absolutely add this to the collection. And my recommendations would be going out regularly especially for the horror fans that love a good Halloween read.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the read. My apologies for the late review. That terrible news has kind of taken over my life.
Was I expecting a horror novel when I bought this? Yes.
Is that what I got? Not at all.
What I got instead was an incredibly unique ghost story with a mostly queer cast.
The story begins with Logan and her dads moving to Snakebite, Oregon. It's been 13 years since Alejo and Brandon have set foot in the dark and gloomy town they grew up in, but their paranormal TV show has them scouting locations in the area. So they packed up and moved home.
In typical small town horror story fashion, teenagers start going missing and turning up dead pretty much as soon as the Ortiz-Woodley family shows back up. Of course, secrets never stay hidden for long and when there are teenagers involved. You know they're bound to do their own sleuthing. Logan and Ashley quickly strike up an investigative friendship. If her dads can hunt ghosts, so can she. She steals a few ghost hunting devices from their bags and sets off to a cabin in the woods.
The ending is what really made me love this book.
Everything was tied up so nicely.
I thought I was crazy when I told my friend it felt like Murder House meets Riverdale. As I was reading the Acknowledgments, I realized I wasn't alone in that description. But, like I said earlier, it was missing the horror aspect that I was craving. Still a great story but definitely could have used a few more scares.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The somber atmosphere captured by Gould in TDaTD is palpable. The town of Snakebite is like a character all its own, one that I would like to see more of. There's so much opportunity for lore in this story that it was one of the few aspects leaving me disappointed.
It reads more like a folktale than a mystery novel, which works for the weight of the story itself. That being said, there were some things left vague and unanswered. I won't go into them too much to avoid spoiler territory, but there was just a lot of loose ends not tied up by the end.
The characters themselves were compelling, I just wish it hadn't been as cloak and dagger with back stories. I was expecting huge revelations, or for things to be a twisted version of the truth, but no, sometimes it's as simple as "small town doesn't like gay people" and it can be left as that. There isn't a need to make it feel like a conspiracy, I actually felt slightly tricked and cheated when it really was just "small town ran out gays". I don't know if the author meant to do a bait and switch, or if this is just how some people act in homophobic towns? But then a lot of the people there seemed fine with two men being together? So was the town really homophobic or was the author scared to truly dive into that?
In the end, a lot of the mystery ended up being exposited instead of revealed which was a bit of a let down when Gould had crafted SUCH a compelling mystery! I couldn't put this book down once it all got going, which is hard for me with mysteries because I'm super picky with them.
Basically there are just a lot of questions the reader is left with when they finish. However, the prose was lovely, the characters engaging, and the pacing very well done. I know I kind of went off on this book, but I enjoyed every second of reading it. That being said, I got an ARC so the final product might tie up some of the loose ends.
If you're an old school fan of Carol Plum-Ucci then this book is right up your alley, with just enough supernatural stuff going on to keep you on your toes.