I loved Lindsey Currie’s latest spooky middle grade novel set in Saugatuck, Michigan. It is definitely a book that is best read with the lights on. In this book, Ginny, her brother, and friends try to uncover mysterious happenings in the Woodmoor Mansion as her dad begins to make renovations to the home. Local legends suggest it might be something in the woods, but there are tons of creepy things going on inside the mansion, especially in Ginny’s room! I will never look at mannequins the same after reading this. It would make a great read aloud and fans will love all the personal and historical content Lindsey shares on her website.

The one genre I always find difficult to source, for primary aged readers is horror. Something scary (but too scary), and a proper ghost story, not the old Scooby Doo and Nancy Drew versions where it turns out the 'ghost' was the butler/groundskeeper/janitor pretending to be a ghost.

This is a ghost story, and it's creepy, but it's a real mystery too. The way the characters work together to follow the clues and solve the mystery , makes it a double whammy, as mystery readers will like this one too.

Great writing really sets sets the scene for this book, and creates the ominous atmosphere that runs through the entire story.

Looking forward to getting this one out into schools and libraries.

Author Lindsay Currie writes good ghost stories. They are scary and suspenseful, and so far her books don’t include demonic powers or bloody gore. I appreciate that.

In this spooky, heart-pounding tale, Ginny and her family spend the summer at the historic Woodmoor Manor while her architect dad draws up plans to restore it to its former glory. Strange things happen in the house, but only to Ginny. She hears a loud clock ticking. The mannequin in her room moves. The door is locked and she can’t get out, except there’s no lock. Ginny takes to sleeping in the hall because she is terrified in her room. If it wasn’t for her new friend (crush) Will, Ginny would beg to go home. Instead she is determined to figure out the mystery of Woodmoor Manor.
By the end of this book readers know what lives in the house, but we still don’t know what lives in the woods. Perhaps Currie is planning a sequel.

Lindsey Currie’s third novel is thrilling ! Ginny arrives at creepy Woodmoor Manor because her dad’s job takes her family there for the summer . Ginny wants nothing to go with Woodmoor, and the ghosts of Woodmoor want nothing to do with her . Or do they ? Ginny gets her new friend in town, Will, and her brother Leo to help her solve the mystery of creepy Woodmoor Manor .

Thank you, Sourcebooks, for allowing this librarian to read another title by Lindsay Currie, an author who has become a favorite and go-to when a student wants a spooky mystery. WHAT LIVES IN THE WOODS centers around a family that is uprooted from their familiar home in Chicago to a small town in Michigan for most of their summer vacation where the father will help restore an old, abandoned mansion called Woodmoor Manor. The main character, eighth-grader, Ginny, wants nothing to do with the town or the massive home where she's forced to stay until she learns the legends and lore of Woodmoor and its permanent...residents. The locals claim these shadowy figures have been kicking people out of Woodmoor for many years, and aspiring novelist and Agatha Christie junkie, Ginny, decides her family should do like all the others--leave--and the sooner, the better! But when she takes the time to make friends with a local book-store worker and begins to sleuth like Christie would, Ginny discovers a big secret and tragedy about Woodmoor's original owners that changes everything.

Currie has carefully crafted another brilliant mystery woven deeply into the roots of this suspenseful, paranormal thriller, one that kept me reading until late into the night. One of my favorite things about a Currie story is her reliance on family with her mysteries as well. While Ginny IS a strong, female character, she is also one that cannot solve this entire case by herself, and in the end, she needs not only her new friend Will, but her brother and parent's help, too. I will most definitely be adding this book to my library shelf with the other two brilliant novels by Currie. My students will be super excited in September when it releases!

All Ginny Anderson wants from her summer is to sleep in, attend a mystery writing workshop, and spend time with her best friend. But when Ginny's father--a respected restoration expert in Chicago--surprises the family with a month-long trip to Michigan, everything changes. They aren't staying in a hotel like most families would. No, they're staying in a mansion. A twenty-six room, century-old building surrounded by dense forest. Woodmoor Manor.

Tense, atmospheric and enthralling Currie has created a story that displays the best of gothic horror/suspense, spooky ghostliness and coming of age dilemmas.

I really enjoyed this novel! I loved the storyline, characterisation and moody setting. At times endearing and at others downright terrifying ‘What Lives in the Woods’ is a fantastic story for fans of haunted houses, mystery and late night chills. I will def be checking out more of Currie’s work.

#bookreviewsbymrsc #whatlivesinthewoods #lindsaycurrie #netgalley

I adore reading spooky middle-grade books and loved the author’s previous novel “Scritch Scratch.” Hence, I started this reading as soon as I got the copy, and I couldn’t put it down. I finished it in one sitting, and it exceeded my expectations!

The story has the perfect vibes and all the elements for a good haunted house story. Even though this is a middle-grade novel, some scenes gave me chills even as an adult. As soon as Ginny sets foot in Woodmoor Manor, she starts to experience strange things. Some of my favorite scenes were when she is in her room and hears scratching noises in the window. The mannequin also creeped me out a lot! I get goosebumps just thinking of it. Similarly, the typewriter also gave me shivers and the strange things that Ginny experiences with it.

Moreover, Ginny is a fantastic protagonist and fits perfectly in the story! I LOVED her references to Agatha Christie novels, and this book inspired me to re-read some of the classics. Not only was the story creepy, I thought the author played wonderful homage to Agatha Christie and her novels, especially about the red-herrings. I also enjoyed her interactions with Will and wanted to know more about the ballroom. Ginny, Will, and even Leo turn out to be a fantastic duo as they investigate if the hauntings are genuine or if someone is behind them. The author has a beautiful talent for writing middle-grade horror, and I think this is her best one yet!

Overall, do check out “What Lives in the Woods” if you love middle-grade horror like “Goosebumps,” particularly if you love haunted house stories, because this book will not disappoint!

Lindsay Currie has clearly established herself as a talented mystery writer. I loved piecing together the clues in this one, sometimes with a tight hold on the book because.... spooky!! But watch out for those red herrings! Ginny is inspired by Agatha Christie and I especially enjoyed how this element and her desire to be the next great mystery novelist is woven seamlessly and intricately throughout the novel. Highly recommended!

I devoured this book in one night, with all the lights on in my house, of course. The talented storyteller, Lindsay Currie, does it again and will leave her readers wanting more!

The protagonist, Ginny Anderson is annoyed, to say the least, that her parents plan on spending a month of “her summer vacation” in a creepy, old mansion in Michigan. Rumors abound all over town surrounding this mansion, and when Ginny starts encountering strange, unexplainable occurrences in the old mansion she needs answers. I found myself turning the pages faster and faster to explore the mansion and search for answers with Ginny, her brother, Leo, and a newfound friend, Will, to uncover the clues and the truth about this mysterious mansion. I highly recommend this novel, and I can't wait to share it with not only my fifth grader readers but my friends and family too!

This may be my favorite Lindsay Currie book yet! It had the perfect amount of creepy, read-with-the-lights on moments and I loved the relationships between characters. Ginny’s summer vacation plans are ruined when her father takes on a job in Michigan to restore Woodmoor Manor. Ginny read the legends about the creatures that prowled around the forest near Woodmoor, but she was not prepared for the shadowy figures inside of the room she’d be staying in for the month. As she channels her inner Agatha Christie, she sets out to investigate what is after her and why. Thank you for sharing with #collabookation! Out this September!
👀🌲#ScareSquad

Perfect for reading on a dark night by flickering candlelight! Great characters, great story, great author! Just be ready for goosebumps and shivers of fear!

Last year, I read a number of really great middle grade ghost stories—or books with a spooky atmosphere—and that trend is still going strong in 2021. My first foray into this year’s releases was What Lives in the Woods by Lindsay Currie. I’ve been meaning to give this author a try since Scritch Scratch was released last year; however, it's still on my TBR list.

What Lives in the Woods was a spooky and fun book that had enough scares for readers to enjoy, while also having a surprisingly bittersweet yet heartwarming twist.

The story was just good. It was immediately engrossing, and the fantastical elements were one of the many high points about What Lives in the Woods. Part of that ambiance came from the setting. Woodmoor Manor was creepy. It had all the trappings ripe for mysterious happenings to occur: an isolated location, surrounded by a forest, and an antiqued aesthetic. In that regard, Currie did a great job developing the local lore surrounding the manor. Its mysterious and detailed history proved to be beneficial to the overall atmosphere, and it really was the perfect location for this story to take place.

Ginny Anderson was a great narrator. She knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to show her disappointment about the way her summer plans were abruptly changed. Yet, there was also the friendship in this story that she later developed. It started fast, but was written very well. The characters read like siblings or good friends.

Overall, What Lives in the Woods was a great read. This one is definitely for fans of India Hill Brown’s The Forgotten Girl and Katherine Arden’s Small Spaces and Dead Voices.

Disclaimer: This copy of the book was provided by the publisher (Source Books For Young Readers) via NetGalley for this review, thank you!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read a complimentary copy of this book.
Very good children's story. Characters were likable and the story had just the right amount of thrill. I enjoyed reading how the mystery unfolded.

This was fantastic! The author got the creepy atmosphere perfect for the targeted audience. Ginny and her brother have to tag along with their parents on a summer vacation. Ginny's father renovates old homes/mansions and this is an important job for him. Fittingly, Ginny loves mystery books especially Agatha Christe and she wants to be a writer herself someday. Strange things start happening around the mansion. Ginny meets a boy, Will who also loves to read. I enjoyed the storyline of their new friendship as well as Ginny's relationship with her older brother. I don't want to reveal more, just read it! I'm giving you a fair warning that you may not be able to put it down!

“What Lives in The Woods” is a spooky delight of a middle grade novel! A thrilling ghost story and a clever mystery! This one left a smile on my face and gave me a hint of nostalgia as it reminded me of all the wonderful books that grew and sustained my love of reading as a young kid. Even adults will find this book a great time. Ginny just wants a summer of a mystery writing workshop and her best friend, but her fathers job of restoring old properties takes her to the mysterious Woodmoor Manor. The locals tell stories of strange happenings in the woods around the area. The characters are great and the twists and turns work well. I enjoyed most of it, but it does have some issues. It gets bogged down in a lot of excess and some repetitiveness. My biggest problem is with the title cause this story has nothing to do with what lives in the woods and everything to do with what lives in the house. unless I missed something completely. I got excited to learn what or who “the hitchhikers” were and nothing ever comes of that. I’m not sure if it’s a set up for another book or what. I don’t quite get it. Almost like a plot thread that got forgotten about, but somehow became the title of the book. Still the story is enjoyable and I can see kids really falling in love with this one. Ginny is a great main character and I hope Lindsay Currie writes more books with her solving mysteries.

Another entry into Currie’s spooky library of stories that young readers will enjoy. Not too scary but still will provide enough chills for students who are looking for them. A lot of familiar spooky story tropes are here- old mansions, mad scientists, scary creatures- coming together to create an engaging story.

Review from 12 year old:

What Lives in the Woods is about a girl, Ginny, who has relocated temporarily to a small town with her family for her dad’s work. While there, she is living in a mysterious mansion next to a spooky forest, filled with legend. In her new town, she friends a boy named Will who teaches her all about the legends.

The story is filled with lots action, right from the get go. I love that it didn’t take long for the story to develop and kept my attention right away. I loved the characters, and the level of spookiness. It wasn’t too spooky where it gave me nightmares, but was still creepy. This is a book I would recommend to fans of adventure, action, and mystery books.

When Dad recieves an offer he can't refuse ($$$) to help reimagine Woodmoor Mansion into a party and event space, Ginny, Leo and Mom all move from Chicago to Saugatuck, Michigan for a month during summer vacation.

Ginny, a huge Agatha Christie fan, immediately has her own notions about what mysteries or haunted tales will be uncovered during their one-month stay at Woodmoor.

Shortly after moving in Ginny hears her name called, a constant ticking sound and encounters a moving mannequin. Ginny she enlists the help of her brother Leo and new best friend, Will, to solve the mystery surrounding the house. The deeper the trio delve into their quest additional unexplainable events occur including a typewriter that transcribes messages from an unseen force and shadow people.

Kids will love following the trio as they try to solve the mystery before the month is up and if dad will be able to help the townspeople overcome their fears to visit and see the beauty that exists at Woodmoor.

Fans of Lindsay Currie's Scritch Scratch and The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street, Mary Downing Hahn and Betty Ren Wright will love this book.

As a fifth-grade teacher, my students love spooky mysteries and Lindsey Currie is quickly becoming the queen of this genre. I am a proud owner of both Peculiar Incident on Shady Street and Scritch, Scratch, both with that delightful Chicago history sprinkled in. What Lives in the Woods has a different feel than her other books, less historical and this time set outside of Chicago, but this doesn't take away Currie's talent to build a tale that will have middle school kids flipping pages (yes--even those reluctant readers will love the fast paced chapters and engaging storyline). She pulls the mood straight out of Agatha Christie as main character, Ginny, a budding mystery writer, brother, Leo and new friend, Will all work together to discover what's really going on in Woodmoor Manor.

The latest novel has no shortage of terrifying scenes that will demand the reader be in a well-lit room at all times. Currie does so well with these scenes, that the reader is drawn into that horror movie unsettled mood in their mind from page one. 5th to 8th graders will love the mystery of Woodmoor Manor as it unfolds. I highly recommend What Lives in the Woods to live on a shelf near you!

Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Kids for the eArc!

3.5 stars
Ginny Anderson can’t wait for summer. Her and her best friend Erica are planning to take a writer’s workshop, and Ginny is convinced she will emerge as the next Agatha Christie. Instead, her Dad decides to whisk her, her mother, and her older brother Leo away to Woodmoor Manor in Michigan for work. Ginny doesn’t want to go, and when she begins to hear all the rumors surrounding the big house in the creepy woods (Shadow people haunting the halls! Monsters in the trees!) she definitely would prefer to stay home. Instead, Ginny finds herself inside her very own mystery, the sole target of restless spirits and a mysterious ticking noise. With the help of her brother, her new friend Will, and her extensive knowledge of Agatha Christie, Ginny sets out to solve the mystery of Woodmoor.

This little middle grade mystery/scary story was cute, but ultimately went way too quickly for me to be fully invested in the story. By the time things picked up and spooky things began to occur frequently enough to keep my attention, I was about 50-60% into the story. It felt like a lot of the set up was a little unnecessary, and I would have preferred the action to start sooner.
That being said, the spooky things that did happen really worked for me! Shadowy figures, a moving mannequin, a face in the mirror (eek!); all sufficiently creepy without being so creepy it will keep the target audience up at night. I also loved the characters. Ginny was precocious and charming. Leo ended up being more central to the solving of the mystery than I thought, and a lot more open to helping his little sister than either Ginny or I expected! And Will was not just a helpful co-sleuth but is clearly being set up as the crush in subsequent books (which it is hinted there will be).

I would buy this book for our collection. Even though I didn’t absolutely love it, I think it’s an excellent choice for kids who are just dipping their toes in the thriller/mystery genre. Plus, I would definitely read the next in the series, if only to find out what lives in the woods! I would also buy this book for our collection. Seriously, why name the book What Lives in the Woods and then the whole mystery is covers What Lives in the House? The title made very little sense to me.