Member Reviews
A great read to start spooky month! A classic Natasha Preston with many jaw dropping moments and an ending that leaves you hanging. My favorite kind of thriller!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a DRC of this title to review. All opinions are my own.
Was this the best book I have ever read? No.
Will I order it for my middle school library? Yes.
This was campy, middle-school slasher fun. The writing isn't the best, but you can easily overlook that since it isn't meant to be literature. This is meant to be a spooky season read, a homage to horror flicks, and a reminder to not go out alone when there is a killer on the loose.
This quick and fun read follows the slasher formula and is set during Halloween. I enjoyed the author’s previous novel, so I was excited about this new book and it delivered, to a point. Firstly, it requires a considerable suspension of disbelief, because it’s about a town that celebrates Halloween a year after a serial killer murdered several teens during this same holiday. Mostly, it was the characters that were hard to root for. They are teenagers so it’s understandable that they will run up the stairs or hide behind the chainsaws, making the worst decision at every possible moment. They drove me crazy at every step of the way. That said, the plot is sufficiently entertaining and creepy, so that I kept turning the pages.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#Random House Children's, Delacorte Press!
This was such a fantastic read. I love allll things teen slasher and this one totally live up to the genre. One year after a horrific string of murders happened things are picking back up but the original perpetrator is in prison. Told from Penny’s perspective (the ex of the killer’s son) we get a classic epic slasher.
This gave me Scream, the tv show, vibes, even down to the nondescript white mask and I’m here for it! It read like a horror tv show and I loved it for that. So much happening in such a relatively short space doesn’t seem like it should work but that’s the genius of the slasher, it’s does. If you’re looking for a spooky, tense read I highly recommend!
If I ever recommend a horror/thriller author to anyone, my go-to is always Natasha Preston. I believe this was one of her best books yet. I was a huge fan of both Penny and Nash throughout this book and the plot kept me entertained the entire time. Per usual, Natasha Preston hit me with another insane cliff hanger.
I am so thankful for being able to read this book through NetGalley & The Haunting ARC book Club on Fable. I have been a long time Natasha Preston fan! Thank you, Natasha!! This was a fast-paced read always grabbing my attention. It has been a year since the Jackson Whitmore murders of 5 student on Halloween. Who is Jackson Whitmore? None other than the Father of Penny's Boyfriend Nash...well now ex-boyfriend. Would you let your daughter date a killer's son? It is Halloween again and the whole town is trying to enjoy it this year and put the past in the past. That is until BAM another murder. Who could it be? Isn't Jackson still in prison? You do not want to sleep on this book!! Go get your copy now!
This was a great ya thriller/horror that is perfect for the Halloween season! This story immediately had my attention and kept me guessing through the very end. I could not put this book down and ended up reading it in one sitting!
Read This Of You Like:
🏚️ Halloween
🏚️ Serial Killer Books
🏚️ Whodunnit Mysteries
🏚️ Slasher Horror
Overall this was a really good book, but be warned that it ends on a cliffhanger!
𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4.25⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: YA thriller📚
𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
If you’re a fan of Scream this one’s for you!
𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Scream vibes
Small town
Halloween atmosphere
Creepy whodunnit
Fast paced thrillers
Shocking twists
𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
Quick read
Spooky vibes
𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
The ending- I hat it when books end with cliffhangers
Predictable plot
There is not haunting in the book so I don’t really get the title
The Haunting by Natasha Preston is another entertaining YA thriller/mystery!
NP always creates an atmosphere that is freaking amazing.
This was an intriguing story with interesting characters. It's a real page turner that will keep you thinking. It's a real crafty mystery novel.
This fast-paced story did not disappoint.
I thought the writing was absolutely amazing! Intriguing, thought provoking plot and interesting characters! This book pulled me in from the beginning and made it hard for me to put it down!
Natasha Preston is a fantastic writer and her books while short are gripping and intriguing.
A heart-pounding, pulse-raising thriller perfect for readers looking for an entertaining YA thriller story with sneaky twists you won’t see coming!
I would like to thank NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the opportunity to read this ahead of its publication date in return for my honest review.
Purchased for my high school library. My students love this author. I won’t see this book once it is in and processed. It will pass from hand to hand never making it into my return box, only to the checkout counter to switch people responsible for the copy.
Natasha Preston has once again proven her storytelling prowess with this gripping novel that had me captivated from the very beginning. It served as the perfect introduction to the spooky season, setting the tone for an exhilarating reading experience. The relentless tension woven throughout the narrative had me perched on the edge of my seat, eagerly devouring each page.
Given my familiarity with Preston's previous works, I had a hunch that this book might conclude with one of her trademark cliffhangers, which can be simultaneously frustrating and irresistible (but certainly not enough to deter me from reading more of her books 😂). True to form, my prediction held true, though I'm pleased to say that this ending felt more satisfying than some of her previous works, particularly "The Island." Nevertheless, a lingering desire for more resolution still tugs at me. It's always a bit disconcerting to invest in a story only to be left wondering, "What's next?"
Despite this, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone seeking a quick and thrilling read. Natasha Preston's storytelling prowess shines once more, making it a must-read for those who appreciate engaging narratives that keep you eagerly turning the pages.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review.
Loved this quick, fast paced thriller Until the end! Would have rated 5 ⭐️ but the ending left you hanging without a conclusion to this great story…
The Haunting was fast-paced young adult mystery thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end. While I really enjoyed this book, there was something missing at the end for me. I highly recommend checking this one out!
4 5 stars rounded up. A can't put down thriller that will keep you reading late into the night. Twists and turns and who dun it. And that ending. Oh my gosh, I'm still reeling. Highly suggested for a quick read thriller.
Nail biting story of a girl who should have listened to her parent. Read was suspenseful and good but unbelievable in parts when a 17year old girl repeatedly outwits the FBI in an effort to date her boyfriend. I rated it a four because I liked how the author supported the scary stories troupe and went beyond. Also, the ending is abrupt and slightly unsatisfying but that’s because I had become invested in the story.
Natasha Preston has done it again. This book drew me in from the start, and it was the perfect book to kick off spooky season. The tension throughout the whole book kept me on the edge of my seat. I had a feeling that the book would follow along with others that she has written and end with a cliffhanger, which makes me so mad (but not mad enough to stop reading her books 😂) and I was right. Thankfully this one ended much better than The Island. I’d still like some resolution, though. I always feel cheated when I read the whole book and then I’m left thinking “what next?” Still recommend to anyone looking for a quick read!
What's your favourite scary movie?
If you liked the Scream series, this would be great for you. The Haunting is the perfect spooky season read now that October is here. I have been a fan of Natasha Preston's work and how the books always leave you on the edge of your seat.
This book is slightly different from her other works in that the killer strikes slowly and the whole event takes place over days. I liked this style better as we were introduced to Penny, Nash - her ex who is the son of the original Halloween killer, and her whole group of friends, to really build into the story of a Halloween serial killer who strikes again on the one year anniversary of the town's murders.
It is quite clear who the main suspects are as you get through the book, but figuring out the motive is hard to decipher. Everyone seemed a little sus with their personality and quirks. And oh of course, as with every serial killer story, teens are still running around despite a killer on the loose. 😂
The book kept me guessing who the killer was, whether it was one or multiple, and which combination of characters it could be and why. Honestly I didn't even get it right until just near the reveal. The only thing that irked me was the classic cliffhanger ending that she ends her books with though this time felt more open ended than the rest.
Do you prefer stories that end with everyone dead or some alive? I like to believe there is always at least one person who makes it out in the end.
One day while doom scrolling through book suggestions, I happened upon Natasha Preston's The Cellar. 6 hours later, I had finished it and have kept up with her releases ever since. As we head into "Spooky Season", I received an ARC for her newest release, "The Haunting". A town recovering from the series of murders last Halloween when they suddenly start back up..again. Yep, this book was right up my alley. I wanted to love it but it just fell a little flat for me. I didn't really feel anything for the characters and there were quite a few of them. Penny and Nash's history is never really explored beyond a few sentences and I feel like it would have helped. Adi, Zayn and Omar felt like filler and I kept getting lost in the dialogue. As the story went on, I found myself skimming more than reading just to get to the ending. The ending was a little predictable then it was just THE END. I'm sure there are people out there who will love this book. I will keep looking at future Natasha Preston releases but THE HAUNTING just isn't the one for me.
A perfect spooky season, Halloween vibe read. If you like the Scream movies, this gives you that makes killer killing off dumb teens thing you know you crave. It actually made me go watch some Scream movies.
Just like in teen thriller books/thrasher movies, you'll find yourself yelling at Penny. Why are you doing this? Don't do that. Ugh just listen to the adults and police for a change. But as always, teems know best.
This would've been a 5 star read for me had the author finished the book. Like I get cliffhangers and I am completely fine with them. But not finishing that page was just mean spirited. I recognize the author is known for this type of think but I found myself flipping through the last pages on my kindle wondering where my end was. This one doesn't feel like a cliffhanger so much as well, let's see how far I can take not ending the story.
The Haunting is an entertaining thriller that captivated me from the very beginning, keeping me engrossed until the very end with its unexpected twists and turns.