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Ghost of the Harvest
When Hailey's little sister is taken by a sinister ghost, it's up to Hailey to save her -- before it's too late. A bone-chilling novel from Lindsey Duga, author of The Haunting and Ghost In the Headlights!
Twelve-year-old Hailey Madison and her family are trading the hustle-and-bustle of the city for a farmhouse in the town of Harper’s Fall, and Hailey isn’t happy about it. Hailey’s parents think the move will be beneficial for her little sister, Emma, who has always been uneasy around large crowds, but Hailey is convinced life on a farm will be dull.
She’s wrong.
Over the years, there has been a string of disappearances in Harper's Fall, and it seems they may be linked to an old cornfield on the farm’s property. Local legend has it the ghost of an old farmer wanders the farm on his horse pulling a hayrack, luring children on a hayride, and once he takes them into the cornfield, they’re gone forever.
It's all ridiculous ... right?
That’s when the farmer gets to Emma on one eerie fall night, and all Hailey can do is watch in horror as the ghost takes Emma into the corn. Now Emma must rescue her little sister -- and she’s ready to make a deal with the devil in order to do it.
Twelve-year-old Hailey Madison and her family are trading the hustle-and-bustle of the city for a farmhouse in the town of Harper’s Fall, and Hailey isn’t happy about it. Hailey’s parents think the move will be beneficial for her little sister, Emma, who has always been uneasy around large crowds, but Hailey is convinced life on a farm will be dull.
She’s wrong.
Over the years, there has been a string of disappearances in Harper's Fall, and it seems they may be linked to an old cornfield on the farm’s property. Local legend has it the ghost of an old farmer wanders the farm on his horse pulling a hayrack, luring children on a hayride, and once he takes them into the cornfield, they’re gone forever.
It's all ridiculous ... right?
That’s when the farmer gets to Emma on one eerie fall night, and all Hailey can do is watch in horror as the ghost takes Emma into the corn. Now Emma must rescue her little sister -- and she’s ready to make a deal with the devil in order to do it.
- GenresHorrorMiddle Grade
256 pages, Paperback
Published September 2, 2025
3 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
Lindsey Duga
11 books406 followersLindsey Duga is a middle grade and young adult writer with a passion for fantasy, science fiction, and basically any genre that takes you away from the real world. She wrote her first novel in college while she was getting her bachelor’s in Mass Communication from Louisiana State University.
Other than writing and cuddling with her morkie puppy, Delphi, Lindsey loves catching up on the latest superhero TV show and practicing yoga.
Other than writing and cuddling with her morkie puppy, Delphi, Lindsey loves catching up on the latest superhero TV show and practicing yoga.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
September 14, 2025
4.0 Stars
I have such a soft spot for middle grade horror and this one did not disappoint. There is something about children's fiction that captures the Halloween spirit perfectly.
The story explores themes of friendship, family ties, and conquering fears. I really enjoyed this quick read. It was a good comfort read.
Given the age category, this one is very appropriate with none of the dark undercurrents that exist in my adult fiction.
I would recommend this one to fellow readers who share my love for middle grade horror. This would also be a great gift for a younger reader in this target age group.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
I have such a soft spot for middle grade horror and this one did not disappoint. There is something about children's fiction that captures the Halloween spirit perfectly.
The story explores themes of friendship, family ties, and conquering fears. I really enjoyed this quick read. It was a good comfort read.
Given the age category, this one is very appropriate with none of the dark undercurrents that exist in my adult fiction.
I would recommend this one to fellow readers who share my love for middle grade horror. This would also be a great gift for a younger reader in this target age group.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
September 2, 2025
I loved this! It was spooky but still fun, and children’s horror is always entertaining to me, so I was glad I got this short but interesting arc!
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Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the arc!
—————
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the arc!
September 4, 2025
4⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to listen to Ghost of the Harvest by Lindsey Duga in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this audiobook 👻✨. The pacing was quick overall, the story fun, captivating, and just spooky enough to keep me hooked without being too heavy. That said, the first quarter felt a little slow and heavy, but once the mystery picked up, I was enjoying it. For me, it worked well as a cozy, fast listen—but I think younger readers especially would love it even more.
The narration really worked for this story 🎧—Hailey’s voice was age-appropriate and felt natural, which helped bring her perspective to life. That said, she does make very child-like decisions (because she is a child), and I sometimes struggled with the idea of a kid being responsible for the well-being of another child. It added to the tension, but also reminded me how young the characters really were.
Would I recommend it?
Yes! A must-listen for anyone who enjoys quick, spooky adventures with a touch of fun and heart—perfect for spooky season 🍂.
#GhostoftheHarvest #NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to listen to Ghost of the Harvest by Lindsey Duga in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this audiobook 👻✨. The pacing was quick overall, the story fun, captivating, and just spooky enough to keep me hooked without being too heavy. That said, the first quarter felt a little slow and heavy, but once the mystery picked up, I was enjoying it. For me, it worked well as a cozy, fast listen—but I think younger readers especially would love it even more.
The narration really worked for this story 🎧—Hailey’s voice was age-appropriate and felt natural, which helped bring her perspective to life. That said, she does make very child-like decisions (because she is a child), and I sometimes struggled with the idea of a kid being responsible for the well-being of another child. It added to the tension, but also reminded me how young the characters really were.
Would I recommend it?
Yes! A must-listen for anyone who enjoys quick, spooky adventures with a touch of fun and heart—perfect for spooky season 🍂.
#GhostoftheHarvest #NetGalley
August 28, 2025
This book was so good and creepy and dark and beautiful oh my gosh and it's y.a I love everything about it and it kept me guessing 4.5⭐️
September 23, 2025
A good spooky story for middle school readers. Has interesting characters that feel real, enjoyable for all ages to read
September 23, 2025
One line vibe: autumn folk haunting with family debt, old stories in the soil, and a ghost that wants the truth
What it is: A harvest time tale where the past refuses to stay quiet. The story keeps the circle small and lets unease build in fields, barns, and back roads. Secrets surface, rules get tested, and the cost of keeping quiet finally comes due. It is more dread than jump scare, with a mystery thread that tightens chapter by chapter.
Personal take on the lead: I connected with the way the main character tries to hold family together while the ground shifts under their feet. The quiet check ins felt honest, so when hard choices arrived I believed every move.
Audio notes (Angie Hickman): Clear, steady delivery with character voices that stay distinct without going cartoon. Tension scenes carry real breath and heartbeat. Worked well for me at 1.3 to 1.5x. Production is clean with consistent volume.
What worked for me:
• Atmosphere that clings like cold air after sunset
• Folklore logic used for stakes, not trivia
• Breadcrumb mystery that rewards paying attention
• Set pieces that push choice and consequence
• A closing run that lands with emotion
What to consider:
• Early chapters favor mood over fireworks
• One reveal you might spot a beat before the characters
• A side character reads a bit functional in places
Content notes: grief, threat, violence, brief blood, ritual and folklore elements, stalking. Check publisher notes for full warnings.
My quote: “The land remembers what you plant and what you bury.” (Adell LaShawn)
Verdict: 4 out of 5. If you want an autumn soaked folk horror with a human core and you enjoy a good audiobook performance, add it to your list.
What it is: A harvest time tale where the past refuses to stay quiet. The story keeps the circle small and lets unease build in fields, barns, and back roads. Secrets surface, rules get tested, and the cost of keeping quiet finally comes due. It is more dread than jump scare, with a mystery thread that tightens chapter by chapter.
Personal take on the lead: I connected with the way the main character tries to hold family together while the ground shifts under their feet. The quiet check ins felt honest, so when hard choices arrived I believed every move.
Audio notes (Angie Hickman): Clear, steady delivery with character voices that stay distinct without going cartoon. Tension scenes carry real breath and heartbeat. Worked well for me at 1.3 to 1.5x. Production is clean with consistent volume.
What worked for me:
• Atmosphere that clings like cold air after sunset
• Folklore logic used for stakes, not trivia
• Breadcrumb mystery that rewards paying attention
• Set pieces that push choice and consequence
• A closing run that lands with emotion
What to consider:
• Early chapters favor mood over fireworks
• One reveal you might spot a beat before the characters
• A side character reads a bit functional in places
Content notes: grief, threat, violence, brief blood, ritual and folklore elements, stalking. Check publisher notes for full warnings.
My quote: “The land remembers what you plant and what you bury.” (Adell LaShawn)
Verdict: 4 out of 5. If you want an autumn soaked folk horror with a human core and you enjoy a good audiobook performance, add it to your list.
September 2, 2025
I was instantly drawn to this book by the brilliant front cover image - as well as the title obviously!
I knew that this was going to set me up nicely to start my spooky season reads.
This was actually more aimed at a YA audience - which I hadn't spotted - but even so, there were some really quite spooky scenes that had me holding my breath and racing ahead.
We meet Hailey and Emma as they embark on a spooky Halloween hayride and honestly, I've always fancied going out on one of these, but in reality, I just know that I'd be traumatised too!
Poor Emma clearly had an experience and from then on became withdrawn.
When the family makes the move out of town, they think that things will settle, but Emma goes missing and Hailey embarks on a mission to find out just what happened to her sister.
This has everything that a spooky read needs and I absolutely loved the atmosphere that was created, both at the start of the book and when the girls hear of the stories of the town ghost.
This was a fairly short read, but there was so much within the storyline even so.
I definitely guessed some of the details before the reveals, but I'm assuming that this was because I was quite a bit older than the target audience.
This is the sort of book I'd have loved when I was younger and exploring the horror genre - heck, I still loved this even now that I'm much much older!
The narrator did a great job creating the perfect atmosphere and portraying the characters here.
I think teens will have the best time reading this in bed through earphones, for the ultimate creepy read.
I knew that this was going to set me up nicely to start my spooky season reads.
This was actually more aimed at a YA audience - which I hadn't spotted - but even so, there were some really quite spooky scenes that had me holding my breath and racing ahead.
We meet Hailey and Emma as they embark on a spooky Halloween hayride and honestly, I've always fancied going out on one of these, but in reality, I just know that I'd be traumatised too!
Poor Emma clearly had an experience and from then on became withdrawn.
When the family makes the move out of town, they think that things will settle, but Emma goes missing and Hailey embarks on a mission to find out just what happened to her sister.
This has everything that a spooky read needs and I absolutely loved the atmosphere that was created, both at the start of the book and when the girls hear of the stories of the town ghost.
This was a fairly short read, but there was so much within the storyline even so.
I definitely guessed some of the details before the reveals, but I'm assuming that this was because I was quite a bit older than the target audience.
This is the sort of book I'd have loved when I was younger and exploring the horror genre - heck, I still loved this even now that I'm much much older!
The narrator did a great job creating the perfect atmosphere and portraying the characters here.
I think teens will have the best time reading this in bed through earphones, for the ultimate creepy read.
September 7, 2025
(Advance audio courtesy of NetGalley, Lindsey Dugan, and Tantor Media.)
4⭐
It took a bit for me to warm up to this one, but once I did, I enjoyed it a lot—it was so much fun! About 60% of the way through, the story got pretty dang spooky. The ghosts were creepy AF, (especially the shriveled husk of a boy with missing eyes and a gaping maw of a mouth *shudders*). One of the most important ghosts gave strong Ringu vibes though, which took me out of it a little.
I loved that the kids did research on an actual modern-ish computer. Listen, I’m a child of the eighties, and I will never not be enamored of a microfiche machine… But no seventh-grader even knows what a microfiche machine isanymore, much less thinks to make that their first investigative stop. So consider me very impressed!
Thomas was hands down my favorite character in the whole book. I would very much have benefited from having a friend like him growing up. He was delightfully weird, unconcerned with what anyone thought of him, and very patient with Hailey even when she was being kinda awful to him. Thomas, you deserve only good things.
This next part of the review contains SPOILERS.
You have been warned.
.
.
.
I figured out (at least part of) the mystery quite early on, and that was entirely based on the narrator’s performance. Rene wasn’t just portrayed as a mean girl; she had the voice of a 40-year-old mean girl, and it made me go “hmmmm…” right from the beginning. I thought, “This girl is actually some sort of ancient creature… or at least, y’know, a 40-year-old witch.” Seventh-graders probably think those are the same thing… *heavy sigh*
(If I roast myself, the children can’t wound my pride. Oh, wait… Yes they can.) AND here it is:
“...as ancient as the actual internet. The webpage looked like it had been designed back in the 1990s!”
Girl child. WHY do you have to inflict these psychic wounds on me?!
Audio-Specific 🎧: even though the audio is very clear and Angie Hickman reads lines well and with a good pace, I didn’t love the voices in this one. They all felt just a little bit unpleasant to listen to. Emma is probably the most solid. She has that very young childlike voice that suits, and even when she’s checked out, it’s very appropriate.
Also, like I mentioned before, some things got revealed way too early, and for me that was entirely based on the performance. That said, I need to point out one really cool thing. Hickman does a fantastic sobbing voice. That’s really hard to pull off and I was very impressed.
📌 TL;DR: A solid middle-grade horror with some genuinely creepy vibes! It doesn't reinvent the genre, but it's definitely worth your time.
4⭐
It took a bit for me to warm up to this one, but once I did, I enjoyed it a lot—it was so much fun! About 60% of the way through, the story got pretty dang spooky. The ghosts were creepy AF, (especially the shriveled husk of a boy with missing eyes and a gaping maw of a mouth *shudders*). One of the most important ghosts gave strong Ringu vibes though, which took me out of it a little.
I loved that the kids did research on an actual modern-ish computer. Listen, I’m a child of the eighties, and I will never not be enamored of a microfiche machine… But no seventh-grader even knows what a microfiche machine isanymore, much less thinks to make that their first investigative stop. So consider me very impressed!
Thomas was hands down my favorite character in the whole book. I would very much have benefited from having a friend like him growing up. He was delightfully weird, unconcerned with what anyone thought of him, and very patient with Hailey even when she was being kinda awful to him. Thomas, you deserve only good things.
This next part of the review contains SPOILERS.
You have been warned.
.
.
.
I figured out (at least part of) the mystery quite early on, and that was entirely based on the narrator’s performance. Rene wasn’t just portrayed as a mean girl; she had the voice of a 40-year-old mean girl, and it made me go “hmmmm…” right from the beginning. I thought, “This girl is actually some sort of ancient creature… or at least, y’know, a 40-year-old witch.” Seventh-graders probably think those are the same thing… *heavy sigh*
(If I roast myself, the children can’t wound my pride. Oh, wait… Yes they can.) AND here it is:
“...as ancient as the actual internet. The webpage looked like it had been designed back in the 1990s!”
Girl child. WHY do you have to inflict these psychic wounds on me?!
Audio-Specific 🎧: even though the audio is very clear and Angie Hickman reads lines well and with a good pace, I didn’t love the voices in this one. They all felt just a little bit unpleasant to listen to. Emma is probably the most solid. She has that very young childlike voice that suits, and even when she’s checked out, it’s very appropriate.
Also, like I mentioned before, some things got revealed way too early, and for me that was entirely based on the performance. That said, I need to point out one really cool thing. Hickman does a fantastic sobbing voice. That’s really hard to pull off and I was very impressed.
📌 TL;DR: A solid middle-grade horror with some genuinely creepy vibes! It doesn't reinvent the genre, but it's definitely worth your time.
September 2, 2025
I listened to the audio book of Ghost of the Harvest and found it enjoyable! Although the book is aimed at a slightly younger audience, as an adult I found it to be a fun and captivating book.
The audio narrator Angie Hickman was great to listen to! Her voice is engaging and she got the feelings of the characters across without being overly dramatic.
The book follows the story of two sisters, Hailey and Emma. Emma has a terrifying experience that changes her whole personality which causes the family to uproot and move from the city to the quiet town of Harpers Fall.
There’s a ghost story about Harpers Fall which is linked to the disappearance of several children spanning decades. Legend has it that a ghost farmer lured children into his hay cart and vanishes with them in the cornfields.
Hailey and her new school friends meet up in the cornfields on night as a dare but when they hear the sound of horses hoofs and Emma appears, all hell breaks loose. Emma has been taken but the adults are acting weird and no one seems to believe the ghost story.
Hailey with the assistance of Thomas, the only person who seems willing to help, has to unravel the mystery of the missing children and the ghost story in order to find her sister before it’s too late.
I really enjoyed this audio book - it was fast paced, the story was fun, captivating and a bit spooky! For an adult it’s a nice quick read/listen and I think a younger audience would love it! A must listen in the run up to spooky season!
The audio narrator Angie Hickman was great to listen to! Her voice is engaging and she got the feelings of the characters across without being overly dramatic.
The book follows the story of two sisters, Hailey and Emma. Emma has a terrifying experience that changes her whole personality which causes the family to uproot and move from the city to the quiet town of Harpers Fall.
There’s a ghost story about Harpers Fall which is linked to the disappearance of several children spanning decades. Legend has it that a ghost farmer lured children into his hay cart and vanishes with them in the cornfields.
Hailey and her new school friends meet up in the cornfields on night as a dare but when they hear the sound of horses hoofs and Emma appears, all hell breaks loose. Emma has been taken but the adults are acting weird and no one seems to believe the ghost story.
Hailey with the assistance of Thomas, the only person who seems willing to help, has to unravel the mystery of the missing children and the ghost story in order to find her sister before it’s too late.
I really enjoyed this audio book - it was fast paced, the story was fun, captivating and a bit spooky! For an adult it’s a nice quick read/listen and I think a younger audience would love it! A must listen in the run up to spooky season!
August 29, 2025
🎧 Audiobook edition review
3.75 ⭐ rounded up
This was such a fun little spooky listen! Ghost of the Harvest follows twelve-year-old Hailey Madison as she begins to sense that something isn’t quite right about her town’s Harvest Festival. The plot mixes eerie mystery with seasonal small-town vibes, creating the perfect fall atmosphere.
As an audiobook, Angie Hickman’s narration really works for this story. She gives Hailey an age-appropriate voice that feels natural and distinct from the adults, and her tone captures both the warmth and the suspense. The sound is clear and smooth, with pacing that keeps the story moving. I did wish for a bit more intensity during some of the scarier moments, but overall the performance enhanced the experience.
At just around 6 hours long, this is an easy and engaging listen. Even though it’s middle grade, I still enjoyed it as an adult—it has that nostalgic, campfire-story charm that makes it great for fall listening.
Overall, Ghost of the Harvest was a charmingly spooky listen—perfect for the Halloween season. The narration captured the eerie tone, even if a few character voices could have been sharper. Still, it’s a quick, enjoyable audiobook that balances middle grade chills with a warmth that makes it appealing to adults too.
Thanks to Tantor Audio for the advance audiobook copy provided via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.
3.75 ⭐ rounded up
This was such a fun little spooky listen! Ghost of the Harvest follows twelve-year-old Hailey Madison as she begins to sense that something isn’t quite right about her town’s Harvest Festival. The plot mixes eerie mystery with seasonal small-town vibes, creating the perfect fall atmosphere.
As an audiobook, Angie Hickman’s narration really works for this story. She gives Hailey an age-appropriate voice that feels natural and distinct from the adults, and her tone captures both the warmth and the suspense. The sound is clear and smooth, with pacing that keeps the story moving. I did wish for a bit more intensity during some of the scarier moments, but overall the performance enhanced the experience.
At just around 6 hours long, this is an easy and engaging listen. Even though it’s middle grade, I still enjoyed it as an adult—it has that nostalgic, campfire-story charm that makes it great for fall listening.
Overall, Ghost of the Harvest was a charmingly spooky listen—perfect for the Halloween season. The narration captured the eerie tone, even if a few character voices could have been sharper. Still, it’s a quick, enjoyable audiobook that balances middle grade chills with a warmth that makes it appealing to adults too.
Thanks to Tantor Audio for the advance audiobook copy provided via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.
September 3, 2025
4.5*
For a YA/ Middle-grade book, this was certainly on par with some of the spooky books I read when I was younger. I am a big fan of horror for all age ranges and I thought this was great ghost story for the ages it's intended for.
Hailey is 12 and , of course, nearly a grown up in her head. When her friends want to go to a harvest festival with spooky hay ride, she is eager to go. However, her parents convince her to let her younger sister, Emma come along too. The night starts out fairly normal, but the book is written from the perspective of young Emma and we experience her growing terror as she tries to convince herself things are just pretend until it isn't.
Now, nearly a year after the hayride incident where Emma' personality changed from bubbly to withdrawn and quiet, the family has moved to Harper's Fall, an out of the way town away from the city where they hope Emma can get better. Yet Hailey soon learns secrets about the town and there is some spooky stuff going on and one night, Emma vanishes. Hailey feels like everything started when they went on the haunted hay ride, and she was absolutely correct.
I won't go too much further into details but I feel like this could have easily been a fear street book from the 1990's (which I loved growing up). Still creepy to me, as an adult too. Highly recommend.
For a YA/ Middle-grade book, this was certainly on par with some of the spooky books I read when I was younger. I am a big fan of horror for all age ranges and I thought this was great ghost story for the ages it's intended for.
Hailey is 12 and , of course, nearly a grown up in her head. When her friends want to go to a harvest festival with spooky hay ride, she is eager to go. However, her parents convince her to let her younger sister, Emma come along too. The night starts out fairly normal, but the book is written from the perspective of young Emma and we experience her growing terror as she tries to convince herself things are just pretend until it isn't.
Now, nearly a year after the hayride incident where Emma' personality changed from bubbly to withdrawn and quiet, the family has moved to Harper's Fall, an out of the way town away from the city where they hope Emma can get better. Yet Hailey soon learns secrets about the town and there is some spooky stuff going on and one night, Emma vanishes. Hailey feels like everything started when they went on the haunted hay ride, and she was absolutely correct.
I won't go too much further into details but I feel like this could have easily been a fear street book from the 1990's (which I loved growing up). Still creepy to me, as an adult too. Highly recommend.
August 27, 2025
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.
I'm excited for the upcoming fall, especially for the upcoming fall book releases. Ghost of the Harvest sounded right up my alley. I miss the grade school and middle grade times of telling spooky ghost stories to each other as kids.
The main character was written very well. I felt her frustration. Every adult in her life let her down and especially let her sister down. The main character makes very child like decisions because she is a child and no child should ever be responsible for the well-being of another child. I very much felt the main character's frustration where she was put in the this situation regarding her sister and told she did a bad job taking care of her sister by the adults around her after she made decisions that children make. I do like that the author covered this topic and was able to express the frustration so well.
My only thing with this book was that the pacing was so slow. Otherwise it has a fantastic atmosphere and great mystery behind it. The characters were all the strongest point if the book and includes the peer pressure and struggles of starting at a new school. All the characters including the side characters were written so realistically.
I'm excited for the upcoming fall, especially for the upcoming fall book releases. Ghost of the Harvest sounded right up my alley. I miss the grade school and middle grade times of telling spooky ghost stories to each other as kids.
The main character was written very well. I felt her frustration. Every adult in her life let her down and especially let her sister down. The main character makes very child like decisions because she is a child and no child should ever be responsible for the well-being of another child. I very much felt the main character's frustration where she was put in the this situation regarding her sister and told she did a bad job taking care of her sister by the adults around her after she made decisions that children make. I do like that the author covered this topic and was able to express the frustration so well.
My only thing with this book was that the pacing was so slow. Otherwise it has a fantastic atmosphere and great mystery behind it. The characters were all the strongest point if the book and includes the peer pressure and struggles of starting at a new school. All the characters including the side characters were written so realistically.
August 22, 2025
audio-ARC provided by Scholastic/Tantor Audio
*3.5
10 months after Haley's sister, Emma, experiences something traumatic at a haunted hayride, their family moves to Harper's Fall, and Emma is soon taken by the ghost of old farmer who kidnaps children during the harvest every decade. With the police seeming useless, and her parents on the verge of forgetting they have a missing child at all, it's up to Haley and her new friends to save Emma before she disappears forever.
This is such a fun ghost story, with a lot of atmosphere and a moody small town, buoyed by a fast pace and page-turning writing. The dynamic between Haley and Thomas felt realistic and well-developed, however as characters, the cast felt rather thin across the board. Luckily, I found the mystery to be very engaging. While not particularly surprising for adult readers, it's sure to shock and thrill middle grade audiences, even if I do contend that the climax complicates the mystery and supernatural elements more than necessary. Lastly, I started by mentioning the pacing, and my biggest issue has to be that the book feels so slow and dour for the first quarter, until the mystery picks up.
*3.5
10 months after Haley's sister, Emma, experiences something traumatic at a haunted hayride, their family moves to Harper's Fall, and Emma is soon taken by the ghost of old farmer who kidnaps children during the harvest every decade. With the police seeming useless, and her parents on the verge of forgetting they have a missing child at all, it's up to Haley and her new friends to save Emma before she disappears forever.
This is such a fun ghost story, with a lot of atmosphere and a moody small town, buoyed by a fast pace and page-turning writing. The dynamic between Haley and Thomas felt realistic and well-developed, however as characters, the cast felt rather thin across the board. Luckily, I found the mystery to be very engaging. While not particularly surprising for adult readers, it's sure to shock and thrill middle grade audiences, even if I do contend that the climax complicates the mystery and supernatural elements more than necessary. Lastly, I started by mentioning the pacing, and my biggest issue has to be that the book feels so slow and dour for the first quarter, until the mystery picks up.
September 9, 2025
I was provided an advanced reader copy of this work in audiobook format free of charge from Netgalley in return for an honest review.
The narration in this book was excellent . I really liked the way it gave each character their own voice and manner of speaking. Wonderful.
I was drawn to this book by the cover art a faded out corn field at harvest time with a girls that seemed to be being dragged in at the same time as she was possibly being shoved out and yet still part of the field and the wisps of smoke gave it a spooky striking vibe. The sepia coloring of the whole thing really made it stand out. Then there was a the title it looked almost liked the words were scribbled with white chalk.
Again it just added to the whole creepy vibe.
This story starts out a bit slow but it quickly gains momentum and builds. This is my frist spooky read in the run up to Halloween. If your looking for something a bit spooky to kick off your lead up to halloween I highly recommend this one.
The narration in this book was excellent . I really liked the way it gave each character their own voice and manner of speaking. Wonderful.
I was drawn to this book by the cover art a faded out corn field at harvest time with a girls that seemed to be being dragged in at the same time as she was possibly being shoved out and yet still part of the field and the wisps of smoke gave it a spooky striking vibe. The sepia coloring of the whole thing really made it stand out. Then there was a the title it looked almost liked the words were scribbled with white chalk.
Again it just added to the whole creepy vibe.
This story starts out a bit slow but it quickly gains momentum and builds. This is my frist spooky read in the run up to Halloween. If your looking for something a bit spooky to kick off your lead up to halloween I highly recommend this one.
October 3, 2025
I received this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Twelve-year-old Hailey Madison and her family are trading the hustle-and-bustle of the city for a farmhouse in the town of Harper’s Fall, and Hailey isn’t happy about it. Hailey’s parents think the move will be beneficial for her little sister, Emma, who suffered a traumatic event the previous year.
Over the years, there has been a string of disappearances in Harper's Fall, and it seems they may be linked to an old cornfield on the farm’s property. Local legend has it that the ghost of an old farmer wanders the farm on his horse pulling a hayrack, luring children on a hayride, and once he takes them into the cornfield, they’re gone forever.
When the ghost takes Emma into the corn, Hailey, with the help of her friend Thomas, must rescue her little sister before it's too late.
The story was well written, the characters likable, and the pacing was fast and action-packed. There was never a dull moment. All in all, a spooky, fun read--just what the month of October calls for.
Twelve-year-old Hailey Madison and her family are trading the hustle-and-bustle of the city for a farmhouse in the town of Harper’s Fall, and Hailey isn’t happy about it. Hailey’s parents think the move will be beneficial for her little sister, Emma, who suffered a traumatic event the previous year.
Over the years, there has been a string of disappearances in Harper's Fall, and it seems they may be linked to an old cornfield on the farm’s property. Local legend has it that the ghost of an old farmer wanders the farm on his horse pulling a hayrack, luring children on a hayride, and once he takes them into the cornfield, they’re gone forever.
When the ghost takes Emma into the corn, Hailey, with the help of her friend Thomas, must rescue her little sister before it's too late.
The story was well written, the characters likable, and the pacing was fast and action-packed. There was never a dull moment. All in all, a spooky, fun read--just what the month of October calls for.
September 9, 2025
This story follows siblings Hayley and Emma. One day they go to a spooky festival and when they go on a hay ride, something weird happens causing little Emma to be changed from then on. They move to a small town where things get even weirder.
This book has many things like ghosts, evil symbols, possession and more.
The narration is fast paced with a fun mysterious plot. The narrator did a great job in bringing the spooky vibes. I really enjoyed it and was entertained by my listen of this book.
I enjoyed Hayley's character and her friendship with Thomas was so sweet.
I am going to be honest, I did have to pause every now and then at night as it got quite creepy at times for me.
Overall, I loved it! Would totally recommend!!
Thank you to Netgalley and Tantor Audio for this audio arc in exchange for an honest review.
This book has many things like ghosts, evil symbols, possession and more.
The narration is fast paced with a fun mysterious plot. The narrator did a great job in bringing the spooky vibes. I really enjoyed it and was entertained by my listen of this book.
I enjoyed Hayley's character and her friendship with Thomas was so sweet.
I am going to be honest, I did have to pause every now and then at night as it got quite creepy at times for me.
Overall, I loved it! Would totally recommend!!
Thank you to Netgalley and Tantor Audio for this audio arc in exchange for an honest review.
August 25, 2025
This is a middle-grade horror audiobook narrated by Angie Hickman with a run time of 5 hours and 51 minutes. It follows Haley whose sister and several other children over the years have gone missing in the town of Harper's Fall. For a middle-grade book, this book was terrifying. Maybe it's because I have children or the writing is just that good? I highly recommend this audiobook, especially since it releases on 09/02/25, which is a perfect release date right before spooky season.
Thank you to Lindsey Duga, RB Media, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Lindsey Duga, RB Media, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
August 25, 2025
This is a perfect horror audiobook for children. Plenty of suspense. Enough suitable tension, darkness and terror. But not enough to give nightmares, except to some of the story’s characters. The pacing is good, a hook at the beginning to gain interest, and then things slowly ramp up to a nail biting finish. 5 Stars as a children’s horror story.
(If it had been for adults probably one star less. Too many ‘so near yet so far’, and for this adult easily guessed plot outcomes. But as I said as a children’s horror story 5 stars.) Thank you to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.
(If it had been for adults probably one star less. Too many ‘so near yet so far’, and for this adult easily guessed plot outcomes. But as I said as a children’s horror story 5 stars.) Thank you to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.
August 31, 2025
Hailey and her family move to Harpers Falls to help her little sister avoid crowds. But her sister is taken and her parents shut down, so it is up to Hailey to find and save her sister. At the age of twelve what can she realistically do when the police seem to be doing very little? Over decades other children have disappeared and never returned.
A very well written and well narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Excellent characters in a novel full of suspense and tension. Hailey will have a friend who lives in the town and he will help her solve the mystery of the missing children and hopefully save the latest missing child. Enjoy.
A very well written and well narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Excellent characters in a novel full of suspense and tension. Hailey will have a friend who lives in the town and he will help her solve the mystery of the missing children and hopefully save the latest missing child. Enjoy.
August 23, 2025
3.75/5
This review is for the audio version of the book, narrated by Angie Hickman.
This was fun and reminiscent of those scary, after school, shows from the 90s and 00s.
The characters were likable and Hailey had a little more depth to her personality than I expected from a middle grade character, which was nice.
The plot was campy and a little predictable, but fun to read.
Worth the time if you're an adult feeling nostalgic or a young reader looking for something perfect for spooky season.
This review is for the audio version of the book, narrated by Angie Hickman.
This was fun and reminiscent of those scary, after school, shows from the 90s and 00s.
The characters were likable and Hailey had a little more depth to her personality than I expected from a middle grade character, which was nice.
The plot was campy and a little predictable, but fun to read.
Worth the time if you're an adult feeling nostalgic or a young reader looking for something perfect for spooky season.
August 31, 2025
YA Horror Book - I absolutely ate this up!!! It was so good that I just couldn’t stop! I’m a sucker for a good mystery and this book had just that with a splash of spooky involving a corn field! Oh and don’t forget being able to see the dead factor! This book has me extra pumped for Fall/Spooky Season!
Who could have thought a haunted hay ride could lead to so much trauma and damage around one family. The guilt that ate at the older sister was definitely relatable. The need to know fact was a great way to keep the reader hooked!
Who could have thought a haunted hay ride could lead to so much trauma and damage around one family. The guilt that ate at the older sister was definitely relatable. The need to know fact was a great way to keep the reader hooked!
September 5, 2025
Thank you to the author, narrator, publisher and Net Galley for providing an ALC!
I am jealous of 'kids these days' because there are so many really amazing spooky, scary books for middle graders and young adults! This was a great story, and the narration was so great as well. It developed and progressed at a good speed, it was fun, it grabbed my attention and just the right touch of spookiness!
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a quick, enjoyable spooky adventure, and for parents with spooky kids.
Solid 4 stars!
I am jealous of 'kids these days' because there are so many really amazing spooky, scary books for middle graders and young adults! This was a great story, and the narration was so great as well. It developed and progressed at a good speed, it was fun, it grabbed my attention and just the right touch of spookiness!
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a quick, enjoyable spooky adventure, and for parents with spooky kids.
Solid 4 stars!
October 2, 2025
This feels like the new version (and maybe for a slightly older audience) of Point Horror of Goosebumps.
Hayley's family has moved to a new town, for reasons Hayley can't fathom. They've not been there very long, when her sister, Emma, goes missing. From that moment on, Hayley's parents act as though they are in a trance and Hayley's only help to get her sister back is Thomas, a boy from their school.
What's going on in the fields? What's the story behind the school librarian? What's the matter with the mayor?
Hayley's family has moved to a new town, for reasons Hayley can't fathom. They've not been there very long, when her sister, Emma, goes missing. From that moment on, Hayley's parents act as though they are in a trance and Hayley's only help to get her sister back is Thomas, a boy from their school.
What's going on in the fields? What's the story behind the school librarian? What's the matter with the mayor?
October 8, 2025
Perfect for Spooky Harvest Season. I love a good Young Reader Thriller/Horror. They can be suspenseful without all the gratuitous things... excessive gore, sexual content, abuse, etc. This was just two kids trying to solve the mystery. While this is labeled for Middle School and the protagonist is in 7th grade, the maturity level of her and her friend was that of an older teen. With that said, I think this would be a good read for a younger YA reader, not just a middle schooler.
Harvest Festival. Haunted Hayride. Missing Children. Ghosts. Revenge. Legends and Lores.
Harvest Festival. Haunted Hayride. Missing Children. Ghosts. Revenge. Legends and Lores.
December 5, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this alc in exchange for an honest review.
I have a soft spot for middle grade horror so I was really excited for this, and it did not disappoint! Ghost of the Harvest by Lindsey Duga follows Hailey Madison and her family as their lives are changed by a sinister presence. This was she appropriate and a truly chilling middle grade horror with themes of conquering fears and friendship.The audiobook was wonderful. The narration really helped immerse me in the story.
I have a soft spot for middle grade horror so I was really excited for this, and it did not disappoint! Ghost of the Harvest by Lindsey Duga follows Hailey Madison and her family as their lives are changed by a sinister presence. This was she appropriate and a truly chilling middle grade horror with themes of conquering fears and friendship.The audiobook was wonderful. The narration really helped immerse me in the story.
August 27, 2025
I really enjoyed this middle-grade spooky story. The MC, Haley, arrives at Harper's Fall after her family moves, and her sister Emma is taken. As with many YA-type books, Haley is responsible for finding Emma and saving her because the adults are all off being useless.
I found the book quite scary for a middle-grade audience, and it was enjoyable to read. The plot was a bit predictable, but this is totally expected for this audience. Overall a great read for spooky season!
I found the book quite scary for a middle-grade audience, and it was enjoyable to read. The plot was a bit predictable, but this is totally expected for this audience. Overall a great read for spooky season!
September 9, 2025
This was a good YA horror! A little mild for my personal taste, but still thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook.
Pros:
- it was the perfect length
- creepy ghosts
- small town vibes
Cons:
- not as scary as I personally prefer in horror
I listened at 2x and enjoyed the narrator of the story! This would be a good fall read for a middle schooler!
Pros:
- it was the perfect length
- creepy ghosts
- small town vibes
Cons:
- not as scary as I personally prefer in horror
I listened at 2x and enjoyed the narrator of the story! This would be a good fall read for a middle schooler!
October 13, 2025
4.5 stars. Spooky.
November 4, 2025
A good spooky Halloween read. Characters were likeable and the author did a nice job setting up the story.
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