The Rising

Crooked Tales #1

by Chris Harrison

In the heart of a derelict, once-infamous hotel, believed to be one of Britain’s most haunted places, lies a chilling mystery that defies the understanding of the local police. Crooked House, buried deep in the woods of a sleepy village harbouring a chilling secret, with its dark history of unsolved murders and spectral whispers, becomes the stage for a group of unlikely heroes.

Wannabe influencer Kane Jackson and his best friend JJ saw the mysterious Crooked House as the perfect opportunity to capture the attention of their online audience and make a name for themselves. Little do they know that the shadows harboring tortured spirits are just the beginning. Kane’s strong-willed kid brother Zach, headstrong Meridia Wilson, and child prodigy Izzy Di Salvo are reluctantly dragged into the venture with them.

As the group delves deeper into the haunted halls, a malevolent force awaits, hungry for their fears and vulnerabilities. With every step, the secrets of Crooked House unravel, revealing a darkness that goes beyond their darkest nightmares.

Can this unlikely team unlock the harrowing secrets and survive the malevolent forces that threaten to consume them?

In this edgy and dark young adult supernatural horror novel, survival comes at a harrowing cost, and the echoes of Crooked House linger long after the final chapter.

Genres: Horror

294 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 24, 2024

About the author

Chris Harrison is a writer, producer, and author of the Crooked Tales series. Born in North London, he studied Film at Middlesex University to satisfy his deep-rooted fascination with the art of storytelling. Whilst there, he discovered analysing films all day gave him the perfect opportunity to delve deeper into decades of literary and cinematic horror, a passion since early childhood.

Having previously written for film and education, Chris is now focused on fulfilling a lifelong dream and is busy creating immersive worlds full of spine-tingling terror for a young adult audience. Fusing together classic themes of the supernatural and macabre with more contemporary urban mythology, he is on a mission to re-imagine our deepest and darkest fears for a new generation of horror fans.

Now based on the south coast of England, when he’s not writing Chris can often be found on the basketball court coaching young people or posting spooky artwork on Instagram.

Reviews

[Roz Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 stars rounded up. This is such a well-paced story that is full of atmosphere and tension. It reminded me of all the adventure books I loved as a kid, but with the horror, creepiness and darkness ramped up all the way. These 5 kids are way braver than I will ever be!

The book follows Kane, JJ, Zach, Meridia, and Izzy as they explore the haunted Crooked House Hotel. As soon as they set foot inside, things go from bad to worse. Although aimed at young adults, the author did not hold back on the horror or tension, and it was a page turner for sure. I feel most adult horror fans can find something to love in this book.

The group of kids was likeable, and I was really rooting for them throughout. I love how the author sets things up for the next book in the series. It is nicely written, the characters are believable, and the Crooked House is suitably horrifying!

I will definitely keep up with the rest of the series! Thanks to Chris Harrison for an advanced reader copy. This is my honest review, which I'm leaving voluntarily.

[Milt Theo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded to 4. Chris Harrison's 'The Rising,' the first in a five-book series of upper middle grade horror, checks all the right boxes for young adult, adventure, supernatural horror. It starts with a haunting, but the author takes the horror house trope into entirely different directions, embedding it into a wider story of large-scale temporal and spatial vistas. There are many heart-breaking moments, several scenes of teen friendship, instances of regret and loss, but also many challenging situations of great supernatural suspense. Though the writing is a bit rough, and the pacing suffers a a bit in the middle whereas goes way too fast in the beginning, as a debut novel it stands many levels higher than what's already available in relation to intricacy of plot, character development, twists and unexpected revelations, and, well, the sheer magnitude of the author's imagination. I was prepared to pick a favorite character, but I realized soon enough that this is not that kind of story; the ending sure invites the reader to stick with the book and see what's next, as long as one is not averse to intelligent, complex writing and some unsettling plot twists.

I received an advanced reader copy, an ARC, and this is my honest review.

[Lia's Haunted Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5 rounded up)

Yes, it’s YA horror. And yes, the kids are around 14. But the way this book handles fear—visceral, disorienting, sometimes deeply personal—goes far beyond age brackets. There’s a weight to it. It’s also a love letter to the genre that bleeds through Crooked House.

The pacing hits fast and keeps its grip: eerie folklore, tragic backstory, and then boom—you’re stuck in this decaying labyrinth with five kids, a camera, and ghosts that don’t play fair.

But what really stood out to me is how real the kids felt. Kane’s mix of bravado and vulnerability, Zach’s desperate need to be seen, and Meridia’s skepticism and grit all carry emotional weight. You feel their dynamic unravel and evolve under pressure, and that character work makes the horror land harder. Even the dialogue has an edge—sometimes awkward, sometimes sharp, always believable.
And beneath the hauntings is something quieter trauma, memory, and the consequences of being a kid forced to grow up fast in a world that doesn’t care if you’re ready.

And I just finished this review, but guess what? I already have book two lined up and I’m starting it immediately.

[Mickey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't usually enjoy books with a paranormal element, but I stepped outside of my comfort zone to read this one, and I wasn't disappointed.
It's not your typical haunted house story, I feel it kind of touched a little into sci-fi territory. I loved the idea of each room in the hotel having its own story.
I've given this one 4* purely because of the pacing of the story. The beginning started with a bang and drew me in straight away. The first 40% of the book was filled with scary moments, that just didn't stop coming. But then, it started to flag a little. The pace slowed right down, and I worried that it wouldn't pick up again. Towards the end, there was one scene that came back with the same energy as earlier, and I was glad about that. I've seen that this is the first in a series, with more books to come so I look forward to seeing what happens next.

[Honey Dy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crooked House lies in the woods of a sleepy village, an infamous place with a history of unsolved murders and ghostly whispers becoming a stage for a group of unlikely heroes. Kane Jackson and his best friend JJ see Crooked House as their ticket to online fame. Unbeknownst to them, Kane's brother Zach and his friends also get pulled into the adventure. As they explore the haunted halls, an evil force preys on their fears and insecurities. With every step, Crooked House's secrets unfold, revealing a darkness beyond their nightmares.

MY REVIEW ♥️♥️♥️
Chris was the first indie author friend i made when i first started my bookstagram journey, and as soon as i saw he had released The Rising, I  knew i had to read it. Having read some bits and pieces of Chris's work previously, I already knew that Chris would be a horror author well worth watching out for. 

True to form Chris has written some very good work. This novel immediately drew me in with its eerie setting, bringing about the story of a haunted hotel with a sinister past. I found the entire atmosphere creepy as fk, giving me goodebumps right up until the very end.

LET'S TALK 💬 CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT 🙌
I felt Kane Jackson and his friends, with their friendships and bravery tested, brought such a unique perspective to the story, especially as they fought against the evil forces contained within the Crooked House.

LET'S TALK 💬 CROOKED HOUSE 🏠 🙌
This house was something else! It was quite dark, with an array of different rooms (rooms 4 & 6), each providing a secret of its own. As I continued reading, slowly unravelling the mystery surrounding the house, I was completely hooked AND spooked 👻 at the same time. There were so many twists and turns in this story that it kept me guessing right up until the very end.

FINAL THOUGHTS 💭 💭💭CAN I SAY WOW?
i found this story to be a perfect blend of supernatural horror and mystery, making it the perfect read for anyone who loves to get scared.
Well done, @chrisharrison1975. I'm really looking forward to the rest of the books in the Crooked House Series.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a strong start to the Crooked Tales series, it uses the young adult elements and haunted house horror concept. I was engaged with what was going on and thought it worked as a introduction to the world and characters. I was invested in what was happening to the characters and were written well and was hooked with them in this journey. Chris Harrison does an amazing job in writing a great horror novel and a opening chapter with this book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Artie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have so many thoughts about The Rising that I’m trying to make them coherent enough for a review.

The Rising is such a wild ride. From the very beginning, the pace takes off whether you’re ready or not. I was so mad because life was making it hard for me to just sit and binge through this book because I just didn’t want to put it down.

I kept being reminded of the kids and their friendships in The Goonies and It a lot. I really enjoyed each of their personalities and the fact that they read like actual kids. Some novels the kids will say and do things that I just couldn’t picture actual kids doing, but this wasn’t the case for this novel.

The house itself had so much going on and I loved that each room had its own individual ghost and its own story. It reminded me a lot of Thirteen Ghosts (which is one of my favorite horror movies just for the ghosts alone).

I will say the pacing kind of slowed when the kids made it back from Crooked House and we learned more about each individual, but it picked back up quick enough. I felt like the ending might have been a little rushed? But I am thrilled this is part of a five book series and I can’t wait to see where the next one will go.

Thank you so much Wicked Ink Publishing and Chris Harrison. I received an advanced reader copy, an ARC, in return for an honest review.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Crooked House is believed to be one of the most haunted places in Britain and a couple of young friends, wanna be ghost hunter, explorers, hear about it and decide to investigate along with three of their friends.
The now closed down and run down hotel, where each room is haunted by a different entity and harbouring some dark secrets and unsolved murders is the start of their journey.

Harrison did not disappoint with this YA horror and there were enough twists, turns and blood and gore to keep me turning the pages. I am not a big reader of this genre but I was thoroughly engrossed and will be looking for more epic tales like this in the future.
The characters are very brave and relatable and I can't wait to see how they develop throughout the series. We get a lot of interesting back story too, which sets us up ready for the next book, which i cannot wait for and I believe is due out around October, the perfect time for these spooky tales.

Thank you to Chris Harrison for letting me read an ARC copy of his debut novel of Crooked Tales : The Rising. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[★彡MeganReads彡★ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Ten souls are taken on sacred ground as an offering to ‘death’. When the tenth soul is taken, the world descends into darkness and night takes over.”

If you enjoy Thirteen Ghosts Movie and ghoulish dark forces taking over a house, you will love this! PLUS if you like Goosebumps, Well……this is like Goosebumps but in adult version.

Almost forgot to make my review on this. First & foremost thank you Wicked Ink Publishing for this ARC! This if the first installment of Chris’s “Crooked Tales” series! & it was an absolute pleasure of reading.

Trigger Warnings: gore, death, dread feeling, death of a parent, alcoholic parents

I cannot say enough how I really enjoyed all the different twists and little elements that us readers face when we read a book. This story is unique from anything else that I have read.

This story is fast paced and really took a turn in so many ways. The small details within the items of the haunted hotel, I truly enjoyed reading about.

A story about young teen kids facing death and horrors of a house is such a typical plot, BUT AND I MEAN BUT! Like I said earlier, it challenged so many elements of horror writing and the author was able to clearly make it work. I am forever grateful for this early copy of the book and do hope to read the second one in the future.

[Selena Spiropoulos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always had a hard time finding TRUE horror books. The kind of horror that has you watching cartoons after so you don’t have bad dreams.
Well, I found it in The Rising!
I was like, “oh it’s a young adult book, how scary can it be!?” UMM… scary SCARY 😱
Disclaimer, I’m a HUGE sissy when it comes to demonic possessions in movies. In books though? I’ve never had a book make me pause at bedtime and wait to continue in the morning. LOL
From the very first chapter I was hooked, the mystery of Crooked House sunk its claws into me.
And then the gore, it definitely engages all the senses!
One of my favorites is this scene involving cockroaches: “The boys furiously stomped on their newfound admirers like they were making wine, only this wine was of the putrid, pus-filled variety. Sticky entrails glued their shoes to the ground as the awful stench of squashed bugs filled the air, stinging their nostrils with its musty aroma.” 🤢
Disgusting, but beautifully written!! Can that even be a thing??

The Rising by Chris Harrison is a true horror story, it’s book one in the Crooked Tales Series and I highly recommend reading it.

[Justine · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I won a copy of this book from the publisher and I was excited to see they are based in Calgary which is close to me. (Support local!). Anyways, it’s also spooky season so it’s the perfect time for this read. Now what I didn’t realize (I clearly don’t pay attention) is that this was young adult per my two friends who read it before I did. Now I don’t mind a young adult novel, but this was more middle grade to me besides the scary cover. So it read really easy. The Rising reminded me so much of 13 Ghosts just the middle grade version. I really loved it I just wish it was adult. I liked the hotel aspect and that each room had its own story and “ghost”. I want more of their stories. I’m hoping book two will give me this. I have the ARC already haha.
I would recommend this to younger teens, well or older but it may read young to them. Also to then author, please write adult novels, I’d eat it up!

Thank you to Wicked Ink Publishing for hosting this giveaway and picking me to win haha!

[Sharron Joy Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Crooked House lies deep in the woods, haunted and with a terrifying history. Kane and JJ are desperate to be You Tube stars exploring spooky places and this one is right on their doorstep. Along with Zach, Kane’s little brother and their friends Meridia and Izzy they decide to explore the abandoned house whilst the evil within watches and waits for them.

A YA indie horror with a scifi vibe that turns up the creep factor as the group of teens get pulled into the true malevolence of a notorious haunted house. Secrets are revealed and as the history of missing children and people unravels the evil entity makes their nightmares come true.

The imagery is brutal and the heartbreaking stories of the trapped souls makes this is a classic case of good versus evil, with peril at every turn, who wins?

The first in a series of Crooked Tales stories from Chris, this was a fast paced thrilling horror adventure story where the evil feels very real and deadly, a fantastic read!

[Brianna Raine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very well written story about a teen boy who wants his social media account to blow up and make him successful. When his friend comes to him with a new idea for a video he couldn't be more excited. He and his friends head off to one of the most haunted houses in the UK to try and uncover the disappearance of the previous owner and her husband.

This first part of this book held my attention the most. It was weird and creepy with a tension that gripped me. As I moved through the book, although there was so much going on, it still felt a little slow for me. I don't know whether this is due to it being a YA story (me issue lol)

I am going to make my way through this series and see what I what about it in the whole.

100% recommend to those who enjoy YA horror and younger audiences (teens).

[Book To Nature · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you again to @chrisharrison1975 for my ARC of this brilliant YA horror. It's not too gory, but it still has a fantastic creep factor that made my skin crawl in places.

This is the setup to a series I am looking forward to delving into! I adore a haunted house story, especially with a hotel/B&B them! I was also happy to see it set in the UK, I always feel it gives it more bang when you can imagine it on your doorstep.

This story grabs you from the start and doesn't let go. I also love a "coming of age" arch where you can see characters grown and show their true nature in the face of absolute horror, friendships, and heartbreak.

I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy to add to my growing horror collection.

[Jojobean_reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I enjoyed the beginning of this sotry, the whole haunted house/hotel vibes. The kids getting roped in to this dark and twisted world where they have to try and solve the mysteries of the people who go missing, whilst trying to keep themselves safe - was brilliantly done and I think we could have stopped at the aftermath of that part.

The last 3rd of the book though, fell a bit flat for me. It felt rushed. I understand this is book 1 of a trilogy but it just felt like the last portion of the book quite didnt pair up with the beginning.

[Holly Knightley · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Move out of the way Stephen King, there’s a new name in horror and it’s Chris Harrison!

'The Rising' is a supernatural rollercoaster, the likes of which I have never seen! It shatters the haunted house trope with an action-packed gripping thriller that made me bite off all of my nails! Harrison’s imagination and creativity knows no bounds! This is only the second time in my life I have felt it necessary to yell at a book to warn a character! (I was that into the story.) Harrison is a master storyteller and has created a vivid world full of dark lore and a darker legacy that follows five friends as they take on the evil that resides in Crooked House. Dark, atmospheric, and downright scary, 'The Rising' should be on everyone’s reading list!

This is one of the BEST books I’ve ever read! I can’t wait to sink my teeth into book two!

[Jon Mallet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve had the chance to read The Rising by Chris Harrison, the first book in the Crooked Tales Series, here are my comments.

I have to admit that I haven’t read a lot of YA horror so I didn’t know what to expect when I first picked up this novel. After going through the first few pages, I was hooked. There is a lot to enjoy in this book, especially for horror fans: a crew of sympathetic teenagers that are not afraid to explore sketchy areas, an abandoned house with a violent history and its load of dark secrets, a great number of traumatizing ghosts from alternate dimensions waiting for their next victim, what is there not to like? It feels like the world is rich with horror and in this first part of the series, we barely grazed the surface. On the other hand, I felt like some aspects of the story could have been optimized. The rhythm is relentless, horror scene after horror scene, the tension is always to the max and I felt like I needed to catch a breath at some point. I also found that there were so many ghosts that I may have lost count of them and haven’t fully enjoyed them as much as I would have liked to, but there are still four other books left to meet and greet. Finally, the ending makes a lot of promises for what’s to come but it felt like it was cut short.

Is The Rising a flawless book? I wouldn’t say that, but did I enjoy hanging out with Kane, Zack, JJ, Meridia and Izzy and will I read the rest of the series? Absolutely!

[Saul Sandoval · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am normally not one one to like this kind of genre but I found it quite entertaining. I loved the beginning and kept me hooked. The middle part with the group in investigating the Crooked House was fantastic and all the different rooms that were unique and fun in their own right were some of the best parts. Without giving anything away I want to say the best part was the middle section on Archie. It was tragic and I did not see it coming. It hit me like a ton of bricks. Definitely go out and read it. Worth the buy. A+++++ received an advanced reader copy, an ARC, in return for an honest review

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to start off by saying a big thanks to Chris and @wickedinkpublishing for an arc of this book. This is my honest thoughts on the book! I’ve not read a ya horror story in a hot minute and this is exactly what I needed, it has many spine chilling moments. The characters are very relatable! One thing I loved was how we got to see Helen’s prospective that was a very cool addition! It added to the story a lot. It gave the story more depth, the characters we meet in the story are all fantastic. The story is very detailed and very well written. It starts off with Helen the owner of a now closed b&b experiencing a scary situation where she’s being threatened by the ghosts that reside inside the haunted b&b. The cops don’t believe her and people are starting to think she’s crazy, her husband had disappeared a few years earlier and she’s always hoped he’d return, after the scary situation with the ghosts she plans to leave the hotel behind but theirs a storm rolling in so she has to stay one more night. to help her feel secure she’s goes around the hotel making sure no one is inside other than herself, I won’t spoil what happens next but just know I audibly gasped. The story then continues 4 months later where a young group of teens/children decides to go check out the creepy abandoned hotel. This group consists of Kane (our horror obsessed YouTuber), next is JJ he’s Kane’s best friend and the camera man, we have Zach kanes little brother, and two of their friends Meridia Wilson and Izzy Di Salvo.
kane has a YouTube channel where he posts horror content so he decides to film their whole experience at the haunted hotel in hopes it blows up. What the teens experience is super creepy, they see all sorts of things you would only see in movies. The further they go into crooked house the more they discover there is a malevolent spirit that wants to terrify the group. Crooked house has dark secrets and this group is set to uncover it!! The ending of this book has me so anxious it was absolutely fantastic I thoroughly enjoyed this story it was creepy and very well written it had plenty of depth to it!! I highly recommend this creepy story to anyone who wants a story that will keep you on the edge guessing till the end! 5/5 ✨✨✨✨✨

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rising by Chris Harrison has everything that I love in an epic horror/thriller story. The characters are relatable, heartwarming, and brave. I can't wait to see how they develop throughout the series. The plot keeps you guessing and has fantastic twists and turns. There was enough mystery to keep me turning pages, just the right amount of gore that it didn't overshadow the mystery, a few creepy bugs, and heart wrenching death scenes.
In the Crooked House and the town of Cold Christmas, Harrison has created a darkly supernatural world that sends true shivers up my spine and I cannot wait to return to it in the next installment.

[Chiara Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know when you're given the opportunity to read one of your most anticipated reads of the year and it holds your expectations?
Well, this is one of those occasions! Everything in this book worked for me, from the main characters to the storyline, the supernatural elements, and the twists. Not to mention the very immersive writing demonstrated by Chris Harrison, so much so that I had a visual and auditory cinematic experience in my head as I was reading! Also, some of the unsettling scenes are enhanced by the varied pace of the story and the change in reality, helping the reader synchronise their state of mind with those of the characters.
 
Although the main characters are all young teenagers, I felt a connection and was reminded of that same excitement of having a close group of friends to share experiences with. Only that a seemingly innocent visit to a famous haunted hotel trying to capture some cool videos becomes the beginning of the end, not just for them but for humanity! It is implicit that I'm looking forward to the sequel as I have to know what happens next!!
 
Another thing I very much appreciated is the variation on the supernatural theme with dystopian and science fiction elements, albeit remaining a YA horror. As I mentioned, I'm looking forward to the next book and the whole series as I want to experience the full horrors of Crooked House. And I'm sure you want to as well!
 
Thanks to the author and Wicked Ink Publishing for a copy and this is my honest opinion.

[The_Macabre_Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

🚪🗝️🪑Review🗣️💀👣

Title: The Rising
Author: Chris Harrison

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
(Rounded up on GOODREADS)

Thoughts: Not going to lie I pestered a little to ensure an arc of this 😄 sorry Chris lol.
I've been reading the authors stories on his IG page and I was very excited for his YA horror novel to get released. He definitely lived up to my expectations!
The beginning disorients you just enough as we get a good background on the haunted B&B known as the Crooked House. As we meet our main characters, a group of teens set out to catch truly chilling footage of the now infamous Crooked House where various people have gone missing. Trying to catching something big and become internet stars, this group of friends head into the dark and decaying labyrinth of the house where they quickly realize their "fun adventure" has turned into a cold nightmare. The Crooked House is hungry and it will not let you go once you've stepped in.

For me the Crooked House really took on a character of its own and the evil that resides inside chilled me. Truly a never ending maze of hell. Especially for a YA horror, I was really impressed with the creep factor. As the story developes a more horrific reality is revealed which thickens the plot and sets up for the next to come. 🏚️🔦👹.

[Anna Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be quite honest, horror is not my thing! But Wicked Ink was kind enough to send an ARC of this book.

The pictures that Chris Harrison paints in this book are VIVID and immediately drew me in. Even with my heart in my throat I could not put it down. I had to know what happened next. There was most definitely more than one evening where I read under the cover of a blanket.

What struck me most, is that while this house is in England, the picture it painted in my mind felt so real, so immediate, that I felt like I could wander down the street and stumble upon Crooked House and into a house where escape is crucial. But the question is, will our Explorers ever escape the hold Crooked House has on their mind?

Stories are never done until the storyteller is done, I can't wait to see Book 2 and what Chris Harrison has in store. Even if I'm going to need a shot of courage.

Pick up a copy, you won't be able to put it down.

As an aside, I'm not always a fan of how women are written in books by male authors. I really enjoyed how Helen was written and her inner dialogue.

[Bailey (Myveinsbleedink) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whew! What an absolute roller coaster ride. This book has everything in it. It had so many different vibes, there was some It, Stranger Things, Walking Dead, The Shining, honestly I just had all these moments where I felt all these sub-genres coming together to produce this terrifying work of art. This is classified as YA Horror and I think maybe if I'd been a teen reading this I'd literally never sleep again. I demolished this book in one sitting and I'm still sitting here processing everything and putting it all together. I could probably read it again right now and discover new things. The characters are teenagers but it felt a lot older. I really enjoyed it. Don't even remember how I stumbled across The Crooked Tales but i'm pumped I did.
At the end Chris mentions Easter Eggs in the book and I'm obsessed with wanting to dissect this. Maybe I will.
I've got book 2 ready to go so stay tuned for that.

[Jessica (Read book. Repeat) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a giveaway and was so stoked (still am to be honest), so I was keen as to jump into it. It did take me a bloody long time to get through this, and I honestly think it was a me problem. I wanted to love it, the story was great, there was serious creepy factor happening and a few of the scenes had my hair standing on end which is fantastic. The characters were really well written, and I was invested in their story from virtually the get go and keen to see where things went.
For me, the pacing was a bit slow, and I honestly don't know why because the action was constant. Again, I think it was a me thing. I am interested to see where the story goes from here as this is book one of a series. I think this was simply a case of not all books work for everyone as I know that I'm in the minority with my feelings. So, I implore you, pick this series up!

If you're looking for a YA horror that has serious creep factor, high stakes and great characters give this one a go!

[Adhara Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt that the ending was very rushed, which was surprising since there is going to be a volume 2. When I reached the end I thought it would be simply continued in the second volume, but nope. It was abruptly ended. This I didn't like and still don't understand why it was wrapped up this way.
I also believe that the first prolog (it felt like there were two prologues, since, the main story was about kids, not about those first people or even Helen) was completely unnecessary, and instead, the space it took, should have been given to the main story.
What I did like about it was this Eighties teenager horror movie vibe and the book also reminded me a bit about Thir13en Ghosts meets Night Warriors by Masterton, and so I hope the book is going with this familiar cue.

[Me Christine Crawley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young adult tale of horror and friendship that will have you screaming at the book telling the teens what to do.

The story begins with some context about Crooked House, before we meet the teens that are looking for a bit of fun one afternoon in Cold Christmas. Fun isn't exactly what they find. The teens are well-rounded characters, each with strengths, flaws and vulnerabilities.

There are plenty of tense moments where the author builds up the suspense and there is a lot of action that follows in this fast-paced tale. It's not for the faint-hearted, but it is perfect for young adults that like horror and suspense. This is book one in the series, so there are plenty more frights to follow.

I received an ARC copy of this book and I am happy to leave this honest review.

[Maddi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not your typical haunted house story

This was a well-paced story filled with tension & kept me on the edge of my seat, making me want to keep reading.
The book follows 5 friends who investigate the haunted Crooked House Hotel. As soon as they set foot into the location, shit goes down.
It is a book that is for young adult but Chris Harrison didn't hold back on the horror.
The characters were likeable & well-written, along with the rest of the book.
I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series

[Tobin Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A frenetic, non-stop horror novel that starts with an interesting premise—a hotel with various different rooms haunted in different ways—that eventually evolves into so much more. Very much a teen-oriented story, it does a great job of setting up the rest of the story to come, yet still offering up an ending that's both satisfying as well as open-ended enough to leave room for more.

[Samantha Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a paranormal horror.
i loved this book it isn't my usual genre to read but i couldn't put it down.
It follows a group of kids who go to investigate a haunted house and find much more than they bargained for.
fast paced, suspense, bloody, twists and great character development.