In the Dead of the Night

by Erin Bowman

It’s no secret that the abandoned estate across the lake from Camp Durant is haunted.

For decades, campers and staff alike have whispered about the girl who haunts the property—how she was possessed by something unearthly and how an exorcism gone wrong caused her untimely death—but seventeen-year-old Eleanor Bradley dismisses these stories as exaggerated local legends. At least until she sneaks into the estate with some fellow camp counselors and spots a flickering figure in one of the mirrors, its hair dripping with blood.

Convinced the ghost is trying to speak to her, Nell digs for answers. But the lines between interest and obsession, real and imagined, quickly blur. Nell sees things in mirrors that aren’t there. Finds blood on her hands that isn’t hers. Uncovers things that later vanish—like the body behind the estate, buried in a shallow grave. None of it seems possible, unless what happened to the possessed girl all those years ago is happening again—this time, to Nell…

Genres: Horror, Young Adult

332 pages, Paperback

Published October 8, 2024

About the author

Erin Bowman is the critically acclaimed author of numerous books for children and teens, including the Taken Trilogy, Vengeance Road, Retribution Rails, the Edgar Award-nominated Contagion duology, The Girl and the Witch’s Garden, and the forthcoming Dustborn. A web designer turned author, Erin has always been invested in telling stories—both visually and with words. Erin lives in New Hampshire with her husband and children. You can visit her online at embowman.com, on twitter @erin_bowman, or on instagram @heyerin.

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PLEASE NOTE: Erin does not check goodreads mail. If you message her this way she will not see it. For contact methods, visit Erin's website.

Reviews

[Olivia Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devoured this in like 36 hours and it pulled me out of a reading slump! I feel like I don’t have any specific thoughts but it was a snappy, fast-paced ghost mystery/thriller and it delivered! This would be perfect to read on a camping trip!

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this one unsure what to expect, and it was absolutely amazing. The atmosphere was so creepy and perfect for a fall read. I honestly felt like I was losing my mind as we got deeper into the story. I did not expect the ending at allll the plot twists got me good!

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one! Erin has such cinematic writing it makes imagining the details so easy. I loved how everything came together in this book, plot and character wise. The second half of the book kept me guessing & was really action packed (especially the very end). My real only issue is that the first half is a little more on the boring side because it felt like the same 2 things were happening over and over with no change. However around 40% in everything really started to pop off! All in all this is a great spooky season read!

Thanks to the author for the ARC from a giveaway!

[Daphne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into In the Dead of Night by Erin Bowman completely blind, not knowing what to expect—and I was immediately hooked! Erin has an incredible talent for crafting a genuinely creepy atmosphere while keeping the suspense alive throughout the story. Her writing is immersive and beautifully descriptive, with just the right balance of mystery and carefully placed clues that had me eagerly turning the pages.

This was my first horror novel, and I was impressed by the twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. That said, I personally wished the FMC wasn’t a ghost—it would’ve added a layer of realism and made the suspense even more gripping. While the idea of the ghostly MMC as a mystery solver was unique, it occasionally felt less convincing in terms of grounding the story.

Despite this, the plot and execution completely drew me in, and I highly recommend this to readers looking for a thrilling, eerie tale. Erin Bowman has proven she’s a master of suspense and mystery, and I look forward to reading more of her work!

[Carissa Hardcastle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone loves a good sleep away camp ghost story, but for Nell, the exaggerated stories of the girl in the house across the lake are nothing compared to the horrors of real life. Her father is on the run from the FBI, charged with embezzlement, and everyone assumes Nell and her mother were privy to his crimes. As if getting demoted at her summer job from counselor to kitchen staff weren't bad enough, she also starts seeing things in the house across the lake. And is the ghost of a long-dead girl talking to her, or is she losing her mind?
In the Dead of Night is a gripping YA thriller with lovable characters and dark twists that'll keep you on the edge of your seat while Nell digs for the truth no matter how terrifying it may be.