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Ask the Dark
Loads of people have asked me 'bout what happened. Tell the truth, I'm tired of getting asked. I want to answer everybody all at once and get it all the hell over with…
Billy Zeets has a story to tell.
About being a vandal and petty thief.
About missing boys and an elusive killer.
And about what happens if a boy who breaks all the rules is the only person who can piece together the truth.
Gripping and powerful, this masterful debut novel comes to vivid life through the unique voice of a hero as unlikely as he is unforgettable.
Billy Zeets has a story to tell.
About being a vandal and petty thief.
About missing boys and an elusive killer.
And about what happens if a boy who breaks all the rules is the only person who can piece together the truth.
Gripping and powerful, this masterful debut novel comes to vivid life through the unique voice of a hero as unlikely as he is unforgettable.
250 pages, Hardcover
First published April 7, 2015
48 people are currently reading
1758 people want to read
About the author
Henry Turner
2 books22 followersHenry Turner grew up in Baltimore Maryland, in Roland Park, an old neighborhood heralded, on a historical plaque outside its local shopping center, “The oldest planned Garden Suburb in the United States”. He went to public schools. He was always interested in storytelling in one form or another, and as a teenager he started making films with his brother and neighborhood kids.
Henry wound up making five feature films, writing and shooting and cutting them. When his films won awards and attracted some attention he moved to Los Angeles, after getting a call from a movie production company that was looking for scripts. He stayed in L.A. and helped build a fledgling film festival that has since become well-established. He also wrote much freelance entertainment journalism, interviewing well-known filmmakers such as George Lucas, Brian Grazer, Quentin Tarantino, James Cameron, and many others. All along he was writing stories.
During a year spent in Greece he made a total commitment to writing fiction. Returning to Los Angeles, he met his future wife, who encouraged him to study fiction writing with a novelist he admired – John Rechy. Henry stayed in Rechy’s private writing group for a number of years and also studied privately with Hubert Selby. Since that time he and his wife have had a son, Hugo, who is now nine. Henry Turner is now writing a new novel.
Henry wound up making five feature films, writing and shooting and cutting them. When his films won awards and attracted some attention he moved to Los Angeles, after getting a call from a movie production company that was looking for scripts. He stayed in L.A. and helped build a fledgling film festival that has since become well-established. He also wrote much freelance entertainment journalism, interviewing well-known filmmakers such as George Lucas, Brian Grazer, Quentin Tarantino, James Cameron, and many others. All along he was writing stories.
During a year spent in Greece he made a total commitment to writing fiction. Returning to Los Angeles, he met his future wife, who encouraged him to study fiction writing with a novelist he admired – John Rechy. Henry stayed in Rechy’s private writing group for a number of years and also studied privately with Hubert Selby. Since that time he and his wife have had a son, Hugo, who is now nine. Henry Turner is now writing a new novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 202 reviews
April 30, 2015
Billy Zeets finds out that his family is losing their house. His dad has been recently hurt and can no longer make the mortgage payments so the bank is foreclosing in 3 months. His older sister tells Billy he needs to do something. I mean don't all older sister's who refuse to get a job to help with anything tell their younger brother's to find a way to keep the house?
I don't much like sister-girls character.
What does dad do? He is depressed so I will give him that. He just starts to want boxes though so he can pack. He comes up with the idea that he can stay at the recovery AA house. WHAT ABOUT THIS 14 YEAR OLD KID!!!!
Thanks be to the gods of young adult books that this kid doesn't let his family being idiots stop him. He actually goes out and does odd jobs. He could have done more but the neighborhood doesn't trust him because, well he has been a bit of a punk.
At the time I was in the seventh grade the second time, like I still gonna be, and I spent most of my time downtown at school and didn't get much news 'bout what happens up our way, 'cause my teachers down there's just a bunch'f nuns and they ain't never had much to tell me, 'cept to say I got stains on my soul.
So he starts working around the neighborhood, and boys start going missing. He starts spying on a weird guy who furnishes drugs for some of the kids and is a bit on the weird side.
Books where the kid takes on the roll of solving crimes usually get on my nerves for the most part. This one actually did a pretty decent job of it. You just knew that no one was going to help Billy.
"Cause he made it plain to me, I'd busted too many windows, stolen too many bikes, soaped too many cars.
Weren't no police for me. I was on my own.
There is lots of cussing and f-bombs in the book too.
Scuse my language.
Even more than I cuss. It got a star added just for that.
I don't much like sister-girls character.
What does dad do? He is depressed so I will give him that. He just starts to want boxes though so he can pack. He comes up with the idea that he can stay at the recovery AA house. WHAT ABOUT THIS 14 YEAR OLD KID!!!!
Thanks be to the gods of young adult books that this kid doesn't let his family being idiots stop him. He actually goes out and does odd jobs. He could have done more but the neighborhood doesn't trust him because, well he has been a bit of a punk.
At the time I was in the seventh grade the second time, like I still gonna be, and I spent most of my time downtown at school and didn't get much news 'bout what happens up our way, 'cause my teachers down there's just a bunch'f nuns and they ain't never had much to tell me, 'cept to say I got stains on my soul.
So he starts working around the neighborhood, and boys start going missing. He starts spying on a weird guy who furnishes drugs for some of the kids and is a bit on the weird side.
Books where the kid takes on the roll of solving crimes usually get on my nerves for the most part. This one actually did a pretty decent job of it. You just knew that no one was going to help Billy.
"Cause he made it plain to me, I'd busted too many windows, stolen too many bikes, soaped too many cars.
Weren't no police for me. I was on my own.
There is lots of cussing and f-bombs in the book too.
Scuse my language.
Even more than I cuss. It got a star added just for that.
March 4, 2015
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
3.5 Stars
“Isn’t that funny? All that stealing and never going to school. It’s what made it so you were outside a lot, seeing things nobody else saw. Hidden and secret things.”
This book is about to turn YA right on its ear.
Ask the Dark is Billy Zeets’ story. Literally. What you read is what he is telling into a handheld digital recorder. It’s the story of some missing neighborhood boys, and how Billy became an unlikely hero. It’s a phenomenal f*&^%$# debut.
“‘Scuze my language.”
I loved Billy. He reminded me a bit of this guy . . .
And holy guacamole did this book push some boundaries when it comes to the traditional definition of “YA.” Now, if this were being marketed as a book for adults, I would be a harsher critic, but it’s not, so I’m not. In a kid’s book it’s completely understandable for a boy from the wrong side of the tracks to ignore all common sense and put himself in harm’s way in order to potentially solve a crime. (It’s been my experience that people aren’t as accepting of these types of storylines in “grown up” stories.) There’s also no use of quotes to distinguish conversion which will grate on some, but again I think most kids won’t even notice or if they do notice I don’t think they would have as much of a problem with it. Remember, this isn’t supposed to be a written story – it reads like a transcript of a recording (a tactic that I found worked very well).
Ask the Dark is a book that would hold a kid’s attention. It has mystery, action, violence, foul language, etc. Unfortunately, these are also the things that will keep parents from being accepting of this book, so it’s a double-edged sword.
I would have given this one 4 Stars, but I had a couple of issues. First, this book read like a “blast from the past” – the MC was a kid who spent his days wandering the town, looking for odd jobs, riding around with the junk man, etc. No offense to modern-day kids, but from my experience not many of you are like this. Then every once in a while there would be a reference to a cell phone or something that made me realize this was supposed to take place in the present. Second, the dialect is so well written. I can’t remember the last time I read such great “drawl.” However, as a mom I know reading accents is something that doesn’t come easily to kids and can slow down the pace/lessen the enjoyment for a non-adult.
All in all, though? Remarkable. We’ll call this one “Kelly Tested and Oprah Approved.”
Okay, not really. Don’t sue me, Oprah.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
3.5 Stars
“Isn’t that funny? All that stealing and never going to school. It’s what made it so you were outside a lot, seeing things nobody else saw. Hidden and secret things.”
This book is about to turn YA right on its ear.
Ask the Dark is Billy Zeets’ story. Literally. What you read is what he is telling into a handheld digital recorder. It’s the story of some missing neighborhood boys, and how Billy became an unlikely hero. It’s a phenomenal f*&^%$# debut.
“‘Scuze my language.”
I loved Billy. He reminded me a bit of this guy . . .
And holy guacamole did this book push some boundaries when it comes to the traditional definition of “YA.” Now, if this were being marketed as a book for adults, I would be a harsher critic, but it’s not, so I’m not. In a kid’s book it’s completely understandable for a boy from the wrong side of the tracks to ignore all common sense and put himself in harm’s way in order to potentially solve a crime. (It’s been my experience that people aren’t as accepting of these types of storylines in “grown up” stories.) There’s also no use of quotes to distinguish conversion which will grate on some, but again I think most kids won’t even notice or if they do notice I don’t think they would have as much of a problem with it. Remember, this isn’t supposed to be a written story – it reads like a transcript of a recording (a tactic that I found worked very well).
Ask the Dark is a book that would hold a kid’s attention. It has mystery, action, violence, foul language, etc. Unfortunately, these are also the things that will keep parents from being accepting of this book, so it’s a double-edged sword.
I would have given this one 4 Stars, but I had a couple of issues. First, this book read like a “blast from the past” – the MC was a kid who spent his days wandering the town, looking for odd jobs, riding around with the junk man, etc. No offense to modern-day kids, but from my experience not many of you are like this. Then every once in a while there would be a reference to a cell phone or something that made me realize this was supposed to take place in the present. Second, the dialect is so well written. I can’t remember the last time I read such great “drawl.” However, as a mom I know reading accents is something that doesn’t come easily to kids and can slow down the pace/lessen the enjoyment for a non-adult.
All in all, though? Remarkable. We’ll call this one “Kelly Tested and Oprah Approved.”
Okay, not really. Don’t sue me, Oprah.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
March 4, 2015
Told in the innocent voice of a young teen, a tale of loss, poverty, accidental heroics, and the truth of his feelings, the voice and heart of Billy Zeets come to life in through the eyes and heart of the main character. Ask the Ark by Henry Turner is as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking as Billy recounts his life and events since the day he made a deathbed promise to his dying mother. Once a troublemaker, Billy has always been looked down upon by his peers as well as many adults who know of his family’s poverty, his father’s issues and the boy Billy used to be. What these people all failed to see was the loyalty and love held within this teen’s soul. Billy tends to forgive most transgressions, finding an excuse for what has happened. But the pivotal day in his life came the day he found the body of a young boy who had gone missing and never told anyone what he saw. Between the threat of losing their home and his father’s deep depression, Billy takes on the responsibility to save both their home and his family from complete emotional destruction. Does this mean he must go back to his wilder days and break the vow he took for his mother?
More boys go missing and Billy may have hit on a lead that he follows up on, himself, because he has no faith that the adults in his small town would even listen to him, not even those in authority, the ones he should be able to go to. Will Billy’s personal investigations land him in more trouble than he can handle? Will he go above and beyond to bring the monster behind these crimes down or are his attempts going to prove once again, that Billy will never amount to anything?
Henry Turner has captured the heart and soul of a humble young teen through his words. The dialogue is down home quaint, as Billy comes across as a boy who has never really been given the chance to try to soar with the eagles of youth. This trip through Billy’s life and the town he lives in will feel real, will capture your imagination and your protective side as you root for Billy to finally find acceptance and acknowledgement of the fine young man is his becoming. His blushing humility and sense of honor often get him in trouble, all because he is trying to do the right thing, something he now finds to be second nature. A fascinating and sweet read, perfect for YA on up, I think Henry Turner could squeeze tears from a rock, with Ask the Dark. No matter what genre you read, this is one to step outside of your box with.
I received an ARC edition from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication Date: April 7, 2015
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN: 9780544308275
Genre: YA Mystery
Print Length: 256 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
More boys go missing and Billy may have hit on a lead that he follows up on, himself, because he has no faith that the adults in his small town would even listen to him, not even those in authority, the ones he should be able to go to. Will Billy’s personal investigations land him in more trouble than he can handle? Will he go above and beyond to bring the monster behind these crimes down or are his attempts going to prove once again, that Billy will never amount to anything?
Henry Turner has captured the heart and soul of a humble young teen through his words. The dialogue is down home quaint, as Billy comes across as a boy who has never really been given the chance to try to soar with the eagles of youth. This trip through Billy’s life and the town he lives in will feel real, will capture your imagination and your protective side as you root for Billy to finally find acceptance and acknowledgement of the fine young man is his becoming. His blushing humility and sense of honor often get him in trouble, all because he is trying to do the right thing, something he now finds to be second nature. A fascinating and sweet read, perfect for YA on up, I think Henry Turner could squeeze tears from a rock, with Ask the Dark. No matter what genre you read, this is one to step outside of your box with.
I received an ARC edition from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication Date: April 7, 2015
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN: 9780544308275
Genre: YA Mystery
Print Length: 256 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
March 26, 2015
A dark young adult book told from the perspective of Billy Zeets. Billy is 14 years old and he comes from a family with financial struggles. Billy takes on all sorts of odd jobs in order to help his father save the house from repossession. While on a job, Billy makes a discovery that leads him to suspect a local man is responsible for a series of murders of young boys. Instead of contacting the local police (with which he's had a few run-ins himself), Billy decides to try to gather as much information as possible on his own.
I enjoyed this book. Billy is the kind of kid that you may not want to have running around your neighborhood, however, he does have a good heart and he means well. It was interesting watching him put together the clues like pieces of a puzzle. It's not a detective/crime story - it's just a boy taking his observations and trying to make sense of them.
I understand that this book is labelled as Young Adult but be forewarned that the language may be objectionable for some readers. There is also drug use although Billy doesn't partake. The last part of the book may frighten younger readers. I would recommend this book for older young adult readers, perhaps Grade 10 and higher.
Thank you to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group for a review copy of this book.
I enjoyed this book. Billy is the kind of kid that you may not want to have running around your neighborhood, however, he does have a good heart and he means well. It was interesting watching him put together the clues like pieces of a puzzle. It's not a detective/crime story - it's just a boy taking his observations and trying to make sense of them.
I understand that this book is labelled as Young Adult but be forewarned that the language may be objectionable for some readers. There is also drug use although Billy doesn't partake. The last part of the book may frighten younger readers. I would recommend this book for older young adult readers, perhaps Grade 10 and higher.
Thank you to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group for a review copy of this book.
May 18, 2015
I don't ever really read this genre, but I enjoyed Ask the Dark! I really liked the way the main character told the story!
Edited to include full review.
*I received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review*
First Thoughts
I hardly ever read this genre, but I was delightfully surprised with Ask The Dark. I enjoyed how Henry Turner captured the voice and personality of Billy Zeets. I especially liked the way the story was told: Billy Zeets talking into a recorder and telling the story of how he accidentally saved a boy from a serial killer.
What I Enjoyed
Billy Zeets. I know some readers will probably be turned off by the way Billy spoke in the book-- uneducated (scuze, took'm, yar, 'cept). I liked it, though! I think it helped me envision who Billy is and the sort of environment he was brought up in. I also liked that he wasn't really a hero. He would have never found out who the serial killer was if he hadn't been thieving around.
The plot. I'm not going to lie-- there were times I was terrified! That serial killer was a nasty piece of work! My heart would race so fast every time the killer would make an appearance!
Recommended For
This definitely isn't for children. Some of the scenes are graphic and there is a lot of cursing in the book. Those who enjoy a good thriller will probably want to pick this one up.
Pearl @ AsteriskPearl's Book Blog
Edited to include full review.
*I received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review*
First Thoughts
I hardly ever read this genre, but I was delightfully surprised with Ask The Dark. I enjoyed how Henry Turner captured the voice and personality of Billy Zeets. I especially liked the way the story was told: Billy Zeets talking into a recorder and telling the story of how he accidentally saved a boy from a serial killer.
What I Enjoyed
Billy Zeets. I know some readers will probably be turned off by the way Billy spoke in the book-- uneducated (scuze, took'm, yar, 'cept). I liked it, though! I think it helped me envision who Billy is and the sort of environment he was brought up in. I also liked that he wasn't really a hero. He would have never found out who the serial killer was if he hadn't been thieving around.
The plot. I'm not going to lie-- there were times I was terrified! That serial killer was a nasty piece of work! My heart would race so fast every time the killer would make an appearance!
Recommended For
This definitely isn't for children. Some of the scenes are graphic and there is a lot of cursing in the book. Those who enjoy a good thriller will probably want to pick this one up.
Pearl @ AsteriskPearl's Book Blog
April 7, 2015
I am the minority regarding this book. I thought this book was going to read like a horror story but it barely kept my interest or even kept me from falling asleep. No intrigue, no real scary moments, uninteresting characters, and tons of use of the "f" word.
After a while of reading this book and seeing that it was taking a long time to draw out to the murders and disappearances of the other boys, I skipped all the way to the last 4 chapters of the book. I read them to see how the story ended and to see if the ending would excite me to wanting to go back and read the rest of the book again. Nope the ending did not change my mind about this book. Such a bummer.
After a while of reading this book and seeing that it was taking a long time to draw out to the murders and disappearances of the other boys, I skipped all the way to the last 4 chapters of the book. I read them to see how the story ended and to see if the ending would excite me to wanting to go back and read the rest of the book again. Nope the ending did not change my mind about this book. Such a bummer.
February 22, 2015
I got this novel on NetGalley. I didn't know what to expect but I really enjoyed this book. I especially liked the way it was written in the voice of young Billy. The story was great and so were the characters. It would have been easy not to like Billy but from the beginning of the book you can't help but cheer for him and want to adopt him- or at least help him.
Great book by Henry Turner. I can't wait to read more by this author.
Great book by Henry Turner. I can't wait to read more by this author.
July 18, 2014
(Argh! I wrote the wrong title in my previous attempt with this book--How do I fix that?)
ASK THE DARK is one of the most gripping and compelling books out there. (actually will be out there)--not only did I have to know who the killer is but I had to discover how Billy figures it out and how he saves the victims. This is one of the creepiest books I have ever read.
SPOILER ALERT
So often in crime books, I'm screaming at the characters to just go to the police. There usually is some flimsy reason, or dumb reason, or no reason that they don't. In ASK THE DARKNESS, Turner creates the animosity so clearly between Billy and Richie and the police, especially Dryker, that there is no question that Billy can't take his evidence to the authorities. The theme of "people who are seen as waste" is so painfully and clearly illustrated in this novel. Even Richie discusses how he picks up trash, but isn't trash. (Actually, he does such a service for the town, but while those who go out on early morning litter pick-ups at the creek are seen as good-doers, Richie is seen in a negative light.) This is a novel about judging and labeling and refusing to understand what is behind our behavior. Even Billy judges Bad-Ass's brothers as dangerous men, but who instead are helping to keep Bad-Ass in line. People are all so complicated and multi-faceted.
Another theme that stands out to me is the importance of parents and parenting. Many of the characters' flaws can be traced back to parent abuse and neglect or death. Parenting has nothing to do with socioeconomics --rich, middle class, and poor are all affected.
What makes this novel stand out from the many thrillers is the characters. Henry Turner is a master at creating interesting and individual characters. As Sam says to Billy, Billy's sneaking around because of the effects of his mother's death is what makes him observant and wily which is how he survives and becomes a hero. There is also the implication that he has a form of ADHD, which makes him not so good in school, but sharpens his ability to move and observe. He is lovable but also very difficult--stealing, destroying, violent--we as the reader can understand why, but in reality, Billy would not be someone with whom it would be easy to get along. Richie is the same. In fact there are very few people in this novel who are sweet and kind, Sam Tate and Marvin might be the only ones.
I am glad that the book starts out with the ending--that I knew that Billy and others survived. It is such a harrowing story that I needed to know that the narrator was going to be ok in the end.
ASK THE DARK is one of the most gripping and compelling books out there. (actually will be out there)--not only did I have to know who the killer is but I had to discover how Billy figures it out and how he saves the victims. This is one of the creepiest books I have ever read.
SPOILER ALERT
So often in crime books, I'm screaming at the characters to just go to the police. There usually is some flimsy reason, or dumb reason, or no reason that they don't. In ASK THE DARKNESS, Turner creates the animosity so clearly between Billy and Richie and the police, especially Dryker, that there is no question that Billy can't take his evidence to the authorities. The theme of "people who are seen as waste" is so painfully and clearly illustrated in this novel. Even Richie discusses how he picks up trash, but isn't trash. (Actually, he does such a service for the town, but while those who go out on early morning litter pick-ups at the creek are seen as good-doers, Richie is seen in a negative light.) This is a novel about judging and labeling and refusing to understand what is behind our behavior. Even Billy judges Bad-Ass's brothers as dangerous men, but who instead are helping to keep Bad-Ass in line. People are all so complicated and multi-faceted.
Another theme that stands out to me is the importance of parents and parenting. Many of the characters' flaws can be traced back to parent abuse and neglect or death. Parenting has nothing to do with socioeconomics --rich, middle class, and poor are all affected.
What makes this novel stand out from the many thrillers is the characters. Henry Turner is a master at creating interesting and individual characters. As Sam says to Billy, Billy's sneaking around because of the effects of his mother's death is what makes him observant and wily which is how he survives and becomes a hero. There is also the implication that he has a form of ADHD, which makes him not so good in school, but sharpens his ability to move and observe. He is lovable but also very difficult--stealing, destroying, violent--we as the reader can understand why, but in reality, Billy would not be someone with whom it would be easy to get along. Richie is the same. In fact there are very few people in this novel who are sweet and kind, Sam Tate and Marvin might be the only ones.
I am glad that the book starts out with the ending--that I knew that Billy and others survived. It is such a harrowing story that I needed to know that the narrator was going to be ok in the end.
July 10, 2020
Yay, nabbed this on Netgalley!! Hope it's good :)
~*~*~
Finally read this months later, and oh, I enjoyed it!
I have a weakness for dark and gritty YA, I have to admit. In this weird way, because the first time I read The Hunger Games I actually wasn't sure that I could finish it, yet I love books like this...
This was the perfect time of year to read this book, and I quite enjoyed it. Billy Zeets used to be a hellion of a child - until his mother died and he turned over a new leaf, determined to live life as a good son, the boy his mother would have wanted him to be. So far he's been successful, but things are changing.
Boys are going missing. His father is going to lose the house. His sister is in trouble. So when Billy finds himself being dragged back onto a darker path, he decides to follow it - because just this once, it might be that being the good kid isn't going to get the job done.
The tone and language in this book might deter some people, but it fell into a rhythm for me after awhile, and above all it actually suited the character, and the story being told. Sometimes dialect or accents serve to throw you out of the story, but in this case it just made Billy more real in my head, a character explaining his story to me with vivid clarity.
As for the story itself? Well, it's the story of a young boy and his family, and the duty he feels to them. It's a story of being young and the scrapes that kids can get into, that hearkens back to maybe fifty years ago with some of the hijinks that Billy gets up to. (Yes, hijinks is the word I think fits in this case.) At times it had the tone of a slow, wandering tale of young boys and their adventures, and at other times it had me tense, wondering what was going to happen next!
It's also a story with all the makings of a good mystery, with an unlikely hero at the forefront to save the day and make choices that nobody expects him to make - and who saves the day because of his past, not in spite of it.
Overall a book I quite enjoyed, and I'll definitely keep an eye out for future books from this author!
A copy of this book was provided through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
~*~*~
Finally read this months later, and oh, I enjoyed it!
I have a weakness for dark and gritty YA, I have to admit. In this weird way, because the first time I read The Hunger Games I actually wasn't sure that I could finish it, yet I love books like this...
This was the perfect time of year to read this book, and I quite enjoyed it. Billy Zeets used to be a hellion of a child - until his mother died and he turned over a new leaf, determined to live life as a good son, the boy his mother would have wanted him to be. So far he's been successful, but things are changing.
Boys are going missing. His father is going to lose the house. His sister is in trouble. So when Billy finds himself being dragged back onto a darker path, he decides to follow it - because just this once, it might be that being the good kid isn't going to get the job done.
The tone and language in this book might deter some people, but it fell into a rhythm for me after awhile, and above all it actually suited the character, and the story being told. Sometimes dialect or accents serve to throw you out of the story, but in this case it just made Billy more real in my head, a character explaining his story to me with vivid clarity.
As for the story itself? Well, it's the story of a young boy and his family, and the duty he feels to them. It's a story of being young and the scrapes that kids can get into, that hearkens back to maybe fifty years ago with some of the hijinks that Billy gets up to. (Yes, hijinks is the word I think fits in this case.) At times it had the tone of a slow, wandering tale of young boys and their adventures, and at other times it had me tense, wondering what was going to happen next!
It's also a story with all the makings of a good mystery, with an unlikely hero at the forefront to save the day and make choices that nobody expects him to make - and who saves the day because of his past, not in spite of it.
Overall a book I quite enjoyed, and I'll definitely keep an eye out for future books from this author!
A copy of this book was provided through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
April 13, 2015
Billy is a 14 year old boy who is constantly in trouble. Ask the Dark is his retelling of the ways that he redeemed himself and his family for the whole town to see. This is Billy’s story.
This story starts at the end. Billy is some sort of hero for what he did, and so he proceeds to tell us the whole story. Kids have been disappearing and there is a curfew to try to keep everyone safe. Billy is a rule breaker, and a juvenile delinquent. He vandalizes and breaks in and steals from his neighborhood. Over the summer Billy learns that his father, a single dad, is about to loose his house. His sister is out running around with the town bad boy and now it is up to Billy to try to make enough money to save the house. In his wondering he finds a suspicious character in the neighborhood. No one will listen to Billy about his suspicions. What if Billy is right?
This story is told entirely by Billy. His accent comes straight through the text as it is written the way he tells it. This was a bit off-putting at first, because it is a bit hard to understand. Billy is really just an uneducated kid and his thoughts and language reflex his lack of depth. I hated that the story was told in his voice only. There were times when I got used to it, but mostly it was very annoying.
Billy is not a hero all the time in this story. He is regularly teased by kids in his neighborhood, and doesn’t win most of the fights he is in. Billy has a bad reputation as a trouble maker and no one trusts him. He is a bad kid and people around town have good reasons not to trust him. I felt like the narrator gave us almost too much detail about Billy’s story. It was more than we needed to know to understand what happened.
Between the awful narration and the dragging story line, I ended up not enjoying this story as much. The last few chapters did have me on the edge of my seat because it is just so thrilling. This story wasn’t as frightening as I had hoped. It makes for a good middle school tale, but wasn’t captivating enough for this adult to enjoy it.
This story starts at the end. Billy is some sort of hero for what he did, and so he proceeds to tell us the whole story. Kids have been disappearing and there is a curfew to try to keep everyone safe. Billy is a rule breaker, and a juvenile delinquent. He vandalizes and breaks in and steals from his neighborhood. Over the summer Billy learns that his father, a single dad, is about to loose his house. His sister is out running around with the town bad boy and now it is up to Billy to try to make enough money to save the house. In his wondering he finds a suspicious character in the neighborhood. No one will listen to Billy about his suspicions. What if Billy is right?
This story is told entirely by Billy. His accent comes straight through the text as it is written the way he tells it. This was a bit off-putting at first, because it is a bit hard to understand. Billy is really just an uneducated kid and his thoughts and language reflex his lack of depth. I hated that the story was told in his voice only. There were times when I got used to it, but mostly it was very annoying.
Billy is not a hero all the time in this story. He is regularly teased by kids in his neighborhood, and doesn’t win most of the fights he is in. Billy has a bad reputation as a trouble maker and no one trusts him. He is a bad kid and people around town have good reasons not to trust him. I felt like the narrator gave us almost too much detail about Billy’s story. It was more than we needed to know to understand what happened.
Between the awful narration and the dragging story line, I ended up not enjoying this story as much. The last few chapters did have me on the edge of my seat because it is just so thrilling. This story wasn’t as frightening as I had hoped. It makes for a good middle school tale, but wasn’t captivating enough for this adult to enjoy it.
March 12, 2016
14-year-old Billy Zeets is an unlikely hero. He's been a petty thief for several years, committed vandalism, skips school, essentially breaks all the rules.
He's angry that his mother died. His father is unable to work and so depressed he's barely alive. Billy's older sister is also acting out in unhealthy ways.
It is Billy's voice who tells us his story. Boys are going missing ... and being murdered. Billy's dream is not for himself .. it is something for his father. The reward for catching this monster is $100,000. So .. how hard can it be?
The writing seems to have been written by someone who is real knowledgeable about teens in small towns. This is a gripping, powerful story .... one I am so happy I did not miss.
After reading this, you have to ask yourself ... what makes a hero?
He's angry that his mother died. His father is unable to work and so depressed he's barely alive. Billy's older sister is also acting out in unhealthy ways.
It is Billy's voice who tells us his story. Boys are going missing ... and being murdered. Billy's dream is not for himself .. it is something for his father. The reward for catching this monster is $100,000. So .. how hard can it be?
The writing seems to have been written by someone who is real knowledgeable about teens in small towns. This is a gripping, powerful story .... one I am so happy I did not miss.
After reading this, you have to ask yourself ... what makes a hero?
January 14, 2015
Good story about a teenaged boy who fights the darkness in himself by turning his life around to help his family and his town catch a serial killer. Billy, the main character and narrator of the story, describes how he put all the pieces together and figured out who the killer was. I was initially put off by Billy's narration but I got used to it quickly because the story flowed so well and kept me occupied. It's definitely a book for mature young adults because of the serial killer aspect of the story.
July 29, 2015
Definitely an interesting read because of the narration. You get used to it quickly and I was intrigued that we saw the whole story through Billy's eyes. I did have a hard time keeping track of some of the side characters. I appreciate how the purpose of the story was for Billy to solve the mystery and get the police to believe him based on his past, but I was hoping for more of a mystery for the reader.
March 26, 2015
Ask the Dark is a fabulous read for a first novel. Although Ask the Dark is dubbed Young Adult, I found it fascinating. Billy is a troubled teen with past brushes with the law. Before his mother dies, Billy promises her to change his bad ways. Trouble starts when young boys begin disappearing. The body of one boys is discovered by Billy, and Billy decides to discover who the killer is. Told through Billy's voice, I found this to be a very powerful novel. Highly recommended.
June 2, 2015
Short summary of the book:
Billy Zeets lives in a small town with a dark secret. Young boys have been going missing, and their bodies are not always turning up close to home. The town is filled with missing posters and absolutely no leads. Enacting a curfew and accusing an innocent are the only two things that the authorities have accomplished.
Billy is just trying to live his complicated life. Once a notorious thief, he has turned his life around in order to honor his mother’s dying wish of Billy attaining a better and honest life. His father has done all that he possibly can to pay the bills and support Billy and his sister. However, a horrible accident has left him injured and unable to work. Billy’s father has given up on life, and they are about to lose the only home they have. Billy refuses to accept this reality and the responsibility of making an astronomical amount of money when paying off their debt falls upon his shoulders. On top of that, he has to straighten out his rebellious sister who begins to date the notorious Bad-Ass Ricky.
Billy is struggling with finding work and making the payment before time is up. He sticks to simple schemes to gain wealth, including mowing lawns and helping out friends. He soon relapses into his old habits and tries to resort to stealing anything of value that can be sold to make an easy profit. His thievery leads him to discover that the killer is closer to home than originally believed. Billy soon begins to pick up clues and forms a possible conclusion as to who the kidnapper and murderer truly is. Boys are still going missing and Billy’s information could bring them home safely. However, due to his past, the police would never believe a word Billy says and the killer is closing in on him, too. Will he save the missing children in time, or will his good intentions fall to ruin?
My thoughts on the book:
I would have to say that I do not read contemporary mystery books very often because I never seem to find a plot that grabs my attention and keeps me interested. The beginning of the book already fills you in on how the entire story is supposed to end and the following chapters explain how everything comes to pass. It also does not contain real dialogue; therefore, Billy is relaying what happened and what everyone said. The only other book like this that I have read would be Project Cain, but this novel just did not do it for me. I was a bit bored as I read most of it. I feel that this is the result of a lack of fast-paced action considering the fact that this is a murder mystery. I also have qualms with the fact that you understand the clues and where the story is going way before the main character does. However, I feel as though the idea for Ask the Dark was interesting, but how it was conveyed was not as spectacular.
I do have to give the author props for writing the entire book in the exact way that the characters actually speak. You do not have to imagine the accent or pronunciation of words because he writes every sentence just as you would hear it if you were speaking to a character directly (For example, week is written as we-). The ending of the story is also a redeemable quality for this book. It took me awhile to get interested in the plot because I was frustrated that it took Billy so long to figure out how the clues connected, however, he was smarter than everyone else in the sense that he was the only one capable of collecting clues and evidence to finally piece it together. The ending scenes with Billy confronting the killer and being taken were well written and drew me in. I feel as if the climax was the best part of the book, and I was happy with how the story concluded.
Please note that I received a free ARC of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This review was also posted on knightingalereviews.com:
Billy Zeets lives in a small town with a dark secret. Young boys have been going missing, and their bodies are not always turning up close to home. The town is filled with missing posters and absolutely no leads. Enacting a curfew and accusing an innocent are the only two things that the authorities have accomplished.
Billy is just trying to live his complicated life. Once a notorious thief, he has turned his life around in order to honor his mother’s dying wish of Billy attaining a better and honest life. His father has done all that he possibly can to pay the bills and support Billy and his sister. However, a horrible accident has left him injured and unable to work. Billy’s father has given up on life, and they are about to lose the only home they have. Billy refuses to accept this reality and the responsibility of making an astronomical amount of money when paying off their debt falls upon his shoulders. On top of that, he has to straighten out his rebellious sister who begins to date the notorious Bad-Ass Ricky.
Billy is struggling with finding work and making the payment before time is up. He sticks to simple schemes to gain wealth, including mowing lawns and helping out friends. He soon relapses into his old habits and tries to resort to stealing anything of value that can be sold to make an easy profit. His thievery leads him to discover that the killer is closer to home than originally believed. Billy soon begins to pick up clues and forms a possible conclusion as to who the kidnapper and murderer truly is. Boys are still going missing and Billy’s information could bring them home safely. However, due to his past, the police would never believe a word Billy says and the killer is closing in on him, too. Will he save the missing children in time, or will his good intentions fall to ruin?
My thoughts on the book:
I would have to say that I do not read contemporary mystery books very often because I never seem to find a plot that grabs my attention and keeps me interested. The beginning of the book already fills you in on how the entire story is supposed to end and the following chapters explain how everything comes to pass. It also does not contain real dialogue; therefore, Billy is relaying what happened and what everyone said. The only other book like this that I have read would be Project Cain, but this novel just did not do it for me. I was a bit bored as I read most of it. I feel that this is the result of a lack of fast-paced action considering the fact that this is a murder mystery. I also have qualms with the fact that you understand the clues and where the story is going way before the main character does. However, I feel as though the idea for Ask the Dark was interesting, but how it was conveyed was not as spectacular.
I do have to give the author props for writing the entire book in the exact way that the characters actually speak. You do not have to imagine the accent or pronunciation of words because he writes every sentence just as you would hear it if you were speaking to a character directly (For example, week is written as we-). The ending of the story is also a redeemable quality for this book. It took me awhile to get interested in the plot because I was frustrated that it took Billy so long to figure out how the clues connected, however, he was smarter than everyone else in the sense that he was the only one capable of collecting clues and evidence to finally piece it together. The ending scenes with Billy confronting the killer and being taken were well written and drew me in. I feel as if the climax was the best part of the book, and I was happy with how the story concluded.
Please note that I received a free ARC of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This review was also posted on knightingalereviews.com:
March 10, 2015
I received this book through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. This is a debut novel of the author and I was a little hesitant about that at first. This is a mystery and also classed as YA, but I am not sure as to why it would be YA because the language used in this books was pretty bad.
In this book we have a boy named Billy Zeets who has been less than perfect in the eyes of those in the community. Billy does not have a clean record, he has been know for stealing and trashing the community he lives in. He does make a promise to do better and not revert to the life he once lived. That was before he stumbles upon a crime and he makes it his mission to solve the crime in his small town.
I was a bit confused by this book being classed as a YA since it read more like an adult book. I say that mostly because of the language. Normally bad language does not bother me but in this book the language at times was a bit over the top for me with all of the cursing and it put me off a little bit from really enjoying the story. I love a good mystery, but I don't feel like I got that with this book since you know at the beginning of the story pretty much what is going to happen. The only mystery was really figuring out who did and I have to say it was pretty predictable and not really a surprise. I felt like that hurt the story a lot. Despite my issues with the story I found it was an engaging, fun read simply because we have an unlikely hero as the protagonist of the story.
I did find that Billy grew on me despite his use of a few choice words constantly throughout the story. I think he was developed ok, but I think a bit more backstory would have really benefitted the story a lot. I did not really find much connection with any of the other characters in the book. I thought the speech/accent of our protagonist was written very well and gave him more character.
I really cant class this book as a YA mystery and I don't think people should go into it thinking it is. There is some mystery to the story, but it is very much an adult book IMO. If you like a mystery but more on the fun side rather than serious, then you may like this book. I was on the fence about what I wanted to rate this book since I had some issues with it. I decided that since it was pretty engaging and fun I would rate it a 3 star. I think that is pretty generous.
In this book we have a boy named Billy Zeets who has been less than perfect in the eyes of those in the community. Billy does not have a clean record, he has been know for stealing and trashing the community he lives in. He does make a promise to do better and not revert to the life he once lived. That was before he stumbles upon a crime and he makes it his mission to solve the crime in his small town.
I was a bit confused by this book being classed as a YA since it read more like an adult book. I say that mostly because of the language. Normally bad language does not bother me but in this book the language at times was a bit over the top for me with all of the cursing and it put me off a little bit from really enjoying the story. I love a good mystery, but I don't feel like I got that with this book since you know at the beginning of the story pretty much what is going to happen. The only mystery was really figuring out who did and I have to say it was pretty predictable and not really a surprise. I felt like that hurt the story a lot. Despite my issues with the story I found it was an engaging, fun read simply because we have an unlikely hero as the protagonist of the story.
I did find that Billy grew on me despite his use of a few choice words constantly throughout the story. I think he was developed ok, but I think a bit more backstory would have really benefitted the story a lot. I did not really find much connection with any of the other characters in the book. I thought the speech/accent of our protagonist was written very well and gave him more character.
I really cant class this book as a YA mystery and I don't think people should go into it thinking it is. There is some mystery to the story, but it is very much an adult book IMO. If you like a mystery but more on the fun side rather than serious, then you may like this book. I was on the fence about what I wanted to rate this book since I had some issues with it. I decided that since it was pretty engaging and fun I would rate it a 3 star. I think that is pretty generous.
November 11, 2018
I hate dialect writing. It didn't work this time either. The "scuse my language" felt forced and off. I read it to the end because it was easy but it was like eating stale chips, they're not good but your too lazy to get up and get some good ones.
July 8, 2015
[I received an ARC of this book.]
Not bad for a first book, but not exceptional.
Not bad for a first book, but not exceptional.
April 24, 2019
Personal Response:
I thought Ask The Dark was a pretty good book to read. This was the first mystery book I had read in a while and I actually enjoyed. I usually don’t enjoy reading that much but this book had me hooked. The author did a great job of keeping you interested in the book. I wanted to keep reading to see what would happen next.
Plot Summary:
Billy Zeets lived in a small town with a secret. Some young boys had gone missing and their bodies showed up far away from their home. The disappearances were making zero sense and authorities were just blaming the innocent and got nowhere. Billy had lived a complicated life and was once a thief. They were all in a car crash and Billy’s dad got hurt. Billy’s dad couldn’t pay the bills any longer and started to give up on life. Since they couldn’t pay the bills, they were going to lose their house. Billy tried to get the money they needed by stealing again. While he was stealing, he found clues that lead to the kidnapper. He told the police but the police didn’t believe him since he was a thief and the kidnapper was closing in on him. Billy ended up taking it into his own hands and saved the boys who have went missing.The police ended up respecting him at the end.
Characterization:
Billy Zeets was a kid who started stealing at a small age and got his habits from his dad. He tried to get better and he did by helping the community out.Billy did this by mowing their lawns and doing indoor work for them. After his father couldn’t pay the bills, Billy resorted back to stealing, which did not help him later in the book.
Billy’s dad was divorced with two kids and was trying to make a living. After the car crash, he broke his leg and couldn’t pay for the house anymore since he had to pay for his leg. He started to get really depressed and started to give up on life. Billy helped him through that hard time.
Setting:
This was set in a small town in the middle of nowhere. It seemed like it was always raining out and nobody was ever happy. It was in the country because of the large woods that was right out of town.The story was also set in the present time because of the way details in the book were described. Another setting in the book was the forest. This was where the murders and was where the boys were taken.
Recommendations:
I would recommend this book to high school students that enjoy mystery books. The characters do swear quite a lot and it gets intense at times. This book will keep the readers on the edge of their seats. I would also recommend this book to students who like slow-moving stories.
I thought Ask The Dark was a pretty good book to read. This was the first mystery book I had read in a while and I actually enjoyed. I usually don’t enjoy reading that much but this book had me hooked. The author did a great job of keeping you interested in the book. I wanted to keep reading to see what would happen next.
Plot Summary:
Billy Zeets lived in a small town with a secret. Some young boys had gone missing and their bodies showed up far away from their home. The disappearances were making zero sense and authorities were just blaming the innocent and got nowhere. Billy had lived a complicated life and was once a thief. They were all in a car crash and Billy’s dad got hurt. Billy’s dad couldn’t pay the bills any longer and started to give up on life. Since they couldn’t pay the bills, they were going to lose their house. Billy tried to get the money they needed by stealing again. While he was stealing, he found clues that lead to the kidnapper. He told the police but the police didn’t believe him since he was a thief and the kidnapper was closing in on him. Billy ended up taking it into his own hands and saved the boys who have went missing.The police ended up respecting him at the end.
Characterization:
Billy Zeets was a kid who started stealing at a small age and got his habits from his dad. He tried to get better and he did by helping the community out.Billy did this by mowing their lawns and doing indoor work for them. After his father couldn’t pay the bills, Billy resorted back to stealing, which did not help him later in the book.
Billy’s dad was divorced with two kids and was trying to make a living. After the car crash, he broke his leg and couldn’t pay for the house anymore since he had to pay for his leg. He started to get really depressed and started to give up on life. Billy helped him through that hard time.
Setting:
This was set in a small town in the middle of nowhere. It seemed like it was always raining out and nobody was ever happy. It was in the country because of the large woods that was right out of town.The story was also set in the present time because of the way details in the book were described. Another setting in the book was the forest. This was where the murders and was where the boys were taken.
Recommendations:
I would recommend this book to high school students that enjoy mystery books. The characters do swear quite a lot and it gets intense at times. This book will keep the readers on the edge of their seats. I would also recommend this book to students who like slow-moving stories.
October 16, 2025
Although I finished the book and it was a good read. There were times I was bored reading it. The plot twist was unexpected I just had a hard time with the dialogue. It just wasn’t my kind of thriller. I will not say don’t read it because everyone has different tastes and for me this wasn’t it
September 1, 2017
I went into this book not knowing anything about it and I have to say it did not disappoint! I truly loved every aspect of this book, the characters, the plot, the twists and turns, and the ending was everything and more. It was fantastic! Who knew the process of obtaining a fruit shop could be so difficult?
October 29, 2021
The book was fire
May 30, 2015
This is a YA thriller that initially sounds very promising - a good serial killer story is always appealing, But unfortunately, its execution really makes it a difficult read. The way it is written makes for a real hurdling block for connecting with any of the characters, let alone for the narrator. The vernacular style may feel authentic, but its grammatical errors make it a tough read. Maybe as an audiobook, this will be more successful, but to just read it really detracts from it being engaging.
The plot gets a bit stronger, the more the pages turn, but it is a flawed debut novel. The city, with its downtown problems, lacks a firm setting - there is no sense of genuine location - it's all too vague to truly come to life. And the narrator's lack of education makes even the timeframe seem false. It is supposed to be a modern story, but the lack of mention of technology gives it a weird, timeless and altogether too indiscriminate setting for it to be satisfying. The blatant grammar flaws make me really question its appropriateness for the YA market, considering that these are readers who are only freshly learning proper communication skills. If this was marketed towards adults, I wouldn't be as upset, but the consistently (and I do have to give some credit for that) incorrect grammar makes the youth of the narrator seem more at home in the adult market.
The plot is exciting enough, but ultimately predictable. And though I did finish the book, after a while it just felt like a chore. I am not a fan of gimmicky books and this really feels like one. The overall narrative would probably work a lot better in an audio format, but as it stands I felt upset for the majority of time that I read it.
The plot gets a bit stronger, the more the pages turn, but it is a flawed debut novel. The city, with its downtown problems, lacks a firm setting - there is no sense of genuine location - it's all too vague to truly come to life. And the narrator's lack of education makes even the timeframe seem false. It is supposed to be a modern story, but the lack of mention of technology gives it a weird, timeless and altogether too indiscriminate setting for it to be satisfying. The blatant grammar flaws make me really question its appropriateness for the YA market, considering that these are readers who are only freshly learning proper communication skills. If this was marketed towards adults, I wouldn't be as upset, but the consistently (and I do have to give some credit for that) incorrect grammar makes the youth of the narrator seem more at home in the adult market.
The plot is exciting enough, but ultimately predictable. And though I did finish the book, after a while it just felt like a chore. I am not a fan of gimmicky books and this really feels like one. The overall narrative would probably work a lot better in an audio format, but as it stands I felt upset for the majority of time that I read it.
February 17, 2015
I received this book via NetGalley to give an honest review.
I thought the book was okay. I liked how this young boy tried to take care of his family and in the process solve the crime of missing boys.
This story is told through Billy and everything is told through his eyes and what is going on in the town. How he acts, how people portray him.
Billy is a young boy who comes from the "wrong" side of the tracks so to speak everyone in town knows who he is because he has found himself in trouble, or doing things to people's property. Now when one boy goes missing and the town goes under curfew Billy finds it exicting to break it. While he does this he finds the a body. This sets off a chain of events.
Billy's father is going to lose the house and Billy attempts to help find a way to save his home. He walks through town asking people if he can mow yards, clean gutters pretty much whatever he can do to get money the "good" way.
Now during all this another boy goes missing and slowly but surly Billy believe he knows who is doing it, but he doesn't want to say anything in fear of getting in trouble.
As the story progresses Billy finds himself in trouble with this person and he ends up a hero. Because of his actions good things are going to come his way. If you like to read about serial killers, but without all the blood and gore, a hero who helps save the day. I say get this story.
Now it take some getting use to with the dialect that was used. I didn't know if Billy was a southerner, or if this story was told in a different year. There was also no quotation marks when people talked. So that at times through me off as to who was saying what.
I thought the book was okay. I liked how this young boy tried to take care of his family and in the process solve the crime of missing boys.
This story is told through Billy and everything is told through his eyes and what is going on in the town. How he acts, how people portray him.
Billy is a young boy who comes from the "wrong" side of the tracks so to speak everyone in town knows who he is because he has found himself in trouble, or doing things to people's property. Now when one boy goes missing and the town goes under curfew Billy finds it exicting to break it. While he does this he finds the a body. This sets off a chain of events.
Billy's father is going to lose the house and Billy attempts to help find a way to save his home. He walks through town asking people if he can mow yards, clean gutters pretty much whatever he can do to get money the "good" way.
Now during all this another boy goes missing and slowly but surly Billy believe he knows who is doing it, but he doesn't want to say anything in fear of getting in trouble.
As the story progresses Billy finds himself in trouble with this person and he ends up a hero. Because of his actions good things are going to come his way. If you like to read about serial killers, but without all the blood and gore, a hero who helps save the day. I say get this story.
Now it take some getting use to with the dialect that was used. I didn't know if Billy was a southerner, or if this story was told in a different year. There was also no quotation marks when people talked. So that at times through me off as to who was saying what.
February 9, 2015
Boys are going missing in Billy Zeets' town. And some of them are winding up dead.
Billy thinks he knows who the killer is - but he can't say anything. Who would believe him? He's usually on the wrong side of the law...and everyone knows he's desperately trying to make enough money to save his daddy's house. Who would believe him when there's 100K at stake?
But he does need the money. So he's going to prove this guy's the murderer. If he can. Can the boy who's always in trouble save the day?
This is an exciting read, with great pacing. Readers looking for a thrilling crime read in the YA demographic are likely to enjoy this.
I think this is a book that many will rate higher than I did. Billy's narration is a little hard to read - he's talking in what I think is supposed to be a blend of a Southern dialect and uneducated dialect. I also found the town to be a little implausible. It's such a small town that everyone knows each other, you're two hours away from the nearest job search office...but you have public transportation? I was also super confused by the period of time - I would have accepted the small town bit more if the time was definitely more in the past...but they have cell phones?
Billy thinks he knows who the killer is - but he can't say anything. Who would believe him? He's usually on the wrong side of the law...and everyone knows he's desperately trying to make enough money to save his daddy's house. Who would believe him when there's 100K at stake?
But he does need the money. So he's going to prove this guy's the murderer. If he can. Can the boy who's always in trouble save the day?
This is an exciting read, with great pacing. Readers looking for a thrilling crime read in the YA demographic are likely to enjoy this.
I think this is a book that many will rate higher than I did. Billy's narration is a little hard to read - he's talking in what I think is supposed to be a blend of a Southern dialect and uneducated dialect. I also found the town to be a little implausible. It's such a small town that everyone knows each other, you're two hours away from the nearest job search office...but you have public transportation? I was also super confused by the period of time - I would have accepted the small town bit more if the time was definitely more in the past...but they have cell phones?
June 4, 2015
4/5
Billy is known throughout his small town as a trouble maker. But now that his father told him they might lose their house, Billy is doing everything he can to make money in time to save it. That is, until boys start going missing.
Billy has his hand in a few odd jobs around the town, but has been so focused on saving his money that he didn't realize he had uncovered clues to who was kidnapping the boys. That is, until he is confronted by the kidnapper.
Ask the Dark will take you on a crazy journey with Billy and his family as he tries to change the towns opinion of him, save his family home, and solve a kidnapping/murder at the same time.
I really enjoyed this story but sometimes the dialogue took me out of it. At one point near the end Billy is engaged in a sort of inner monologue that felt a little too cliched. But overall I highly enjoyed reading about Billy. Henry Turner wrote the entire book almost in a stream-of-consciousness sort of way where the reader is inside Billy's head.
This mystery novel will keep you guessing up until the end. A fun new read for any thriller fan .
Billy is known throughout his small town as a trouble maker. But now that his father told him they might lose their house, Billy is doing everything he can to make money in time to save it. That is, until boys start going missing.
Billy has his hand in a few odd jobs around the town, but has been so focused on saving his money that he didn't realize he had uncovered clues to who was kidnapping the boys. That is, until he is confronted by the kidnapper.
Ask the Dark will take you on a crazy journey with Billy and his family as he tries to change the towns opinion of him, save his family home, and solve a kidnapping/murder at the same time.
I really enjoyed this story but sometimes the dialogue took me out of it. At one point near the end Billy is engaged in a sort of inner monologue that felt a little too cliched. But overall I highly enjoyed reading about Billy. Henry Turner wrote the entire book almost in a stream-of-consciousness sort of way where the reader is inside Billy's head.
This mystery novel will keep you guessing up until the end. A fun new read for any thriller fan .
December 22, 2015
This book practically reads itself. I started it and then before I knew it, it was over. The voice is so unique and so believable, it makes me wonder whether this was a real person the author knew. I don't know how else you could come up with someone so convincing. This character is real and he has a voice that will get in your head. His observations were so honest and true, he's just one of those guys who gets it, even if the rest of the world doesn't get him. It only took a couple pages to get used to his lingo and then you're sucked in. The action starts pretty quickly after that and then you really can't stop reading.
He definitely uses some language (always backed up with a "'scuze my language"). The topic matter is also pretty scary stuff. However, since it's a story told by a boy who just has too much integrity to go into the gory details, we are spared those. With all the violence we see on the screen these days, our imaginations can surely fill in the gaps anyways. This really is a unique YA book, and I'd recommend it to anyone who's looking for action, adventure, and a scare, especially if they've tired of the other YA options out there.
He definitely uses some language (always backed up with a "'scuze my language"). The topic matter is also pretty scary stuff. However, since it's a story told by a boy who just has too much integrity to go into the gory details, we are spared those. With all the violence we see on the screen these days, our imaginations can surely fill in the gaps anyways. This really is a unique YA book, and I'd recommend it to anyone who's looking for action, adventure, and a scare, especially if they've tired of the other YA options out there.
June 11, 2015
Maybe it’s because I lived in Los Angeles so long, but I find that filmmakers make great storytellers so I love reading their novels. The good ones have learned the art of cutting through all the superfluous stuff to get right to the heart of the story. Henry Turner’s debut novel, Ask the Dark, is a great example of that ability. It’s a novel about redemption which asks the question, “What would a teen who’s a known liar and petty criminal have to do to regain his community’s trust?” Ask the Dark is also one hell of a scary novel, which kept me up all night. Hell, if I’d put this psychological thriller down then I’d have been up all night anyway because it really got under my skin. I hesitate to say that it’s a YA novel intended for ages fourteen and up, because adults are going to get into it every bit as much as teens. Sound interesting? Read the rest of my review at http://popcornreads.com/?p=8443.
May 28, 2016
It's a YA thriller really a well-written and full of suspense. The story is narrated by a boy of 14 years old, grew up in a very difficult family: without a mother, an alcoholic father, a sister of only 16 years, pregnant and without a husband. His sister wants to sell the family home and Billy tries in every way to stop her. But to do so, he needs money. His thefts are not enough. When some boys disappear in the city, Billy begins to investigate. Maybe solve these cases will help him also to save his home.
It 's a short and quick read but very compelling.
Although the protagonist is a teenager, for vulgar language and several crude and violent scenes, the book seems more suitable for adults.
I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It 's a short and quick read but very compelling.
Although the protagonist is a teenager, for vulgar language and several crude and violent scenes, the book seems more suitable for adults.
I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 10, 2015
Quick read--enjoyed it pretty well. I don't think it really pushed the protagonist far enough as THE BAD KID, given that the tension of the story sort of relies on his bad seed-ness. One touch I liked was how his accent was stylized--it was comprehensible and unique and unlike a lot of written dialect, it was not being used to belittle the character.
WARNING: the climax, taking its role as climax VERY SERIOUSLY, is extremely gruesome. Also probably avoid altogether if you don't want to read a book about kids being kidnapped and murdered horribly.
WARNING: the climax, taking its role as climax VERY SERIOUSLY, is extremely gruesome. Also probably avoid altogether if you don't want to read a book about kids being kidnapped and murdered horribly.
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