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You Wouldn't Catch Me Dead
The only thing worse than being lost . . . is being found.
Keely planned to keep her head down at her new school - she isn't there to make friends or memories, she just wants to be left alone.
In order to get into college, she is roped into a programme that involves camping in the Welsh wilderness with five over-keen try-hards. Her plan is to keep her head down, keep her mouth shut and get through the next few days.
But Keely is running from something. Something that drove her family out of their home and to this quiet town. And when her fellow explorers start disappearing and the bodies begin to pile up, she has to ask did she run far enough?
The second spine-chilling standalone from the author of Someone is Watching You, Tess James-Mackey.
Keely planned to keep her head down at her new school - she isn't there to make friends or memories, she just wants to be left alone.
In order to get into college, she is roped into a programme that involves camping in the Welsh wilderness with five over-keen try-hards. Her plan is to keep her head down, keep her mouth shut and get through the next few days.
But Keely is running from something. Something that drove her family out of their home and to this quiet town. And when her fellow explorers start disappearing and the bodies begin to pile up, she has to ask did she run far enough?
The second spine-chilling standalone from the author of Someone is Watching You, Tess James-Mackey.
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Published January 18, 2024
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About the author
Tess James-Mackey
5 books34 followersAfter growing up in rural Shropshire, Tess set out to explore the world and find her place in it. She quickly rushed straight back to Shrewsbury when she realised she'd been where she belonged from the start. She now lives in a quiet suburb with a noisy partner and daughter, two extremely noisy cats, and a less noisy tortoise.
She spent years mucking out and getting trampled on by horses, before finally deciding she might prefer a less precarious office job. Between analysing insurance risk, she writes teens into terrifying situations inspired by her lived experiences.
When she's not allowing her mind to wander to dark and twisty places, she pursues more wholesome activities, like growing mediocre vegetables in her garden, camping with her daughter, and even riding the odd horse.
She spent years mucking out and getting trampled on by horses, before finally deciding she might prefer a less precarious office job. Between analysing insurance risk, she writes teens into terrifying situations inspired by her lived experiences.
When she's not allowing her mind to wander to dark and twisty places, she pursues more wholesome activities, like growing mediocre vegetables in her garden, camping with her daughter, and even riding the odd horse.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
May 5, 2024
I had worried I was facing a reading slump but fear no more as this book absolutely did not allow that. YOU WOULDN'T CATCH ME DEAD is the definition of tense from start to finish, it's a book that will make you sweat!
Keely is about to embark upon a weekend in the woods with her school peers. Not something she opted for but something she's being made to do. It's a new school with people she doesn't even want to get to know. She's going through the motions of life, trying to avoid her traumatic past, but what awaits her in the woods might just be closer to home than she realised.
I was definitely holding my breath with this story and I was really stumped by what was coming next. Tess James-Mackey knows how to captivate her audience. Fantastic, thrilling and brilliant storytelling. To sum up... unputdownable.
I'm so ready for another Tess story. I've loved both books and really looking forward to what's coming next.
My favourite line and it made me cry... 'Of course we did,' Jack said. 'You don't leave friends behind.'
Keely's character arc was perfection!
Keely is about to embark upon a weekend in the woods with her school peers. Not something she opted for but something she's being made to do. It's a new school with people she doesn't even want to get to know. She's going through the motions of life, trying to avoid her traumatic past, but what awaits her in the woods might just be closer to home than she realised.
I was definitely holding my breath with this story and I was really stumped by what was coming next. Tess James-Mackey knows how to captivate her audience. Fantastic, thrilling and brilliant storytelling. To sum up... unputdownable.
I'm so ready for another Tess story. I've loved both books and really looking forward to what's coming next.
My favourite line and it made me cry... 'Of course we did,' Jack said. 'You don't leave friends behind.'
Keely's character arc was perfection!
January 4, 2024
Heading out to the Black Mountains on a school camping trip, Keely is worried she is in the wrong place. When her teacher plunges to his death and her fellow camp mates disappear one-by-one, we can’t help but think she’s right!
From the outset this is tense.
As one by one her companions and people around them are killed in increasingly disturbing ways, Keely starts to wonder whether someone from her past could be searching for her.
Alongside the creepiness of the situation they’re in - and there are no punches pulled in the ways characters are despatched - the secrecy surrounding Keely definitely makes for an interesting story.
From start to finish this was suitably terrifying and entertaining in equal measure. Elements of the story surrounding Keely felt rather underdeveloped, and I’m not wholly convinced that someone so dangerous would not have left some clues as to the risk they posed. Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this prior to publication.
From the outset this is tense.
As one by one her companions and people around them are killed in increasingly disturbing ways, Keely starts to wonder whether someone from her past could be searching for her.
Alongside the creepiness of the situation they’re in - and there are no punches pulled in the ways characters are despatched - the secrecy surrounding Keely definitely makes for an interesting story.
From start to finish this was suitably terrifying and entertaining in equal measure. Elements of the story surrounding Keely felt rather underdeveloped, and I’m not wholly convinced that someone so dangerous would not have left some clues as to the risk they posed. Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this prior to publication.
February 11, 2024
fast paced, easy to read & cured my 2 month old reading slump🫶🏼 definitely meant for younger audiences but i still enjoyed it thoroughly!
May 28, 2024
SSBA longlist.
For a YA, this book was surprisingly suspenseful. The plot was believable and also very unbelievable at the same time. The writing was exactly what you expect of a YA thriller, but I had a genuinely hard time putting it down. The ending was okay. The worst part was that the main character was soaking wet the whole time because of the constant rain - it made my skin crawl and I felt feel so cold lol. She was not as bothered about this as I clearly was. How do you not bring a change of clothes camping? And get OFF your sleeping bag if you’ve just come in from the rain. Sets me off just thinking about it.
Anyway, this is probably going to be my contender so if you see this on the SSBA shortlist, it’s meeee.
For a YA, this book was surprisingly suspenseful. The plot was believable and also very unbelievable at the same time. The writing was exactly what you expect of a YA thriller, but I had a genuinely hard time putting it down. The ending was okay. The worst part was that the main character was soaking wet the whole time because of the constant rain - it made my skin crawl and I felt feel so cold lol. She was not as bothered about this as I clearly was. How do you not bring a change of clothes camping? And get OFF your sleeping bag if you’ve just come in from the rain. Sets me off just thinking about it.
Anyway, this is probably going to be my contender so if you see this on the SSBA shortlist, it’s meeee.
August 20, 2025
3.5
For a YA, this wasn’t completely bad, but I think at times the juvenile language and dampened tone was so painfully there that it often took me out of the story. It screamed of the ‘Boo’ kind of spooky rather than actual unsettling fear.
There were, I think, two moments in the entire book where I was unsettled. I’ll take it. When I first began reading this book, I admittedly yawned my way through the first couple chapters, rolling my eyes at the set-up.
But as the book progressed, it was refreshing to see that it did get creepier.
The story followed five teens on a school camping programme that quickly went awry when their teacher slipped to his death. Believing it was an accident, they waited for help to arrive but began to realise they weren’t alone once the bodies began to pile up.
The character(s) were fine. Yes, (s), because some of the group were just insufferable. Our main protagonist, Keely, was… a character that’s for sure. She did get better as the book progressed but at first she was so whiny and ‘pity-me’ that I struggled getting through her self deprecating dialogue. Hannah and Chloe were terribly written and i’m glad they quickly got written out of the book by their little hike to the village. I just realised that we never even found out the whole thing about their weird dynamic. The only character I truly liked was Barry. Can everyone please worship him because he was a character I could get behind.
Not only was he the most logical one out of the group who made good decisions, but he was also just really likeable. Oh and he had a boyfriend too which was cute.
I think the biggest issue with the book, besides the ‘I’m-a-YA’ tone obnoxiously screaming in my face, was the stakes. While there were deaths, I feel like the characters could’ve gotten away WAY earlier. I know they thought help was coming but after it didn’t, why didn’t they follow Chloe and Hannah to the village? Sure, they thought it was dangerous but c’mon, you were already in danger! Do something you idiots!!
The ending was… mild. It wasn’t scary at all and felt a little too safe. The main murderer’s ‘evil’ monologue was also laughably bad. It was mustachioed-twirling villain bad and I just couldn’t feel threatened because their dialogue was ‘mwah-hah-hah, look how evil I am’ kind of silly. I also guessed one of the culprits pretty early on and had to mock gasp pretending I had no idea it could be them when it was SO obvious. Even if you’ve never read a murder mystery/crime thriller, I have no doubt you’d immediately put the pieces together since they were all there staring at you. I didn’t guess the other person, mainly because, we didn’t really get properly introduced to them until halfway through. And even then, it was a stretch to think they’d be part of it.
If you’re a young teen you might find this scary but I think i’m just getting old.
TW//: Abusive relationships, Coercive control, Physical abuse
For a YA, this wasn’t completely bad, but I think at times the juvenile language and dampened tone was so painfully there that it often took me out of the story. It screamed of the ‘Boo’ kind of spooky rather than actual unsettling fear.
There were, I think, two moments in the entire book where I was unsettled. I’ll take it. When I first began reading this book, I admittedly yawned my way through the first couple chapters, rolling my eyes at the set-up.
But as the book progressed, it was refreshing to see that it did get creepier.
The story followed five teens on a school camping programme that quickly went awry when their teacher slipped to his death. Believing it was an accident, they waited for help to arrive but began to realise they weren’t alone once the bodies began to pile up.
The character(s) were fine. Yes, (s), because some of the group were just insufferable. Our main protagonist, Keely, was… a character that’s for sure. She did get better as the book progressed but at first she was so whiny and ‘pity-me’ that I struggled getting through her self deprecating dialogue. Hannah and Chloe were terribly written and i’m glad they quickly got written out of the book by their little hike to the village. I just realised that we never even found out the whole thing about their weird dynamic. The only character I truly liked was Barry. Can everyone please worship him because he was a character I could get behind.
Not only was he the most logical one out of the group who made good decisions, but he was also just really likeable. Oh and he had a boyfriend too which was cute.
I think the biggest issue with the book, besides the ‘I’m-a-YA’ tone obnoxiously screaming in my face, was the stakes. While there were deaths, I feel like the characters could’ve gotten away WAY earlier. I know they thought help was coming but after it didn’t, why didn’t they follow Chloe and Hannah to the village? Sure, they thought it was dangerous but c’mon, you were already in danger! Do something you idiots!!
The ending was… mild. It wasn’t scary at all and felt a little too safe. The main murderer’s ‘evil’ monologue was also laughably bad. It was mustachioed-twirling villain bad and I just couldn’t feel threatened because their dialogue was ‘mwah-hah-hah, look how evil I am’ kind of silly. I also guessed one of the culprits pretty early on and had to mock gasp pretending I had no idea it could be them when it was SO obvious. Even if you’ve never read a murder mystery/crime thriller, I have no doubt you’d immediately put the pieces together since they were all there staring at you. I didn’t guess the other person, mainly because, we didn’t really get properly introduced to them until halfway through. And even then, it was a stretch to think they’d be part of it.
If you’re a young teen you might find this scary but I think i’m just getting old.
TW//: Abusive relationships, Coercive control, Physical abuse
May 14, 2024
WHOAAAA OMG WHAT WAS THIS
If you love:
- horror
- mc with a traumatic backstory
- no romance
- no smut
- school trip gone wrong
- mystery
... YOU SHOULD READ THIS
My best friend (the Amy to my Keely) gave this book to me so I would read it, and OMGGG I'm so happy I did because this is so good.
My friend told me I could finish this in one day if I wanted, which I agree with, but I'm in some kind of reading slump so I unfortunately did not.
This book is a fast read though, and as always, like in some of my other reviews, I love fast reads because it really drags me into the story.
For those who are doubting on reading it or not, here's what it's about:
Keely moves to a new school, not planning on making any friends, but they go on a school trip in the mountains.
Unfortunately, the school trip doesn't go as planned. They end up alone in the mountains with no one to help them, all on their own.
People start to go missing and strange things happen at night.
Who - or what - is out there?
They start finding bodies and they realize it is bad. Very bad.
IT WAS SO GOOD because throughout the book you actually follow two stories that seem to have nothing in common with a lot of blank spaces and marks and questions, but in the end it all comes together.
My favorite character was absolutely Barry because he was so sweet and I want to protect his heart (yes I know it sounds weird) and he deserves all love in the world.
I also liked Roshni because she reminds me of myself ().
Something that still confuses me a little is
Anyways, if you're doubting to read it, DO IT.
If you love:
- horror
- mc with a traumatic backstory
- no romance
- no smut
- school trip gone wrong
- mystery
... YOU SHOULD READ THIS
My best friend (the Amy to my Keely) gave this book to me so I would read it, and OMGGG I'm so happy I did because this is so good.
My friend told me I could finish this in one day if I wanted, which I agree with, but I'm in some kind of reading slump so I unfortunately did not.
This book is a fast read though, and as always, like in some of my other reviews, I love fast reads because it really drags me into the story.
For those who are doubting on reading it or not, here's what it's about:
Keely moves to a new school, not planning on making any friends, but they go on a school trip in the mountains.
Unfortunately, the school trip doesn't go as planned. They end up alone in the mountains with no one to help them, all on their own.
People start to go missing and strange things happen at night.
Who - or what - is out there?
They start finding bodies and they realize it is bad. Very bad.
IT WAS SO GOOD because throughout the book you actually follow two stories that seem to have nothing in common with a lot of blank spaces and marks and questions, but in the end it all comes together.
My favorite character was absolutely Barry because he was so sweet and I want to protect his heart (yes I know it sounds weird) and he deserves all love in the world.
I also liked Roshni because she reminds me of myself ().
Something that still confuses me a little is
Anyways, if you're doubting to read it, DO IT.
January 6, 2024
Thank you to the publishers for providing an ARC of this book through NetGalley.
2024 52 Book Challenge - 32) Timeframe spans a week or less
I really enjoyed this book! It was addictive and I didn't want to put it down once the story gripped me.
To begin with, Keely really annoyed me, but as the book evolved, and her backstory was explored, she became a much more likable and tragic character. I admit, I really wasn't a fan of her name because every time I saw it, I was like, where is the missing e, which distracted me from the plot a little.
I think the secondary characters were pretty solid, and I really liked Barry and the friendship that is developed between him and Keely.
I also really liked that it was set in Wales, with a character that speaks Welsh.
2024 52 Book Challenge - 32) Timeframe spans a week or less
I really enjoyed this book! It was addictive and I didn't want to put it down once the story gripped me.
To begin with, Keely really annoyed me, but as the book evolved, and her backstory was explored, she became a much more likable and tragic character. I admit, I really wasn't a fan of her name because every time I saw it, I was like, where is the missing e, which distracted me from the plot a little.
I think the secondary characters were pretty solid, and I really liked Barry and the friendship that is developed between him and Keely.
I also really liked that it was set in Wales, with a character that speaks Welsh.
February 2, 2025
3.5 stars purely for the ending 💀
May 23, 2024
This is my first book by this author and i be picking up her next book, because i really enjoyed this due to a variety of reasons
The first reason why i really liked this book is the vibe and the atmosphere, that this book sets up with the author creating a very creepy and sinster vibe with the author gradually increaseing this sinister atmosphere as the book went along which is something that i really liked because it allowed the fear to settle into the readers bones with this problem being the biggest reason why this book works for me now did the book scare me well the answer would be no but it still creeped me out at times with me being able to relate to these teenagers seeing that they are out in the middle of nowwhere with no concrete on what is happeneing or who is doing these acts whichs creates this cloud of paranoia that seeps into all of our characters pyscha.
The seconds reason why i like this book was the mystery element that was present in the present storyline and the past storyline, now which was the most interesting to me well that would be what happened to amy which slowly unfolded in our eyes in a slow pace with pages and pages in between that sections and the present section so the amy sections always left mr intruigued and curious about what happened, seeing that our main character has such a pysical reaction to even the thoughts of her so it left me always intrigued about what could have happened to warrent such reactions out of our main characters. I must say her storyline, was heartbreaking because seeing her losing herself to abuser was sad but unfortunly it was real and true to life at times with her final act of definace being one that really tug at my heart because she just wanted her best friend and was ready to accept the mistake she made and get it back together so it was heartbreaking to see that cut so short.
The third reasons why i really liked this book is i like the person growth and the personal journey, that our main character went on as the book progressed with her having a full and realised character journey with this character journey being one that interacted with her past storyline and present day storyline in an emotional and impactful manner with me loving that she has been able to forgive herself by letting her past go and honouring amy in a way that amy would have wanted. The event of the present storyline also had an impact on her personal journey, with her sharing and coming by bonding over a trauma that only she and the other campers share so it is an event while unfortunly happened was one of the reasons why she is able to come out of this book a happier person but i love that she still dont like camping but unfortunly she has been able to experiance the true beauty of camping.
The last reason why i liked this book is the characters in this book, and were they amazing character that went on these amazing journerys apart from the main characters then the answer but their was something about nearly all of them i liked something that draw me into them, so they were a plus for me with my favourite apart from the main being jack seeing that he comes across as really goofy and someone that you would be able to have joke with so when he went missing it was like oh please dont but i wont spoil his ending but he was one i really liked. The other two campers that i liked is barry, because i liked how he really stepped up and took control of the sitution with his showing good leadership qualitys at a young age. The other camper is jack friends, cant remember her namd but i loved how she was this scared little things at times but stuff got serious and serious buissness had to happen, she got this burst of bravery which was something i really admired with her be brave enough to face whatever was ahead of them to get jack back no matter what condidition they find him in
The first reason why i really liked this book is the vibe and the atmosphere, that this book sets up with the author creating a very creepy and sinster vibe with the author gradually increaseing this sinister atmosphere as the book went along which is something that i really liked because it allowed the fear to settle into the readers bones with this problem being the biggest reason why this book works for me now did the book scare me well the answer would be no but it still creeped me out at times with me being able to relate to these teenagers seeing that they are out in the middle of nowwhere with no concrete on what is happeneing or who is doing these acts whichs creates this cloud of paranoia that seeps into all of our characters pyscha.
The seconds reason why i like this book was the mystery element that was present in the present storyline and the past storyline, now which was the most interesting to me well that would be what happened to amy which slowly unfolded in our eyes in a slow pace with pages and pages in between that sections and the present section so the amy sections always left mr intruigued and curious about what happened, seeing that our main character has such a pysical reaction to even the thoughts of her so it left me always intrigued about what could have happened to warrent such reactions out of our main characters. I must say her storyline, was heartbreaking because seeing her losing herself to abuser was sad but unfortunly it was real and true to life at times with her final act of definace being one that really tug at my heart because she just wanted her best friend and was ready to accept the mistake she made and get it back together so it was heartbreaking to see that cut so short.
The third reasons why i really liked this book is i like the person growth and the personal journey, that our main character went on as the book progressed with her having a full and realised character journey with this character journey being one that interacted with her past storyline and present day storyline in an emotional and impactful manner with me loving that she has been able to forgive herself by letting her past go and honouring amy in a way that amy would have wanted. The event of the present storyline also had an impact on her personal journey, with her sharing and coming by bonding over a trauma that only she and the other campers share so it is an event while unfortunly happened was one of the reasons why she is able to come out of this book a happier person but i love that she still dont like camping but unfortunly she has been able to experiance the true beauty of camping.
The last reason why i liked this book is the characters in this book, and were they amazing character that went on these amazing journerys apart from the main characters then the answer but their was something about nearly all of them i liked something that draw me into them, so they were a plus for me with my favourite apart from the main being jack seeing that he comes across as really goofy and someone that you would be able to have joke with so when he went missing it was like oh please dont but i wont spoil his ending but he was one i really liked. The other two campers that i liked is barry, because i liked how he really stepped up and took control of the sitution with his showing good leadership qualitys at a young age. The other camper is jack friends, cant remember her namd but i loved how she was this scared little things at times but stuff got serious and serious buissness had to happen, she got this burst of bravery which was something i really admired with her be brave enough to face whatever was ahead of them to get jack back no matter what condidition they find him in
January 6, 2024
I received an eARC from the publishers through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
YOU WOULDN'T CATCH ME DEAD is the perfect book to read if you want an excuse not to go camping. In it, a school camping trip goes horribly, bloodily wrong.
For a book with a small cast (six students and two teachers, plus a few other people), the body count is impressive. So many people die in this camping murder-fest that, if the rain and isolation and cold hadn't put you off camping, then the body count would!
Beyond the body count, there's also a very uncertain, creepy atmosphere to the book. There's the uncertainty over certain characters' fate, strange things happening at night, and the terror of being isolated while bad things happen around you. It's very spooky, particularly the night time scenes where the author plays so well on a kids from the city/south-east England (with its light pollution) suddenly in the middle of nowhere with no light other than the moon and one torch.
There's also a ghost story woven into the tale, a monastery with a dark past and a history of tragedy arising from the crime. It plays well on the eeriness of the ruins and some of the darker chapters of monastic history. Plus it gives the kids an extra jumpiness in case it might just be a ghost or two out for revenge.
It's also a story of friendships - the strains they can go on under relationships (particularly coercive ones) and the difficulty opening yourself up to create new ones. I loved that there wasn't a romance at the heart of this story. Instead, the firmest relationship Keely makes across the book is purely platonic (and to have a m/f relationship at the book's heart without it being a romance was so nice to see.)
In all, a creepy tale that leans in to its surrounding well.
YOU WOULDN'T CATCH ME DEAD is the perfect book to read if you want an excuse not to go camping. In it, a school camping trip goes horribly, bloodily wrong.
For a book with a small cast (six students and two teachers, plus a few other people), the body count is impressive. So many people die in this camping murder-fest that, if the rain and isolation and cold hadn't put you off camping, then the body count would!
Beyond the body count, there's also a very uncertain, creepy atmosphere to the book. There's the uncertainty over certain characters' fate, strange things happening at night, and the terror of being isolated while bad things happen around you. It's very spooky, particularly the night time scenes where the author plays so well on a kids from the city/south-east England (with its light pollution) suddenly in the middle of nowhere with no light other than the moon and one torch.
There's also a ghost story woven into the tale, a monastery with a dark past and a history of tragedy arising from the crime. It plays well on the eeriness of the ruins and some of the darker chapters of monastic history. Plus it gives the kids an extra jumpiness in case it might just be a ghost or two out for revenge.
It's also a story of friendships - the strains they can go on under relationships (particularly coercive ones) and the difficulty opening yourself up to create new ones. I loved that there wasn't a romance at the heart of this story. Instead, the firmest relationship Keely makes across the book is purely platonic (and to have a m/f relationship at the book's heart without it being a romance was so nice to see.)
In all, a creepy tale that leans in to its surrounding well.
February 4, 2024
I was kindly sent a copy of this book from the team over at TeamBkmrk for my participation in a book tour. This gift has not influenced my review.
Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/sunstormsan...
YWCMD follows a group of teens and two of their teachers as they head into the wilds of the Welsh mountains on a camping weekend, and Keely couldn’t see this weekend far enough. She’s only attending to appease her parents, not to make friends. But soon the weekend she thought would just be damp and boring turns sinister when one of their teachers turns up dead and the other goes missing…Can the six teenagers survive in the middle of nowhere as they’re seemingly haunted by something sinister in the shadow of an abandoned abbey with a dark past? 👻
If you know me, you know I LOVE a suspenseful story. I love being put on edge and a book having an atmosphere that can make me jump and this book 100% achieves that. I was worried because this book is by no means a slow burn, I think the action kicks off on page 27 so you’re not waiting for something to happen, and yet, throughout the rest of the book, I found myself immersed to the point where sounds irl were making me jump out of it 😂
I read Someone is Watching You by the same author last year and loved it, but this is 100% the next level from this author. I would say that I’m often quite tough on YA thrillers because some of them are quite tame in their action, but I flew through this read as I was eager to get to the end and find out the truth behind the things happening in the Welsh hills ⛰️
If you’re looking for something that’s fast paced, easy to read and easy to follow, and you’re into YA thrillers and horror I would 100% recommend this read 🔥 if you don’t believe me, check out the others on this tour who I’ve tagged and support their spots on the tour!
Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/sunstormsan...
YWCMD follows a group of teens and two of their teachers as they head into the wilds of the Welsh mountains on a camping weekend, and Keely couldn’t see this weekend far enough. She’s only attending to appease her parents, not to make friends. But soon the weekend she thought would just be damp and boring turns sinister when one of their teachers turns up dead and the other goes missing…Can the six teenagers survive in the middle of nowhere as they’re seemingly haunted by something sinister in the shadow of an abandoned abbey with a dark past? 👻
If you know me, you know I LOVE a suspenseful story. I love being put on edge and a book having an atmosphere that can make me jump and this book 100% achieves that. I was worried because this book is by no means a slow burn, I think the action kicks off on page 27 so you’re not waiting for something to happen, and yet, throughout the rest of the book, I found myself immersed to the point where sounds irl were making me jump out of it 😂
I read Someone is Watching You by the same author last year and loved it, but this is 100% the next level from this author. I would say that I’m often quite tough on YA thrillers because some of them are quite tame in their action, but I flew through this read as I was eager to get to the end and find out the truth behind the things happening in the Welsh hills ⛰️
If you’re looking for something that’s fast paced, easy to read and easy to follow, and you’re into YA thrillers and horror I would 100% recommend this read 🔥 if you don’t believe me, check out the others on this tour who I’ve tagged and support their spots on the tour!
October 9, 2023
A group of six teenagers are in a remote part of the Black Mountains in Wales on a camping trip which goes wrong almost immediately resulting in the death of the teacher leading the trip. Cut-off from the outside world with no transport, no phone service and no neighbours, the story follows an increasingly chilling series of events as they try to keep themselves safe until help comes. There are flashbacks to something in Keeley’s recent past which hint at might what be happening in the present.
The story gets off to a great start which really hooks you into reading the rest of the book. Unlike the others, Keeley has done no training for this trip and even worse, she is weighed down with grief and guilt over something that happened the previous year to her friend Amy. The other five have some camping and survival skills but it is Barry who is the hero of the hour, remaining calm and steadfast, and I loved the friendship which blossomed between him and Keeley. The book has a really spooky vibe with hints of the supernatural and together with the gothic setting of the abbey, the darkness, the fog and the endless rain, it reminds me of The Woman in Black by Susan Hill.
Keeley begins to wonder if everything that is happening is somehow linked to her but the eventual reveal is still shocking and the final chapters are tense and breathlessly fast paced. I loved that the group still looked out for each other even when things looked really bad, that Keeley got some resolution to her feelings of guilt and that she gained some fantastic new friends in the process.
The book contains some violence and the theme of abusive relationships.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette for the ARC.
The story gets off to a great start which really hooks you into reading the rest of the book. Unlike the others, Keeley has done no training for this trip and even worse, she is weighed down with grief and guilt over something that happened the previous year to her friend Amy. The other five have some camping and survival skills but it is Barry who is the hero of the hour, remaining calm and steadfast, and I loved the friendship which blossomed between him and Keeley. The book has a really spooky vibe with hints of the supernatural and together with the gothic setting of the abbey, the darkness, the fog and the endless rain, it reminds me of The Woman in Black by Susan Hill.
Keeley begins to wonder if everything that is happening is somehow linked to her but the eventual reveal is still shocking and the final chapters are tense and breathlessly fast paced. I loved that the group still looked out for each other even when things looked really bad, that Keeley got some resolution to her feelings of guilt and that she gained some fantastic new friends in the process.
The book contains some violence and the theme of abusive relationships.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette for the ARC.
December 12, 2023
𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗪𝗢𝗨𝗟𝗗𝗡’𝗧 𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛 𝗠𝗘 𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗗
—𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗷𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀-𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘆 | 𝟰.𝟮𝟱🌟
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
✨YA thriller
✨Isolated setting
✨Ghost stories
✨Prickly MC
𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆:
Keely is not known for her social appetite or friendly demeanor, but to get into college she has to join an extra-credits programme that sees a group of teenagers—including Keely—and two teachers camping in the Black Mountains in Wales. And there’s nothing like a teacher dying to bond a class together.
𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:
I could barely put this one down! This book was incredibly fast paced, ridiculously immersive, and deliciously creepy. It had all the elements I love in a thriller: complex characters, delightfully disturbing setting, and a worthy villain.
I was always going to love this book with it being set in Wales. But the setting is actually based on Llanthony a remote hamlet bordering the Black Mountains that is home to this gorgeous 900-year-old Priory that almost has a sentient state in TJM’s story. Not only did the author choose Wales as the setting, they breathed life into the setting in a way that made me love this story even more.
I really enjoyed the character of Keely. I found myself getting frustrated with her in the beginning/middle but when more context is given for her off putting behaviour, I found myself really rooting for her!
Overall, this was such an entertaining experience that I found myself utterly enthralled with. The constant tension in this book could be cut with a knife (and possibly gave me a stomach ulcer) and this is an author I’d love to experience more of.
𝗞𝗮𝘆𝗹𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵 | 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗵 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘆
✨ Instagram
✨ Twitter
✨ Threads
—𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗷𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀-𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘆 | 𝟰.𝟮𝟱🌟
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
✨YA thriller
✨Isolated setting
✨Ghost stories
✨Prickly MC
𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆:
Keely is not known for her social appetite or friendly demeanor, but to get into college she has to join an extra-credits programme that sees a group of teenagers—including Keely—and two teachers camping in the Black Mountains in Wales. And there’s nothing like a teacher dying to bond a class together.
𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:
I could barely put this one down! This book was incredibly fast paced, ridiculously immersive, and deliciously creepy. It had all the elements I love in a thriller: complex characters, delightfully disturbing setting, and a worthy villain.
I was always going to love this book with it being set in Wales. But the setting is actually based on Llanthony a remote hamlet bordering the Black Mountains that is home to this gorgeous 900-year-old Priory that almost has a sentient state in TJM’s story. Not only did the author choose Wales as the setting, they breathed life into the setting in a way that made me love this story even more.
I really enjoyed the character of Keely. I found myself getting frustrated with her in the beginning/middle but when more context is given for her off putting behaviour, I found myself really rooting for her!
Overall, this was such an entertaining experience that I found myself utterly enthralled with. The constant tension in this book could be cut with a knife (and possibly gave me a stomach ulcer) and this is an author I’d love to experience more of.
𝗞𝗮𝘆𝗹𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵 | 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗵 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘆
✨ Threads
October 28, 2023
Given the competitiveness for college spots these days, many young people have to find ways to make themselves more attractive to educational institutions. As a result, they often engage in activities in which they actually have very little real interest.
Keely is no exception. After her family moves to a new place for reasons that we discover to be somewhat problematic, and wracked with guilt over what happened to her friend Amy, Keely's primary aim is to keep a low profile at this new school and find a way of getting into college. Since most of her peers have similar plans, she reluctantly finds herself on a wilderness trip in Wales with five very ambitious young people.
The problems begin when their teacher dies, leaving the six teens cut off from civilization and reliant on each other and their joint survival skills to keep themselves alive. Why is this happening? Could it all perhaps be related to the secrets that Keely's family are hiding?
This is a gripping story with well-drawn characters, especially Keely and Barry. The suspense level is maintained throughout, and character development is handled skillfully. I really enjoyed it, and would recommend it to anyone who likes reading YA thrillers.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review
Keely is no exception. After her family moves to a new place for reasons that we discover to be somewhat problematic, and wracked with guilt over what happened to her friend Amy, Keely's primary aim is to keep a low profile at this new school and find a way of getting into college. Since most of her peers have similar plans, she reluctantly finds herself on a wilderness trip in Wales with five very ambitious young people.
The problems begin when their teacher dies, leaving the six teens cut off from civilization and reliant on each other and their joint survival skills to keep themselves alive. Why is this happening? Could it all perhaps be related to the secrets that Keely's family are hiding?
This is a gripping story with well-drawn characters, especially Keely and Barry. The suspense level is maintained throughout, and character development is handled skillfully. I really enjoyed it, and would recommend it to anyone who likes reading YA thrillers.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review
January 19, 2024
Finding herself in a new school, Keely just wants to be as invisible as possible. She's not there to make friends or have fun - all she wishes is to be left alone. But, in order to go to college, she enrols into a programme that involves camping in the Welsh wilderness with five of her schoolmates. Surely, she can go through a few days sleeping under her tent-for-one and keeping herself to herself.
Except.. The thing that happened not so long ago and forced Keely's whole family to uproot temselves and start a brand new life, might be ctaching up with her. As the body count creeps up, Keely has to ask herself, did she really escape from the past?
You Wouldn't Catch me Dead is a terrifyingly well built thriller, laced with tension and a hint of horror. The deaths start with an 'accident' but, as more people meet a sticky end, the survivors have to face the stark reality: someone is out to get them. But why? The children are camping near the ruins of an ancient abbey - blood-chilling stories about dead monks and their vengeful spirits abound. As you read about them, you fight against the horror of believing they are the ones taking people out one by one and so does Keely. Until... I don't want to reveal too much but the story has the perfect balance of supernatural, twists and flesh-and-bones killers. Gripping.
Except.. The thing that happened not so long ago and forced Keely's whole family to uproot temselves and start a brand new life, might be ctaching up with her. As the body count creeps up, Keely has to ask herself, did she really escape from the past?
You Wouldn't Catch me Dead is a terrifyingly well built thriller, laced with tension and a hint of horror. The deaths start with an 'accident' but, as more people meet a sticky end, the survivors have to face the stark reality: someone is out to get them. But why? The children are camping near the ruins of an ancient abbey - blood-chilling stories about dead monks and their vengeful spirits abound. As you read about them, you fight against the horror of believing they are the ones taking people out one by one and so does Keely. Until... I don't want to reveal too much but the story has the perfect balance of supernatural, twists and flesh-and-bones killers. Gripping.
January 19, 2025
Guess what I did today? Yep! I read for nearly an entire day. Only because I could…not….put…this book down!!!
You know when you’re watching a really good series and it finishes where it has you guessing, just leaves you hanging and you let out that god awful groan whilst slapping your forehead cause you know you shouldn’t watch another one because there are other things you should be doing…but then you just. have to watch the next episode anyway otherwise you’ll go mental from thinking about it wondering what’s going to happen next…?
Yeah well, welcome to You Wouldn’t Catch me Dead!
At the end of nearly every chapter, I would get either tingles, goosebumps, the nervous tension, wave the book around saying out allowed “you’ve got to be kidding me!”, or “oh, it’s this person” “oh yeah and that other person is on it for sure”.
It had me on the edge of my seat wanting more. It was like, “Pow! Pow! Pow!!” Right in the kisser!! So you just had to keep reading. Haha!!
But…..I will say, it does get to a certain point and most of the excitement kind of diminishes but it doesn’t happen till maybe the second last chapter.
So I thought I’d share my thoughts on this one and if you want a book that is a light and easy read, have you on the edge of your seat book, I highly recommend it.
If you do get it, I do hope you enjoy it.
Happy reading and guessing everyone!!!
You know when you’re watching a really good series and it finishes where it has you guessing, just leaves you hanging and you let out that god awful groan whilst slapping your forehead cause you know you shouldn’t watch another one because there are other things you should be doing…but then you just. have to watch the next episode anyway otherwise you’ll go mental from thinking about it wondering what’s going to happen next…?
Yeah well, welcome to You Wouldn’t Catch me Dead!
At the end of nearly every chapter, I would get either tingles, goosebumps, the nervous tension, wave the book around saying out allowed “you’ve got to be kidding me!”, or “oh, it’s this person” “oh yeah and that other person is on it for sure”.
It had me on the edge of my seat wanting more. It was like, “Pow! Pow! Pow!!” Right in the kisser!! So you just had to keep reading. Haha!!
But…..I will say, it does get to a certain point and most of the excitement kind of diminishes but it doesn’t happen till maybe the second last chapter.
So I thought I’d share my thoughts on this one and if you want a book that is a light and easy read, have you on the edge of your seat book, I highly recommend it.
If you do get it, I do hope you enjoy it.
Happy reading and guessing everyone!!!
January 16, 2024
Rain, fog, horror stories and dead bodies. While that's enough to put people off camping it did not dampen my enthusiasm for this great book.
There's not much that can be said about the characters or the story without giving much away, but both are well written. The location may even have you temped to head off on a camping trip, if you have friends like Keely. And they are very well written people, there's no back ground fillers here.
As for the story it's well written and well executed. The pieces slot into place so well, but not obviously that you'll get it in the opening chapters.
Those opening chapters had me worried in wouldn't like the book, but before they reached double figures I was hooked. The chapters lead into the next, so be prepared to binge this nightmare inducing adventure.
And then an epilogue, thank you! I do like knowing how our adventurers get on after it's all over. This epilogue may require tissues.
Grab this book for a single sitting read. Start early in the morning and finish before dark then keep the lights on.
Thank you to netgalley for the chance to read and review.
There's not much that can be said about the characters or the story without giving much away, but both are well written. The location may even have you temped to head off on a camping trip, if you have friends like Keely. And they are very well written people, there's no back ground fillers here.
As for the story it's well written and well executed. The pieces slot into place so well, but not obviously that you'll get it in the opening chapters.
Those opening chapters had me worried in wouldn't like the book, but before they reached double figures I was hooked. The chapters lead into the next, so be prepared to binge this nightmare inducing adventure.
And then an epilogue, thank you! I do like knowing how our adventurers get on after it's all over. This epilogue may require tissues.
Grab this book for a single sitting read. Start early in the morning and finish before dark then keep the lights on.
Thank you to netgalley for the chance to read and review.
February 2, 2024
This book did not disappoint! I read half of this book at bedtime and finished it the next day, I couldn't wait to get back to it.
I was intrigued by this book because it sounded intriguing and I'm still scarred from my own high school camping trip. I will also never camp again!
Well, I loved this book. Our protagonist, Keely, was prickly and did not want to make friends. Although her reasons became clear and while I can't say I liked her, I was rooting for her to find peace. The over achieving fellow students felt so real, and I liked how they welcomed Keely into the group. Nothing brings a group together quite like being in mortal danger!
I enjoyed how I was kept guessing whether there was something paranormal going on or if our villain was a real person. I loved how creepy this story was, the ghostly monks! It gave me After The Hole (by Guy Burt) vibes, so creepy that it will stick with me for a long time.
I kept wondering, what happened to Amy? I liked having this revelation delayed. Because my mind went into overdrive.
And received this book from NetGalley but these feelings and all future nightmares are my own
I was intrigued by this book because it sounded intriguing and I'm still scarred from my own high school camping trip. I will also never camp again!
Well, I loved this book. Our protagonist, Keely, was prickly and did not want to make friends. Although her reasons became clear and while I can't say I liked her, I was rooting for her to find peace. The over achieving fellow students felt so real, and I liked how they welcomed Keely into the group. Nothing brings a group together quite like being in mortal danger!
I enjoyed how I was kept guessing whether there was something paranormal going on or if our villain was a real person. I loved how creepy this story was, the ghostly monks! It gave me After The Hole (by Guy Burt) vibes, so creepy that it will stick with me for a long time.
I kept wondering, what happened to Amy? I liked having this revelation delayed. Because my mind went into overdrive.
And received this book from NetGalley but these feelings and all future nightmares are my own
November 4, 2024
You Wouldn't Catch Me Dead...
But you'd catch me reading this again. 5 Stars.
Keely is new in school, and reluctant to make friends following a particularly harrowing experience with her previous best friend, and practically sister.
Her goal is to make it through the rest of high school with her head down, but when she has to complete a Wilderness Course, she is thrown together with 5 other students who are adamant on her being part of the team.
Things go bump in the night, and one of the other students' campfire stories becomes a harsh reality to the rest of the group, who are forced to divide and conquer. Keely must face the darkness, the horror stories, Dead Monks, inconsiderate soldiers, her companions, and more importantly, her past.
In addition to that, this book is just very well-rounded, well-written, and kept me gasping for more. I'm a bit disappointed that some of the other reviews here are adding 'for a book targeting younger audiences', because, as a 26-year-old, these books are some of my favourites; they have to scare you and keep you guessing in PG ways, where 'adult books' fall so easily back onto gore and NSFW topics. You Wouldn't Catch Me Dead is a good book in its own right.
Keely is new in school, and reluctant to make friends following a particularly harrowing experience with her previous best friend, and practically sister.
Her goal is to make it through the rest of high school with her head down, but when she has to complete a Wilderness Course, she is thrown together with 5 other students who are adamant on her being part of the team.
Things go bump in the night, and one of the other students' campfire stories becomes a harsh reality to the rest of the group, who are forced to divide and conquer. Keely must face the darkness, the horror stories, Dead Monks, inconsiderate soldiers, her companions, and more importantly, her past.
In addition to that, this book is just very well-rounded, well-written, and kept me gasping for more. I'm a bit disappointed that some of the other reviews here are adding 'for a book targeting younger audiences', because, as a 26-year-old, these books are some of my favourites; they have to scare you and keep you guessing in PG ways, where 'adult books' fall so easily back onto gore and NSFW topics. You Wouldn't Catch Me Dead is a good book in its own right.
October 2, 2023
You Wouldn't Catch Me Dead follows 16 year old Keely as she goes on a weekend wilderness trip with a few of her new classmates to the Welsh mountains. In the bleak weather things start taking a turn for the worst when people, starting with her teacher, end up dead. As it turns out Keely is running from a dark tragedy and it seems to have followed her.
This is the perfect read to kick start spooky season! It had me hooked from the very beginning so I managed to finish it in one day! Keely is such a good main character and watching how she dealt with grief and guilt was very accurate. I loved Bryan's character and the way he took charge and tried his best to keep everyone safe. I love how Keely and Bryan's friendship developed.
Thank you to netgalley and Hachette Children's Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review🫶🏻
This is the perfect read to kick start spooky season! It had me hooked from the very beginning so I managed to finish it in one day! Keely is such a good main character and watching how she dealt with grief and guilt was very accurate. I loved Bryan's character and the way he took charge and tried his best to keep everyone safe. I love how Keely and Bryan's friendship developed.
Thank you to netgalley and Hachette Children's Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review🫶🏻
July 26, 2024
Tess James-Mackey's first book was a tense game of wits played in a confined space - an abandoned prison with only certain areas open. This new novel is a tense game of wits played in an extremely open space; a national park in Wales, with hills, slopes and a very abandoned church.
Our main character has a secret hidden past, and as she and her new classmates begin their climb, she worries that it's coming back to haunt her. Reluctantly making friends with her team, she determines to keep them safe. This book brings up some important topics that teens should be aware of, keeping them in a fun story that will keep readers engaged and desperate to know what's coming next.
BE AWARE there is violence, some of the bodies are treated very violently and it's described quite clearly.
This is a tense, interesting read and anyone who's into thrillers should give it a go.
Our main character has a secret hidden past, and as she and her new classmates begin their climb, she worries that it's coming back to haunt her. Reluctantly making friends with her team, she determines to keep them safe. This book brings up some important topics that teens should be aware of, keeping them in a fun story that will keep readers engaged and desperate to know what's coming next.
BE AWARE there is violence, some of the bodies are treated very violently and it's described quite clearly.
This is a tense, interesting read and anyone who's into thrillers should give it a go.
August 13, 2024
sweet little murder mystery. a quick easy read if you are looking for a small but interesting read. the murder was interesting, and the book was enjoyable. the characters were okay, not the best ever but they were not bad. i liked how there were flashbacks and how they were incorporated over the whole of the story. there were some creepy scenes throughout the book and especially the dolls. that gave me the chills. i did manage to guess who the killer was but i thought the plot was well thought out. my only critique was the ending was actually the most boring part. it didn't hook me and i was kinda bored. the ending is meant to be the best part except it was really repetitive and not entertaining. so apart from the ending i enjoyed this murder mystery. a simple small read for younger aged people.
October 15, 2025
୨ৎ : 'she had friends. friends who waited for her. [...] friends who came back for her.'
— ☆ 3.5/5
honestly, i did not expect to like this book. keely came across as really unlikeable in the beginning. i found her rude and kind of annoying. but as the story progressed i started to understand and love her more and more. what she went through at fifteen is heart wrenching. and no one should go through that.
i loved watch keelys friendships with the other campers bloom, especially with her and barry my platonic babies <3 it was just nice to see how slowly she started to reach out to the others as things were amping up.
i enjoyed the characters more than the plot though. it was like things were happening, but it was so spaced out and always anti-climatic. the ending didn't shock me, but I'm so glad keely put them in their place.
— ☆ 3.5/5
honestly, i did not expect to like this book. keely came across as really unlikeable in the beginning. i found her rude and kind of annoying. but as the story progressed i started to understand and love her more and more. what she went through at fifteen is heart wrenching. and no one should go through that.
i loved watch keelys friendships with the other campers bloom, especially with her and barry my platonic babies <3 it was just nice to see how slowly she started to reach out to the others as things were amping up.
i enjoyed the characters more than the plot though. it was like things were happening, but it was so spaced out and always anti-climatic. the ending didn't shock me, but I'm so glad keely put them in their place.
December 5, 2023
This is an entertaining stand alone horror thriller. I think it is good that Tess Jane’s-Mackay has aimed this book at teenage readers, but everyone older can enjoy this book too. The Welsh hills are once again the site of dastardly deeds as a group of school teenagers and teachers are picked off while they are meant to be involved in team building activities on a camping expedition. Their emotions are going to be stretched and they will need to work together to survive. Nice plot, with maybe more than a few questionable actions from the pupils. But they are teenagers so we can forgive them (the villains do not deserve to be forgiven). Thank you to Hatchette Children’s Books and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine freely given.
February 4, 2024
Twisty turney who done it with maybe ghosts, and past trauma - strong female lead.
5/5.read (listen) (4/5 would recommend)
This book, its incredible how it shows how self involved at inflicting pain at yourself when you suffer loss. The guilt traps and cycling you fall into. Should'ves and couldn't have possibly... It was a struggle at times to listen because of how accurately it was portrayed.
I enjoyed it throughout my guesses were right then wrong and then yes predicted at the end but that doesnt take anything away from how well it was written.
My only dislikes were the number of times the phrase "oh x couldn't have done y theyre only 17/18/19 etc" i understood the point they were trying to make but it was repeated too much for me
Heart wrenchingly beautiful story.
5/5.read (listen) (4/5 would recommend)
This book, its incredible how it shows how self involved at inflicting pain at yourself when you suffer loss. The guilt traps and cycling you fall into. Should'ves and couldn't have possibly... It was a struggle at times to listen because of how accurately it was portrayed.
I enjoyed it throughout my guesses were right then wrong and then yes predicted at the end but that doesnt take anything away from how well it was written.
My only dislikes were the number of times the phrase "oh x couldn't have done y theyre only 17/18/19 etc" i understood the point they were trying to make but it was repeated too much for me
Heart wrenchingly beautiful story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2023
A group of school children go on a camping expedition to the remote Black Mountains in Wales.
Keeley is the key character and she’s a misfit within the group, wanting to be separate and struggling with a guilty past.
I found this to be an excellent YA read, with flashbacks to Keeley’s history that paints a picture of her reason for isolation as well as drama, tension and mystery. Bryan is another main character and the growth of his friendship with Keeley is perfectly written.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Hatchette children’s books for the opportunity to preview and I wish the author every success.
Keeley is the key character and she’s a misfit within the group, wanting to be separate and struggling with a guilty past.
I found this to be an excellent YA read, with flashbacks to Keeley’s history that paints a picture of her reason for isolation as well as drama, tension and mystery. Bryan is another main character and the growth of his friendship with Keeley is perfectly written.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Hatchette children’s books for the opportunity to preview and I wish the author every success.
November 27, 2023
i received an advanced copy of this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
in theory, this book should've been for me, which is why i requested it. i was intrigued by the remote welsh setting and the promise of a spine-chilling mystery. i did find some parts enjoyable and the writing was simplistic enough for me to read the bulk of this book in a few hours, but ultimately i found a majority of the characters underdeveloped and interchangeable for the size of the cast, the backstory and current story too disconnected, and an ending that felt nonsensical. an interesting premise, but an execution that didn't work for me in the end.
in theory, this book should've been for me, which is why i requested it. i was intrigued by the remote welsh setting and the promise of a spine-chilling mystery. i did find some parts enjoyable and the writing was simplistic enough for me to read the bulk of this book in a few hours, but ultimately i found a majority of the characters underdeveloped and interchangeable for the size of the cast, the backstory and current story too disconnected, and an ending that felt nonsensical. an interesting premise, but an execution that didn't work for me in the end.
January 20, 2024
After a tragic event in Keelys past, she resolves not to make any friends at her new school, but to help her get into college, she is roped into a Wilderness camping trip
When tragedy also strikes there, the group are left to fend for themselves. Are the strange goings on part of a local haunting, or teenage pranks gone wrong...
Can Keely and the rest of the group, make it though the trip. And can Keely keep her distance from them when we all know there is safety in number
Great wee story, kept the pages turning and I read through it over a day in a couple of sittings
Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette/Hodder for the review copy this book... out on 18th Jan so you can pick this up now!
When tragedy also strikes there, the group are left to fend for themselves. Are the strange goings on part of a local haunting, or teenage pranks gone wrong...
Can Keely and the rest of the group, make it though the trip. And can Keely keep her distance from them when we all know there is safety in number
Great wee story, kept the pages turning and I read through it over a day in a couple of sittings
Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette/Hodder for the review copy this book... out on 18th Jan so you can pick this up now!
January 21, 2024
Keely and her family have moved across the country and she's changed schools to escape from her past. It'll be fine now, she just needs to get through it and there's no point making friends. Her grades aren't good though, so to gain extra credit she signs up for the camping -yuk- weekend in Wales. She's not been to any of the preparation meetings but it probably doesn't matter, they probably didn't cover what she's about to experience anyway....
I'm not saying any more. It's fantastic, I couldn't put it down and I had a tantrum when my kindle ran out of battery half way through a chapter. 5 stars.
I'm not saying any more. It's fantastic, I couldn't put it down and I had a tantrum when my kindle ran out of battery half way through a chapter. 5 stars.
June 10, 2024
Great horror/thriller which is still suitable for younger readers (13+). Very atmospheric, twists and suspected hauntings. Upsetting theme of abusive relationships and murder - which to be honest makes it a bit to 'real' in a book where you'd like to just see the 'bad guy' as a construct of the story rather than a real life possibility.
Gory in places (one murder is described with their spine showing through a cut throat, another body described as being bent over a pillar) but no worse that i've just described here, so suitable for anyone looking for a gory horror that's not too traumatising.
Gory in places (one murder is described with their spine showing through a cut throat, another body described as being bent over a pillar) but no worse that i've just described here, so suitable for anyone looking for a gory horror that's not too traumatising.
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