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River Black
Harper Chatham has spent years turning her life into content. She has more than a million subscribers on YouTube, with regular sponsorships and brand deals. What she doesn’t have is any idea what to do with her channel after she graduates high school.
The summer before her junior year, she’s shipped off to her aunt and uncle’s campground in the backwoods of Missouri. While Harper isn’t excited about the bugs or the manual labor, she thinks spending the summer with her cousins and taking a break from daily life and her overwhelming shooting schedule might help her get some clarity about the future.
But almost immediately, something feels wrong in their small town. Her cousin’s friend has died in a mysterious accident and all of the adults are aggressively silent about anything that might be out of the ordinary. As she and her cousins begin digging for answers, they uncover the impossible: kids who appear out of nowhere, more unexplained deaths, and a centuries-old secret no one wants to talk about.
When the threat arrives at her family’s doorstep, it becomes clear that Harper and her cousins may be the only ones willing to stop what’s coming. Harper gives up her self-imposed filming break and decides to do what she does best—turn her camera on.
At the very least, she'll shoot some great content. Hopefully she’s alive to post it.
The summer before her junior year, she’s shipped off to her aunt and uncle’s campground in the backwoods of Missouri. While Harper isn’t excited about the bugs or the manual labor, she thinks spending the summer with her cousins and taking a break from daily life and her overwhelming shooting schedule might help her get some clarity about the future.
But almost immediately, something feels wrong in their small town. Her cousin’s friend has died in a mysterious accident and all of the adults are aggressively silent about anything that might be out of the ordinary. As she and her cousins begin digging for answers, they uncover the impossible: kids who appear out of nowhere, more unexplained deaths, and a centuries-old secret no one wants to talk about.
When the threat arrives at her family’s doorstep, it becomes clear that Harper and her cousins may be the only ones willing to stop what’s coming. Harper gives up her self-imposed filming break and decides to do what she does best—turn her camera on.
At the very least, she'll shoot some great content. Hopefully she’s alive to post it.
- GenresThriller
Paperback
Published June 30, 2026
About the author
Kristina Brune
5 books65 followersKristina Brune has loved books for as long as she can remember. She put her passion for words to work as a copywriter and marketer for more than 15 years, and is now focusing on entrepreneurship and writing. Kristina lives with her husband, kids, and dogs in South Carolina (but she’ll always be a St. Louisan at heart). Weight of Memory is her first book. Her second novel, River Black, was released in 2026.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 22, 2026
In River Black by Kristina Brune, we follow YouTuber Harper Chatham as she is forced to spend the summer with her aunt, uncle, and cousins while her mother leaves for work abroad. What should have been a quiet, idyllic vacation quickly becomes the latest entry in her paranormal haunts series.
The characters feel authentic for their age without ever slipping into childish or irritating territory. I found myself invested in their struggles as they pushed against parents who think they know best, navigated a town steeped in deadly secrets, and dealt with all the complications that come with being teenagers. The romantic subplot is especially sweet and tender. It's the kind of YA story that leaves adult readers feeling nostalgic rather than frustrated.
That said, this is very much a horror novel, and that's where it truly shines. Brune expertly and subtly builds an atmosphere of mounting tension and dread. Like all great found media horror, River Black plays on the reader's instinct to rationalize what they're seeing and hearing, until suddenly it's too late. Before long, you'll find yourself reading with every light on (or, in my case, waiting until daylight) and jumping at every unexpected noise around the house.
River Black is a haunting coming of age story that will resonate with a wide range of readers and leave you double checking every photo and video you take. Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The characters feel authentic for their age without ever slipping into childish or irritating territory. I found myself invested in their struggles as they pushed against parents who think they know best, navigated a town steeped in deadly secrets, and dealt with all the complications that come with being teenagers. The romantic subplot is especially sweet and tender. It's the kind of YA story that leaves adult readers feeling nostalgic rather than frustrated.
That said, this is very much a horror novel, and that's where it truly shines. Brune expertly and subtly builds an atmosphere of mounting tension and dread. Like all great found media horror, River Black plays on the reader's instinct to rationalize what they're seeing and hearing, until suddenly it's too late. Before long, you'll find yourself reading with every light on (or, in my case, waiting until daylight) and jumping at every unexpected noise around the house.
River Black is a haunting coming of age story that will resonate with a wide range of readers and leave you double checking every photo and video you take. Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
June 30, 2026
The only reason why I didn’t blow through this was because I genuinely was too creeped out to read this at night. This is the kind of read you reserve for daytime only. Don’t be fooled by the fact that this is considered Young Adult. It is still one of the creepiest books I’ve read all year and it carried a sustained sense of dread throughout the entire novel. I loved that this was told through the perspective of a YouTuber/ Content Creator because the found footage element was especially effective in adding to that tense and unsettling feeling.
The paranormal aspects were my favorite parts and I loved the incorporation of some of that old “creepy pasta” lore which added a sense of unease that was palpable all the way through.
The adults in this got on my last nerve!! There were also some questions that were left unanswered and some backstory that I wish was fleshed out a little bit more but it wasn’t enough to take me out of the story.
I had a good time with this one!
Thank you so much to the author for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The paranormal aspects were my favorite parts and I loved the incorporation of some of that old “creepy pasta” lore which added a sense of unease that was palpable all the way through.
The adults in this got on my last nerve!! There were also some questions that were left unanswered and some backstory that I wish was fleshed out a little bit more but it wasn’t enough to take me out of the story.
I had a good time with this one!
Thank you so much to the author for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
July 1, 2026
What an incredible ride this book is! Once I started, I couldn’t stop and ended up reading it in one day.
I loved the character dynamics in this novel which was really extenuated by the great dialogue. The story is compelling largely due to the overwhelming sense of dread which, throughout the story, escalates at the perfect pace.
This is a MUST for any horror fan!
I loved the character dynamics in this novel which was really extenuated by the great dialogue. The story is compelling largely due to the overwhelming sense of dread which, throughout the story, escalates at the perfect pace.
This is a MUST for any horror fan!
July 7, 2026
4.5
I don’t normally read YA but man this was executed so well. It was a cinematic, and genuinely creepy YA horror. I really enjoyed the found footage elements woven throughout bc it added so much to the atmosphere and made everything feel even more unsettling. The teens were smart, resourceful and handled the mystery like little detectives, which I really appreciated bc sometimes horror characters are idiots haha it took a little bit for me to feel fully invested in the story but once it took off, I was hooked. The ending was perfect. Cant wait for my son to get old enough bc he’s going to love this. Definitely recommend.
I don’t normally read YA but man this was executed so well. It was a cinematic, and genuinely creepy YA horror. I really enjoyed the found footage elements woven throughout bc it added so much to the atmosphere and made everything feel even more unsettling. The teens were smart, resourceful and handled the mystery like little detectives, which I really appreciated bc sometimes horror characters are idiots haha it took a little bit for me to feel fully invested in the story but once it took off, I was hooked. The ending was perfect. Cant wait for my son to get old enough bc he’s going to love this. Definitely recommend.
July 1, 2026
This book was a very fun and engaging read. It keeps you on the edge of the seat the entire time and it definitely has its moments of suspense and spookiness. I thought the characters were very well written and kept you wanting to see what happens next with them.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.25⭐ rounded up. ;)
Thank you so much to Kristina Brune for this eARC!! :) Pub day is June 30!
So happy to support a Booktok buddy, especially when the book is so good!
I'm not much of a YA, thriller, OR horror reader, so I honestly didn't know how I would feel about it. I do like and appreciate all those genres, they just aren't my usual and they can be tougher sells for me to pick up (on their own, let alone combining all three). Let me tell you, this book firmly fits in all three genres!
It is a fantastic YA - written for and about teens without sounding like it was written by someone older, making them overly juvenile, nor talking down to the reader. This makes a perfectly good adult read as well! It is a propulsive thriller - very fast-paced and kept me turning pages easily the whole way through, with an intriguing mystery at its heart. And it is a damn CREEPY horror that had me shuddering and looking over my shoulder on multiple occasions, drawing on creepypasta legends that used to keep me up at night and I had long since banished from my memory (thanks for bringing that back, Kristina!! 🥴). And don't mistake me - if I'm reading a supernatural thriller, I want to be creeped out! She did her job!
I thought the multi-media aspect was used very effectively - I honestly wanted more of it! The framing of the story around making content for a YouTube channel was so smart and unique. (And a fun little extra layer for me, since Kristina and I know each other because we're content creators. 😄) The setting was perfectly spooky and I could imagine it so well. The characters were likeable and fun to be with, and I loved the little romance subplot, especially because it felt realistic and didn't monopolize the story.
I do think it got a bit repetitive - I could have done with like 3 or 4 fewer instances of the adults being cagey and suspicious. That was hammered home pretty heavily and didn't need quite so much page time. I also think that the ending, while I liked it, happened a bit too quickly.
My final "complaint" is just a personal preference - a lot of horror and supernatural stories are effectively magical realism, which I struggle with more often than not. I always have some unanswered questions at the end that my brain just won't let go of, so it distracts me from having a perfect time with a book. But that is totally a me problem.
This book is excellent. Again, not my typical genres, but I'd say Kristina absolutely accomplished what she set out to do, and I highly recommend this to anyone who loves these genres, and in general, especially for your spooky month or summerween TBRs. 😁
Thank you so much to Kristina Brune for this eARC!! :) Pub day is June 30!
So happy to support a Booktok buddy, especially when the book is so good!
I'm not much of a YA, thriller, OR horror reader, so I honestly didn't know how I would feel about it. I do like and appreciate all those genres, they just aren't my usual and they can be tougher sells for me to pick up (on their own, let alone combining all three). Let me tell you, this book firmly fits in all three genres!
It is a fantastic YA - written for and about teens without sounding like it was written by someone older, making them overly juvenile, nor talking down to the reader. This makes a perfectly good adult read as well! It is a propulsive thriller - very fast-paced and kept me turning pages easily the whole way through, with an intriguing mystery at its heart. And it is a damn CREEPY horror that had me shuddering and looking over my shoulder on multiple occasions, drawing on creepypasta legends that used to keep me up at night and I had long since banished from my memory (thanks for bringing that back, Kristina!! 🥴). And don't mistake me - if I'm reading a supernatural thriller, I want to be creeped out! She did her job!
I thought the multi-media aspect was used very effectively - I honestly wanted more of it! The framing of the story around making content for a YouTube channel was so smart and unique. (And a fun little extra layer for me, since Kristina and I know each other because we're content creators. 😄) The setting was perfectly spooky and I could imagine it so well. The characters were likeable and fun to be with, and I loved the little romance subplot, especially because it felt realistic and didn't monopolize the story.
I do think it got a bit repetitive - I could have done with like 3 or 4 fewer instances of the adults being cagey and suspicious. That was hammered home pretty heavily and didn't need quite so much page time. I also think that the ending, while I liked it, happened a bit too quickly.
My final "complaint" is just a personal preference - a lot of horror and supernatural stories are effectively magical realism, which I struggle with more often than not. I always have some unanswered questions at the end that my brain just won't let go of, so it distracts me from having a perfect time with a book. But that is totally a me problem.
This book is excellent. Again, not my typical genres, but I'd say Kristina absolutely accomplished what she set out to do, and I highly recommend this to anyone who loves these genres, and in general, especially for your spooky month or summerween TBRs. 😁
Review of advance copy received from Author
Full disclosure: Kristina and I became friends through TikTok over the last year, and she sent me an eARC and a physical copy of her newest release, River Black. I want to say that up front because I went into it nervous. I've had authors send me books before that I didn't love, and I genuinely did not know what I was going to do if that happened here. So I want to be clear: I'm not telling you I loved this because she's my friend. I'm telling you because I loved it.
Harper's a YouTuber with over a million subscribers, shipped off to her aunt and uncle's campground in Missouri for the summer. She finds out one of her cousin's friends recently died in an accident and a few other kids were injured in a completely separate accident. Something feels off and the adults aren't talking. So Harper does what she knows how to do and turns the camera on to begin investigating. I liked that the YouTuber premise wasn't just a gimmick. It's how she processes her whole world, and it gives the book a reason to feel current instead of like a generic small town thriller.
I haven't been genuinely scared by a book in a long time. This one got me! The kids in this book are creepy; creepy twins from The Shining vibes that genuinely freaked me out. For more than one scene I was on the edge of my seat, with the kind of tension where you're talking out loud to the book. And I was. More than once I said "no, don't do that" to a character, and then the character called back, saying "I know this is horror 101, I shouldn't, but…" and doing it anyway. I texted Kristina mid-read like "you know all the rules, what are you doing," and she said something like, I do, and if it was me in the story I would be out of there. Fair.
I haven't read a ton of YA thrillers that have blown me away, so I went into this one cautiously. Harper is a little bossy, sure of herself, and used to being in charge, but she still reads like an actual teenager but in a mature way not in an annoying teenager way. That's a balance I think a lot of YA books don't get right, and Brune does this masterfully.
There's a clear love letter to 70s and 80s teen horror running underneath all of this, along with the story in the Acknowledgements of Kristina's own inspiration for this book. Brune puts her own spin on the small-town-secret, kids-know-more-than-the-adults setup that movies from that era built their whole identity on, and puts it into a modern frame.
I went in cautious and came out genuinely impressed. This is the type of thriller that I love. I am excited to have a friend who wrote an amazing book, and I hope everyone who grew up on 70s/80s teen horror finds this one!
Harper's a YouTuber with over a million subscribers, shipped off to her aunt and uncle's campground in Missouri for the summer. She finds out one of her cousin's friends recently died in an accident and a few other kids were injured in a completely separate accident. Something feels off and the adults aren't talking. So Harper does what she knows how to do and turns the camera on to begin investigating. I liked that the YouTuber premise wasn't just a gimmick. It's how she processes her whole world, and it gives the book a reason to feel current instead of like a generic small town thriller.
I haven't been genuinely scared by a book in a long time. This one got me! The kids in this book are creepy; creepy twins from The Shining vibes that genuinely freaked me out. For more than one scene I was on the edge of my seat, with the kind of tension where you're talking out loud to the book. And I was. More than once I said "no, don't do that" to a character, and then the character called back, saying "I know this is horror 101, I shouldn't, but…" and doing it anyway. I texted Kristina mid-read like "you know all the rules, what are you doing," and she said something like, I do, and if it was me in the story I would be out of there. Fair.
I haven't read a ton of YA thrillers that have blown me away, so I went into this one cautiously. Harper is a little bossy, sure of herself, and used to being in charge, but she still reads like an actual teenager but in a mature way not in an annoying teenager way. That's a balance I think a lot of YA books don't get right, and Brune does this masterfully.
There's a clear love letter to 70s and 80s teen horror running underneath all of this, along with the story in the Acknowledgements of Kristina's own inspiration for this book. Brune puts her own spin on the small-town-secret, kids-know-more-than-the-adults setup that movies from that era built their whole identity on, and puts it into a modern frame.
I went in cautious and came out genuinely impressed. This is the type of thriller that I love. I am excited to have a friend who wrote an amazing book, and I hope everyone who grew up on 70s/80s teen horror finds this one!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author, Kristina Brune, for the eARC, and for the opportunity to be one of the first to review this book.
If you are looking for a book that will make your skin crawl and leave you fearing the dark, then look no further. This is a YA horror novel which follows Harper, whose mother has taken a summer job which requires her to travel out of the country. As a result, this seventeen year old vlogger is forced to stay with her aunt and cousins while her mom is away. The setting for this novel is the lakeside town of Reedville, and right from the beginning, the location is so well developed that it almost acts as a secondary character, with its eerie vibes and the way that it fuels a great deal of the action in the plot.
Although the story is mainly told through a first person narrative, dispersed throughout are excerpts detailing raw video footage from Harper’s vlog. This was a truly effective way for the reader to discover things that were happening that would not otherwise be available to them through Harper’s limited perspective. These vignettes were particularly creepy and so incredibly descriptive that so many times while reading them, they would give me goosebumps up and down my arms.
This is a YA novel, and although the primary characters are teenagers, it doesn’t read overtly young, and therefore I feel that it will appeal to a wide variety of readers. So many times in the past when reading a YA book it has failed to resonate with me because it felt cheesy and immature. That was not the case with this book. The words and actions of the teens in this story are appropriate for their age, but at the same time they weren’t offputting for me as an adult reader. These characters are multidimensional. They draw you in, keep you invested in what is happening, and make you fear for them.
Overall, I truly enjoyed this book. It had just the right amount of thrills and chills, without ever becoming too gory. I would recommend this to teen and adult readers who enjoy books with a paranormal vibe that give you that unsettling feeling that you’re being watched. I would not recommend it to anyone who is planning a summer lakeside vacation!
If you are looking for a book that will make your skin crawl and leave you fearing the dark, then look no further. This is a YA horror novel which follows Harper, whose mother has taken a summer job which requires her to travel out of the country. As a result, this seventeen year old vlogger is forced to stay with her aunt and cousins while her mom is away. The setting for this novel is the lakeside town of Reedville, and right from the beginning, the location is so well developed that it almost acts as a secondary character, with its eerie vibes and the way that it fuels a great deal of the action in the plot.
Although the story is mainly told through a first person narrative, dispersed throughout are excerpts detailing raw video footage from Harper’s vlog. This was a truly effective way for the reader to discover things that were happening that would not otherwise be available to them through Harper’s limited perspective. These vignettes were particularly creepy and so incredibly descriptive that so many times while reading them, they would give me goosebumps up and down my arms.
This is a YA novel, and although the primary characters are teenagers, it doesn’t read overtly young, and therefore I feel that it will appeal to a wide variety of readers. So many times in the past when reading a YA book it has failed to resonate with me because it felt cheesy and immature. That was not the case with this book. The words and actions of the teens in this story are appropriate for their age, but at the same time they weren’t offputting for me as an adult reader. These characters are multidimensional. They draw you in, keep you invested in what is happening, and make you fear for them.
Overall, I truly enjoyed this book. It had just the right amount of thrills and chills, without ever becoming too gory. I would recommend this to teen and adult readers who enjoy books with a paranormal vibe that give you that unsettling feeling that you’re being watched. I would not recommend it to anyone who is planning a summer lakeside vacation!
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 ⭐️
WHAT A BLAST- if feeling nostalgic while having the shit scared out of you is your kind of fun, that is!
I will keep it simple.
Story: on point. So strong. I was in the scenes and could so vividly picture both time, place, person…. and other (wink).
Pacing: well paced! Loved the slow build especially and how creepy it was.
Characters: easy to relate to as I remembered myself at this age. Absolutely loved the subplot budding romance!
Ending? So fitting for this book. And one of the best last lines I’ve read! I had (the good kind) of goosebumps at the conclusion.
This one deserves the big screen and a swift adaptation to film.
The ONLY reason it wasn’t a full 5 stars is that it needed some cleaner editing. But that didn’t at all diminish from how much I enjoyed this read. Which is saying a lot as I am not one to choose YA OR horror.
Thank you so much to the author for my advanced reader copy for an honest review. I did NOT expect to love this as much as I did!
WHAT A BLAST- if feeling nostalgic while having the shit scared out of you is your kind of fun, that is!
I will keep it simple.
Story: on point. So strong. I was in the scenes and could so vividly picture both time, place, person…. and other (wink).
Pacing: well paced! Loved the slow build especially and how creepy it was.
Characters: easy to relate to as I remembered myself at this age. Absolutely loved the subplot budding romance!
Ending? So fitting for this book. And one of the best last lines I’ve read! I had (the good kind) of goosebumps at the conclusion.
This one deserves the big screen and a swift adaptation to film.
The ONLY reason it wasn’t a full 5 stars is that it needed some cleaner editing. But that didn’t at all diminish from how much I enjoyed this read. Which is saying a lot as I am not one to choose YA OR horror.
Thank you so much to the author for my advanced reader copy for an honest review. I did NOT expect to love this as much as I did!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was fantastic from start to finish. The pacing was off the charts, and I fell in love with both the characters and the setting almost immediately. I truly felt like I was right there with them, experiencing everything they went through.
I had goosebumps more often than not and even caught myself looking around—that’s exactly what I want in a horror book. I want to feel what the characters feel, and this one absolutely delivered.
This book could easily be a movie, a scary freaking movie at that. I really hope that it gets picked up for film because I will be the first one to purchase a ticket. I feel like I could say more but I would start with spoilers and I don't want to do that because people should enjoy this book for what it is. A good, old fashion, creepy book.
I cannot wait to read more from Kristina Brune!
Thank you to the author for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I had goosebumps more often than not and even caught myself looking around—that’s exactly what I want in a horror book. I want to feel what the characters feel, and this one absolutely delivered.
This book could easily be a movie, a scary freaking movie at that. I really hope that it gets picked up for film because I will be the first one to purchase a ticket. I feel like I could say more but I would start with spoilers and I don't want to do that because people should enjoy this book for what it is. A good, old fashion, creepy book.
I cannot wait to read more from Kristina Brune!
Thank you to the author for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Harper Chatham is a YouTuber who has gained a huge following of over a million subscribers to her channel. She is sent away for the summer to stay with her aunt, uncle, and cousins in Missouri. One night, while sitting around the campfire, she learns a sad piece of news that one of her cousin's friends had died in an accident. She also hears about some other accidents that have happened recently. Harper feels like something strange is going on but the adults are not willing to talk about it.
This book had a really fast pace that grabbed my attention and wouldn’t let go, leaving me craving for more. The detailed descriptions brought the scenes to life in my mind, making it easy to visualize every detail. The book had a creepy element that had me looking over my shoulder occasionally while reading in the dark, but the thrill was too enticing, and I just couldn’t put it down.
This book had a really fast pace that grabbed my attention and wouldn’t let go, leaving me craving for more. The detailed descriptions brought the scenes to life in my mind, making it easy to visualize every detail. The book had a creepy element that had me looking over my shoulder occasionally while reading in the dark, but the thrill was too enticing, and I just couldn’t put it down.
June 27, 2026
First, I want to start by saying this was an arc read for me. My first one, actually. And I am not a fan of YA or Horror. However, I’d heard some pretty good things about this book and I’m always happy to help out the book tok community when I can.
All that to say, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I was so invested in the characters and the interesting plot, that I couldn’t stop turning the pages. The story was solid, exciting, creepy, nostalgic, and just a fun ride from beginning to end. I would recommend this book to not only YA readers but anyone who enjoys spooky stories. Take this creepy trip to Missouri and follow Harper and her friends and fam on their wild journey. You won’t be disappointed. 😊
All that to say, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I was so invested in the characters and the interesting plot, that I couldn’t stop turning the pages. The story was solid, exciting, creepy, nostalgic, and just a fun ride from beginning to end. I would recommend this book to not only YA readers but anyone who enjoys spooky stories. Take this creepy trip to Missouri and follow Harper and her friends and fam on their wild journey. You won’t be disappointed. 😊
Review of advance copy received from Author
Creepy teenagers, a camp ground and adults who seem to not acknowledge what may be happening in their little town, the perfect "ingredients" for a summerween read, if I do say so myself. I could not put this book down, and when I had to (I guess my husband had to eat), this book was all I thought about. Kristina Brune mastered the "What is going to happen next, I must know." The characters are well developed with their own uniqueness, and they didn't blend into each other. The way the setting was described, I could picture it in my head with vivid detail. The book had a splash of comedic writing that had me giggling as well as parts that made me gasp. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy atmospheric horror!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was selected to be an ARC and absolutely loved this book! While I noticed a few editing erros, not enough to take it out for me. The genre of this book is right up my alley and now I'm afraid of going to camp and into the woods, let alone walk into a log cabin. At times I was frustrated with the adults in the book and yelling (just tell the kids why!) but also understood why they were trying to protect them. I definitely did not "solve" this one like I normally could or would until the very end so that's a plus one for me! When the book kept me turning the pages to find out more, you know it's a great one!
July 8, 2026
Gave me goosebumps during a heatwave.
Creepy kids stalking you in the woods, beckoning you to "join them"? A town where everyone is keeping a secret. Police turning a blind eye to mysterious teen deaths. But why?
This story had me hooked from the start. The author builds a creepy atmosphere and mystery with a found footage aspect. It's a delightful Summerween read, taking place on a campground bordering the Black River where many teens have lost their lives over the years during a thunderstorm. 4 teens every 22 years to be exact.
Creepy kids stalking you in the woods, beckoning you to "join them"? A town where everyone is keeping a secret. Police turning a blind eye to mysterious teen deaths. But why?
This story had me hooked from the start. The author builds a creepy atmosphere and mystery with a found footage aspect. It's a delightful Summerween read, taking place on a campground bordering the Black River where many teens have lost their lives over the years during a thunderstorm. 4 teens every 22 years to be exact.
Review of advance copy received from Author
It was creepy in the best way, had me looking over my shoulder turning on the lights in my house my heart raced, and I stayed up way past my bedtime because I had to know what happened next. The characters were so well developed that I could vividly see every scene play out in my head. 5 star thriller for me!
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 ⭐️ What a ride!! This suspense / thriller had me feeling Stranger Things vibes! I can’t often picture books in my head, but this one was vivid! If you’re looking for a fast paced good time, this book has you covered! Thank you for the early copy! This was my first Kristina Brune book, but will NOT be my last! Brava!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for letting me read this story. I couldn’t put this book down it was so good! I loved the story line and being from Missouri this one really helped make it even creepier. I can’t wait to read more books by this author!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I feel obligated to give this 5 stars ... it would probably be weird if I didn't ;)
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was so good. Fast pace keeps your attention and leaves you wanting more!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was like a fun popcorn horror movie. River Black reminded me a lot of a found footage horror movie. I so happen to be a big fan of found footage, so it was a lot of fun reading about a YouTuber chronicling her investigations. The mystery of the town and river were intriguing, and there were scares aplenty throughout. And of course, there was a cute guy for our heroine to crush on, which I'm also a big fan of. My only complaint was that the story took a while to get going. But once the spooks started, they never really let up!
July 6, 2026
4.25⭐️
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