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Sticky Pines #2

The Thing at Black Hole Lake

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The sequel to The Bigwoof Conspiracy takes us back to Sticky Pines, a small US town where weird things happen.

Milo, loyal to his double-crossing, business-mogul father, has taken a trip to Black Hole Lake, leaving Lucy to continue her search into alien life and the Truth that she knows is out there. Milo’s discovery of a sinister, dark creature in the Lake will put them both in terrible danger and also – if they survive their adventure – make them friends again.

Perfect for younger siblings of Stranger Things’ fans, The Thing at Black Hole Lake is laugh-out-loud, hair-raising sci-fi that will raise more questions about extraterrestrial life on earth than it answers…

272 pages, Paperback

First published September 3, 2020

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Dashe Roberts

4 books6 followers

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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Profile Image for Stephanie.
Author 82 books1,369 followers
September 14, 2020
This series is SO much fun (and, as I said about the first book, it's absolutely perfect for any Gravity Falls fans, since it shares a similar quirky MG vibe)! Strange things are once again afoot in Sticky Pines, and this time, we're following them from two different perspectives: Lucy Sladen, who's determined to work out the truth about the mysterious, supernatural Pretenders of Sticky Pines and protect them from NuCo, the greedy company determined to exploit ALL of the town's resources; and her ex-friend Milo Fisher, son of the NuCo president, who is still in shock after finding out what his father did in the first book. It's Milo who first comes across the Thing in Black Hole Lake, but both of them rocket through adventure, and I had SO much fun reading it all.

One of the things I liked best was the real level of moral complexity amongst all the fun and humor. Milo's dad is doing TERRIBLE things. He's the villain! (That's my standpoint, and it's not changing.) However, he also genuinely loves his son, and Milo genuinely loves him even when he's most anguished about what his father's been up to. And his dad also genuinely thinks that he's the good guy and wants Milo to think so, too. The philosophical questions never slow down the action, but they do give it real depth.

The whole book is joyfully exuberant and SO much fun. I can't wait for Book 3! And thank you so much to Nosy Crow Books for my copy of this one (which I'd *begged* them for after loving Book 1 so much).
8 reviews3 followers
September 3, 2020
Happily, things are still weird in Sticky Pines and Lucy Sladan is on it, determined to uncover the truth. This time it's Milo who makes the huge discovery though....there is something very strange in Black Hole lake.

This book is so much fun! Everything that was great about the first book but MORE with plot twists aplenty and deepening mysteries all around. A brilliantly satisfying, spooky read!
Profile Image for whatbooknext.
1,296 reviews49 followers
March 2, 2021
Cripesauce, Crudberries & Fudgesicles! Something strange is STILL happening in the small town of Sticky Pines.The Thing at Black Hole Lake Book Review Cover

Budding cryptozoologist Lucy has uncovered the shocking truth of the Bigfoot like creatures and she knows the Nu Co factory is doing more weird stuff.

The employees are being made to work long hours and tempers in town are getting stretched. Lucy and her bestie Milo have fallen out – after all, his father owns Nu Co and he is totally responsible for all that’s happened. If only Lucy could tell Milo the truth.

Milo has uncovered a secret of his own in the town lake. Something so amazing Lucy would be lost for words – amazing in itself! Little does he know, it’s not the only one of its kind living nearby.

After Lucy joins the school newspaper, she is even more determined to dig deep into the mysteries surrounding their small town. She skulks around Nu Co and a strange round building with pink smoke. What the heck makes pink smoke? There are strange symbols on the rocks at the base of the building, the same strange symbols Milo finds in the centre of the lake. What is going on, right under their noses? Will Milo ever speak to her again, and why is he spending so much time out on the water?



The 2nd gripping episode in this series based in a little town surrounded by pine trees famous for their sweet tree sap. Last time, Lucy was certain she’d seen Bigfoot in the forest. Now it’s something even stranger and she knows no one will believe her. Except maybe for Milo, but he’s still not talking to her.

Somehow she has to get her proof, stop the villain and get her friend back.
Profile Image for Steph.
1,449 reviews87 followers
October 30, 2020
This is another great bit of sci-fi mystery! What happens when Milo spots a mysterious creature in the lake, and Lucy is investigating some mystery Sticky Pines history? Until the two of them are speaking to each other, there’s no mystery to solve, but as soon as they are...
Filled with mysterious creatures, clever plots and humour, this is great. I reckon we’ve got more delights to come from Sticky Pines and I’m here for it! Really loved the characters in this and the links to the first book!
6 reviews
October 1, 2020
Huge and geektastic fun. Continues right on from the brilliant Big Woof Conspiracy and we're back in Sticky Pines with all its Twin Peaks weirdness. I chomped through this – the story is engaging and mysterious, the characters are really strong (I love Tex!) and there's just the right amount of detail to make you feel completely immersed, and endless nerdy jokes. And the ending absolutely gallops along – I can't wait for book three!
Profile Image for Deborah.
527 reviews
December 9, 2021
Sequel to The Bigwoof conspiracy, The thing at Black Hole Lake continues in a similar vein, as Lucy Sladan and her on again/off again friend Milo Fisher, try to solve the mystery of the strange creature who lives in Black Hole Lake. I love the town of Sticky Pines, and the weird and wonderful characters and happenings. A great sci-fi series with humour and charm.
4 reviews1 follower
December 5, 2020
Book 2 of the Stickey Pines series is amazing. Even better than book 1. I can’t wait for book 3 to finish the series. Mystery, suspense, friendship. It has it all.
Profile Image for Daniel Bingham.
138 reviews
November 27, 2022
I would have liked this as a kid. Feel like it lost it’s way a bit towards the end, but it was solid stuff
Profile Image for Adam Murphy.
574 reviews13 followers
October 11, 2023


Something fishy is going on in Sticky Pines. Sticky Pines: The Thing At Black Hole Lake by Dashe Roberts is another creepy, geektastic fun installation to the YA series! More Twin Peaks mystery, questionable suspense & heartwarming messages of friendship. I feel like this volume had a lot more laughs (& FRIGHTS) than its previous version, but still, both books kept a smile on my face throughout.

It’s also great to hear a cliffhanger/tease of ANOTHER installation to the series. Just as much as I love the characters in these novels, the more books that follow will give them more depth & complexity of them continuously dealing with their hometown's paranormal activities. Can’t wait for its next successor! If any of you lot have kids fascinated by the unknown, grab hold of this series!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews

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