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Take Your Turn, Teddy
No one knows your darkness like your own Shadow.
Nothing has been normal for Teddy, not since discovering the harsh identity of the monster he had been living with his whole life—his own father. Teddy and his mother leave that behind to start over in a small Indiana township. But as Teddy begins to learn of humanity's monsters, he unveils an otherworldly evil he calls "The Shadow." The Shadow tests Teddy's vulnerability and growing sense of isolation, poisoning his mind and conjuring a vile killer-in-the-making.
A year later, Officer Leonard Strode is called in to offer consultation on a case similar to the most brutal and scarring of those he’s worked on before. One is the case of Jackie Warren, the other, Theodore “Teddy” Blackwood — two missing children. As he and two other officers follow the trail of clues, Strode is haunted by the ghosts of his own past and is horrified to find them wreaking havoc on his present.
When both Teddy and Strode finally meet face-to-face, they must confront their inner darkness as well or else be consumed by it.
Nothing has been normal for Teddy, not since discovering the harsh identity of the monster he had been living with his whole life—his own father. Teddy and his mother leave that behind to start over in a small Indiana township. But as Teddy begins to learn of humanity's monsters, he unveils an otherworldly evil he calls "The Shadow." The Shadow tests Teddy's vulnerability and growing sense of isolation, poisoning his mind and conjuring a vile killer-in-the-making.
A year later, Officer Leonard Strode is called in to offer consultation on a case similar to the most brutal and scarring of those he’s worked on before. One is the case of Jackie Warren, the other, Theodore “Teddy” Blackwood — two missing children. As he and two other officers follow the trail of clues, Strode is haunted by the ghosts of his own past and is horrified to find them wreaking havoc on his present.
When both Teddy and Strode finally meet face-to-face, they must confront their inner darkness as well or else be consumed by it.
382 pages, Paperback
Published December 8, 2020
62 people are currently reading
4135 people want to read
About the author
Haley Newlin
6 books183 followersHaley Newlin grew up watching Vincent Price movies and listening to The Beatles, both of which have heavily influenced her work. She has published three novels including Take Your Turn, Teddy and her new release, The Film You Are About To See. Her short story "The Butcher on Blue Jay Way" is featured in Kandisha Press' SLASH-HER anthology. Newlin also writes for Cemetery Dance Magazine
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
August 27, 2021
I have a phenomenal book for you to read. This book left me with a profound emptiness inside, but only because it completely gutted me. The book that I am referring to is Take Your Turn, Teddy by Haley Newlin.
Take Your Turn, Teddy is among many things, a coming of age story. The characters in this story, especially Teddy, come alive on the page and I couldn’t help but get emotionally invested. Teddy broke my heart in so many ways and there are tiny aspects of his character that I could relate to. I am not crazy nor do I think about or commit such crimes, but I do understand being exposed to things as a child and that deep, dark feeling of isolation.
Teddy is a naive and innocent kid coming home from elementary school, but when he arrives he encounters something he wasn’t meant to see. And what he sees is quite different from what we understand as readers. He’s confused by what his dad is doing, and of course, his dad tries to explain it all in a way that Teddy can comprehend and ultimately believe that it’s nothing to worry about. His dad decides to leave Teddy alone until his mom gets home thinking no one will be the wiser. Unfortunately, Teddy doesn’t understand the concept of a secret and why would he when his dad doesn’t take responsibility for what he’s done. Teddy innocently starts a sequence of traumatic events that leaves him in a very dark place.
“Teddy closed his eyes and listened for the shadow. It was faint, but he could hear it say, You noticed me.”
Newlin does an extraordinary job writing her characters as I felt I was genuinely reading from Teddy’s perspective. The sudden change in point of view to a police procedural was a welcome surprise. Not only do we get a tremendous amount of character development for Teddy, but also for Officer Strode, who is consulting on a couple of murder cases. The story seamlessly takes us from Teddy’s origin story to a police investigation, and Newlin smoothly introduces a horror aspect, known as the Shadow. The Shadow is a scary, creepy figure who enters Teddy’s life in a very profound way.
Take Your Turn, Teddy is a coming of age tale, yes, but it is much more than that. Newlin adeptly writes about trauma, domestic violence, mental health, isolation, fear, and sadness. I don’t know how she does it, but she manages to explore all of these heavy emotions, but in a subtle yet powerful way. It’s psychological horror, police procedural, and thriller all rolled up into a neat little package of a book.
Please tell me you plan to read this. I need to chat with all of you about this enthralling story.
Thank you so much to the author and Night Worms for my free copy.
Take Your Turn, Teddy is among many things, a coming of age story. The characters in this story, especially Teddy, come alive on the page and I couldn’t help but get emotionally invested. Teddy broke my heart in so many ways and there are tiny aspects of his character that I could relate to. I am not crazy nor do I think about or commit such crimes, but I do understand being exposed to things as a child and that deep, dark feeling of isolation.
Teddy is a naive and innocent kid coming home from elementary school, but when he arrives he encounters something he wasn’t meant to see. And what he sees is quite different from what we understand as readers. He’s confused by what his dad is doing, and of course, his dad tries to explain it all in a way that Teddy can comprehend and ultimately believe that it’s nothing to worry about. His dad decides to leave Teddy alone until his mom gets home thinking no one will be the wiser. Unfortunately, Teddy doesn’t understand the concept of a secret and why would he when his dad doesn’t take responsibility for what he’s done. Teddy innocently starts a sequence of traumatic events that leaves him in a very dark place.
“Teddy closed his eyes and listened for the shadow. It was faint, but he could hear it say, You noticed me.”
Newlin does an extraordinary job writing her characters as I felt I was genuinely reading from Teddy’s perspective. The sudden change in point of view to a police procedural was a welcome surprise. Not only do we get a tremendous amount of character development for Teddy, but also for Officer Strode, who is consulting on a couple of murder cases. The story seamlessly takes us from Teddy’s origin story to a police investigation, and Newlin smoothly introduces a horror aspect, known as the Shadow. The Shadow is a scary, creepy figure who enters Teddy’s life in a very profound way.
Take Your Turn, Teddy is a coming of age tale, yes, but it is much more than that. Newlin adeptly writes about trauma, domestic violence, mental health, isolation, fear, and sadness. I don’t know how she does it, but she manages to explore all of these heavy emotions, but in a subtle yet powerful way. It’s psychological horror, police procedural, and thriller all rolled up into a neat little package of a book.
Please tell me you plan to read this. I need to chat with all of you about this enthralling story.
Thank you so much to the author and Night Worms for my free copy.
March 18, 2022
3.5 stars. I liked it but felt like there was just something missing?!
Read
February 22, 2021Full review coming to Cemetery Dance.
Blurb:
"Haley Newlin's Take Your Turn, Teddy is a dark, psychological horror story exploring the manifestations of early childhood trauma. Newlin uses themes of domestic violence, anxiety, and isolation to create a provocative landscape for her characters to encounter and battle, The Shadow. A disturbing glimpse of how a broken spirit can unleash powerful demons of the soul. Absolutely captivating, I couldn't put it down."
Blurb:
"Haley Newlin's Take Your Turn, Teddy is a dark, psychological horror story exploring the manifestations of early childhood trauma. Newlin uses themes of domestic violence, anxiety, and isolation to create a provocative landscape for her characters to encounter and battle, The Shadow. A disturbing glimpse of how a broken spirit can unleash powerful demons of the soul. Absolutely captivating, I couldn't put it down."
January 23, 2021
Coming of Age Creature Feature with a difference.
Teddy comes home from school one day to find his father home early unexpectedly, and he is not alone. This discovery sets off a series of events that result in Teddy and his mother moving across the country to live in an old family-owned home in a small town in rural Indiana, where Teddy finds himself feeling increasingly isolated, lonely and vulnerable.
Until, one day, he ventures alone into the house’s dingy basement and meets his new best friend: The Shadow.
At first, Teddy’s new friend is content to play games and provide comfort but, as time goes on, he begins to ask more and more of Teddy, encouraging him to do terrible things. A police investigation into a series of horrific local murders soon intertwines with Teddy and his Shadow, but is Teddy past the point of salvation?
Newlin opens the book with a lengthy Author’s Note describing her experiences writing the ‘Take Your Turn, Teddy’ and describes it as a cautionary tale about vulnerability, depression, and mental health issues. While the novel works perfectly well as a supernatural coming of age meets police procedural story, it was interesting to consider these points while reading the struggles the characters go through, and there is a depth and layer of meanings there for those who want it.
The opening of the book focusing on Teddy is absolutely gripping. He gets plenty of page time to develop as a character before the action gets going, and reading about his subsequent struggles is heart-breaking, and this commitment to making him a likeable and well-rounded character pays off in a big way when the story takes a turn for the unexpected just before the midway point.
Teddy isn’t always front and centre, however, and a significant chunk of the book is given to a group of police officers, most notably Officer Strode, who is suffering significantly from PTSD as a result of past cases. It was a jarring about-turn at first, but the group have an interesting dynamic and contribute to the overall narrative from a different perspective and in a more grounded way, which I felt was a brave but exciting way to go. This is more a testament to the quality that came before it as opposed to criticism but, as much as I enjoyed the switch in focus, Teddy was a sorely missed presence in these sections.
The sections with Teddy once he has met the shadow are particularly creepy, and we are largely kept in the dark regarding the creatures’ motivations, and what purpose Teddy is providing it. It’s an effective build-up of tension which delivers massively in an exciting, action-packed finale.
Take Your Turn, Teddy is an unusual hybrid of a book, tackling two very different styles and doing both well, while managing to make a complete and satisfying story out of these seemingly disparate parts. Unique, eerie and thoroughly engaging, ‘Take Your Turn, Teddy’ is worthy of a place on any horror lovers’ bookshelf.
Teddy comes home from school one day to find his father home early unexpectedly, and he is not alone. This discovery sets off a series of events that result in Teddy and his mother moving across the country to live in an old family-owned home in a small town in rural Indiana, where Teddy finds himself feeling increasingly isolated, lonely and vulnerable.
Until, one day, he ventures alone into the house’s dingy basement and meets his new best friend: The Shadow.
At first, Teddy’s new friend is content to play games and provide comfort but, as time goes on, he begins to ask more and more of Teddy, encouraging him to do terrible things. A police investigation into a series of horrific local murders soon intertwines with Teddy and his Shadow, but is Teddy past the point of salvation?
Newlin opens the book with a lengthy Author’s Note describing her experiences writing the ‘Take Your Turn, Teddy’ and describes it as a cautionary tale about vulnerability, depression, and mental health issues. While the novel works perfectly well as a supernatural coming of age meets police procedural story, it was interesting to consider these points while reading the struggles the characters go through, and there is a depth and layer of meanings there for those who want it.
The opening of the book focusing on Teddy is absolutely gripping. He gets plenty of page time to develop as a character before the action gets going, and reading about his subsequent struggles is heart-breaking, and this commitment to making him a likeable and well-rounded character pays off in a big way when the story takes a turn for the unexpected just before the midway point.
Teddy isn’t always front and centre, however, and a significant chunk of the book is given to a group of police officers, most notably Officer Strode, who is suffering significantly from PTSD as a result of past cases. It was a jarring about-turn at first, but the group have an interesting dynamic and contribute to the overall narrative from a different perspective and in a more grounded way, which I felt was a brave but exciting way to go. This is more a testament to the quality that came before it as opposed to criticism but, as much as I enjoyed the switch in focus, Teddy was a sorely missed presence in these sections.
The sections with Teddy once he has met the shadow are particularly creepy, and we are largely kept in the dark regarding the creatures’ motivations, and what purpose Teddy is providing it. It’s an effective build-up of tension which delivers massively in an exciting, action-packed finale.
Take Your Turn, Teddy is an unusual hybrid of a book, tackling two very different styles and doing both well, while managing to make a complete and satisfying story out of these seemingly disparate parts. Unique, eerie and thoroughly engaging, ‘Take Your Turn, Teddy’ is worthy of a place on any horror lovers’ bookshelf.
February 13, 2021
"Everything was evil at night."
Wow wow wow! What a story!
I don’t even know where to start with this review. This novel left me with so much hurt, but in the best way possible.
In Take Your Turn, Teddy we are following Teddy as he’s getting home one day to discover his babysitter and his dad together in the room. What this actually means is lost on Teddy. He is young and naive. His dad explains his “friendship” with the babysitter away with manipulation but this in turn backfires as Teddy tries to console his mom one day using the same words his dad used. OOPS! The mom, frustrated and angry, packs up and takes Teddy alongside her to move back to her hometown. And thus begins Teddy’s sad story. Y’all!!!! Poor Teddy. He’s questioning so many things. He’s feeling guilty, mad and sad because he broke his parents up. Either way his mom and him are on the road and there is nothing he can do but move forward. Enter “The Shadow”. Teddy has made a new unconventional friend which he names Shadow and through this new friendship Teddy’s life will take a drastic turn, one that will pull at your heartstrings and will also have you questioning many things.
Sitting here reading through the first portion of my review I realize how “one level” this book sounds. There is so much more happening within its pages than what I have stated. It’s a story about friendship, loneliness, heartbreak, despair, loss, love, fear and so much more. There is so much depth to it, that I can’t even begin to describe it. I don’t know how Newlin was able to incorporate so much into her story without it being all over the place. There were so many horror tropes incorporated but somehow they all worked and flowed well together. The ending had me sobbing and it also had me staring at the wall saying “what next?”
To say that I recommend this book is an understatement. If you like true-crime, horror, coming of age stories (this definitely has that coming of age vibe), mysteries, and good storytelling I think that this is the book for you. Don’t sleep on this!
Wow wow wow! What a story!
I don’t even know where to start with this review. This novel left me with so much hurt, but in the best way possible.
In Take Your Turn, Teddy we are following Teddy as he’s getting home one day to discover his babysitter and his dad together in the room. What this actually means is lost on Teddy. He is young and naive. His dad explains his “friendship” with the babysitter away with manipulation but this in turn backfires as Teddy tries to console his mom one day using the same words his dad used. OOPS! The mom, frustrated and angry, packs up and takes Teddy alongside her to move back to her hometown. And thus begins Teddy’s sad story. Y’all!!!! Poor Teddy. He’s questioning so many things. He’s feeling guilty, mad and sad because he broke his parents up. Either way his mom and him are on the road and there is nothing he can do but move forward. Enter “The Shadow”. Teddy has made a new unconventional friend which he names Shadow and through this new friendship Teddy’s life will take a drastic turn, one that will pull at your heartstrings and will also have you questioning many things.
Sitting here reading through the first portion of my review I realize how “one level” this book sounds. There is so much more happening within its pages than what I have stated. It’s a story about friendship, loneliness, heartbreak, despair, loss, love, fear and so much more. There is so much depth to it, that I can’t even begin to describe it. I don’t know how Newlin was able to incorporate so much into her story without it being all over the place. There were so many horror tropes incorporated but somehow they all worked and flowed well together. The ending had me sobbing and it also had me staring at the wall saying “what next?”
To say that I recommend this book is an understatement. If you like true-crime, horror, coming of age stories (this definitely has that coming of age vibe), mysteries, and good storytelling I think that this is the book for you. Don’t sleep on this!
October 14, 2024
3/4 of the book was definitely 4 stars. The last quarter brought it up to 5. You never know the demons someone may be fighting
April 4, 2025
I can’t believe I waited this long to read such an incredible book! Newlin’s writing is phenomenal—her style strongly echoes Stephen King’s (and I don’t say that lightly; it’s a huge compliment). I was instantly drawn into her storytelling. The author’s note, where she opens up about her personal struggles with mental health, really struck a chord with me. It added a powerful layer of depth to the story and made me reflect on what these characters are truly experiencing. It highlights how unresolved trauma can cast long shadows that take hold in unexpected ways.
The first section of this book is told from Teddy’s POV—a young boy enduring immense trauma at the hands of an abusive father. Watching his innocence slowly unravel was absolutely heartbreaking. The way the author portrayed Teddy felt incredibly real, so much so that it was almost like reading a true account. His character was written with such authenticity, it felt deeply personal. One particularly devastating moment at the end of this section, when Teddy says, “He couldn’t help but think the living bleed, so she has to be alive,” completely shattered me. I had to pause reading because my eyes were welling up. When a book hits me on that kind of emotional level, it carves out a special place in my heart—that’s powerful and effective storytelling.
The next section shifts to the perspective of Officer Strode, a cop haunted by PTSD from two similar unsolved cases involving missing children. I was a bit thrown at first by the sudden shift into more of a police procedural—it was a pretty drastic change in tone, and I had grown so attached to Teddy’s POV that I found myself wanting to return to his story. That said, I eventually settled into Strode’s narrative and appreciated the exploration of his mental health struggles and the eerie manifestations of his mind—clowns, for instance! Maybe a bit too reminiscent of King at times, but still compelling. His partner, Finch, was also a standout—she reminded me a bit of Clarice from Silence of the Lambs. She may have come off a little too flawless, but I’m always here for strong female characters and meaningful, diverse representation.
Overall, I truly loved this novel, and can already feel Newlin becoming a new favorite author of mine. There’s something hauntingly beautiful about the way she explores grief and trauma—the raw, emotional weight of it—and how the shadows we carry can twist into something horrifying if we don’t face them. This isn’t just a horror/crime novel; it’s an unflinching look at pain, loss, and the monsters that form in the darkest corners of the mind. If you’re drawn to stories that both unsettle and move you, you need to read this. It left a mark on me I won’t soon forget.
4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
The first section of this book is told from Teddy’s POV—a young boy enduring immense trauma at the hands of an abusive father. Watching his innocence slowly unravel was absolutely heartbreaking. The way the author portrayed Teddy felt incredibly real, so much so that it was almost like reading a true account. His character was written with such authenticity, it felt deeply personal. One particularly devastating moment at the end of this section, when Teddy says, “He couldn’t help but think the living bleed, so she has to be alive,” completely shattered me. I had to pause reading because my eyes were welling up. When a book hits me on that kind of emotional level, it carves out a special place in my heart—that’s powerful and effective storytelling.
The next section shifts to the perspective of Officer Strode, a cop haunted by PTSD from two similar unsolved cases involving missing children. I was a bit thrown at first by the sudden shift into more of a police procedural—it was a pretty drastic change in tone, and I had grown so attached to Teddy’s POV that I found myself wanting to return to his story. That said, I eventually settled into Strode’s narrative and appreciated the exploration of his mental health struggles and the eerie manifestations of his mind—clowns, for instance! Maybe a bit too reminiscent of King at times, but still compelling. His partner, Finch, was also a standout—she reminded me a bit of Clarice from Silence of the Lambs. She may have come off a little too flawless, but I’m always here for strong female characters and meaningful, diverse representation.
Overall, I truly loved this novel, and can already feel Newlin becoming a new favorite author of mine. There’s something hauntingly beautiful about the way she explores grief and trauma—the raw, emotional weight of it—and how the shadows we carry can twist into something horrifying if we don’t face them. This isn’t just a horror/crime novel; it’s an unflinching look at pain, loss, and the monsters that form in the darkest corners of the mind. If you’re drawn to stories that both unsettle and move you, you need to read this. It left a mark on me I won’t soon forget.
4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
February 16, 2021
"Take Your Turn, Teddy" is an absolutely stellar horror novel. There are seemingly some fun nods to existing horror like "Halloween" and "Stranger Things" with character names like "Laurie," "Strode," and a young boy with the last name "Byers." I enjoyed making those little connections, but they were tiny in comparison to the big picture.
Haley Newlin's intricate, emotional, and dark narrative is all about a young boy named Teddy, but really it's about all the children (and adults) in the world who have ever experienced ever-present shadows in their lives. The story follows Teddy and his experience with his parents, including an unfaithful and sometimes violent father. When his mother decides to remove herself and Teddy from their situation, a break happens and darkness floods in, turning the story from a real-life and all-too-frequent situation into something supernaturally terrifying. The book reads like an emotional non-fiction about broken homes and how they affect children, and then it turns evil and frightening, and finally ends in the vein of true crime. Haley Newlin knows how to write childhood experiences and pain with a sharp and colourful pen, and the reader is given some insight into why she is so familiar with this topic when reading the "Note from the Author."
The hardest-hitting part of the book for me was the relationship between Teddy and his tender mother. I ached so much for both of them. Newlin described her in such a vivid and ethereal way and connected Teddy's feelings with her in such a moving manner, "The orange color of her hair, along with the yellow counter and pastels of the floral wallpaper, reminded him of the poppy field Dorothy and her loyal band of misfits skipped through on their way to Oz. Teddy's smile faded. That field was poisonous. Teddy started to wonder if, like the field, his home was beautiful but truly carried a plan of deceit."
I honestly can't say enough about how visceral and realistic Teddy's childhood home and family unit felt to me. His mother humming "Puff the Magic Dragon" made me feel almost sick with nostalgia for my own mother singing the very same song to me when I was young. The fear and betrayal that Teddy felt when he began to lose his innocence and understand the meaning behind what was happening around him was all too accurate. There is a moment when he is looking at his Jetsons bedsheets and begins to wonder if George Jetson is not the good father he appears to be. I honestly can't even describe what that made me feel. The fact that Newlin could convey the loss of childhood and innocence so perfectly in such a simple image shows what power she has as a writer.
Now, onto the terrifying parts. Teddy felt alone and lost and discovered something/someone that seemed friendly in a dark basement, golden eyes like that of a small cat. Just wanting to be friends. Speaking to him through his own thoughts. The vulnerability of Teddy from his situation and young age made him open to this shadow, a shadow that is truly within us all, always - waiting for its chance to strike us down from our pillars of hope and confidence. Everything becomes predatory when you feel utterly isolated from others, "Blackbirds, crows Teddy figured, were flying overhead. They shrieked at one another, and he wondered if they were saying something like, 'Look at the scared little boy about to be lost in the cornfield.'"
After reading this book for two days in a row, I had nightmares both nights as well. Those yellow eyes haunted my bedroom until I finished the book. I think that speaks volumes to what kind of writing Haley Newlin brings to the horror community.
However, along this journey into truly black depths, the author also brings hope in the form of some characters who are filled with love and light, who know that "sometimes our lowest moments, our worst tragedies, are simply stepping off points to something better."
You must read this book.
Haley Newlin's intricate, emotional, and dark narrative is all about a young boy named Teddy, but really it's about all the children (and adults) in the world who have ever experienced ever-present shadows in their lives. The story follows Teddy and his experience with his parents, including an unfaithful and sometimes violent father. When his mother decides to remove herself and Teddy from their situation, a break happens and darkness floods in, turning the story from a real-life and all-too-frequent situation into something supernaturally terrifying. The book reads like an emotional non-fiction about broken homes and how they affect children, and then it turns evil and frightening, and finally ends in the vein of true crime. Haley Newlin knows how to write childhood experiences and pain with a sharp and colourful pen, and the reader is given some insight into why she is so familiar with this topic when reading the "Note from the Author."
The hardest-hitting part of the book for me was the relationship between Teddy and his tender mother. I ached so much for both of them. Newlin described her in such a vivid and ethereal way and connected Teddy's feelings with her in such a moving manner, "The orange color of her hair, along with the yellow counter and pastels of the floral wallpaper, reminded him of the poppy field Dorothy and her loyal band of misfits skipped through on their way to Oz. Teddy's smile faded. That field was poisonous. Teddy started to wonder if, like the field, his home was beautiful but truly carried a plan of deceit."
I honestly can't say enough about how visceral and realistic Teddy's childhood home and family unit felt to me. His mother humming "Puff the Magic Dragon" made me feel almost sick with nostalgia for my own mother singing the very same song to me when I was young. The fear and betrayal that Teddy felt when he began to lose his innocence and understand the meaning behind what was happening around him was all too accurate. There is a moment when he is looking at his Jetsons bedsheets and begins to wonder if George Jetson is not the good father he appears to be. I honestly can't even describe what that made me feel. The fact that Newlin could convey the loss of childhood and innocence so perfectly in such a simple image shows what power she has as a writer.
Now, onto the terrifying parts. Teddy felt alone and lost and discovered something/someone that seemed friendly in a dark basement, golden eyes like that of a small cat. Just wanting to be friends. Speaking to him through his own thoughts. The vulnerability of Teddy from his situation and young age made him open to this shadow, a shadow that is truly within us all, always - waiting for its chance to strike us down from our pillars of hope and confidence. Everything becomes predatory when you feel utterly isolated from others, "Blackbirds, crows Teddy figured, were flying overhead. They shrieked at one another, and he wondered if they were saying something like, 'Look at the scared little boy about to be lost in the cornfield.'"
After reading this book for two days in a row, I had nightmares both nights as well. Those yellow eyes haunted my bedroom until I finished the book. I think that speaks volumes to what kind of writing Haley Newlin brings to the horror community.
However, along this journey into truly black depths, the author also brings hope in the form of some characters who are filled with love and light, who know that "sometimes our lowest moments, our worst tragedies, are simply stepping off points to something better."
You must read this book.
March 15, 2021
Don’t you just love when a book wrecks you emotionally and you finish the final page and feel like you need a good cry? Maybe you’re the type of reader who benefits from a tragic tale opening a black hole in your heart and devouring you from the inside out. If this sounds like you, allow me to introduce you to this gem of a book right here.
When young Teddy catches his father in an act of infidelity and fails to keep this secret from his mother, a chain reaction of terrible, heartbreaking events unravel Teddy’s world. Finding himself in a dark place after he and his mother move into an old house, Teddy discovers Shadow, a dark entity living in the basement. Shadow claims he wants to help Teddy, but we soon learn this is far from the truth as our story takes a brutal deep dive into childhood trauma and manipulation.
This story is part psychological horror, part crime procedural with the narrative bouncing back and forth between Teddy’s perspective and the perspective of a tortured police officer by the name of Leonard Strode. I honestly didn’t expect to be so enraptured by this raw portrayal of vulnerability, loneliness, and grief.
Author Haley Newlin’s sharp writing stabs its way into your gut and twists the knife. This book affirmed one of many reasons why I love horror as a genre—its versatility. Horror doesn’t have to scare you. Sometimes it pushes you, thrills you, and other times it simply destroys you in the best, most vulnerable ways. Basically, I loved this book. I loved this book in spite of how much it hurt me to the core and it has definitely moved its way up to being one of my favorite reads this year. (Also shoutout to the author for writing a strong, smart, empathetic, black, female officer whom I freaking loved!)
When young Teddy catches his father in an act of infidelity and fails to keep this secret from his mother, a chain reaction of terrible, heartbreaking events unravel Teddy’s world. Finding himself in a dark place after he and his mother move into an old house, Teddy discovers Shadow, a dark entity living in the basement. Shadow claims he wants to help Teddy, but we soon learn this is far from the truth as our story takes a brutal deep dive into childhood trauma and manipulation.
This story is part psychological horror, part crime procedural with the narrative bouncing back and forth between Teddy’s perspective and the perspective of a tortured police officer by the name of Leonard Strode. I honestly didn’t expect to be so enraptured by this raw portrayal of vulnerability, loneliness, and grief.
Author Haley Newlin’s sharp writing stabs its way into your gut and twists the knife. This book affirmed one of many reasons why I love horror as a genre—its versatility. Horror doesn’t have to scare you. Sometimes it pushes you, thrills you, and other times it simply destroys you in the best, most vulnerable ways. Basically, I loved this book. I loved this book in spite of how much it hurt me to the core and it has definitely moved its way up to being one of my favorite reads this year. (Also shoutout to the author for writing a strong, smart, empathetic, black, female officer whom I freaking loved!)
September 23, 2021
I listened to this on audible, narrated by Thomas Gloom. Take Your Turn, Teddy is a brutal look at how childhood trauma can manifest itself in dark, damaging ways. In the story, Teddy goes through experiences that no person, let alone a child, should ever have to endure. As an escape he turns to the ominous creature in the basement, Shadow. I don't want to go in depth into the story because I think that the plot at its core is best explored with minimal information. What we get in the rest of Teddy's story is the heartbreaking tale of a child that is conflicted and alone.
Part way through the book there is a tone shift as we focus on the law enforcement team that is investigating a case that involves Teddy and his family. At first this was jarring and I thought it would take me out of the story but it had the opposite effect, it drew me in more. I was thoroughly engrossed in the story of Detective Strode and the trauma that he suffered due to his job. I highly recommend this book to any horror fans, especially if topics of mental health intrigue you.
As I mentioned earlier, I listened to this on Audible, narrated by Thomas Gloom. From Teddy to Strode to Shadow and all in between Gloom did a wonderful job bringing these characters to life and adding yet another layer to this already powerful story. I not only look forward to more writing from Haley Newlin in the future but also more narration from Thomas Gloom!
⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️/5 limited edition baseball cards
Part way through the book there is a tone shift as we focus on the law enforcement team that is investigating a case that involves Teddy and his family. At first this was jarring and I thought it would take me out of the story but it had the opposite effect, it drew me in more. I was thoroughly engrossed in the story of Detective Strode and the trauma that he suffered due to his job. I highly recommend this book to any horror fans, especially if topics of mental health intrigue you.
As I mentioned earlier, I listened to this on Audible, narrated by Thomas Gloom. From Teddy to Strode to Shadow and all in between Gloom did a wonderful job bringing these characters to life and adding yet another layer to this already powerful story. I not only look forward to more writing from Haley Newlin in the future but also more narration from Thomas Gloom!
⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️/5 limited edition baseball cards
March 1, 2021
Have you ever become the character of a book while reading it? I became Teddy during the first part of this book, I was scared, nervous, curious, I was mad at my dad, I had fun singing and listening to records with mom, and I was wondering about the glowing eyes i saw in the basement.
I was fully engaged and pulled right into Teddy’s world. Then I got to part two. I am not a big fan of police work stories. They just aren’t my thing. The three officers were just an odd combination and took me right out of the story. The book slowed way down for me and really dragged with the choices made. Weird things happened that seemed to have nothing to do with the plot.
I was never able to get back into the book. A lot of people like the police/detective angle and I am sure that it why this book has such a high rating.
After starting off so well I am bummed that I lost connection. Teddy even became an unsympathetic character to me so I didn’t care what happened to him.
I was fully engaged and pulled right into Teddy’s world. Then I got to part two. I am not a big fan of police work stories. They just aren’t my thing. The three officers were just an odd combination and took me right out of the story. The book slowed way down for me and really dragged with the choices made. Weird things happened that seemed to have nothing to do with the plot.
I was never able to get back into the book. A lot of people like the police/detective angle and I am sure that it why this book has such a high rating.
After starting off so well I am bummed that I lost connection. Teddy even became an unsympathetic character to me so I didn’t care what happened to him.
March 11, 2021
This book was intense, violent, sad, and creepy! I always enjoy a coming of age/from a young person's point of view when it comes to battling evil - real world or otherwise. This book also has multiple points of view between this young boy, Teddy, and law enforcement officers trying to solve the horrible crimes - and I love multiple POV stories.
September 15, 2022
I've had this on my tbr for a little while since receiving this from the author, and I will say I enjoyed this. However, I think it had a super strong start and it did falter at the ending for me a bit. I would still definitely recommend this one though because 3 stars is still a great read in my book
July 19, 2021
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Take Your Turn, Teddy by Haley Newlin
This novel is the story Teddy Blackwood or so your led to believe; a young boy, who upon moving into his grandparents home discovers that the house is haunted.
Haley walks a fine line here that most horror stories that feature child protagonists seem incapable of; that of having them sound and think like a child, yet she achieves it with great affect. Adult readers are able to read scenes, understanding the devastation in them before Teddy has a chance to.
Through this Haley shows us that it’s the human horrors that are truly the worst in a heart-wrenching beginning, which has Teddy discovering his father has been having an affair. She dials up the tension by having Teddy not understanding what he has just witnessed struggle to communicate this to his mother whose returned from work. As a reader you are able to see Teddy’s mothers’ perception as she interacts with her son, including him in the cooking of a family meal while listening to music, that this a tender moment between parent and child. At the same time the reader shares Teddy’s burden of what he’s just discovered. It’s fantastic character driven writing.
Then just when you think it can’t get any worse Haley hits you with a creepy house and a monster in the basement. And what a creepy house it is complete with slamming doors, cold drafts and scarped writing on the walls; all of which Teddy’s mother is blind too. There’s also a fantastically creepy scene in a cornfield as Teddy plays with a neighbour.
As if this wasn’t enough Haley shifts the narrative midway through the story, suddenly the protagonist isn’t Teddy, but a failed detective by the name of Strode who is still traumatised from his last case. That case is that of the missing Teddy Blackwood, his dead parents and the family that occupied the house before them who killed each other. It’s here that the reader realises that Haley has been playing a cunning game, that while Teddy learns that another family occupied the house before him it’s through Strode that we learn what actually happened to them. The book jumps from being a haunted house story to a haunted crime thriller as Strode is alerted to another murder case with similarities to what occurred in Teddy’s house. It’s a bold, exciting move by the books author.
I won’t spoil the plot any further, but I will say that after reading this you will think as I do, that Haley Newlin is a master at creating entertaining and deeply affecting stories. I am in awe.
This novel is the story Teddy Blackwood or so your led to believe; a young boy, who upon moving into his grandparents home discovers that the house is haunted.
Haley walks a fine line here that most horror stories that feature child protagonists seem incapable of; that of having them sound and think like a child, yet she achieves it with great affect. Adult readers are able to read scenes, understanding the devastation in them before Teddy has a chance to.
Through this Haley shows us that it’s the human horrors that are truly the worst in a heart-wrenching beginning, which has Teddy discovering his father has been having an affair. She dials up the tension by having Teddy not understanding what he has just witnessed struggle to communicate this to his mother whose returned from work. As a reader you are able to see Teddy’s mothers’ perception as she interacts with her son, including him in the cooking of a family meal while listening to music, that this a tender moment between parent and child. At the same time the reader shares Teddy’s burden of what he’s just discovered. It’s fantastic character driven writing.
Then just when you think it can’t get any worse Haley hits you with a creepy house and a monster in the basement. And what a creepy house it is complete with slamming doors, cold drafts and scarped writing on the walls; all of which Teddy’s mother is blind too. There’s also a fantastically creepy scene in a cornfield as Teddy plays with a neighbour.
As if this wasn’t enough Haley shifts the narrative midway through the story, suddenly the protagonist isn’t Teddy, but a failed detective by the name of Strode who is still traumatised from his last case. That case is that of the missing Teddy Blackwood, his dead parents and the family that occupied the house before them who killed each other. It’s here that the reader realises that Haley has been playing a cunning game, that while Teddy learns that another family occupied the house before him it’s through Strode that we learn what actually happened to them. The book jumps from being a haunted house story to a haunted crime thriller as Strode is alerted to another murder case with similarities to what occurred in Teddy’s house. It’s a bold, exciting move by the books author.
I won’t spoil the plot any further, but I will say that after reading this you will think as I do, that Haley Newlin is a master at creating entertaining and deeply affecting stories. I am in awe.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2023
"His father's anger caught fire and was burning them alive. Teddy knew he had to put out the flames before his father killed his mother."
Wow, wow, wow. This book had me feeling all the feelings. I wasn't sure about it going in, but I absolutely loved it.
The book is split into five parts (six if you include the epilogue)
In part one, we meet Teddy; a 10 year old boy who doesn't have the greatest life. He witnesses his father hurting his mother on a regular basis, until one day his mother takes him away. Lonely, confused and angry, Teddy soon meets the Shadow living in the basement of his new home. When his father comes looking for them, Shadow helps Teddy and they run away.
The rest of the story is split over the other four parts, and it follows a group of police officers who are desperately searching for Teddy and answers. There isn't much more I can say without spoiling anything, so I suggest you go and read it.
Such a great book.
Wow, wow, wow. This book had me feeling all the feelings. I wasn't sure about it going in, but I absolutely loved it.
The book is split into five parts (six if you include the epilogue)
In part one, we meet Teddy; a 10 year old boy who doesn't have the greatest life. He witnesses his father hurting his mother on a regular basis, until one day his mother takes him away. Lonely, confused and angry, Teddy soon meets the Shadow living in the basement of his new home. When his father comes looking for them, Shadow helps Teddy and they run away.
The rest of the story is split over the other four parts, and it follows a group of police officers who are desperately searching for Teddy and answers. There isn't much more I can say without spoiling anything, so I suggest you go and read it.
Such a great book.
July 18, 2022
I almost DNF this so many times. I found it to be very dull and I was constantly spacing out when reading it because it just did not grab my attention. I found the story to lack any suspense whatsoever, and I could not have cared less about any of the characters. The first part being told from Teddy's perspective was moderately intriguing, but the rest of the book is just a boring detective story.
March 9, 2021
TITLE: Take Your Turn, Teddy
AUTHOR: Haley Newlin
SYNOPSIS: No one knows your darkness like your own Shadow.
RATING:★★★★
SYNOPSIS: No one knows your darkness like your own Shadow.
Nothing has been normal for Teddy, not since discovering the harsh identity of the monster he had been living with his whole life—his own father. Teddy and his mother leave that behind to start over in a small Indiana township. But as Teddy begins to learn of humanity's monsters, he unveils an otherworldly evil he calls "The Shadow." The Shadow tests Teddy's vulnerability and growing sense of isolation, poisoning his mind and conjuring a vile killer-in-the-making.
A year later, Officer Leonard Strode is called in to offer consultation on a case similar to the most brutal and scarring of those he’s worked on before. One is the case of Jackie Warren, the other, Theodore “Teddy” Blackwood — two missing children. As he and two other officers follow the trail of clues, Strode is haunted by the ghosts of his own past and is horrified to find them wreaking havoc on his present.
When both Teddy and Strode finally meet face-to-face, they must confront their inner darkness as well or else be consumed by it.
PUBLISHER: New Degree PressRATING:★★★★
Whoa, TEDDY!? WTF, broski. This novel was a pirouette of crumbs that lead us through five parts. First, we are introduced to Teddy and his parents. That doesn’t end well and Teddy relocates to Indiana. Now I live in Indiana, I have never seen anything weird and mysterious but it always seems weird shit is happening here in spooky stories (Sam and Dean spend a lot of time in Indiana too).
Once Teddy moves into his grandparent’s old house, the weird factor is kicked up a notch. Teddy, lonely, angry Teddy, meets a friend in the basement. Enter SHADOW. Without giving too many details, Shadow and Teddy embark on a bloody adventure for the next year.
Overall, I loved the story, the characters felt nuanced and balanced, and there were no questions left unanswered. I will note that once the police characters my enjoyment fell a bit and that is merely personal preference (I am so over cop/military characters rn) and as the story progressed, I appreciated their POV. Finch, a WOC and a police officer in the 70s was a great choice here! I felt her persistence and attention to detail are what made the investigative part of the story more interesting.
Part five felt a bit rushed and I would have read another 20 pages if it could have been drawn out more.
For Newlin’s great storytelling, diverse characters, and unique twist on imaginary friends, I gave TAKE YOUR TURN, TEDDY 4 stars!
Thank you, Haley Newlin and New Degree Press for gifting me an ARC of TAKE YOUR TURN, TEDDY in exchange for an honest review.
February 15, 2021
A boy with a big and recently broken heart is whisked away by his mother to a strange new house to get away from his abusive father. Scared and vulnerable and alone, he makes friends with the only one around: the golden-eyed shadow in his basement. The Shadow helps the boy adapt to his new home, even coming to his rescue. What he doesn't know at first is that the Shadow's help comes at a great and terrible cost.
This story is full of horror, humor, action and suspense, but most of all painfully accurate descriptions of a person in the throes of a mental health crisis. Certain passages were hard to read because I related to them so much, and confronting our own demons can be a very difficult thing to do.
I found myself connecting with these characters, wanting some of them to pull through, and others to get what was coming to them, which to me is a hallmark of a good story. The ending wrapped things up neatly, with just enough of a tease to make me hope there's more to the story.
Do yourself a favor and take your turn with this book.
This story is full of horror, humor, action and suspense, but most of all painfully accurate descriptions of a person in the throes of a mental health crisis. Certain passages were hard to read because I related to them so much, and confronting our own demons can be a very difficult thing to do.
I found myself connecting with these characters, wanting some of them to pull through, and others to get what was coming to them, which to me is a hallmark of a good story. The ending wrapped things up neatly, with just enough of a tease to make me hope there's more to the story.
Do yourself a favor and take your turn with this book.
November 2, 2021
Don't interact with the shadow, leave it be, lonely and hiding in the dark!
This was my first experience with Haley's work and I really enjoyed it.
Haley created the perfect chilling atmosphere!
Her talent for story telling shines through with her writing style. Her characters are those that can be relatable, they will surprise you in many ways throughout the story and terrify you all the same.
I listening to the audio version of this, narrated by Thomas Gloom, which was just awesome. Perfect combo right there!
I look forward to more in the future!
Thanks for reading
Dark
This was my first experience with Haley's work and I really enjoyed it.
Haley created the perfect chilling atmosphere!
Her talent for story telling shines through with her writing style. Her characters are those that can be relatable, they will surprise you in many ways throughout the story and terrify you all the same.
I listening to the audio version of this, narrated by Thomas Gloom, which was just awesome. Perfect combo right there!
I look forward to more in the future!
Thanks for reading
Dark
January 10, 2021
Captivating the whole way through! This was my first time reading Haley Newlin and now I'm certainly a fan of her work! Right away I fell in love with baseball loving Teddy, and his music loving mom. Then things took a turn and I was left horrified (in a good way!). This author has a masterful way with words, and is certainly excellent at her craft. Well done!
April 3, 2021
5/5 Stars ⭐ Excellent read for reader just starting out in the horror genre like me. It'll spook you, but be brave, the outcome is insanely worth it!
Proud to call Haley my friend. Even prouder to call her a fellow indie author. She's incredible.
Proud to call Haley my friend. Even prouder to call her a fellow indie author. She's incredible.
May 3, 2023
Love! 🖤🖤🖤
May 18, 2023
This story was so many things - sad, chilling, disturbing and violent but also thought provoking and reflective. The loneliness that is present really made me pause.
Teddy experiences more trauma than anyone ever should, much less a child. A coming of age, wildly searching for answers, for himself. It was so interesting to see a child’s POV seeing the world and trying to make sense of it.
A detective story that is unhinged with emphasis on a psychological break. Strode’s character had me in my feels, the weight of moments lingering, eager to take you under. He was tragedy and hope.
This is a horror you shouldn’t pass up. Go meet my poor, precious, psycho Teddy!
Teddy experiences more trauma than anyone ever should, much less a child. A coming of age, wildly searching for answers, for himself. It was so interesting to see a child’s POV seeing the world and trying to make sense of it.
A detective story that is unhinged with emphasis on a psychological break. Strode’s character had me in my feels, the weight of moments lingering, eager to take you under. He was tragedy and hope.
This is a horror you shouldn’t pass up. Go meet my poor, precious, psycho Teddy!
September 12, 2021
Let me start by saying this book scared the hell out of me! Author Haley Newlin gives several nods to classic horror tropes throughout the story and releases a demonic hellish twist that is entirely her own. This book stays with you after you read it!
January 28, 2022
Take Your Turn, Teddy is one of those rare books that touches you in ways you don't expect. The writing is perfect, no typos or narrative that doesn't make sense. There's no waffle or need for skimming. Every word is a sponge that sucks you in completely.
I was completely invested from the very first page. The characters are likeable, interesting; they feel alive. Hayley Newlin constructs Teddy's world around you and straps you in.
Poor Teddy, he is only 10 years old and witnesses his father commit adultery, his mother is brutally beaten in front of him by his father and he has to step in to help her. His mum takes him away to start a new life away from his dad.
I can't go into too much detail but the house has a dark history. Teddy is lonely, he feels responsible for his family's disintegration, he is vulnerable. He's scared of the house, it makes noises and doors slam shut. Teddy goes down to the cellar, hears a noise and investigates, he thinks he sees a cat. A cat would be a good friend for Teddy. It isn't a cat.
Take Your Turn, Teddy is a brilliant, original and thrilling horror story. It has multiple strands, and is deep, brutal - yet touching.
I loved it, it will be on my favorites list.
I was completely invested from the very first page. The characters are likeable, interesting; they feel alive. Hayley Newlin constructs Teddy's world around you and straps you in.
Poor Teddy, he is only 10 years old and witnesses his father commit adultery, his mother is brutally beaten in front of him by his father and he has to step in to help her. His mum takes him away to start a new life away from his dad.
I can't go into too much detail but the house has a dark history. Teddy is lonely, he feels responsible for his family's disintegration, he is vulnerable. He's scared of the house, it makes noises and doors slam shut. Teddy goes down to the cellar, hears a noise and investigates, he thinks he sees a cat. A cat would be a good friend for Teddy. It isn't a cat.
Take Your Turn, Teddy is a brilliant, original and thrilling horror story. It has multiple strands, and is deep, brutal - yet touching.
I loved it, it will be on my favorites list.
October 24, 2024
Let me start off by saying how admire the author's sensitivity and advocacy towards people living with mental health situations.
Now on to the review. Honestly enjoyed this book. Part one is quite a stellar read and if it ended with that, it would've been a perfect short story. But it didn't.
How everything played out after ... it just felt a bit shallow like there isnt enough separation between the lore/history and the present day events to create a meaty and intriguing mystery of sorts... i get giving introduced characters purpose but it didn't give this story the depth that i expected... maybe a bigger timeskip and a longer chain of victims would've made this much more.
Overall not a bad book at all. You could do much worse haha
Now on to the review. Honestly enjoyed this book. Part one is quite a stellar read and if it ended with that, it would've been a perfect short story. But it didn't.
How everything played out after ... it just felt a bit shallow like there isnt enough separation between the lore/history and the present day events to create a meaty and intriguing mystery of sorts... i get giving introduced characters purpose but it didn't give this story the depth that i expected... maybe a bigger timeskip and a longer chain of victims would've made this much more.
Overall not a bad book at all. You could do much worse haha
March 23, 2023
Okay, so I read this book and I honestly do not understand what some of these positive reviews are mentioning. The first portion that focused solely on Teddy was really well done and I loved it. But pretty much everything after that was genuinely terrible. Especially the cops, everything about them was just a slog to get through. Finch was a mary-sue character, and I feel like the book spent way too much time expressing just how perfect she was. Burklow was a pointless character who literally offered nothing except for a house (We didn't even explore his backstory in much depth, and he wasn't even the one to bring it up, Finch had to do it for him). Strode, I don't even know why Finch invited Strode into the investigation in the first place, just based on how poor his mental health was, and the fact that throughout the story she didn't even need any help because everything she ever said was always correct all the time. All the other two did was offer internal struggle that she had to deal with (With relative ease mind you.) Even Teddy became a pointless character, with a really stupid ending. This book started off as a really amazing story and eventually turned into an author basically stating "Look how awesome this new character is." We didn't even get to learn anything about the titular shadow monster on the cover of the book. We didn't even get a setup to the weakness that was exploited using Finch's plan when they defeated it. Sorry if I'm being harsh I'm just trying to be straightforward without giving too many spoilers.
July 15, 2021
In reading Taking Your Turn, Teddy, I realize how much I've wrongfully misjudged and dismissed the horror genre at-large. I always assumed that I wouldn't be able to handle horror, and yet I'm also the person who binge-watches serial killer documentaries. 🤔 But I digress. Perhaps Newlin's masterpiece was just the introduction I needed to the horror genre.
My heart broke several times throughout this story, which is one my favorite things to experience in reading. It pains me that in many ways all of us can fall prey to the Shadow. In the Note from the Author, Newlin notes this story as a cautionary tale, which is definitely what it proved to be.
There are so many things I'd like to gush about in this review, but I HATE being the one to spoil plots. Fortunately, I can share that I loved how this book was structured. It caught me off-guard at first, but it ultimately became a skillfully interlocking mosaic. I really enjoyed watching the pieces come together. Also, I was surprised that I wasn't more disturbed by some of the more gory images. I hope this doesn't sound too startling, but there was something surprisingly beautiful about the grotesque. Maybe its ugliness was stunning through its contrast to beauty? I'm honestly not sure at this point.
Overall, I am so grateful that I stepped outside of my typical genre comfort zone. I look forward to reading more of Newlin's work. But to be clear, Take Your Turn, Teddy is definitely not for the faint of heart.
My heart broke several times throughout this story, which is one my favorite things to experience in reading. It pains me that in many ways all of us can fall prey to the Shadow. In the Note from the Author, Newlin notes this story as a cautionary tale, which is definitely what it proved to be.
There are so many things I'd like to gush about in this review, but I HATE being the one to spoil plots. Fortunately, I can share that I loved how this book was structured. It caught me off-guard at first, but it ultimately became a skillfully interlocking mosaic. I really enjoyed watching the pieces come together. Also, I was surprised that I wasn't more disturbed by some of the more gory images. I hope this doesn't sound too startling, but there was something surprisingly beautiful about the grotesque. Maybe its ugliness was stunning through its contrast to beauty? I'm honestly not sure at this point.
Overall, I am so grateful that I stepped outside of my typical genre comfort zone. I look forward to reading more of Newlin's work. But to be clear, Take Your Turn, Teddy is definitely not for the faint of heart.
May 13, 2023
3.75⭐️
First of all, I’m in awe of the unflinching honest of the author about her own mental health struggles in this book’s introduction, and then of the wild ambition shown in this work. To go half a book following the tale of young Teddy - that goes from domestic discomfort into a haunted house and other spooky supernatural stuff - before then jumping to a police procedural for another chunk of this and *then* bringing it all together in a satisfying and effective way is hugely impressive.
My favourite parts of this were those with Teddy and his new friend. Haley has a real talent for writing passages that get under your skin and leave you deeply unsettled, as well creating super compelling characters. Oh, and she’s also great at writing stomach-turning descriptions of gore and bodily remains!
For me, the police part wasn’t quite as effective - at least not until it started to tie back to the first part, but I still enjoyed myself the whole time. I also found the barrage of Beatles songs somewhat overwhelming, but that’s mainly because I can’t stand the Beatles 😂
Overall, this is a fab story and an impressive piece of work and I’m definitely keen to read more by this author. If you’re after something spooky and something to get really lost in over a few days, this is a great option.
First of all, I’m in awe of the unflinching honest of the author about her own mental health struggles in this book’s introduction, and then of the wild ambition shown in this work. To go half a book following the tale of young Teddy - that goes from domestic discomfort into a haunted house and other spooky supernatural stuff - before then jumping to a police procedural for another chunk of this and *then* bringing it all together in a satisfying and effective way is hugely impressive.
My favourite parts of this were those with Teddy and his new friend. Haley has a real talent for writing passages that get under your skin and leave you deeply unsettled, as well creating super compelling characters. Oh, and she’s also great at writing stomach-turning descriptions of gore and bodily remains!
For me, the police part wasn’t quite as effective - at least not until it started to tie back to the first part, but I still enjoyed myself the whole time. I also found the barrage of Beatles songs somewhat overwhelming, but that’s mainly because I can’t stand the Beatles 😂
Overall, this is a fab story and an impressive piece of work and I’m definitely keen to read more by this author. If you’re after something spooky and something to get really lost in over a few days, this is a great option.
December 14, 2020
"Evil is nonbinary. It nestles and builds in whatever host it deems fit. Young or old, beautiful or ugly, and yes, men or woman."
I must admit that the story was very addictive, I could not put the book down, but mainly when it was told from Teddy's perspective. Concerning the chapters with investigation - Strode's maniac attacks, psychotic visions, as well as his private life struggles kept the story going. It was fast paced, the plot had amazing twists, and the characters were interestingly built. Teddy and his spooky Shadow friend will stay in my head for a long time, reminding that our mind can mess with us in an unimaginable way and evil has no particular age. The small child luring and killing adults - that was really insane ! This book was scarry, mischievous and it ended up unpredictably. Moreover, it should be said that the cover is incredible !!
I must admit that the story was very addictive, I could not put the book down, but mainly when it was told from Teddy's perspective. Concerning the chapters with investigation - Strode's maniac attacks, psychotic visions, as well as his private life struggles kept the story going. It was fast paced, the plot had amazing twists, and the characters were interestingly built. Teddy and his spooky Shadow friend will stay in my head for a long time, reminding that our mind can mess with us in an unimaginable way and evil has no particular age. The small child luring and killing adults - that was really insane ! This book was scarry, mischievous and it ended up unpredictably. Moreover, it should be said that the cover is incredible !!
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