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The Ghost Hunter Chronicles #1
The House in the Woods
When Clovis, Eve and Tom decide to play with a ouija board in an old abandoned house on Halloween, none of them foresees the horrors they’re about to unleash. What starts out as a bit of fun, soon transcends into something far more terrifying when a distressed and determined spirit follows them home. Before long the friends are caught up in a series of events beyond their wildest imaginings and their journey as ghost hunters begins...
210 pages, Paperback
First published September 30, 2021
53 people are currently reading
766 people want to read
About the author
Yvette Fielding
19 books61 followersYvette Fielding is an English broadcaster, producer and actress. She is best known for being the presenter of the TV shows Blue Peter, Most Haunted, Most Haunted Live!, and Ghosthunting With...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews
December 17, 2021
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
Halloween, friends Clovis, Eve, and Tom decide that it is a good idea to take a Ouija board to an old house in a forest and see if anything is lurking in the shadows. It isn’t long before the words ‘Help Me’ are spelled out and the glass smashes, followed by lots of bumping. The friends race from the site but it seems the ghost has followed them home and is about to cause upheaval for them and their families.
After poltergeist activity at their home, Eve tells her scientist Uncle about what they did. He realises that he might know who the ghost is and what he wants, but it will take them all working together to put the ghost to rest.
I would put The House in the Woods down as a YA book due to the content which I think may be too scary for younger children, but I would say it is for the younger end of the market as the way it has been written is more in keeping with children’s middle-grade stories. Either way, it is a fabulous paranormal ghost story.
The book is one long adventure from beginning to end. I love the spookiness of it all and the way the friends try to help someone who died many years ago. The characters show just what true friendship is about even with their own problems outside of their ghostly activities.
Youngers readers who love paranormal stories should give this book a read. It is the first in a planned series and features a well-written and thought-out plot and plenty of ghostly activity.
Halloween, friends Clovis, Eve, and Tom decide that it is a good idea to take a Ouija board to an old house in a forest and see if anything is lurking in the shadows. It isn’t long before the words ‘Help Me’ are spelled out and the glass smashes, followed by lots of bumping. The friends race from the site but it seems the ghost has followed them home and is about to cause upheaval for them and their families.
After poltergeist activity at their home, Eve tells her scientist Uncle about what they did. He realises that he might know who the ghost is and what he wants, but it will take them all working together to put the ghost to rest.
I would put The House in the Woods down as a YA book due to the content which I think may be too scary for younger children, but I would say it is for the younger end of the market as the way it has been written is more in keeping with children’s middle-grade stories. Either way, it is a fabulous paranormal ghost story.
The book is one long adventure from beginning to end. I love the spookiness of it all and the way the friends try to help someone who died many years ago. The characters show just what true friendship is about even with their own problems outside of their ghostly activities.
Youngers readers who love paranormal stories should give this book a read. It is the first in a planned series and features a well-written and thought-out plot and plenty of ghostly activity.
December 31, 2021
I did a reading vlog for this with a Most Haunted parody in it, revealing a "lost episode" of the show that I happened to be in!! Check it out: https://youtu.be/Re5968FHZfs
February 4, 2022
My review is on my website www.bookread2day.Wordpress.com
The House in the Woods is a ghostly page turner. I know the very you teenagers age 12 and up that like reading ghostly wild going’s on, will want to read this book.
I have had my own experiences with ghosts so I really enjoyed reading this book with paranormal activity, as this is something that excites me. When I get the opportunity I love nothing more than reading a good ghost novel.
In The Ghost Hunters novel, a ghost had been a serial killer, now he roams the graveyard searching for someone or anyone to kill.
Chapter 23 is my favourite warming up with Clovis Eve and Tom ghostly adventures.
It’s Halloween where ghost appear, and Eve and Tom and Clovis will play the ouija board to talk to dead people. It was Clovis who had been the one to introduce Eve and Tom to the world of paranormal.
Eve and Tom didn’t realise that millions of people around the world searched for ghost. They didn’t know that ghost hunting was something they could actually do.
I have often watched Yvette as presenter in Most Haunted series. I can see how Yvette has written a page turning ghost story as Yvette has had her own experience of the paranormal when she lived in her first ever haunted house.
The House in the Woods is a ghostly page turner. I know the very you teenagers age 12 and up that like reading ghostly wild going’s on, will want to read this book.
I have had my own experiences with ghosts so I really enjoyed reading this book with paranormal activity, as this is something that excites me. When I get the opportunity I love nothing more than reading a good ghost novel.
In The Ghost Hunters novel, a ghost had been a serial killer, now he roams the graveyard searching for someone or anyone to kill.
Chapter 23 is my favourite warming up with Clovis Eve and Tom ghostly adventures.
It’s Halloween where ghost appear, and Eve and Tom and Clovis will play the ouija board to talk to dead people. It was Clovis who had been the one to introduce Eve and Tom to the world of paranormal.
Eve and Tom didn’t realise that millions of people around the world searched for ghost. They didn’t know that ghost hunting was something they could actually do.
I have often watched Yvette as presenter in Most Haunted series. I can see how Yvette has written a page turning ghost story as Yvette has had her own experience of the paranormal when she lived in her first ever haunted house.
May 28, 2025
I really enjoyed Clovis,Eve, and Tom's story!
after finding this on my library app as an audiobook, I quickly moved to a physical copy as my other half bought the trilogy for me. Bless him!
Perfectly suited for middle grade, 11 year old me would have loved the characters and story here. I will continue with the series.
after finding this on my library app as an audiobook, I quickly moved to a physical copy as my other half bought the trilogy for me. Bless him!
Perfectly suited for middle grade, 11 year old me would have loved the characters and story here. I will continue with the series.
November 16, 2023
The start of this trilogy introduces us to a group of friends looking for something creepy to do on Halloween. They want this Halloween to be extra special and they are not aware that they might get a lot more than they bargained for.
They sneak out to an abandoned house that is rumored to be haunted to play with a ouija board. I mean, what could go wrong, right?
They thought it was a game, but they awakened something that night. And it followed them home.
Now they have to figure out who or what they have awakened in order to save their lives and those of their loved ones.
I enjoyed the small town atmosphere of the book and one of the adult characters that works together with the kids to find out which kind of spirit they are up against. They also showed many cool gadgets for contacting ghosts and it all felt quite wholesome.
I guess I was missing a bit more of a creepiness and a real terror here since it all felt quite harmless from the beginning. But maybe it was just me. I still think this is a great fun middle grade that many young readers will enjoy. Also perfect for a Halloween read.
They sneak out to an abandoned house that is rumored to be haunted to play with a ouija board. I mean, what could go wrong, right?
They thought it was a game, but they awakened something that night. And it followed them home.
Now they have to figure out who or what they have awakened in order to save their lives and those of their loved ones.
I enjoyed the small town atmosphere of the book and one of the adult characters that works together with the kids to find out which kind of spirit they are up against. They also showed many cool gadgets for contacting ghosts and it all felt quite wholesome.
I guess I was missing a bit more of a creepiness and a real terror here since it all felt quite harmless from the beginning. But maybe it was just me. I still think this is a great fun middle grade that many young readers will enjoy. Also perfect for a Halloween read.
October 30, 2023
SpookTober read #14
For kids that love spooky and paranormal stories, this will keep them riveted.
In actual fact a must read for all ages.
I loved it and look forward to reading all books in this series.
Listened to the audiobook on BorrowBox
Published by Bolinda audio
Narrated by Barnaby Edwards
Duration: 5hrs, 26 min. 1.50x Speed
For kids that love spooky and paranormal stories, this will keep them riveted.
In actual fact a must read for all ages.
I loved it and look forward to reading all books in this series.
Listened to the audiobook on BorrowBox
Published by Bolinda audio
Narrated by Barnaby Edwards
Duration: 5hrs, 26 min. 1.50x Speed
September 28, 2024
A fun YA haunted house and ghost story.
I liked that we were straight into the hauntings from the opener, and the spooks and scares didn't stop!
A perfect autumnal read.
I liked that we were straight into the hauntings from the opener, and the spooks and scares didn't stop!
A perfect autumnal read.
October 24, 2021
Wow! I am really pleasantly surprised by this book! I thought, with it being a kids /teen book that it wouldn't be 'scary' as such, but more childish. How wrong I was!!
I think this may be up there with the scariest books I've ever read, and I genuinely love adult horror! Scarier than all Stephen King's I've read, and even the modern horrors...
Three teens bored one Halloween decide to go and do a Ouji Board in middle of Epping Forest inside an abandoned house that they found in Eve's Uncle's research papers. The camera footage they later play back shows they disturbed something not of this world... And unfortunately it's followed them back to their houses. With phones ringing in the middle of the night, apparitions, unplugged televisions refusing to turn off and other poltergeist activity this book really had me holding my breath in places! Some of the apparitions inside the house literally scarred my mind in a way no other horror book has done and I now realise this book is not just for kids!
Being obsessed with Most Haunted and having watched every single episode, I was always going to buy a book written by Yvette Fielding but I honestly didn't expect it to be this frightening! I also love abandoned buildings and could genuinely imagine me creeping round the house they find in Epping Forest, and that's going to play on my mind every time I go into one again! I think Yvette's real experiences kinda influence this story too and I liked that, as it made it more real.
I'm going to hope that this is a series of books, and il be buying them all!
I think this may be up there with the scariest books I've ever read, and I genuinely love adult horror! Scarier than all Stephen King's I've read, and even the modern horrors...
Three teens bored one Halloween decide to go and do a Ouji Board in middle of Epping Forest inside an abandoned house that they found in Eve's Uncle's research papers. The camera footage they later play back shows they disturbed something not of this world... And unfortunately it's followed them back to their houses. With phones ringing in the middle of the night, apparitions, unplugged televisions refusing to turn off and other poltergeist activity this book really had me holding my breath in places! Some of the apparitions inside the house literally scarred my mind in a way no other horror book has done and I now realise this book is not just for kids!
Being obsessed with Most Haunted and having watched every single episode, I was always going to buy a book written by Yvette Fielding but I honestly didn't expect it to be this frightening! I also love abandoned buildings and could genuinely imagine me creeping round the house they find in Epping Forest, and that's going to play on my mind every time I go into one again! I think Yvette's real experiences kinda influence this story too and I liked that, as it made it more real.
I'm going to hope that this is a series of books, and il be buying them all!
November 7, 2022
Now this surprised me and I don't know why. I grew up watching Most Haunted every week with my dad. I loved Yvette and Carl on their investigations, not so much Derek 🤷🏼♀️ and waiting patiently to see what ghostly activity they uncovered. I absolutely loved it and to this day paranormal shows are my go to! However I didn't have much faith in this book when I picked it up but I was intrigued and I'm so glad I did because for a middle grade book it was epic. Clovis, Eve and Tom embark on their first ever ghost hunt resulting in them disturbing something very angry that follows them. I don't want to give too much away but Boris the dog is hilarious 😂 and I need him in my life and uncle Rufus is so sweet. The story is told at a great pace and in a way that immerses you in the ghostly goings on 😱 loved it and I'm moving straight into the next book.
January 24, 2024
This book was impressive, to say the least.
I came into this book with an impression leaning towards negativity because the cover just seemed like it was an odd cover and 3rd person isn't really my taste right now but I was shocked to find this really made you feel a little spooked!
Firstly, the description of the ghosts was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G, and then the emotions they felt were so realistic, so it felt like it was truly happening, if you get what I mean.
Secondly, the whole plot was just perfect. It worked, and the book itself was short and sweet +pretty short chapters, so I flew through it!
Overall, I recommend giving it a try and not judging the book by its cover or directed audience bc this was a great, wholesome but a little spooky-vibed read!!
I came into this book with an impression leaning towards negativity because the cover just seemed like it was an odd cover and 3rd person isn't really my taste right now but I was shocked to find this really made you feel a little spooked!
Firstly, the description of the ghosts was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G, and then the emotions they felt were so realistic, so it felt like it was truly happening, if you get what I mean.
Secondly, the whole plot was just perfect. It worked, and the book itself was short and sweet +pretty short chapters, so I flew through it!
Overall, I recommend giving it a try and not judging the book by its cover or directed audience bc this was a great, wholesome but a little spooky-vibed read!!
January 7, 2023
Älskade den. Älskade!
Det här är en alldeles lagomt komplicerad spökjägarhistoria, perfekt den i all sin enkelhet ❤️ Inga onödiga krusiduller eller obefogat långa kapitel här inte - det är rakt på sak och snabbt på ett lättsamt sätt.
I efterordet framgår det att författaren själv jobbar inom branschen för utdrivningar och spökjakter. Hon har haft otaliga tv-program med inriktning på det paranormala, och många av se hemsökelser som sker i boken påstår hon sig själv ha upplevt. Det tillför definitivt ett extra lager till boken och gör att det blir mer spännande och intressant, tycker jag! Kommunicerar andar med oss genom att knacka i väggar och möbler? Kan de kasta fysiska objekt, och stapla stolar i hög? Frågar du Yvette Fielding så ja, ja och ja.
Så vad handlar boken om? Jo, tre kompisar (Eve, Clovis och Tom) leker med ett ouijabräde i ett övergivet hus i skogen. Det slutar med att de skrikande cyklar därifrån, och helt ovetandes har de fått en osalig ande med sig hem på kuppen, vilket de blir varse om så fort det är dags att gå och lägga sig… Lösningen blir till sist att försöka finna den osaliga andens mördade kvarlevor - kanske kan de slippa att plågas av hans uppenbarelse i sina drömmar då?
Boken påminner mycket om Lockwood & co, vilket är en av mina favoritserier i hela världen. Det gör kanske att jag älskar den här boken lite extra. Fem stjärnor och full pott får den oavsett 👏🏼⭐️
Det här är en alldeles lagomt komplicerad spökjägarhistoria, perfekt den i all sin enkelhet ❤️ Inga onödiga krusiduller eller obefogat långa kapitel här inte - det är rakt på sak och snabbt på ett lättsamt sätt.
I efterordet framgår det att författaren själv jobbar inom branschen för utdrivningar och spökjakter. Hon har haft otaliga tv-program med inriktning på det paranormala, och många av se hemsökelser som sker i boken påstår hon sig själv ha upplevt. Det tillför definitivt ett extra lager till boken och gör att det blir mer spännande och intressant, tycker jag! Kommunicerar andar med oss genom att knacka i väggar och möbler? Kan de kasta fysiska objekt, och stapla stolar i hög? Frågar du Yvette Fielding så ja, ja och ja.
Så vad handlar boken om? Jo, tre kompisar (Eve, Clovis och Tom) leker med ett ouijabräde i ett övergivet hus i skogen. Det slutar med att de skrikande cyklar därifrån, och helt ovetandes har de fått en osalig ande med sig hem på kuppen, vilket de blir varse om så fort det är dags att gå och lägga sig… Lösningen blir till sist att försöka finna den osaliga andens mördade kvarlevor - kanske kan de slippa att plågas av hans uppenbarelse i sina drömmar då?
Boken påminner mycket om Lockwood & co, vilket är en av mina favoritserier i hela världen. Det gör kanske att jag älskar den här boken lite extra. Fem stjärnor och full pott får den oavsett 👏🏼⭐️
April 22, 2024
I loved this. I could not stop reading, I read whenever I had the time. I loved all the suspense and scary parts, for example when Clovis has bloody footprints go through the house. At the time I was reading this part I was walking alone down a quiet path, It made me a lot more aware of how quiet it was. When Eve had a strange shadow go into her mouth it freaked me out! I loved reading this and need to read the sequel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2023
Helt okej Middlegrade/teen med spöklighet och oväntade historiska inslag.
October 16, 2022
Other members of my writing group say that they can no longer read without having their writer brain on and critiquing the writing of the book. I don't always have this problem but it was something I struggled with during this one. So many adverbs and telling rather than showing. The number of times I was told the characters were terrified but nothing they'd said or done really conveyed that, so I never really felt into the story.
June 17, 2022
The start was 5stars, but then it slowed and dragged. The farting dog and Clovis the logicist, constantly questioning blatantly supernatural phenomena as possible, everyday occurrences began to wear thin. But overall, a fun read for younger kids.
October 15, 2021
RTC
Rounding up to three stars as feeling generous. While younger readers will love this, I think it was a bit meh and a tad too cute/tame.
***eProof gifted by UK publisher, Andersen Press, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review/reaction***
When I first heard of this, I was highly intrigued on this. I know of Yvette Fielding from Most Haunted so I went "OH, she's written a spooky middle-grade. This could be interesting as she has first hand experience of this!".
So, for those curious, this is the first book in a middle-grade/young clean YA following three young teens - Eve, Clovis and Tom - who decide that this Halloween will be spooky. They plan to go to a haunted house, in the middle of the woods, with a Ouija board, without telling their parents or guardians. And you can guess what happened next, can't you?
I don't know what I was expecting. I was expecting something because I picked this as it's October, Halloween is round the corner and it's so rare that I read spooky books during October and Halloween. And I knew going into this that this book couldn't be too scary due to its target audience. I completely get that.
So, why did I come away from this feeling "Well, that was a fun, easy read. A bit meh, but still, a nice easy read"?
Nothing wrong with this. I hoovered this within a few days while I was on holiday. Could have very easily read it on the plane to Edinburgh (aka one sitting) , but I felt a little underwhelmed. everything felt a tad flat and not fleshed out - I know, first book in a series, but still, it wasn't what I was hoping for.
Not a bad start to a series to creep out older middle-grade/young clean YA readers, but it could have gone a tad further...
Rounding up to three stars as feeling generous. While younger readers will love this, I think it was a bit meh and a tad too cute/tame.
***eProof gifted by UK publisher, Andersen Press, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review/reaction***
When I first heard of this, I was highly intrigued on this. I know of Yvette Fielding from Most Haunted so I went "OH, she's written a spooky middle-grade. This could be interesting as she has first hand experience of this!".
So, for those curious, this is the first book in a middle-grade/young clean YA following three young teens - Eve, Clovis and Tom - who decide that this Halloween will be spooky. They plan to go to a haunted house, in the middle of the woods, with a Ouija board, without telling their parents or guardians. And you can guess what happened next, can't you?
I don't know what I was expecting. I was expecting something because I picked this as it's October, Halloween is round the corner and it's so rare that I read spooky books during October and Halloween. And I knew going into this that this book couldn't be too scary due to its target audience. I completely get that.
So, why did I come away from this feeling "Well, that was a fun, easy read. A bit meh, but still, a nice easy read"?
Nothing wrong with this. I hoovered this within a few days while I was on holiday. Could have very easily read it on the plane to Edinburgh (aka one sitting) , but I felt a little underwhelmed. everything felt a tad flat and not fleshed out - I know, first book in a series, but still, it wasn't what I was hoping for.
Not a bad start to a series to creep out older middle-grade/young clean YA readers, but it could have gone a tad further...
November 7, 2025
I know it’s aimed at a 12 year old audience but I found this in a charity shop and thought I’d read over Halloween. So imagine- you write random words on post it notes, relating to ghosts and ghost hunting, add in some scenarios linked to ‘Indiana Jones’ and ‘The Famous Five’ and for good luck quickly scribble characters that include Nazis, farting dogs, sweary parrots, Dr Emmett Brown and Miss Rutherford. Then get some friends together over lashings of ginger beer, share out the post its , and start a ghostly tale of a group of kids who stumble across a cloaked man in a gothic churchyard, somewhere in Whitechapel London. Then, if you pass the baton on to your chums to each come up with the next bit of the yarn, using the random words they’ve been given - you might come up with ‘The House In The Woods’. That said, with my jar of spooky candy at my side, I left reality behind and got ‘most haunted’.
October 13, 2021
Such a fun and spooky middle grade! This was a perfect read for the spooky season. I absolutely loved these characters and the atmosphere was perfection. I can’t wait for more books in this series.
February 18, 2022
Not what I expected + had hoped for more scariness!
I had HIGH hopes for this one, I am all about ghost hunting and seek out books about it, but also, if available series and movies. So I was very excited about this one. Sadly, while there were good moments it just wasn’t all up to my expectations and there were things that just threw out the momentum. I will be doing a good/not so good review.
😍 Loved the first part of the book in which our crew decides it is a cool idea to do an Ouija board reading in a spooky old abandoned house.
😍 Did I mention that they are doing it on Halloween! Yep, the creepiest night and they just hop inside a scary old house. OOOHHHH!
😍 The parts that followed and then the next night were absolutely amazing and OH BOY, I was on the edge of my seat reading~ The ghost does something scary at each of the 3 houses, from endless ringing and bloody prints to spooky noises in the attic.
😍 Loved that Uncle Rufus participated in the whole thing. He was a kooky/weird person, but I am happy that he wasn’t just going to let the kids do this alone.
😍 I am happy that we get to see each of the 3 younger character’s POV. OK, Clovis was a bit hit/miss, but I really liked Eve and Tom! They were such fun characters.
😐 So many explanations. Everything gets over-explained. I mean, seriously, we can imagine/guess what that soldier with the mask is. Or what coordinates are. Or whatever else there is. Clovis (and also Rufus) kept explaining everything. It really pulled me out of the story and that is not what you want to do when things get scary. Quite often I wasn’t even scared because everything was explained. Boo.
😐 Nazi ghosts. I am sorry, I just cannot take it seriously. It reminded me of another book I read (not about ghosts but about murder) and how that suddenly went to nazis as well.
😐 Plus the comments on the Germans. Like it was a magical event for them to be in the UK. Um, hello? Airplanes? Smuggling? Boats? It is not as if, just because you are on an island, people cannot find a way in. XD
😐 I get that Hitler is evil. I really do.
😐 Clovis was just such a know-it-all. And people who read my reviews know how I quite often feel about those types. It can be written well, with someone who has knowledge but isn’t constantly acting like a wikipedia. Sadly, Clovis constantly was explaining, constantly had his opinion, his thing ready. And it got annoying.
😐 I am still not sure how much I like the ending. On the one hand, good. On the other hand… mmmmmm.
😐 Rufus and how old-fashioned he talked. Sometimes the overall language also had that touch, which had me confused when the kids picked up a laptop. XD But Rufus was especially bad. It just felt comical.
😐 How there was just an entire middle that was absolutely boring. We get a terrific beginning and an OK scary ending, but in between nothing was happening and there were moments I was considering DNF-ing the book.
😐 The inventions. While I love that they were all about ghosts, it made me worried about Rufus. Maybe find some help? Also how big is that attic that one of the MCs could just keep on bicycling and it took quite a bit of time before he hit the ceiling. XD
So yeah, sadly, 2.5 stars is all I can give, and that means it is going on the pile to be sold, or well tried to be sold. I am so sad that the book wasn’t as fun as I had hoped, wasn’t as scary as I had hoped. I just wanted a spooky scary story with plenty of hauntings and scary bits. And again, as I said for another MG horror that didn’t work out, just because it is MG doesn’t mean it can’t be scary. Goosebumps, You’re Invited to a Creepover, What Lives in the Woods, Small Spaces, and many others have proven that MG can be scary.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I had HIGH hopes for this one, I am all about ghost hunting and seek out books about it, but also, if available series and movies. So I was very excited about this one. Sadly, while there were good moments it just wasn’t all up to my expectations and there were things that just threw out the momentum. I will be doing a good/not so good review.
😍 Loved the first part of the book in which our crew decides it is a cool idea to do an Ouija board reading in a spooky old abandoned house.
😍 Did I mention that they are doing it on Halloween! Yep, the creepiest night and they just hop inside a scary old house. OOOHHHH!
😍 The parts that followed and then the next night were absolutely amazing and OH BOY, I was on the edge of my seat reading~ The ghost does something scary at each of the 3 houses, from endless ringing and bloody prints to spooky noises in the attic.
😍 Loved that Uncle Rufus participated in the whole thing. He was a kooky/weird person, but I am happy that he wasn’t just going to let the kids do this alone.
😍 I am happy that we get to see each of the 3 younger character’s POV. OK, Clovis was a bit hit/miss, but I really liked Eve and Tom! They were such fun characters.
😐 So many explanations. Everything gets over-explained. I mean, seriously, we can imagine/guess what that soldier with the mask is. Or what coordinates are. Or whatever else there is. Clovis (and also Rufus) kept explaining everything. It really pulled me out of the story and that is not what you want to do when things get scary. Quite often I wasn’t even scared because everything was explained. Boo.
😐 Nazi ghosts. I am sorry, I just cannot take it seriously. It reminded me of another book I read (not about ghosts but about murder) and how that suddenly went to nazis as well.
😐 Plus the comments on the Germans. Like it was a magical event for them to be in the UK. Um, hello? Airplanes? Smuggling? Boats? It is not as if, just because you are on an island, people cannot find a way in. XD
😐 I get that Hitler is evil. I really do.
😐 Clovis was just such a know-it-all. And people who read my reviews know how I quite often feel about those types. It can be written well, with someone who has knowledge but isn’t constantly acting like a wikipedia. Sadly, Clovis constantly was explaining, constantly had his opinion, his thing ready. And it got annoying.
😐 I am still not sure how much I like the ending. On the one hand, good. On the other hand… mmmmmm.
😐 Rufus and how old-fashioned he talked. Sometimes the overall language also had that touch, which had me confused when the kids picked up a laptop. XD But Rufus was especially bad. It just felt comical.
😐 How there was just an entire middle that was absolutely boring. We get a terrific beginning and an OK scary ending, but in between nothing was happening and there were moments I was considering DNF-ing the book.
😐 The inventions. While I love that they were all about ghosts, it made me worried about Rufus. Maybe find some help? Also how big is that attic that one of the MCs could just keep on bicycling and it took quite a bit of time before he hit the ceiling. XD
So yeah, sadly, 2.5 stars is all I can give, and that means it is going on the pile to be sold, or well tried to be sold. I am so sad that the book wasn’t as fun as I had hoped, wasn’t as scary as I had hoped. I just wanted a spooky scary story with plenty of hauntings and scary bits. And again, as I said for another MG horror that didn’t work out, just because it is MG doesn’t mean it can’t be scary. Goosebumps, You’re Invited to a Creepover, What Lives in the Woods, Small Spaces, and many others have proven that MG can be scary.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
October 3, 2021
Super cute YA read, I really enjoyed it.
June 7, 2024
Although I found book 2 and 3 from this series with other adult books in The Works, it would appear is more for teens really. The dog seems to fart loudly on every other page during the second half of the book which my young son’s would find hysterical.
It started off very well and picked up again during the last concluding chapter. It was okay and a quick read.
I am looking forward to reading the next two books and hoping they pick up a bit more pace.
It started off very well and picked up again during the last concluding chapter. It was okay and a quick read.
I am looking forward to reading the next two books and hoping they pick up a bit more pace.
January 10, 2024
I really wanted to like this book. Don’t get me wrong, I think Yvette Fielding has some potential to be a great writer but this story didn’t cut the mustard for me.
The story was lacklustre and overwhelmingly predictable. She repeated the speech tagline, “He looked very pleased with himself” a million times. Also, how many times did she mention the dog farting? I was actually becoming infuriated every time I read that. I didn’t get why we needed to have the kids smelling dog farts every other page; very bizarre and off putting.
The story also dropped in plot points that led to nowhere. For example, what happened to the serial killer ghost at the beginning of the story? Just appeared, opened its mouth to let some insects out and then we never saw it again? Odd.
I would love to say I’m going to go on and read her other stories in this series but I don’t think I could take another dog trumping its way through a whole novel ever again. Sorry.
The story was lacklustre and overwhelmingly predictable. She repeated the speech tagline, “He looked very pleased with himself” a million times. Also, how many times did she mention the dog farting? I was actually becoming infuriated every time I read that. I didn’t get why we needed to have the kids smelling dog farts every other page; very bizarre and off putting.
The story also dropped in plot points that led to nowhere. For example, what happened to the serial killer ghost at the beginning of the story? Just appeared, opened its mouth to let some insects out and then we never saw it again? Odd.
I would love to say I’m going to go on and read her other stories in this series but I don’t think I could take another dog trumping its way through a whole novel ever again. Sorry.
October 24, 2021
I stumbled across this book in asda, and was intrigued by the premise of three young teens, using an ouija board in an old abandoned house on Halloween. As a fan of YA books, and point horror, I thought this was right up my street. (bonus points that it was written by Yvette Fielding, from Most Haunted, so she must have a wealth of knowledge on the supernatural.)
Unfortunately for me, it was too much of a simple, easy read, that at 100 pages through, I felt I was reading it just to read it, so I didn't finish it, as I thought, I could be reading something more gripping. (my TBR pile is ridiculous, I need to be picky 😂)
🕯️
If you want an easy read, that you don't really have to think about, then this is a good book to go with. If you're expecting full on spooky Halloween goodness, then this just isn't it.
A good little read, but not for me.
Unfortunately for me, it was too much of a simple, easy read, that at 100 pages through, I felt I was reading it just to read it, so I didn't finish it, as I thought, I could be reading something more gripping. (my TBR pile is ridiculous, I need to be picky 😂)
🕯️
If you want an easy read, that you don't really have to think about, then this is a good book to go with. If you're expecting full on spooky Halloween goodness, then this just isn't it.
A good little read, but not for me.
October 10, 2021
Yvette Fielding - The House in the Woods (Ghost Hunter Chronicles book 1)
In the UK Yvette Fielding is a popular television personality best known for her Most Haunted series which has run for almost two decades and over three hundred episodes, as well as a host of other documentaries and programmes with a supernatural theme. If the endnotes Fielding notes having many genuine run-ins with ghosts and the supernatural, should this be the case then it’s a pity her debut children’s novel The House in the Woods does not feature some of these scares. However, it was a very solid and readable debut, but considering it was written by somebody connected with the supernatural for so many years it came across as safe, with a very familiar story. In a nutshell, three best friends mess around with a Ouija board on Halloween night and then something bad comes knocking. Interestingly, Amazon lists this as an 11+ book, I would pitch it a bit lower and it should not be mistaken for YA horror and would be good for children at the top end of primary and is a solid Middle Grade read.
The blurb notes “Stranger Things meets Point Horror” but this is an easier read than most of those and I would pitch it slightly above the Goosebumps series. I enjoyed the fact that the story was set in East London, with a nicely diverse group of three best friends, Clovis, Eve and Tom, who are all very different but stick together. Eve lost her parents the previous year and lives with her uncle, Clovis comes from a Caribbean family, whilst Tom is very sporty but does not get on with his dad. Combined the three characters carry the story nicely, ably supported by the eccentric inventor uncle and a dog called Boris which farts all the time. After fooling around with the board, the kids quickly realise whatever they summoned has followed them home and there were some nice poltergeist style scenes when they realise something is trying to contact them from the other side which is both distressed and determined, perhaps not necessarily trying to harm them. This novel is being billed as the Ghost Hunter Chronicles book 1 and I would suggest that if it is going to succeed then Yvette Fielding needs to ramp up the fear factor and draw upon all those real hauntings. Children enjoy being scared and although this was an enjoyable first effort from the “First Lady of the Paranormal” older kids might find it slightly mild, but the story moves along at a nice pace and catches the imagination. Scare us Yvette; I dare you! AGE RANGE 10-12.
In the UK Yvette Fielding is a popular television personality best known for her Most Haunted series which has run for almost two decades and over three hundred episodes, as well as a host of other documentaries and programmes with a supernatural theme. If the endnotes Fielding notes having many genuine run-ins with ghosts and the supernatural, should this be the case then it’s a pity her debut children’s novel The House in the Woods does not feature some of these scares. However, it was a very solid and readable debut, but considering it was written by somebody connected with the supernatural for so many years it came across as safe, with a very familiar story. In a nutshell, three best friends mess around with a Ouija board on Halloween night and then something bad comes knocking. Interestingly, Amazon lists this as an 11+ book, I would pitch it a bit lower and it should not be mistaken for YA horror and would be good for children at the top end of primary and is a solid Middle Grade read.
The blurb notes “Stranger Things meets Point Horror” but this is an easier read than most of those and I would pitch it slightly above the Goosebumps series. I enjoyed the fact that the story was set in East London, with a nicely diverse group of three best friends, Clovis, Eve and Tom, who are all very different but stick together. Eve lost her parents the previous year and lives with her uncle, Clovis comes from a Caribbean family, whilst Tom is very sporty but does not get on with his dad. Combined the three characters carry the story nicely, ably supported by the eccentric inventor uncle and a dog called Boris which farts all the time. After fooling around with the board, the kids quickly realise whatever they summoned has followed them home and there were some nice poltergeist style scenes when they realise something is trying to contact them from the other side which is both distressed and determined, perhaps not necessarily trying to harm them. This novel is being billed as the Ghost Hunter Chronicles book 1 and I would suggest that if it is going to succeed then Yvette Fielding needs to ramp up the fear factor and draw upon all those real hauntings. Children enjoy being scared and although this was an enjoyable first effort from the “First Lady of the Paranormal” older kids might find it slightly mild, but the story moves along at a nice pace and catches the imagination. Scare us Yvette; I dare you! AGE RANGE 10-12.
January 24, 2024
Very lackluster read. - I was looking forward to this one as Im a fan of Yvette from the old Most Haunted days. But this fell very short of being a good story.
Not scary at all, and I know its for YA, but I would aim this story at 7 or 8 year olds.
The plot was predictable and rushed, whilst at the same time felt slow and boring.
The over use of the dog farting and the parot saying "arse" just wasn't funny either.
Its a quick and easy book, but if you're looking for YA horror you would be better suited with "Point Horror" or even "Goosebumps".
The whole, old house in the woods in London, with a Secret hidden behind a fireplace, that leads to a lift to an underground base... huummm... made me roll my eyes quite few times.
I did kind I feel like this book was what Yvette dreamed Ghost-Hunting would be like. That one day she would get to actually see and hear real ghosts. But after many decades has given up seeing any "real" ghosts, and is now focusing more on fictional ones instead!
Not terrible, but no more than a 2 star read.
Not scary at all, and I know its for YA, but I would aim this story at 7 or 8 year olds.
The plot was predictable and rushed, whilst at the same time felt slow and boring.
The over use of the dog farting and the parot saying "arse" just wasn't funny either.
Its a quick and easy book, but if you're looking for YA horror you would be better suited with "Point Horror" or even "Goosebumps".
The whole, old house in the woods in London, with a Secret hidden behind a fireplace, that leads to a lift to an underground base... huummm... made me roll my eyes quite few times.
I did kind I feel like this book was what Yvette dreamed Ghost-Hunting would be like. That one day she would get to actually see and hear real ghosts. But after many decades has given up seeing any "real" ghosts, and is now focusing more on fictional ones instead!
Not terrible, but no more than a 2 star read.
August 31, 2022
I received this from a lovely lady as part of a Facebook book group RAOK.
The books are primarily aimed at those in the 11+ age range, but could be enjoyed by any age.
I've loved Yvette and her passion for ghosts since the early days of @officialmosthaunted so couldn't wait to read this series.
The House in the Woods is well written and both the cover image and the story akin to Stranger Things.
The characters of Clovis, Eve and Tom are fun, their excitement and escapades reminding me of the Enid Blyton Famous Five hijinks.
With Ouija boards, War rooms, German soldiers and bonkers Uncle Rufus, Yvette takes you, the reader on a fast paced adventure beginning in Epping forest as we embark on a ghost hunt to find out who is in need of our help!
An entertaining, compelling and highly enjoyable read.
Rating 👻👻👻👻
The books are primarily aimed at those in the 11+ age range, but could be enjoyed by any age.
I've loved Yvette and her passion for ghosts since the early days of @officialmosthaunted so couldn't wait to read this series.
The House in the Woods is well written and both the cover image and the story akin to Stranger Things.
The characters of Clovis, Eve and Tom are fun, their excitement and escapades reminding me of the Enid Blyton Famous Five hijinks.
With Ouija boards, War rooms, German soldiers and bonkers Uncle Rufus, Yvette takes you, the reader on a fast paced adventure beginning in Epping forest as we embark on a ghost hunt to find out who is in need of our help!
An entertaining, compelling and highly enjoyable read.
Rating 👻👻👻👻
January 28, 2022
3.5.
The House in the Woods is a perfect book for children who want to start reading age appropriate horror novels. It was easy to read, simple and had enough creepy imagery of Nazi ghosts and Poltergeist activity to make a child want to read more without them being too scared! I'm looking forward to book 2.
Here is my full blog post on this book!
https://ireadwithgh0sts.blogspot.com/...
The House in the Woods is a perfect book for children who want to start reading age appropriate horror novels. It was easy to read, simple and had enough creepy imagery of Nazi ghosts and Poltergeist activity to make a child want to read more without them being too scared! I'm looking forward to book 2.
Here is my full blog post on this book!
https://ireadwithgh0sts.blogspot.com/...
January 2, 2026
It is about 3 teenagers on a ghost hunt, at first I was not sure what I would find, but I have to say I think It was a really good read, I love a book that I can’t put down and this book met that criteria, I found the characters really likeable, rufus the dog and mister pig are great, can’t wait to read the next book
February 20, 2024
I haven’t read a horror in a long time so I picked this up. It’s a good short read with elements of mystery and horror. I like the character tropes too.
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