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Camp Murderface #2
Camp Murderface #2: Doom in the Deep: A Thrilling Horror Investigation at a Haunted Summer Camp for Kids
A long-abandoned—and long-haunted—summer camp sets the stage for the sequel to Camp Murderface, perfect for fans of old school scare masters like R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike.
There’s no such thing as an uneventful summer at Camp Sweetwater.
Now that the Vampire Devils beneath the lake have been awakened, the camp is in big trouble. The first victims? Tez and Corryn’s counselors, Gavin and Scary Mary.
The Camp Director insists that the missing counselors are just quitting and going home, but Tez and Corryn don’t believe it. They know something much more eeeeeeevil is afoot.
With the help of their cabinmates, Tez and Corryn set out to investigate the disappearances. But what they find is a horror closer than the bottom of the lake... and it might just spell the end for all of them.
There’s no such thing as an uneventful summer at Camp Sweetwater.
Now that the Vampire Devils beneath the lake have been awakened, the camp is in big trouble. The first victims? Tez and Corryn’s counselors, Gavin and Scary Mary.
The Camp Director insists that the missing counselors are just quitting and going home, but Tez and Corryn don’t believe it. They know something much more eeeeeeevil is afoot.
With the help of their cabinmates, Tez and Corryn set out to investigate the disappearances. But what they find is a horror closer than the bottom of the lake... and it might just spell the end for all of them.
432 pages, Paperback
First published May 25, 2021
5 people are currently reading
1305 people want to read
About the author
Saundra Mitchell
30 books577 followersSaundra Mitchell is the author of SHADOWED SUMMER, THE VESPERTINE, THE SPRINGSWEET, THE ELEMENTALS, MISTWALKER, and ALL THE THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK. In non-fiction, she’s the author of the non-fiction THEY DID WHAT!? series for middle grade readers. Her first adult novel, THIS SIDE OF GONE, will be published by William Morrow in January 2026.
She’s also the co-author of the CAMP MURDERFACE series with Josh Berk, and the editor of four YA anthologies: DEFY THE DARK, ALL OUT, OUT NOW, and OUT THERE. She also adapted the hit Broadway Musical THE PROM for teen readers!
Mitchell writes under multiple pen names, including Jessa Holbrook (WHILE YOU’RE AWAY,) Alex Mallory (WILD,) and Rory Harrison (LOOKING FOR GROUP.)
SHADOWED SUMMER was the 2010 winner of The Society of Midland Authors Book Award for Children’s Fiction and a 2010 Edgar® Award Nominee. It was chosen as a Junior Library Guild selection and an ALAN Pick in 2009. In 2020, ALL THE THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK was a Lambda Finalist, and the winner of the Indiana Authors Award for Young Adult Fiction.
Her short story “Ready to Wear” was nominated for a 2007 Pushcart Prize after appearing in Vestal Review Issue 27. Her short fiction and non-fiction has appeared in anthologies including TRANSMOGRIFY!, FORESHADOW, YOU TOO?, A TYRANNY OF PETTICOATS, FORETOLD, and DEAR BULLY.
For twenty years, she was the head screenwriter and an executive producer with Dreaming Tree Films on their various teen filmmaking programs, including the largest teen filmmaking program in the United States, Fresh Films. They produced more than four hundred films from her screenplays, and she earned Academy Award eligibility ten times during her tenure.
In other arenas, Ms. Mitchell was interviewed by the New York Times and the BBC for her part in exposing the Kaycee Nicole hoax, and she’s been tapped by morning radio shows all over the United States as a guest expert on Urban Legends & Folklore.
In her free time, she enjoys fandom, studying history, playing ttrpgs and video games, and spending time with her wife and daughters. Her pronouns are she/they.
She’s also the co-author of the CAMP MURDERFACE series with Josh Berk, and the editor of four YA anthologies: DEFY THE DARK, ALL OUT, OUT NOW, and OUT THERE. She also adapted the hit Broadway Musical THE PROM for teen readers!
Mitchell writes under multiple pen names, including Jessa Holbrook (WHILE YOU’RE AWAY,) Alex Mallory (WILD,) and Rory Harrison (LOOKING FOR GROUP.)
SHADOWED SUMMER was the 2010 winner of The Society of Midland Authors Book Award for Children’s Fiction and a 2010 Edgar® Award Nominee. It was chosen as a Junior Library Guild selection and an ALAN Pick in 2009. In 2020, ALL THE THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK was a Lambda Finalist, and the winner of the Indiana Authors Award for Young Adult Fiction.
Her short story “Ready to Wear” was nominated for a 2007 Pushcart Prize after appearing in Vestal Review Issue 27. Her short fiction and non-fiction has appeared in anthologies including TRANSMOGRIFY!, FORESHADOW, YOU TOO?, A TYRANNY OF PETTICOATS, FORETOLD, and DEAR BULLY.
For twenty years, she was the head screenwriter and an executive producer with Dreaming Tree Films on their various teen filmmaking programs, including the largest teen filmmaking program in the United States, Fresh Films. They produced more than four hundred films from her screenplays, and she earned Academy Award eligibility ten times during her tenure.
In other arenas, Ms. Mitchell was interviewed by the New York Times and the BBC for her part in exposing the Kaycee Nicole hoax, and she’s been tapped by morning radio shows all over the United States as a guest expert on Urban Legends & Folklore.
In her free time, she enjoys fandom, studying history, playing ttrpgs and video games, and spending time with her wife and daughters. Her pronouns are she/they.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 17, 2021
It's been a long time since I've been emotionally manipulated by a book, and yet we meet again. And by we I mean me, curled up on my bed in fuzzy socks and absolutely weeping because this stupid middle grade novel completely sucker punched when I didn't see it coming. Now that that's out of the way, this is such a good continuation from the first one once I got back into the plot, it was a quick read to finish. The characters are again, a goddamn delight, bouncing back and forth between Corryn and Tez's narrative, especially Corryn's snarky inner monologue had me straight up laughing sometimes. It was a shame I had about a five month wait in between the first and this one because some of the history stuff in regards to the evil entities had slipped my mind by the time I got to this one.
Parts of it are downright dark, my library has this labeled as 'mystery' but I'd absolutely put this in the horror category instead. While the series starts out as a mystery, by the end of the first one and then this entire one are completely evil entity based. Overall, I really, really loved this.
Parts of it are downright dark, my library has this labeled as 'mystery' but I'd absolutely put this in the horror category instead. While the series starts out as a mystery, by the end of the first one and then this entire one are completely evil entity based. Overall, I really, really loved this.
August 8, 2023
3,5*
The second book takes place right where we left in book one.
This one was for me an improvement when it comes to the characters that I feel were now finally finding their own voice and I could more easily tell them apart. It is told again from both Corryn’s and Tez perspective.
The horror elements in this one were also more effective for me and the tension worked better.
After surviving the evil in book one, our kids now have to deal with new and suspicious counselors as well as people disappearing.
What they know for sure is that there is something in the water and they have to stay away from it.
I did find this second book more entertaining, engaging and creepier. I would recommend reading them back to back as I did since it is basically all happening the same summer at the same camp.
The second book takes place right where we left in book one.
This one was for me an improvement when it comes to the characters that I feel were now finally finding their own voice and I could more easily tell them apart. It is told again from both Corryn’s and Tez perspective.
The horror elements in this one were also more effective for me and the tension worked better.
After surviving the evil in book one, our kids now have to deal with new and suspicious counselors as well as people disappearing.
What they know for sure is that there is something in the water and they have to stay away from it.
I did find this second book more entertaining, engaging and creepier. I would recommend reading them back to back as I did since it is basically all happening the same summer at the same camp.
June 23, 2022
Amazing!!! So much better than the first one!! This is a tween book and I am almost fifteen and still enjoying it. It is super cute, funny, suspenseful and heartbreaking. I definitely recommend you read it.
June 2, 2021
Suppose that instead of telling scary stories around the fire at camp, the camp itself is scary, terrifying, and evil. That’s what is going on at Camp Murderface. The authors seamlessly weave their interlocking tale of Tes and Corryn with horrifying imagery and lots of word play. For example, according to Corryn, Tes is “literally a happy camper” and there are “prowling prowlers on the prowl.” The end comes with a flurry of fire, naga, vultures, and other evils. Written for Middle School readers, it is sure to scare and delight them.
June 10, 2022
3,5
france is evil
tez jones is Awesome
Reptilians??????
france is evil
tez jones is Awesome
Reptilians??????
July 18, 2021
Laugh out loud funny and an exciting story!
October 18, 2021
Okay, Corryn and Tez saved the camp in the first book, but the vampire devils of the lake are awake and people are disappearing. This started slow, with characters at odds as to what if anything was happening, but there was still some good solids scares in there. I was really upset at the end, and the undo didn't make any sense. I loved the idea that there were others in the camp who knew, and I would love to see their stories at some point.
July 1, 2022
Okay, I think this series is freaking adorable and I want it to be more readily available. It's a throwback, too, set in the 80's, and I feel like it should absolutely take off in this Stranger Things age. Librarians, please go read (or listen to! The narration is really great!) the first book in this series (Plain old Camp Murderface). Or don't read it, take my word for it, and add it to your collection. It's such a great middle-grade summer horror series!
March 3, 2022
3.5* Lots of fun, the mystery part was good and I liked the new/continuation of the story but the spooky part at the end was really lacklustre and could have been better overall, I’m not even sure what even happened?? Meh, still a fun read!
October 8, 2023
Well, that was a weird camp experience. Tez and Corryn seem to be the ones who continue to have a bad feeling about Camp Sweetwater. Strange things are happening in the lake and the counselors are suddenly being replaced with happy go lucky counselors.
tried-gave-up-maybe-later
February 7, 2024The setups for the witty lines by the narrators just became too long. This coulda been a punchy book if it was half or 3/4 the length. Really liked the first one. Gave up before half way through this one. Just made me sad.
May 29, 2021
I flipping love this series! I really hope they add more to it because I need more Tez and Corryn in my life.
November 6, 2021
Katy rated it 3 stars.
February 20, 2022
This book was an amazing build on Corrine and Tez… I just wish it was longer than a duology.
March 4, 2022
Just love it!
It’s cheesy quirky and nostalgic, the only complaint I have is that I want more…. Mr Josh Berk 👀👀👀👀
It’s cheesy quirky and nostalgic, the only complaint I have is that I want more…. Mr Josh Berk 👀👀👀👀
June 21, 2022
Loved it! More “romance” in this book, but not much. Excellent follow up to first book- maybe more scares in this one…
July 9, 2022
4.5 stars
I'm glad I didn't experience anything like this at summer camp in Ohio in the 80's. What an adventure!
I'm glad I didn't experience anything like this at summer camp in Ohio in the 80's. What an adventure!
October 26, 2022
Library copy
November 11, 2022
Liked it as much as the first one! Seems to have kinda wrapped up the series/storyline which is too bad because I was definitely into it. I suppose summer camp can only last so long.
August 31, 2023
These Camp Murderface books are just fantastic. So voicey and fun. And they’ll send shivers up your spine. Highly recommend.
November 14, 2023
This was an over all enjoyable conclusion to the Camp Murderface story.
July 29, 2021
Not quiet as spooky as the first, but still entertaining. The expansion of the group really sold this for me.
July 9, 2024
my kids fr
August 21, 2021
It was a fun one. Shenanigans galore. Cute friendships.
January 1, 2023
Amazing!
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews