The Collectors is Lorien Lawrence’s second installment in her Fright Watch series, and it is just as spooky and entertaining as the first. Although The Collectors begins where The Stitchers ends, it can be read as a stand-alone book since necessary references are made to connect the books together without the use of spoilers.
After defeating the Oldies, Quinn and Mike discover that strange new neighbors now inhabit those vacant houses, which soon gives them a new investigation. They notice that these five women live in different houses but are always together and dressed in white. When Abigail, Eleanor, Jade, Brea, and Cami have an open house to promote their new interior design business on Goodie Lane, they invite the surrounding neighbors. Since Quinn and Mike live next door to each other and across the street from the Ladies in White, they attend. Quinn cannot shake the eerie feeling that there is something wrong with these women. When Quinn gives her glass to the youngest girl Cami, it falls right through her translucent hand without anyone else noticing. Quinn tells Mike that it is time for a ghostly investigation.
Since these two sleuths go to school together and are on the track team, Quinn and Mike both have similar schedules that provide them opportunities to watch their neighbors together and do their necessary research in the library. When Quinn’s friend Lex, who has always loved interior design, is invited by the Ladies in White to volunteer at their business, Quinn is worried. Lex thinks she is just envious. Quinn notices that Lex is spending too much time with her new friends and is distancing herself from her school friends. Lex’s mannerisms and appearance are also changing. Quinn and Mike step up their investigation to keep their friend from becoming a ghost.
The ghost hauntings in Quinn’s house are very realistic and quite scary with the cold temperatures, flickering lights, movement of objects, and shadowy figures. Quinn’s record player would suddenly play the Beatles’ “Let It Be,” which was her deceased father’s favorite song. Quinn began mourning her father’s death in The Stitchers and has yet to find the closure she needs, especially with a ghost displaying pictures of her dad in foggy windows.
Quinn and Mike affectionately call themselves Batman and Robin, and Lawrence gives them plenty of clues that are exciting, frightening, and dangerous during this new investigation.
“The Collectors” should be housed in a classroom and library setting because it is a fun read for middle grade readers, as well as a teaching tool for teachers. It contains multiple ideas for themes and writing prompts. I highly recommend this book and series. I look forward to the third book.