The Haunting of Tyrese Walker

by J.P. Rose

After a shocking event leaves Tyrese struggling with grief, he’s taken to visit family in Jamaica. From the first night, strange things start happening: impossible visions, blackouts, swarms of insects, and the discovery of a grave hidden deep in the forest… Tyrese can’t explain what’s going on and he’s scared that he’s losing his grip on reality.

Then Tyrese is warned he’s being hunted by the mysterious Shadow Man. Under threat, Tyrese and his friends set out on a terrifying journey across the island to try and uncover the Shadow Man’s sinister history. Who can Tyrese trust when his own mind is falling apart and there’s nowhere left to hide?

Genres: Horror, Young Adult, Paranormal

294 pages, Paperback

Published October 6, 2022

Reviews

[Horror Sickness · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tyrese has been struggling with grief and all the feelings that come after the loss of a loved one at such a young age.

His mom decides that some time off would be really beneficial to him and would give him the chance to reconnect with his culture and his old self. So they take a flight to Jamaica where Tyrese will still struggle at the beginning to adapt.

I loved that Tyrese as a character felt so real and his story so truthful. It is great to see a young character dealing with the trauma of losing his dad. Parental death is not something portrayed in MG books and I feel like it helps for kids to feel represented.

The book was also filled with Jamaican culture and I loved to learn so many things about the culture and their beliefs.

As Tyrese is starting to come out of his shell, he starts to feel a presence that seems to be watching him, haunting him. He learns about a legend, the mysterious Shadow Man and is convinced that he is after him. But why is he targeting Tyrese and how is he going to get rid of it?

The story also offers great family and friendship values and the horror keeps getting more and more intense. We even find some body horror moments that are also not always seen in a MG story.

Perfect for: Readers of any age looking for a spooky MG read perfect for the season. With a lot of heart, supernatural elements and fantastic life lessons.

[Indi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this book by chance and I'm so glad I did!

First of all, the book takes place in Jamaica and that's one of my fav things about it. I loved the setting and I loooooooved the folklore.
The scary side of the book was done pretty well and there some really cool and disgusting scenes ! Loved it. There are two scenes I particularly liked : the one when Tyrese checks under his bed and the old man is there. THAT'S ONE MY BIGGEST FEARS, OK? And the scene when Tyrese hallucinates about a centipede coming out of his wound. Lol I would have loved to see my face when I read that part !
The plot was pretty nice to follow and although I guessed things before the characters did, I liked it. The very end felt a bit rushed to me (that's why I didn't give it 5 stars) but it's a minor thing.

But what I loved best about this book is how the author depicted grief. Grief is something I've grown to love seeing in books because every single person has their own way of grieving. And I always found it interesting to see an author tackles that. Here, J. P. Rose wrote in such a beautiful and brilliant way that I could feel Tyrese's pain. I love how his pain, anger and fear were described.

To sum up, this book is an excellent horror book, written by a woman of colour, dealing with grief and taking place somewhere unfamiliar to me. So everything I love reading.

[Amanda Almén · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Egentligen 3,5 stjärnor)

Tyrese har precis förlorat sin pappa och vägrar möta sorgen på det sätt som hans mamma och hans psykolog råder honom. Istället går han in i sig själv, låser in sig på rummet i Manchester och vägrar ta ut itu med mörkret som han bär på.

Mamman väljer därför att ta med Tyrese till Jamaica. Till hans pappas hemland, till farmodern och kusinen Marvin och den jamaicanska kulturen. Men bara för att de byter geografisk plats innebär det inte att sorgen lämnar Tyrese. Tvärtom: den verkar få allt större plats. Till sist känner inte Tyrese igen sig själv: stora minnesluckor dyker upp, med följder som krossade möbler, sårade familjemedlemmar och blodiga, såriga händer skrämmer honom utan att han minns att han varit delaktig i handlingarna som orsakade dem. När viskningarna kommer är det nästan en lättnad..

Shadow Man, Shadow Man, him come get you,
Shadow Man, Shadow Man, him come take you

The Haunting of Tyrese Walker både hade allt och ingenting! Att läsa om jamaicansk folklore och folktro var lärorikt och spännande men dialogen i berättelsen lämnade mycket att önska. Karaktärerna skrek en hel del på varandra och situationerna de hela tiden försätts i är snarlika och kräver, förutom mer skrikande karaktärerna emellan, också alltid att de springer ifrån faran hals över huvud. Det blir lite tjatigt i längden när det är deras ständiga lösning på allt.

Men! Mot slutet får historien riktig fart i och med uppdagandet av Levi Campbell och dennes pakt med Jamaicas mörkare sidor och det är också där berättelsen djupnar och fäster tag på allvar. Jag gråter en skvätt, stryker under rad efter rad och ler när sista sidan är nådd. Berättelsen repar sig helt klart på slutet och kniper en extra halv stjärna i farten.

[Ms. Woc Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was kindly sent a copy of this book from Anderson Press for taking part in a blog tour organised by Kalediscopic Tours, with thanks to both! This has not impacted my review.

Tyrese Walker is grieving and he doesn't want to talk about it. His father died six months ago and nothing in Tyrese's life will ever be the same. He's given up his hobbies, he has grown distant from his mum and he has a bit of a temper developing. In an effort to help her son, his mum organises for them to go to Jamaica to visit his grandmother. However, things don't end up as they seem. After a weird experience on the mountain paths near his grandmother's house, Tyrese can't shake the feeling he's being followed by something not quite there. He wakes up to weird cuts on his fingers, his windows open, he sees weird old men and his grandmother begins to tell him tales of Duppies and Ghosts and the Shadow Man. Has Tyrese accidentally fallen into the Shadow Man's sights, or is his grief starting to overtake him? Tyrese, his cousin Marvin and their new American friend, Ellie, find themselves thrown into a world of darkness and mystery more terrifying than any of them could have imagined.

If there's one thing about me, it's that I love middle-grade style horror. This book is definitely one for teens but what I really like about this book is that it doesn't stray away from hard discussions. Tyrese's grief is the centre point of this book. Even though the paranormal events happening in this book are hair-raising and bone-chilling, at its core, this book is a book about loss and coming to grips with that loss. Tyrese is stubborn in his grief. He doesn't want to talk about it, he doesn't want to listen to the voicemail his dad left him the day before he died. He doesn't want to talk to his mum and his anger is so heavy, the reader feels it. I love that books for teens are becoming more encompassing with their topics, while still having the fun side to things such as Tyrese and Marvin developing their friendship with Ellie.

I've mentioned this in previous reviews I've written but I love when a book has great side characters and takes time to let the reader get to know them too. This book does that beautifully with Marvin and Ellie, and even Tyrese's grandmother. Marvin's story is so sad throughout this read, when it's all finally revealed it makes you get a glimpse behind the curtain at the wizard. His humour is his defence, such as Tyrese's anger. I thoroughly enjoyed how these characters were written.

I loved the integration of mythology and local beliefs into this book as well. It felt very authentic and educational as well, as someone who has a very limited knowledge of Jamaica, the stories, myths and dialects were so visible and easy to picture. I loved this read. Perfect for spooky season.

[Andhisnosestuckinabook · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Story Follows Tyrese Walker Who After He & His Mom Suffer A Great Loss Need To Get Away From Manchester 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 & They Do This By Visiting Family In Jamaica 🇯🇲

Though This Is Not The Trip Tyrese Was Imagining. The First Night Bizarre Things Begin To Occur Such As: Visions, Swarms Of Insects, Blackouts & There Is A Hidden Grave In The Forest 🪦

As Tyrese Feels He Is Losing His Grip On Reality As He Learns It Is The Shadow Man Who Is After Him. Can Tyrese, His Cousin & New Found Friend Solve This Mystery Or Will Tyrese Succumb To The Darkness & Madness? 😱

The First Thing I Have To Talk About The Setting & Atmosphere. I Have Not Been Fortunate Enough To Have Visited Jamaica But After Reading This I Truly Feel Like I Have. The Author Has Created Such An Atmospheric Tone Detailing Everything From The Blades Of Grass To The Sweltering Heat. Such An Amazing Talent & Yes Because Of This I Have Been Looking At Flights To Jamaica! ✈️

Peppered In This Stimulating Atmosphere Is The Tension, Suspense & Fright Factor. I Did Not Expect To Get As Creeped Out As I Did. I Definitely Found Myself Either Holding My Breath Or Breathing Faster While Reading This Book With Each Of The New Twists Or Revelations. I Already Wasn’t A Fan Of Bugs But This Book Has Definitely Cemented That As A Phobia Especially Toward Centipedes 🐛

I Loved How Every Character Was Shrouded In Mystery That I Felt Very Understanding Of Tyrese’s Mental State As I Began Questioning Everyone’s Motives And What They Were Saying 😵‍💫

I Had Such A Great Reading Experience With This Book Despite The Frights & Phantom Bug Crawling Sensations On Me 😂 I Would Highly Recommend Picking This One Up During This Spooky Season 💀

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Sharron Joy Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tyrese is struggling with grief following a shocking event and his Mum takes him to visit family in Jamaica. Strange things start happening and Tyrese is told he is being hunted by the shadow man, he and his friends must uncover the shadow man’s history by taking a horrifying journey across the island.

This is a fantastic mystery adventure. It explores the legend of the duppies, spirits who haunt the landscape and possess the unwary. it is a dark and heartbreaking tale that explores the devastation of grief, how loss can feel like madness as the struggle to feel through the pain causes mental turmoil. The location is so rich, you can feel the sticky heat of the Jamaican summer, the lushness of the vegetation in the writing, it’s so delicious. An intoxicating mix of folklore, pain, grief and love with a creepy twist. Exploring the complexities of emotion alongside a brilliant adventure story. I loved this and rarely for me parts of it made me cry, excellent, 5 stars ⭐️

[Kate S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible tale that is as equally scary as it is sensitive. It explores grief in a way that would resonate with any reader. Love being taken to Jamaica. Don’t love the scary Shadow Man! Highly recommend.

[Munch · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Saz · Rating 4 out of 5]

After his father’s death, Tyrese Walker refuses to mourn and shuts down at the mere mention of his father. In an effort to help him, his mother travels with him to Jamaica to visit his Grammy and cousin Marvin, in the hopes that being home will help Ty come to terms with what has happened. When Ty sees a mysterious figure in the mountains near his Grammy's house, he quickly finds out that he has been targeted by the 'Shadow Man', a paranormal figure in West Indian folklore. Strange things begin happening to Ty and with the help of his cousin and their new friend Ellie, the three children take off on a journey to save Ty from the duppies and paranormal entities haunting his every move.

I very much enjoyed this book, I devoured this in one sitting as I simply could not put this one down. However, I didn't realise until a little under halfway through that the book leans more to the middle-grade/younger side of the YA spectrum. However, the descriptions of the various duppies and the haunting scenes got under my skin far more than some more 'adult' YA horrors that I've read ever have.

The main theme present in this book is grief, and how grief can change a person. Ty, as a character, I didn't like, which I think may be an unpopular opinion given the previous reviews I've read. He let grief consume him and make him a rather spiteful and hurtful character, and it was only as I reached the halfway point and realised he's not an 18 year old and is likely no older than 13/14, that I realised he's a child and cannot fully comprehend and process his grief, and therefore, the way he spoke to his elders, his peers, was probably a rather accurate portrayal. I do think this hindered my experience of reading his character's development, as I just found him unlikeable from the get-go and therefore, it was harder to shake these feelings. If I knew he was a child going into this book then I think his journey and acceptance of what happened to his father would have been more profound to me, especially the scene when he finally listens to his father's voicemail and subsequently defeats the 'Shadow Man'.

I really enjoyed the mystery surrounding Levi Campbell and his son, and I was so eager to find out more about the 'Shadow Man', the missing, the duppies and other paranormal entities, and what happened all those years ago.

Overall, this is a very solid YA/teen paranormal horror, steeped in Jamaican and West Indies folklore and tradition, which only added to my curiosity. I found myself googling practically everything for a little more background, and to me that's the sign of a well-written plot. The descriptions in this book were as beautiful as they were creepy, and I did very much enjoy J.P. Rose's writing style. I'd definitely read more from this author!

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸!

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was greatly impressed by JP Rose’s The Haunting of Tyrese Walker which uses grief, loss and mental health as a convincing basis to build an excellent horror story which could be read by both Middle Grade and YA age groups. It was creepy and unsettling rather than outright scary and because it was not particularly gory, violent or sweary it could pick up a wide audience. This was a compelling read which I sped through it in a few sittings, I also adored the use of the Jamaican folklore, which had me reaching for Google to find out what the supernatural references of ‘Duppy’ and ‘Soucouyant’ meant. The story was also beautifully paced, had a clever way of eliminating adults from the adventure and had three terrific main characters. It was also refreshing to read a novel with a boy as the main character, as these days most books of this type are dominated by female narratives. Equally so, I enjoyed the fact that the author did not feel the need to throw in a developing romance, as the story really did not require it and the importance was how Tyrese Walker overcame his own personal, painful and complex inner demons which were portrayed incredibly sensitively.

The story opens with Tyrese arriving in Jamaica with his mother to stay with his grandmother and cousin Marvin for the summer. The boy has struggled to recover from the death of his father some months earlier and is overcome with grief with his mother hoping the change of scenery will do some good. However, from the first night, strange things start happening: impossible visions, blackouts, swarms of insects, and the discovery of a grave hidden deep in the forest… Tyrese can’t explain what’s going on and he’s scared that he’s losing his grip on reality. However, friendship develops with his cousin and a girl called Ellie who is visiting the island with her developer father. This leads to a mystery which takes in Jamaican folklore and the possibility that a boogieman type character is hunting him called the ‘Shadow Man’ and together they uncover a rash of unexplained disappearances and uncover the Shadow Man’s sinister history. The supernatural mystery element, which included some great possession scenes and freaky scenes of people with hooves were great, but the portrayal of Tyrese and how he deals with his grief stole the show. The book carefully shows the reader how loss can change you, but that the power of friendship can trump than. This was a terrific read and is highly recommended. AGE RANGE 11-14

[Kristel Greer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sent a copy of this book for review.

Tyrese is consumed with grief from the loss of his father and is suffering physically and mentally. His mother decides to visit their family in Jamaica to give Tyrese a change in scenery in the hope it helps. Tyrese doesn’t want to be there as it's steeped with memories of his father who he refuses to talk about. He is happy to be close to his Grammy. Not long after his arrival strange and unsettling things start happening to and around him. Weird noises in the night, insects turning up under his covers, bizarre encounters with locals and scary sights in the mountains around his grandmother's home. Even more terrifying is the chant that an old man says to him about the Shadow Man and that he is out to get him. At first, he fobs this off as superstitious nonsense but when his Grammy takes it seriously and tries to talk to him about it, Tyrese realises that there is more to the story and he might be in danger.


When the adults in Tyrese's life can't help him, he must band together with his cousin Marvin and new friend Ellie to uncover the reason why he is being singled out. They must find a way to save his family, reveal the terrifying history of the Shadow Man and release Tyrese from his clutches. Will Tyrese finally face his inner demons and inability to face his father's death when he discovers it might have something to do with the events that are unfolding?


🌟🌟🌟🌟 An eerily unsettling story that had the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. The mix of physically disturbing aspects in the story of the infesting insects (especially those moths) and the supernatural parts made for a disconcerting yet addictive read. The use of Tyrese's trauma/grief as the link that let the darkness in and takes hold was creative and very effective. As his Grammy said "darkness can't drive out darkness, only light can do dat" so it was intriguing to see Tyrese's mental health and depression from his loss manifest in a curse/haunting. This was an emotional story with a compelling spooky story at its centre.

[Katy Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jamaica-set ghostly mystery, with a realistic portrayal of a young person's grief.

I'm not a fan of ghost stories, but I could definitely appreciate this one, where the heart of the story is not so much ghosts but Tyrese's grief at losing a beloved father. And I very much enjoyed seeing the setting, culture and language of the island, and feel it's beneficial for young readers to experience different lives to their own.

Tyrese is not coping well with the sad death of his father, he won't talk about it, about his dad, about how he's feeling. His mum has taken him back to his dad's family home in Jamaica from their Manchester home, to meet the family he doesn't know and to give him a change of scenery.

There he meets a cousin - Marvin - who speaks patois but instantly becomes friendly with him. Tyrese doesn't have time to start to bond before his Grammy's tales of island mysteries and supernatural creatures start to become very real for him - he's seeing things that can't be there, hearing voices and rhymes, feeling drawn away from his family towards something darker.

He, Marvin and a new friend called Ellie, herself left to her own devices by a busy father find themselves running round the island, escaping unknown enemies and not-quite-real beings, and have no idea what's going on. Who is the Shadow Man who seems to be after Ty - and why?

With the classic 'let's seek out information' set-up, and set-pieces involving chases and escapes, it's a very good heart-stopper actually, with facts to unravel, history to delve into, and a great threesome (not exactly Harry/Ron/Hermoine but reminiscent of the way they work together) who stick together and help each other through.

I loved hearing about other cultural stories and the way the story all unwinds to keep Ty's own current life situation as key, his confused and guilty thoughts very well portrayed and dealt with.

Quite scary at times, best for ages 9-13.

[Rachel Churcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent book from the Paper Orange UKYA Book Box! I'm not usually a horror fan, but this book drew me in – great characters, great setting, and just the right level of creepy.

Fourteen-year-old Tyrese has just lost his father, and his death is still too painful to think about. His mother takes him to Jamaica for the summer to stay with his paternal grandmother and his fourteen-year-old cousin, Marvin. Sleep deprived, grieving, hot, and homesick, Tyrese struggles to adapt. When his grandmother asks him to scatter rice around her house to keep away evil spirits, he can't see the point. But when inexplicable things start to happen around him, he begins to doubt everything he believes in. Are the spirits real, or is he losing his mind?

With Ellie, a visiting American teenager, Tyrese and Marvin explore the mountains and forests around their grandmother's house. What begins as an idyllic summer holiday quickly takes a dark turn, as Tyrese's unsettling experiences start to affect the people around him. There is a growing sense of danger as the story progresses, and Tyrese is never sure whether the things he is seeing are real. Ellie and Marvin confirm some of his experiences, but the reader is left wondering whether his fear is justified, or whether he really is losing his grip on sanity.

The reveal and the finale are excellent, and the mounting dread pays off in the final scenes. My complaint with a lot of horror is that the fear is either an overreaction, or that the Big Bad is too big and too bad for the story. This ending is just right.

This is a book about fear of the unexplained, and the folly of meddling with forces beyond the characters' understanding. It is also a story about friendship, family, and coming to terms with overwhelming grief. It's a clever use of the setting and the plot, and the result is a gripping page-turner of a novel. An excellent read.

[Rach_reads.books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tyrese Walker has already endured a traumatic year with the death of his father, when is mother takes him to Jamacia to visit his grandmother. She believes this is the trip that will help him to open up about his father’s death and begin grieving. But when Tyrese stumbles upon a hidden grave in the mountain his broken heart becomes appealing to the Shadow man. Will Tyrese succumb to the song of the missing?

We follow Tyrese, Marvin and Ellie as they try to save themselves from the duppies and daemons of Jamacia. What does the shadow man want with Tyrese? They dig up stories of grief from the past as they try to figure out who the shadow man is and how they can stop him, We also follow Tyrese on his journey of grief and you see his character go through all the stages of denial, anger and finally acceptance – it was beautiful to read.

This was a 3-star rating for me. The generally hauntings where spine chillingly just enough, with some chapters (mainly involving the old man or insect descriptions) leaving me generally creeped out! I felt that the narrative should have stayed with this creepy vibe. It lost its eeriness for me when the narrative went all Frankenstein’s monster. I was really rooting for an ending that linked the loss of his dad more with the shadow man- I was expecting it to come to fruition that all the hallucinations, blackouts and spirits were in his mind. Though I did love that Tyreses coming to terms with his grief was his saving light in the end.
I would definitely try other books from this author especially if they have the same eerie vibes.

[Dani (piggindani_reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now, that was a complete surprise.
When a book has the word Haunting in the title, you don’t expect to cry, and yet, I did!

The Haunting of Tyrese Walker is both skin-crawlingly creepy and beautiful. It magnificently and powerfully links supernatural activity & grief together, so much so I was mesmerised.

Key aspects I loved ~

*Short chapters. 1 - for the obvious reason, and 2 - because J P has also managed to fill each chapter with tension, suspense, fear, uncertainty, and so much more that it’s damn near impossible to put down. You will literally say, “Just one more chapter.”

*The descriptions. You go from the sinisterly atmospheric to the most tender words possible. And then you have the descriptions of the insects, infection and the surrounding evil. It truly is terrifying and gross.

*Tyrese. Of course, I loved the main character. He was perfectly written. And a great representation of being lost to the darkness of one’s grief. My heart truly ached for him.
I also have to mention the beautiful dedication at the beginning of the book. Although not relevant to the story, it gives a lovely insight into the author.

The Haunting of Tyrese Walker is a powerful and beautiful metaphor for grief and a fantastic read for horror/paranormal fans.

Thank you, Andersen Press & NetGalley, for the eArc in return for an honest review.

[Fae Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, for a middle-book this was very heavy but also downright chilling at times. With all the bugs, gore and creepy duppies (or ghosts/spirits). The legend of the Shadow Man and the concept of Shadow Person/People in general scares me more than actual ghosts. This had all the spooky and creepy elements that I hoped it would have, but it also delved into grief and depression more than I thought it would.
Tyrese is grieving the loss of his dad and is refusing to talk about him in any way possible, growing angry and more violent as he starts to lose his memory as the story progresses. Being forced to spend the summer in Jamaica with his mother, grammy and cousin, Marvin; while also having very little knowledge and appreciation for the Jamaican culture, things start to go wrong quickly.
From finding an old grave in the mountain, and refusing to scatter rice around the property to protect it from duppies; Tyrese practically opens a window to all things evil. Every day gets worse and worse, as the evil starts making him lose grip on reality and lash out at those he loves.
Worth a read and I can see myself rereading this. Probably, for a summerween or Halloween-readathon.

[Rhea Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was brilliant, and it would make an excellent teen horror movie if it was ever adapted.

The horror in this book is two pronged, first the actual boogeyman and supernatural happenings that take place (the use of insects is particularly unsettling), and secondly the grief that Ty is feeling over his dads death and the chasm it creates between him and his family.

The use of patois and Jamaican supernatural lore is both interesting and educational, it doesn’t matter if like me you know nothing about these things as the book makes it accessible for everyone and I came away wanting to learn more about the subjects.

The cast of characters are brilliant, from the friendships that grows between the cousins and the girl they meet, to all the family members that Ty is meeting for the first time. I especially enjoyed the relationship between Ty, his mum, and his nan, showing how hard it can be to open up to your parents even though they are closest to you and love you versus his nan who he knows less but who gives him more space for his grief in her wisdom.

The treatment of mental health and bottling up your feelings is perfect for a supernatural story, it’s a clever way to show that by sharing with those around you it can make you feel less isolated and help you move on with your life.

A brilliant spooky read.

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Content warnings: death of a parent, grief, body horror, panic attacks, blood

I was really intrigued to read this one because it's set in Jamaica and involves Jamaican folklore. And for the most part, I flew through this and was hooked from start to finish. But at the same time, I definitely didn't anticipate that so much of this story would be caught up in grief. Like, the death of a parent stuff is very much central to the story, and I appreciate why it was there. But I didn't expect SO much of the story to be about Ty's grief and trying to find out how to live in a world without his father.

Anyway, this was occasionally gorier than I anticipated, perhaps because the majority of the story reads very much like the young end of YA. And while the ending was a little rushed for my liking, I very much enjoyed it, and I'm glad I read it!

[Emma Minazza · Rating 5 out of 5]

The haunting of Tyrese Walker is a fast paced, thrilling and ghostly tale! Loved this from start to finish! Tyrese was caught up in the Shadow Mans net as it were, he had him in his sights and wouldn't let him get away. Tyrese gets help from Marvin, his cousin and with Grammy's caution of the land, they try to get to the bottom of whatever is going on.

Ellie-Mae has moved to the area as her dad is building the local hotel and she makes friends with Tyrese and Marvin when she came across them while exploring the jungle. They make a good group but she also doesn't know what to make of this strange things she has seen. Very good read, enjoyable, likeable characters and the writing flowed well. Would recommend.

[Carlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read to start the spooky season. I'd definitely put this read in the YA supernatural category, as we follow 3 teenagers on a spooky quest to save one of them from Shadow Man.

The characters is this book are very likeable and each unique. Tyrese is not only on a spooky journey but also a personal journey, having to deal with the grief from the loss of a parent. The paths coincide as Tyrese battles with his emotions and how to handle them for himself as well as his family.

This story is heavily centred around grief, but its written perfectly and woven well into the super creepy storyline. The story is brilliant and I enjoyed it from the get go, I don't find a lot of books creepy but this definitely ticked the boxes for me. It also has an action filled plot, without many lull moments which is perfect for this type of creepy story which constantly builds up until the finale.

Fantastic read not just for young adults.

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun little romp across Jamaica, using some genuine folk stories and some good emotional drama. It's lovely to see kids books that include the old expressions, patois celebrated rather than discouraged as 'not formal enough', and some of the superstitions developed into full narratives. The reveal was good, the tension was high, and I loved the friendships in it.

Main annoyance was that Tyrese is hard-headed, to a point that I occasionally became frustrated watching him refuse to make any revelations unless forced. I mean, I'm not a teenager though, so that might be why I struggled - emotions run higher and harder at that age.

[Snarhooked · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some genuine moments of creepy horror in this story and it moves at a rapid pace. There were times when I wasn't sure what was going on, and the patois didn't help with that. The time the youngsters were off by themselves felt a little off. They conveniently had enough money, there was a brief mention of buying food but not any camping equipment etc. It just felt a little glossed over.

Grief and loss make up a large part of this story. It's good that it offers readers exposure to such feelings but does limit the appeal somewhat.

[Michelle Heal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, dealing with an difficult topic, the loss of a parent, JP Rose did a brilliant job of portraying Tyrese’s pain and difficulty of expressing himself to his family along with the supernatural element with the candy man style demon he encounters. I loved all the characters and will definitely look for more books from this author.

[Evangeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Andersen Press and NetGalley for giving me a copy of The Haunting of Tyrese Walker by JP Rose in exchange for an honest review.

I was chilled to the bone, this was so fantastically creepy.

Grieving the loss of his father, Tyrese Walker goes on a trip to visit his family in Jamaica where everything starts to get a bit eerie. He starts to hear voices and see things and it might not just be his mind playing tricks on him.

I absolutely adore Tyrese’s story and all the characters. This story oozes Jamaican folklore and I cannot get enough of it. I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves a spooky read to cosy up with by the fire. It has ignited a spark within me to look more into the history of Jamaican folklore. I have always been intrigued by the Shadow Man and this read was right up my street. This was such a thrilling yet touching read. I will definitely be carrying a pocketful of rice from now on.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this! Super creepy and even better that it was set in Jamaica. I found Tyrese’s friend Ellie and his cousin Marvin a little annoying at times. Towards, the end they’d get frustrated at him when he was clearly being haunted and dealing with an infection. That said, I enjoyed seeing Tyrese’s internal journey as he battled with the Shadow Man and his own grief.

[filipa]

So far definitely my favourite on the TSBA shortlist (that we shadow at the school's bookclub). I was so invested in this, the pace was so thrilling and i completely bawled my eyes out with the end. Tyrese was so frustrating in a way that could only faithfully portrait what must be like losing a dear parent at his age.

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it so much! Don't think I've cried this hard at a book, the grief and denial hit really close to home. Loved reading it till the last page the pacing and story was amazing but would say be ready to cry! Will definitely need to look into more Jamaican legends and culture.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book - and I don't usually like Horror. But this book is extremely atmospheric, and the terror builds up to the end without being over the top and unbelievable. A great book for years 7-9

[Jessica Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hesitant to pick up another YA horror. This book however did not disappoint, a story of family, friends and grief. I had the creeps all the way through and felt tyreses panic as the shadowman got closer and closer to him