Killer on the Road by Stephen Graham Jones

Killer on the Road by Stephen Graham Jones, 248 pages 

From the MARC: "Sixteen-year-old Harper has decided to run away from home after she has another blow-out argument with her mother. However, her two best friends, little sister, and ex-boyfriend all stop her from hitchhiking her way up Route 80 in Wyoming by joining her on an intervention disguised as a road trip. What they don't realize is that Harper has been marked by a very unique serial killer who's been trolling the highway for the past three years, and now the killer is after all of them in this fast-paced and deadly chase novel that will have your heart racing well above the speed limit as the interstate becomes a graveyard."

​One of the things I love about Jones' work is how uncomfortable it makes me. He dances on the knife edge of too much all the while making everything seem ridiculously, unflinchingly real, even things that should be impossible. Killer on the Road had moments so brutal I had to put the book down before I could continue.  The ending of this story is horrific but satisfying.

 

The Babysitter Lives by Stephen Graham Jones

The Babysitter Lives by Stephen Graham Jones, 212 pages

From the MARC: "When high school senior Charlotte agrees to babysit the Wilbanks twins, she plans to put the six-year-olds to bed early and spend a quiet night studying [...] But the house is filled with mysterious noises and secrets that only the twins understand, echoes of horrors that Charlotte gradually realizes took place in the house eleven years ago. Soon Charlotte has to admit that every babysitter's worse nightmare has come true: they're not alone in the house.."

​I enjoyed the journey of this book, even as it repulsed me. Often I found myself devouring the story to find out what comes next while simultaneously dreading each moment. The body horror in The Babysitter Lives is unwavering. I'm torn about the ending, but I can't say too much about it without (possibly) spoiling the whole ride. 

 

Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel by Lucy Foley

Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel by Lucy Foley, 295 pages

The Grand Alpine Hotel has it all: skiing, a spa, rich hot chocolate, and murder.  As bodies continue to drop and the rumor of Nazi gold swirls, Miss Marple must 

I really enjoyed this book. I was huge into Agatha Christie as a kid, and Miss Marple was always my favorite. I've never read Lucy Foley, but she did a remarkable job of honoring Christie's style without feeling like rote duplication. The novel is a thrilling read, even if I was vaguely disatisfied at the whodunit reveal.

 

A Little Step, Volume 1

A Little Step, Volume 1 - 176 pages

Mimi Szeto

Summary (From Goodreads)

Yu-kiu Lau is a quiet fifth-year student who dreams of studying overseas and becoming an artist. As she prepares for college applications, though, she can't bring herself to produce new work, paralyzed by perfectionism and the fear of judgment. Everything changes the day she hears music drifting through the school halls and meets the boy behind it, Ho-yuet Lee. Ho-yuet's bad reputation clashes with his gentle presence, and Yu-kiu's fascination with his music leads to an unexpected friendship that begins to build their confidence in their own artistic aspirations.

Review

I enjoyed this one a lot more than other series where a school-age girl makes a connection with a boy in her year with a "bad reputation."  It's definitely on the slower side, as is typical of slice of life stories, but I'd still like to read the next volume if/when it's available.  

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

152 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Merricat Blackwood lives on the family estate with her sister Constance and her uncle Julian. Not long ago there were seven Blackwoods—until a fatal dose of arsenic found its way into the sugar bowl one terrible night. Acquitted of the murders, Constance has returned home, where Merricat protects her from the curiosity and hostility of the villagers. Their days pass in happy isolation until cousin Charles appears. Only Merricat can see the danger, and she must act swiftly to keep Constance from his grasp.

In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories by Alvin Schwartz

In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories by Alvin Schwartz, 63 pages

I checked this collection of spooky folklore out because it included "The Green Ribbon." It was delightful reading an old favorite, but the new illustrations, while charming, weren't the original I was craving. 

 

Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco

Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco (480 Pages)

Summary: Following the grief and horror of her discovery of Jack the Ripper's true identity, Audrey Rose Wadsworth has no choice but to flee London and its memories. Together with the arrogant yet charming Thomas Cresswell, she journeys to the dark heart of Romania, home to one of Europe's best schools of forensic medicine ... and to another notorious killer, Vlad the Impaler, whose thirst for blood became legend. But her life's dream is soon tainted by blood-soaked discoveries in the halls of the school's forbidding castle, and Audrey Rose is compelled to investigate the strangely familiar murders. What she finds brings all her terrifying fears to life once again.

Opinion: I liked this book better than the first book in the series. In particular, I really liked the action heavy tunnel scenes and LOVED Daciana and Ileana. I also just appreciated the characters finally getting to be themselves in a comfortable, welcoming environment at the end.