What Lives in the Woods by Lindsay Currie

Crumbling architecture and numerous spooky myths surround Ginnie and her family while they are staying at Woodmoor Manor. I couldn’t keep track of which way the threat was coming in this scary middle grade read.

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SYNOPSIS

Welcome to the decrepit Woodmoor Manor…where something in the woods is always watching. From the author of Scritch Scratch comes a chilling middle grade story about a creepy mansion and sinister creatures in the woods

All Ginny Anderson wants from her summer is to relax. But when Ginny’s father—a respected restoration expert in Chicago—surprises the family with a month-long trip to Michigan, everything changes. They aren’t staying in a hotel like most families would. No, they’re staying in a mansion. A twenty-six room, century-old building surrounded by dense forest. Woodmoor Manor.

Locals claim the surrounding woods are inhabited by mutated creatures that escaped a mad scientist over a hundred years ago. And some say campers routinely disappear never to be seen again.

When the creaky floors and shadowy corners of the mansion seem to take on a life of their own, Ginny uncovers the wildest mystery of all: there’s more than one legend roaming Saugatuck, Michigan, and they definitely aren’t after campers.

They’re after her. from Goodreads

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MY THOUGHTS

This is my second book by Lindsay Currie. After reading Scritch Scratch I was really excited to get my hands on this copy from the library. I was, admittedly, disappointed that the book was not set in Chicago. Instead this family is traveling to Saugatuck, Michigan. Vacationing in Michigan is so common in Chicago but has not been something that I have done. It isn’t really on the top of my travel list either and the more people rave about it the less I want to go. This is not the author’s fault! I just had to overcome the cute little town in Summer vibe (and you all know I am sick of the heat).

As for the spooky factor, we may not be in some shack in the woods but the run-down Manor has lots of places for bad things to hide. I spent the whole book wondering what was scaring Ginny? Are there evil creatures in the house? Is it haunted? Is there a possession? I could see how Ginny’s love for Agatha Christie bled into the twists and turns for this story. This story is less a “building horror of what will happen” and more, “what on earth is messing with me now” jump out and scare you.

Currie also does a fantastic job building the relationship between Ginny and her bother, Leo. Heading up to Michigan, Ginny and Leo are not on the best of terms. From Ginny’s point of view, she is missing out on a writing class with her best friend while Leo will be able to continue practicing his favorite thing, basketball, without missing a beat. As Ginny becomes more frightened she realizes that her brother may love annoying her but he certainly won’t stand for anyone to make her miserable. Ginny also starts to see the perspective of her parent’s lives and passions which a bonus.

This book had all the same elements I loved about Scritch Scratch. I loved the bond between siblings that grew and the friendships forged in the fire of fear. If you are looking for a spooky mansion in the woods story – this one is for you!

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Tell me, please! Which setting is your favorite for spooky stories?

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