I’ve been reading nothing but horror and thriller books for the last four weeks, and while I love these types of books, I think I have burned myself out. By the beginning of week three, I started to feel it, and by the end of that same week, everything was reading the same, plot twists became predictable, and I had grown bored – ah, the problems of a mood reader. I’m happy to say that all of that changed with this book. I loved it so much! It was exciting, creepy, and so unexpected. I want to reread it just to experience it all over again.

It all takes place in the haunting town of Black Spring, a town plagued by the presence of the Black Rock Witch. The thing with this witch is that she’s not just a legend that lurks around in the dark. With her sewn-shut eyes and mouth, she is a chilling figure wrapped in wire that moves throughout the town at will – often appearing in people’s houses, where she stands for days before moving on. While she is creepy, the residents have learned to live with her, even creating a paranormal watch squad known as HEX, which tracks the witch’s movements, keeping her out of sight anytime outsiders visit the town. They also do their best to keep new people from moving into town because, due to a centuries-old curse, once you take up residence in Black Spring, you can’t leave.

When a group of teens in Black Spring grow tired of the restrictions placed on them, they decide that they are going to break all the rules and record a video of the witch, exposing her to the rest of the world in hopes that someone from outside of Black Spring will come and free them from what they feel are the unnecessary control tactics used by the adults. Big mistake. The know-it-all teens soon learn that “grandma” (this is how everyone refers to the witch) is very powerful, and when their attempts at claiming freedom go too far, the leaders in the town revert to archaic modes of control to keep them in line. But the damage has already been done, and there may be no saving Black Spring from the witch’s wrath.

This book was so unique and reminded me a bit of Jimmy Juliano’s book “Dead Eleven,” which I read last year. The author does a masterful job of building tension throughout the novel. I was seriously on the edge of my seat as the town’s residents struggled to deal with the supernatural force that threatened to consume them all. The use of high-tech surveillance to track the witch’s movements adds a modern twist to this ancient curse, and the fact that the witch was tied up and had her eyes and mouth sewn shut so she couldn’t curse anyone made it even scarier. Whenever she would pop up in someone’s bedroom, I could practically feel her presence. So creepy!

All of the characters are complex and engaging. The teenagers, in particular, are a highlight as they navigate the treacherous waters of adolescence while also facing the very real threat of the witch’s curse. I wanted to smack them and tell them to stop, but they’re teenagers, and of course, they think they know better – until they don’t.

What really works well in this book is the atmosphere that the author has created. It is both haunting and immersive. The town of Black Spring comes alive on the page and is almost a character of its own. I felt like I lived there.

I am so happy that I came across this book, and even happier that this was my final Halloween read of the year. This is a unique, pulse-pounding tale of horror and suspense that hooked me from the first page, and I didn’t let go until I finished it. If you’re looking for a thrilling and terrifying read that will keep you up at night, look no further.