I read my first book by Darcy Coates back in September and absolutely loved it. As soon as I read the synopsis for this one, I knew I needed to read it. A serial killer who stitches the bodies of his victims together in odd ways? Yes, please! I’m happy to say it did not disappoint.

The story takes place in a small town called Doubtful, where disappearances are alarmingly common. People vanish without a trace, only to be found later with their bodies gruesomely dismembered and sewn back together. Still, the creepiest thing about this is that the bodies are typically missing parts and are often found with body parts from a different victim sewn to them.

Abby, her younger sister, Hope, and their friend Rhys, Connor, and Riya have been raised according to a set of strict rules meant to keep them safe:

Don’t go out after dark.
Don’t walk alone.
Red thread means a Stitcher victim is near.
Stay away from Charles Vicker.

The teens follow these rules religiously and have their entire lives, but when the Stitcher takes Hope, Abby’s world comes crashing down. Determined to bring her sister back, Abby takes matters into her own hands and shares everything she knows with the police, but as expected, they claim there are no concrete leads and little they can do, leaving Abby and her friends to embark on a dangerous quest to rescue Hope.

This is a fast-paced read, and a sense of urgency permeates the book, leaving readers fully invested in Abby’s race against time. As Abby and her friends delve deeper into the mystery surrounding the Stitcher, tensions rise, and they find themselves up against an evil they never could have imagined. With every passing hour, Hope’s life hangs in the balance, and Abby must navigate a dark and treacherous world she never knew existed. The tension builds steadily, keeping readers guessing and on the edge of their seats until the very end.

The mystery and lore surrounding the Stitcher was expertly crafted and well-thought-out. I loved the town’s history and the generational loss the townsfolk live with. Everyone in Doubtful knows someone or has a family member who was lost to the Stitcher. There’s a lot of palpable grief and fear amongst the pages, which helped elevate the creepy atmosphere.

One of my favorite aspects of this book was the well-rounded characters. I loved the relationships Abby, Hope, Rhys, Riya, and Connor had. New girl Jen added a nice dynamic to the mix. Jen doesn’t believe that a town has casually lived with a serial killer for so many years, and she’s a little skeptical at first until she, too, witnesses things that aren’t easily explained. Together, they form a tight-knit group that readers will root for every step of the way. I couldn’t help but feel this friend group was very similar to the kids in “Stranger Things” or “It”. In fact, I pictured several of those actors as the characters while reading. The characters are all very relatable, and I was emotionally invested in their journey and well-being.

Overall, I felt this was a gripping and suspenseful thriller that will captivate horror fans from beginning to end. Not a fan of YA? I would still recommend giving this one a try – especially if you are a “Stranger Things” or “It” fan. With its haunting atmosphere, well-developed characters, and heart-pounding story, this book is an absolute must-read for anyone seeking a chilling and thrilling adventure.