What Lives in the Woods by Lindsay Currie

 

Synopsis:

All Ginny Anderson wants from her summer is to sleep in, attend a mystery writing workshop, and spend time with her best friend. 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.

But unfortunately, the mansion has more problems than a little peeling wallpaper. Locals claim the surrounding woods are inhabited by mutated creatures with glowing eyes. And some say campers routinely disappear in the woods, never to be seen again.

As terrifying as it sounds, Ginny can't shake the feeling that there's something darker . . . another story she hasn't been told. 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.

It's after her. 

My Thoughts:

This middle grade novel definitely gave me Small Spaces vibes, mixed in with a more conventional ghost story. I liked how determined Ginny was to become a writer, and her constant referring to Agatha Christie. I also loved how Ginny, Leo, and Will all became amateur ghost investigators, trying to figure out how to stop the supernatural behavior without affecting Ginny and Leo's dad's livelihood. 

Haunted houses are my favorite horror trope, and I think it's done very well here, without being too frightening for middle grade readers. 

There was so much talk at the beginning of the book about the surrounding grounds of Woodmoor Manor, and the spooky creatures roaming the woods, that I was disappointed nothing more happened there. I was kind of hoping for a cryptid story! Of course, that leaves space for a sequel!