Creepy Pictures of Old Timey Children Are Creepy

A mystery that involves incorporating actual old, creepy photos into the story? Sign me up!

Seriously, that’s the hook that drew me into this entertaining read. I purchased this and its sequel at Powell’s (I should really go back and see how many of my CBR reviews are on books I purchased there this year). I read the book in basically one sitting, on a two-hour flight, because I could not put it down.

Jacob is fifteen, and his grandfather has just died. Been killed, actually. Possibly by wild dogs? Grandfather had told Jacob many elaborate stories over the years, based off of his time in an orphanage on an island in Wales. At some point, Jacob stopped believing the stories were true, but after finding Grandfather’s body, he has some issues, and convinces his parents to let him and his dad go to this island. From there things transpire that I won’t share because it’s more fun to discover them yourself.

I don’t have a lot to say about this book other than that I really enjoyed it. The use of creepy old photos is brilliant and adds a really interesting layer to the book. Now, it isn’t a horror thriller (although there is a lot of creepiness and a fair bit of action), so I don’t think you’ll have to pull a Rachel reading The Shining and keep it in the freezer overnight. But it’s a bit odd, and definitely unsettling. Perfect for October, frankly.