In prep for my stop on the tour tomorrow for The Curse of Calico Jack, I read the first book and wanted to share my thoughts with you!
The Demon of Devilgate Drive by Colin GarrowSeries: Skeleton Cove Horror #1
Published by Self Published on April 22 2017
Format: eBook
Source: Author
Pages: 186
Amazon UK
Goodreads
Also by this author: The Curse of Calico Jack
A murder in Nightmare Alley. A missing boy. A demon on the loose.
On the hunt for the elusive Jimmy Brick, 12-year-old Jeff and his pal Suzi find more than they bargained for at Harry McSpawn's pool hall. But it's a mysterious business card that gets Jeff wondering what it is that Jimmy has got himself into. Haunted by a series of nightmares, Jeff sets out to discover exactly what's going on in Skeleton Cove, and why the long-dead Nathaniel Darke is still exerting his malevolent influence over the town.
This is most definitely a cross between the cheese of Goosebumps and the thrill of Point Horror books and the action and demons from the Darren Shan series. All 3 are favourites of mine so very high praise. I loved all the aptly names roads and places in Skeleton Cove, all to give a little thrill to the story. I did enjoy the story but boy Suzi and Jeff make a meal out of it all.
They are asked unwittingly by their teacher to check on a student who has “gone missing” and embark on an adventure they did not expect. They get caught by one set of bad guys, tied up, get out and escape, get caught again, tied up and escape and this happens a few times. I can see how YA readers will definitely find it thrilling.
We do have a couple of bits which were close to giving me goosebumps. Shadows in the nights, unwanted smells, sights and it always freaks me out at the thought of an unseen entity sitting on my bed!!!
It is a shortish story, so we don’t get the opportunity to know Suzi and Jeff too well and the reveal at the end was quick, so hopefully, this is built upon in book 2. I did enjoy the adventure underground with this duo, they have an easy relationship together and they have each other’s back. Where one of them falls short of something, the other will back them up and they have such great banter.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and had it been out when I was younger I know I would have definitely devoured this. The characters are young, you sense that, I think that’s why everything they do is that much more perilous and you shout at them to just go home and hammer nails in their windows so no one can get in, but alas it wouldn’t be a story if they didn’t!
Looking forward to the next instalment and learning more about the Ministry and what is instore with this duo! Plus this is a creepy ass cover!
Until next time xxx
Thanks to Emma at DampPebbles and the author for sending a copy of the book in return for my honest and unbiased review
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
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