Missing, Presumed Dead
by Emma Berquist
Publisher: Greenwillow/HarperCollins
Publication Date: May 21, 2019
MISSING, PRESUMED DEAD is a thrilling murder mystery about high school dropout, Alexandra “Lexi” Ivanovich, who teams up with a recently killed ghost, Jane Morris. Jane was murdered at the bar Lexi works at, but doesn’t remember who killed her and why. What Lexi is surprised by, however, is that Jane is not the only stabbing victim who went missing in the last month: Urie, Lexi’s boss, worries that they have a serial killer on their hands, who’s using their bar club as a slaughtering ground.
However, Lexi’s abilities branch far beyond just seeing ghosts: she can also see how and when people die just at a touch. Overwhelmed with the guilt that she had seen Jane’s death before it actually happened and couldn’t stop it, Lexi tries to help Jane find her killer before he harms anyone else. What follows is an exciting mystery/ghost story with a hefty dose of honesty, humor, and romance.
I actually really enjoyed this book. It was extremely creative and the story flowed so well, I wasn’t even paying attention to how far along in the book I was. Berquist does an especially great job with the characters, as they were not only complex in their own ways, but very likable and fun to read about! I highly recommend this book to mystery, romance, and horror fans alike. (A slight gore warning, but nothing too severe.)
The Agony House
by Cherie Priest
Illustrated by Tara O'Connor
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Publication Date: September 25, 2018
THE AGONY HOUSE written by Cherie Priest and illustrated by Tara O’Connor initially attracted me because of Priest’s previous work I AM PRINCESS X. Once again I find Priest and O’Connor make expert use of integrating illustration to add dimension and mystery in duality to richly written characters and settings. Despite them being similar in that aspect, THE AGONY HOUSE is wholly its own in story and structure. Denise and her family move back to New Orleans to fix up an old, run-down house in hopes of making a small bed and breakfast with what little savings they’ve got. As they begin renovations, strange occurrences lead Denise to suspect supernatural presence. When she discovers an old manuscript for the unpublished comic, Lucinda Might, in the attic she can no longer deny the connection between her house and the comic book. Throughout the novel she acquires a cast of friends and begins to uncover the secrets within the “agony house” are far more sinister than she could have imagined.
Despite Denise’s optimistic, light, often sarcastic demeanor, the story, aided heavily by the comic drawings, is able to maintain a spooky, yet not terrifying, tone. While the narrative focuses on the supernatural mystery it also lightly explores her family's economic difficulties, race prejudice in New Orleans, and, in general, Denise’s struggle to fit in in this new, unfamiliar town. By the end you’ll feel satisfied and definitely will want to flip back to the beautifully illustrated comic pages. I’m excited to see what comes next for Cherie Priest as her first two books are simply addictive.
Invisible Ghosts
by Robyn Schneider
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: June 5, 2018
INVISIBLE GHOSTS by Robyn Schneider is another cutesy high school romance starring your typical insecure relatable quirky teen and the hot boy who understands her, but this time, with ghosts! Rose spends her school days with girls she doesn't really like and her afternoons watching TV and hanging out with her older brother Logan, who coincidentally, died five years earlier. This has been her life for years, but when her childhood friend (and now a super cute guy) Jamie moves back to town, her world as she knows it changes. As her relationship with Jamie blossoms, she finds that the memory and ghost of Logan is holding her back.
I loved Schneider's first book and have been eagerly awaiting this one. Though some plot points felt a bit rushed or not fully fleshed out, the concept was fresh and the characters felt real and supportable. This was a perfect combination of both cheesy romance and paranormal mystery, both managing to compliment without overshadowing the other. The story was consistent and believable throughout and never felt overdramatic or unrealistic. I would highly recommend this for high school fans of magical realism or those wanting to dip their toes into the paranormal waters.
