The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich

How did I get the book?
Received from Publisher in exchange for an honest review

Genre: Thriller / Horror / Mystery

Synopsis: Over two decades have passed since the fire at Elmbridge High, an inferno that took the lives of three teenagers. Not much was known about the events leading up to the tragedy – only that one student, Carly Johnson, vanished without a trace…

…until a diary is found hidden in the ruins.

But the diary, badly scorched, does not belong to Carly Johnson. It belongs to Kaitlyn Johnson, a girl who shouldn’t exist Who was Kaitlyn? Why did she come out only at night? What is her connection to Carly?

The case has been reopened. Police records are being reexamined: psychiatric reports, video footage, text messages, e-mails. And the diary.

The diary that paints a much more sinister version of events than was ever made publicly known.

200words (or less) review: This book is AMAZING!

Oh you needed more? Well I can tell you exactly how long it took me to read The Dead House. I started it at 6.14pm on a Friday and finished it at exactly 1 minute past midnight. The only time I moved was to get myself refreshments. Oh and that one time when the cushion fell of the back of the sofa and scared the freaking whatsits out of me. 😛

I also provided running commentary throughout (via messenger), which I’d love to share but is full of spoilers so I shall resist. One of the things I did rave about from the beginning was the format of the book. The way Kaitlyn and Carly’s story is set out. Reports, transcripts, diary entries and notes, all of them pulled together so brilliantly. I am in awe of the fact that this is Dawn Kurtagich debut, just wow, I don’t have the words.

From the moment I heard of The Dead House I wanted to read it but I underestimated just how wonderful the experience was going to be. The Dead House moved instantly onto my VIP bookcase and I don’t ever see it leaving.

Recommend it?

Sunshine Star

Expected publication:
August 6th 2015 by Orion Children’s Books