The end of summer in Appalachia often has a melancholic feel. The weather is beginning to turn. School is almost back in session. But this year in Harper Pass, the change of seasons feels like a huge relief for the Markland X Crew. Having saved the town from an evil entity, the group of friends imagines things will return to normal. But when a mountaineering moonshiner’s death uncovers a deadly new threat, a calm end to summer is no longer part of the plan. An intimidating scarred man who likes to show up at just the right moment, an apparition named Lady Zuuva, visions of a missing girl and a string of brutal murders will test the trust of these kids and the resources of the local police. Trouble is brewing in these mountains and the threat couldn’t be more serious. After all, “Once you give an invitation to the devil, you can’t take it back.”
All the kills with none of the frills, Ghosts of Grief Hollow boils down paranormal horror fiction into the most basic, enjoyable components. Burgess taps into some dependable tropes, adding grisly embellishments and nightmarish details of his own design. Building on the relationships and story from the preceding novel, the narrative focuses on all the dark things lurking in the shadows! Regional dialect combined with the dependable nature of kids being kids paints a vivid picture of a small town where every creaking floorboard and tap on the shoulder is an opportunity for a new fright. Tension builds in every scene, allowing just enough time to take a breath and calm your pulse between each new evil threat. If you’re looking for a novel that will make an inroads into your psyche, Ghosts of Grief Hollow is the horrific thriller you’ve been looking for.
