The Girls Are Never Gone by Sarah Glenn Marsh Published by Penguin on September 7, 2021
Genres: Ghost Stories, Horror, LGBTQ, Romance, Young Adult Fiction
Pages: 336
Format: eARC
Goodreads
Dare Chase has signed on as a volunteer to help restore the Arrington Estate in New Hope, VA. The site just happens to be the location for her paranormal investigation podcast, Attachments. Though she's skeptical about the paranormal; there's always a logical explanation to any rumors of haunting. Joined by her service dot to alert her when her blood sugar is low, Dare is ready for a change of scenery.
Dare is drawn to the estate following the mysterious drowning of Atheleen Bell in 1992. By day, she helps the estate owner's daughter, Quinn Reyes, and a local girl, Holly, to sort through the items remaining in the estate to repair it for restoration. By night, the three embark what Dare assumes is an investigation into a decades-old murder. What they discover instead is a history of drownings, the first in 1871. Something is lurking in the lake, something that has a hold that reaches far beyond the lake itself.
What a creepy fun read! I devoured this one in just a few hours.
I especially appreciated the character Marsh created in Dare. A young girl, just getting over a break-up with her boyfriend. She just happens to have Type 1 diabetes, but she’s able to have a normal life with the aid of her insulin pump and service dog. Her disease doesn’t hold her back. She’s at a remarkable time in her life, still discovering quite a bit about herself and the vast future of endless possibilities. Kudos to Marsh for providing that representation!
The story that Marsh has crafted is so expertly paced. The chilling reveals are timed perfectly; the slow build creates the perfect amount of tension, adding to the chill-factor of this book. Everything about the setting Marsh has created lends to the perfect horror story; small town, mysterious deaths, creepy setting. This read checked all the boxes I needed! I’d love a little more backstory, but also I’m not quite ready to be rid of Dare in my life! I’d love a prequel and/or sequel!
All in all, a perfect read for Halloween (or, if you are like me, any time of year)! Highly recommended.
