Penny has problems, and is a problem herself, all at the same time. Her mother never lets her forget it. So when she’s dropped off on her Dad’s doorstep in Seattle, Penny isn’t entirely surprised.  Maybe this time, she’ll be able to forget the horrors of her past and the ghost of a dead friend who still haunts her.

Then April, her stepmom, gets a crazy idea to refurbish the old Carver House in the remote North Woods. And the worst part is she’s decided to take Penny along for the two month ride.

Stuck in a pile of tinder that barely resembles a house, Penny begins to explore the mysterious woods and tiny one-horse town. Creeping, terrifying voices call out to her from the woods, begging to be followed, and the locals won’t dare to come near the house. In fact, they don’t want to talk to Penny or April at all. Battling her own demons, Penny begins to investigate the old stories of the North Woods and the Carver House. Why did all of those teens disappear around there? What happened to them? And what horrors did their families commit to bring them back?

Because the woods that surround her are watching. They are waiting, and they are hungry.

This terrifyingly good novel is a must-read for fans of ghost stories and mysteries! Penny is significantly flawed and relateable, and we find ourselves rooting for her to clear her own conscience of her misdeeds and solve the mystery of the house. Creepy window handprints, little girls peering out of forests, local legends and newspaper clippings give this book a classic ghost story feel. I devoured it in just three sittings! Ms. West is an excellent story teller and really creeps you out!