Review Detail

Hazel didn't want to go to a party, but her selfish twin, Beth, insisted she go. Maybe she should have stayed home. After one of the friends brings out an Ouija board and tries to summon the spirit of murdered Veronica Green, Beth rushes out and doesn't return. A day later, Beth appears, but seems to be possessed by Veronica Green. And this spirit wants vengeance for what happened to her some twenty years ago. Something that Hazel's parents are aware of but refuse to discuss. None of the parents in the rural town of Ashling wants to talk about that fateful night. But Veronica Green refuses to be silent.

What worked: Hometown urban legend comes to life with deadly consequences. Twins Beth and Hazel haven't been close for some time. Hazel blames her twin for leaving her out. The animosity between the two is realistic, and after Beth appears to be possessed, those feelings don't disappear.

Not everything is what it seems. Under the soft-spoken, good manners of the adults in town, including the pastor, is a deadly secret. A secret that comes apart and reveals the truth of what really happened to Veronica.

There's betrayals, creepy consequences of an evil act, and haunting reveals. Plus, everything you think you know will be turned on its head. You won't know what to believe. Is Beth really possessed? Or is that a twisted lie, too?

I found this story very intriguing, and at times, I was confused about what really happened to Beth. The author shares poetry excerpts from Veronica's diary that suggest what led to her later death. At times, the author's transition between the twins' points of view can make the pacing feel jarring. Although the twins are at odds, they share many similarities.

Ashling is an oppressive town that hides an ugly secret that includes shunning those who don't fit the perfect mold. Violence against the LGBTQ community is shown throughout. How hatred continues to the next generation, and how it takes the courage of the children to stand up to it.

Haunting tale that strips away an ugly secret to reveal a truth that refuses to be silenced.