Review Detail

When something goes tragically wrong at Simone Washington's epic Halloween party, she comes face-to-face with Regret, a trapped ghost, who offers her a deal. To complete this deal, she will have to confront her own secrets and those of not only her best friend Kira, but also those in town. A countdown from a creepy doll reminds Simone to release all her regrets or else Kira will die...again. Only this time, Simone will be the one who kills her.

What worked: I'm a huge fan of psychological horror. Add a creepy supernatural element, and I'm hooked!

This story starts off slowly as readers get to meet Simone and her best friend, Kira. There are a lot of secrets in this town, including missing people and the tragic death of a friend. The action starts once the friends have their party. Regret is a ghost who feeds on the regrets of others and offers them a deal. In Simone's case, it's who should die. Kira or her boyfriend. But the story doesn't stop there. Simone enlists the help of a former friend, Cory, to find out the truth behind Regret, and in the process stumbles on secrets that have family links.

The 1950s doll that pops up at Simone's house and counts down is creepy. So is Regret, who comes across at first as malevolent. It would have been easy to leave her at that, but the author does a great job fleshing out this ghost and what is behind her quest to be free.

I also liked how there isn't a per se romantic element in this story, but rather the power of friendship that overlooks past mistakes. Simone, Kira, and the other friends are like real teens and not miniature adults. They make mistakes. I feel this audience will be able to relate to Simone and Kira's friendship with it's ups and downs.

Creepy psychological horror tale with a sprinkle of paranormal, this story is perfect for Jordan Peele fans and those who love a good scary thriller.