Title: Creature of the Night
Author: Kate Thompson
Summary: There is no way that 14 year-old Bobby is staying in the rundown, middle-of-nowhere house his mom has rented for them in rural western Ireland. All he can think about is getting back to Dublin, his friends, and the real action – drinking, drugs, racing stolen cars. He doesn’t care about the moneylenders hounding his mom’s family in the city, or that his little brother is sneaking down to the kitchen late at night to leave snacks for a ‘little woman’ that only he can see.
Bobby seems to make one bad decision after another – resulting in his having to do back-breaking farm chores for his landlord, Mr. Dooley, and his family. It is from them that he learns about the history of the house he lives in – and it isn’t good. Is the house built on a dangerous fairy path, like Grandma Dooley says? Or haunted by the ghost of a young girl murdered by her parents? Or is it something else? Is there truly a creature that inhabits their house or is the only real darkness in Bobby’s heart? The answer will surprise you.
Who will like this book?: People who like slow-building thrillers and stories that are scary because of what is left unsaid (as opposed to spelling it all out for you.) Readers who like a little mystery in their fantasy, and vice versa, or are interested in folklore and mythology.
If you like this, try this: The New Policeman and Last of the High Kings, also by Kate Thompson. Lament by Maggie Steifvater. Solace of the Road by Siobhan Dowd. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr.
Recommended by: Nicole, Teen Librarian