This book is comprised of various sources
– letters to Aunt Lisa
– A’s diary
– A’s dream journal
– Niamh’s notepad
– transcripts of video and audio feeds from various places like the post office and a store they frequent
– various other letters and other information that they dig up while searching the house
– research articles
– codes
(And there’s probably more I forgot)

At first I thought it might be too gimmicky, that there would be too much going on.

But oddly and wonderfully, it works.

A and Niamh travel to Axton House, which A has inherited. He’s a long lost third cousin thrice removed or something completely remote like that. There’s something eerie about Axton House. Two suicides. A maze – I don’t know about you but I think mazes are rather creepy and even more so if someone had it specially designed for their garden. A starts having very bizarre dreams that seem to play on repeat every night. There’s a missing butler, a mute girl, a library full of secrets, neighbours who seem to know more than they should. Plus there are codes! And things that go bump in the night.

Things just get weirder and weirder.

And for a while I think I know where it’s going then I realise that I really have absolutely no idea where Cantero is going with this. And even right at the end he’s still able to surprise the hell out of me.

I will leave things at that and tell you: read this if you’re up for surprises and fun. It’s such an apt book for RIP IX if you’re taking part in that. I mean, just look at that cover! Doesn’t that make you want to take it home?

Happy reading.

 

(A big thank you! to Andi at Estella’s Revenge whose post led me to this book!)