My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes.”
----Arthur Conan Doyle
Marina Cohen, a Canadian author, pens an intriguing middle-grade part horror-cum-part-mystery story in her new book, The Inn Between that revolves around two pre-teen girls who take a trip with one of the girl's family and on their way, they all spend the night at a mysterious and a creepy-looking Victorian Inn, which turns out to be quite peculiar as on the very same night the girl's family goes missing. Will the two girls be able to find the parents and the brother who disappeared in the inn without a trace?
Synopsis:
The Shining meets "Hotel California" in this supremely creepy middle grade novel about the bizarre things that happen to two girls stranded at a desert inn.
Eleven-year-old Quinn has had some bad experiences lately. She was caught cheating in school, and then one day, her little sister Emma disappeared while walking home from school. She never returned
When Quinn's best friend Kara has to move away, she goes on one last trip with Kara and her family. They stop over at the first hotel they see, a Victorian inn that instantly gives Quinn the creeps, and she begins to notice strange things happening around them. When Kara's parents and then brother disappear without a trace, the girls are stranded in a hotel full of strange guests, hallways that twist back in on themselves, and a particularly nasty surprise lurking beneath the floorboards. Will the girls be able to solve the mystery of what happened to Kara's family before it's too late?
Quinn Martin and Kara Cawston take one last trip together, as the Cawstons are moving from Denver to Santa Monica. And also it will be good for Quinn to get away from the sad memories of her missing little sister, Emma and her parents. On their way to California, the group decides to take a night halt at a Victorian-looking inn in the middle of the desert. When Quinn and Kara wakes up the next morning, they find out that their family is missing along with Kara's brother, and now they need to find out what happened to the family and where they are before it is too late, but can they?
Well, to be honest, the book gave me a myriad of emotions ranging from fear to creepiness to shocking to holding my breath to at times funny to puzzling to sad. Yet the story is so much more than just distinct emotions, it is mind-blowing, frightening and at times entertaining to read about the adventure of two girls unraveling the mysteries lay hidden and wrapped under layers of wood and wallpaper in this hotel.
The author's writing style is excellent and something easy to comprehend with. The narrative is engaging and articulate and will keep the readers intrigued till the very end. The story is riveting from the very first page itself and as it unfolds the author introduces lots of twists and turns that will puzzle the readers more. The pacing is really fast as the two girls try to find out about the hotel and its mysteries.
The mystery that is laced with horror will not only challenge the readers and make the readers anticipate the climax till the very end, but will also frighten them and at times the readers are bound to feel like getting goosebumps all over their body. The author has strikingly portrayed the inn with its creepy interior and vivid details that will make the readers feel like visualizing the author's imaginative inn right before their eyes.
The illustrations are laid out like magic that will immediately arrest the readers minds into the story which are done by an award-winning illustrationist, Sarah Watts. The illustrations are not only magical but are very eye-catchy and attractive and plays in sync with the story line and will definitely help the readers to get a clear picture of the inn, the girls and the nightmarish feel.
The characters are very, very well-developed and are inspired from reality, as the author captures the voice of a 11-year old female primary character vividly by channeling her fears, her emotions and her sadness and her past memories through the story, thereby making sure that the readers can easily connect with Quinn and her issues and her sharp mind. Even Kara is an interesting and brave 11-year old girl who will keep the readers on their edges till the very last page. The supporting characters are well-drawn into the story and will leave a lasting impression on the minds of the readers.
Overall, this fast paced page-turning story is a must read if you enjoy reading captivating middle-grade fiction.
Verdict: A spine-chilling and an appealing middle-grade thriller.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author, Marina Cohen, for providing me with a copy of her book, as well as a beautiful friendship band, in return for an honest review.
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Author Info:
Marina Cohen grew up in Scarborough, Ontario, where she spent far too much time asking herself what if… She has an M.A. in French Literature and is the author of several horror and fantasy novels for kids and teens.
In elementary school, one of her favorite authors was Edgar Allen Poe. She loved stories like The Tell-Tale Heart and The Pit and the Pendulum and aspired to write similar stories. She is a lover of the fantastical, the bizarre, and all things creepy.
Visit her here
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