On a school trip to Hollow Lake National Park, the girls of Cabin 9 are all pulled into the mystery of the disappearing island.  Steeped in lore with everyone who ever set out in search of it disappearing, Evie, Callie, Gaby, Vivian, Adalyn, Blake, Megan and Sunny all begin to hear the island's call and set out in the middle of the night to find it.  When the girls make landfall, a fire is burning for them and they fear the stories may be true.  When their boat disappears, the eight girls must survive on the island with whatever forces brought them there.  After months, five of the girls find their way off the island and back home, bringing their own traumas, followed by an investigation.  However, when the body of one of the missing girls washes up, the investigation reopens and the other people involved in the girl's disappearance are targeted. Evie decides she must return to the island to give it what it wants. 

Lost Girls of Hollow Lake is a fast-paced young adult thriller mixing paranormal and psychological horror. I was hooked on the mystery from the beginning.  The writing bounces back and forth between the present, featuring the five girls who have returned from the island and their time on the island with the other eight girls, creating tension between what we know happened and how it came about.  Told mostly from Evie's point of view, the story masterfully blends terrifying and dark events with Evie's emotional journey on the island and after her return home.  Evie's insights into her survival, the island girls' dynamics, and how she dealt with death, love, and friendship during their ordeal showed great emotional depth.  I especially loved the chapters from Evie's dog, Tiger's point of view, which made him an integral part of the story. Amazing imagery made me feel like I was on the island with the girls and could hear the water lapping even when they were home. The story kept me on the edge of my seat as I tried to decipher the island's mystery.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. 

​The Hangman has been given his first mission: to investigate a murder at an isolated, rural motel.  Hangman is a Servunday, investigating potential involvement of a Tryst, or shifter in the area.  When he arrives at Rose Hill Motel under the alias Fleet, he quickly gains the favor of the proprietor, Harlow or Lowy, who had discovered the severed hand days earlier, leading Fleet to her.  Upon investigation, Fleet finds a series of strange symbols, abandoned buildings and an interesting cast of characters who have taken up residence at the Rose Hill and in town.  As Fleet gets to know everyone better, he focuses on one guest at the Rose Hill as his potential Tryst, but something much bigger is brewing beneath the surface.

The Hangman's Belief is a paranormal thriller blending mystery, suspense, and supernatural elements.  An exciting and gruesome prologue pulled me into the story from the antagonist's point of view. After the prologue, the story builds slowly, focusing strongly on character development and Fleet's relationship with these characters during his mission to find the Tryst. While I enjoyed getting to know Lowy, Dash, Jill, Oreen and BJ at the Rose Hill motel, I kept waiting for something to happen.  The full information regarding what aTryst exactly is, a Servunday's role and Fleet's true nature isn't revealed until the last third of the story. In the last third of the story, all of the action happens as Fleet uncovers what is occurring in the small town.  Continuous action and gore fill the ending as Fleet finds a zealot who created Tryst in the name of power.  

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.