Title: The Five Things
Author: Beth Merwood
Genre: Historical Mystery, Suspense, Historical Fiction
Book Blurb:
For nine-year-old Wendy, the summer of 1969 will never be forgotten.
Local kids have always told stories about the eerie wood on the outskirts of the village, and Wendy knows for sure that some of them are true. Now the school holidays have started and she's going to the wood again with Anna and Sam, but they soon become convinced that someone is trying to frighten them off.
When a terrible event rocks the coastal community, the young friends can't help thinking there must be a connection between the incident, the tales they’ve heard, and the strange happenings they’ve begun to witness. As glimpses of a darker world threaten their carefree existence, they feel compelled to search out the underlying truth.
My Review:
Young Wendy has heard the spooky stories about the woods on the outskirts of the village where she lives. With summer finally here, she and her friends Anna and Sam are determined to unravel what is hearsay and what is truth. The more they visit the woods, the more they realize someone is trying to scare them off. What is hidden in the woods? When tragedy hits the village, everyone is shocked. Wendy is convinced it’s all connected. She won’t stop until she discovers what’s really going on in the creepy woods. Has she just sealed her fate and the lives of her friends or will they bring the dark deeds to the light of day?
The Five Things is a gripping historical mystery with a nine-year-old main character living in a small town. Her intelligence, curiosity, and bravery impressed me immensely. She didn’t scare easily while I had shivers running up my spine as I read. Beth Merwood’s descriptive narration captured me from page one and didn’t let go until the very last page. The author’s ability to string along the reader, providing little twists and turns, is outstanding. I kept wondering what was going to happen next, so I read late into the evening. The plot moves at a great pace with a full cast of characters, building suspense and a dramatic conclusion. The characters were fully fleshed out and added depth to the story. The children in this story were incredibly mature for their ages. The culmination of the mystery caught me by surprise, so much so, I gasped aloud. If you’re a fan of thrillers, suspense, historical mysteries, you’ll enjoy The Five Things. If you love thrillers where the main character is a child, you’ll want to read The Five Things. This is Beth Merwood’s debut novel and yet, it reads like a seasoned novelist. I look forward to reading more from Beth Merwood. Highly recommend!
My Rating: 5 stars
Buy it Now:
Amazon US https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08ZMN5PC5
Amazon CA https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08ZMN5PC5
Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08ZMN5PC5
Author Biography:
Beth Merwood is a writer from the south of England. The Five Things is her debut novel.
Social Media Links:
Reviewed by: Mrs. N