Books › A Cry in the Night
A Cry in the Night
First published 1990 · 154 pages
A classic, spooky vacation-house mystery where echoes of a tragic past demand to be heard.
What it feels like
Stepping into this book feels like curling up with a flashlight under the covers on a stormy night. It delivers that specific, nostalgic flavor of nineties youth thrillers, where the scares are atmospheric rather than visceral and the protagonist is driven by a strong moral compass. The pace is brisk and engaging, pulling the reader through shadowy hallways and dusty historical secrets with a steady drumbeat of suspense. The mood balances eerie, supernatural chills with the grounded earnestness of a young girl trying to right a centuries-old wrong. It is a perfect fit for readers who crave the cozy dread of vintage ghost stories, offering a satisfying blend of historical tragedy, empathetic sleuthing, and restless spirits finally finding their peace.
- Mood
- eerie
- shadowy
- mildly chilling
- nostalgic
- Tone
- suspenseful
- earnest
- empathetic
- melodramatic
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- righting historical wrongs · echoes of the past · courage in the face of fear · uncovering hidden truths
- The writing
- The writing is accessible and straightforward, prioritizing atmospheric tension and rapid page-turning over lyrical complexity.
- The arc
- The journey moves from unsettling apprehension to a determined, empathetic drive for justice, culminating in a bittersweet sense of peace.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love vintage middle-grade and early YA ghost stories where plucky protagonists solve historical mysteries.
Content notes
- references to witch trials
- references to hanging
- mild ghostly peril
About the book
When a ghost in her vacation home appears, Molly discovers that the ghost's mother was hanged as a witch and her house unfairly taken from her. Is it too late for Molly to right the wrong?
Description from Open Library.
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