Krista Reviews: The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich

Three students: dead.
Carly Johnson: vanished without a trace.

Two decades have passed since an inferno swept through Elmbridge High, claiming the lives of three teenagers and causing one student, Carly Johnson, to disappear. The main suspect: Kaitlyn, “the girl of nowhere.”

Kaitlyn’s diary, discovered in the ruins of Elmbridge High, reveals the thoughts of a disturbed mind. Its charred pages tell a sinister version of events that took place that tragic night, and the girl of nowhere is caught in the center of it all. But many claim Kaitlyn doesn’t exist, and in a way, she doesn’t – because she is the alter ego of Carly Johnson.

Carly gets the day. Kaitlyn has the night. It’s during the night that a mystery surrounding the Dead House unravels and a dark, twisted magic ruins the lives of each student that dares touch it.

Debut author Dawn Kurtagich masterfully weaves together a thrilling and terrifying story using psychiatric reports, witness testimonials, video footage, and the discovered diary – and as the mystery grows, the horrifying truth about what happened that night unfolds.

Hardcover, 400 pages

Published September 15th 2015 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Carly and Kaitlyn share a body. When Carly disappears, Kaitlyn is lost on how to find her and get her back. Encompassing recordings with her psychiatrist, to friends, news, the media, and herself, this book is a stand out, engaging read.

Starting out as complex psychological thriller, this story will eventually lead into a paranormal suspense. The pacing of the novel is constant, and the different formats for relaying the story make it a very visually enjoyable novel as well. The story does not all take place at the same place either; it switches between the psychiatric hospital and the school (and inside Katilyn’s mind).

My favorite character is Naida who is Carly’s best friend. She was the most dependable, honest and admirable character I have read about in years. The lengths that she goes to find Carly was astonishing. There is a small group of people who become involved in the mystery of Carly’s disappearance and each play a role in the mystery; especially, the mystery of who is behind the killings that begin to take place. This throws us into a horror novel — great for late night reading (if your not big on sleeping that is!).

I was surprised at how raw and dark this story really gets. The writing is deep and true, and the reader has to feel honest emotion to truly understand Kaitlyn.  It is really a story about a girl who gets lost in her own head as the author delves into how a person can  find their selves within, when there only seems to be locked doors blocking the way.This is definitely a story that I’d recommend  to our readers.