Book Review: Sleepwalkers

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 566 KB
• Print Length: 336 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0757315887
• Publisher: HCI Teens (3 Oct 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
• Language English
• ASIN: B0058O3HKI

Privileged and popular Caleb Mason is celebrating his high school graduation when he receives a mysterious, disturbing letter from his long-lost childhood playmate, Christine. Caleb and his jokester friend Bean decide to travel to his tiny hometown of Hudsonville, Florida, to find her. Upon arrival, they discover the town has taken a horrifying turn for the worse.  Caleb's childhood home is abandoned and his father has disappeared. Children are going missing. The old insane asylum has reopened, and Christine is locked inside. Her mother, a witch, is consumed with madness, and Christine's long-dead twin sister whispers clues to Caleb through the static of an A.M. radio.

The terrifying prophesies of the spirits are coming to pass. Eighteen clocks are ticking; sixty-six murdered souls will bring about the end of the world. As Caleb peels back layer after layer of mystery, he uncovers a truth more horrible than anything he had imagined, a truth that could only be uttered by the lips of the dead.

Sleepwalkers was a perfect blend of horror and suspense. The author kept the reader fully engaged as the story developed, the tension mounting page by page.

Primarily leading us through the story is rich and privileged Caleb. He has the rest of his life planned out…until a letter from a childhood friend changes everything. After all, the best way to make God laugh is to make a plan.

Instead of heading to Africa like planned, Caleb’s letter takes him back to his roots, but things are not quite as he remembered. The place is dilapidated and falling apart, the wilderness reclaiming the man-made instrusion. Most disturbing of all was his abandoned childhood home.

The residents of the town have turned a blind eye to the mysterious disappearing of the children – certain people not even raising an eyebrow.

Caleb’s search takes him to the Dream Centre – a converted insane asylum – where he is reunited with Christine, his childhood friend, who gives him yet another cryptic clue to what is happening in his hometown.

The clock is ticking for Caleb, who must get to the bottom of the strange goings on…if he wants to escape with his own life intact.

Sleepwalkers was reminiscent of Stephen King, who is the creater of horror novels as we know today. The author has a witty and sharp dark sense of humour which I loved and lightened the  haunting pages without completely distracting from the fear.

Any YA, horror, mystery or suspense fan will love this book. It is not to be missed.

Tick tock.