Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

Publication Date: July 13, 2010
ARC Source: Around the World Tours
Summary from Goodreads:

His love captivated her... his secrets might kill her.
Since her sister’s mysterious death, Persephone “Phe” Archer has been plagued by a series of disturbing dreams. Determined to find out what happened to her sister, Phe enrolls at Devenish Prep in Shadow Hills, Massachusetts—the subject of her sister’s final diary entry.
After stepping on campus, Phe immediately realizes that there’s something different about this place—an unexplained epidemic that decimated the town in the 1700s, an ancient and creepy cemetery, and gorgeous boy Zach—and somehow she’s connected to it all.
But the more questions she asks and the deeper she digs, the more entangled Phe becomes in the haunting past of Shadow Hills. Finding what links her to this town…might cost her her life.

My Two Cents:

Well let me just say that I love a small town with LOTS of secrets! That always provides a great plot. Then you mix in some very weird characters, some romance, a good amount of mystery, and Wahlaaa! We have a very good story on our hands. From the beginning we're pulled in to this diary Phe's sister has left with her dreams that Phe is now beginning to see. In the end, it all makes sense. The more Phe uncovers, the more danger she's in. Then again, who likes a main character that plays it safe?? There were alot of characters but they were all needed to bring different elements to the story.

Unfortunately for me, I figured out the "who" in the mystery pretty early, but this happens to me all the time.  Even in the midst of the weird townies the author still found time to squeeze in all that wonderful high school stuff we love. We love the crushes, the tension, the bonfires, the classic mean girl and the school dances. Crazy towns have these things too! This book was pretty thick, but every single page was filled with a piece of the puzzle. I wanted to know so bad at first what the heck was going on in this town but the author weaved a fantastic plot while the readers hangs on to every clue. Definitely pick this one up. You won't be disappointed.

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