Review – Let’s Split Up by Bill Wood
Synopsis
A heart-pounding thriller tailor-made for the YA BookTokers! It’s Scream meets Scooby-Doo in this electrifying horror.
When the town’s “it-couple,” Brad and Shelley, are found brutally murdered in a secluded manor, a brave group of teen friends takes on the mystery.
Set in 2001, Sanera, California, a small, quiet community where nothing ever happens, the shocking murders shake everyone, leaving them to believe the ghost of a murdered landowner has finally taken his revenge. Join Cam, Jonesy, Amber, and the new girl, Buffy, as they dig deeper into the sinister secrets of the mansion. With every clue they uncover, the eerie rumors seem frighteningly real. As they decide whether to stick together or split up to find evidence, they must face the ultimate question: will this decision be their salvation or their doom?
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Review
This YA horror/thriller novel reminds us that when in a spooky house, you do NOT split up!
I’m not usually a fan of horror novels, but since this is a YA novel, the horror is scaled back. In fact, it was running through my mind that this was like Scooby-Doo. Imagine my surprise when I read the author’s notes and he mentioned that show.
A trio of friends welcomes a new student to the school, but does she have her own agenda? What secrets is she hiding? Then, when two classmates are murdered, and the police seem to be incompetent in figuring it out, this group comes together to solve the mystery. There are multiple red herrings throughout the book, and although I didn’t figure it out, I did narrow it down to two characters.
The great thing about fiction is that it can be unbelievable. Granted, this book is set in 2001, but I wondered about the parents of these kids. One was often away, another was drunk, and another was overprotective. However, these traits played into the storyline and allowed the kids to do more than they might have been able to do if their parents had been more aware.
There is a scene that we all know from horror movies, where the kids split up. I don’t know about anyone else, but I am yelling (in my head) at them to stick together. They even mention how this is how people are murdered in the horror films, it is because they split up. I found several of the scenes to be very spooky, but I am a lightweight when it comes to horror.
There are a few scenes that seem unbelievable, but they add to the suspense and drama of the story.
I enjoyed this novel and give it 4 paws up.
About the Author
Bill Wood is a former Waterstones bookseller with a growing online platform. In less than three years, he has amassed a following of over 125,000 bookworms and 10.5 million likes on his TikTok. Bill has a BA with honors in film and screenwriting from Birmingham City University. He currently lives with his family and Staffordshire bull terrier, Macey. Let’s Split Up is his debut YA novel.
