Blight Harbor is one of the most haunted cities in America, but the only truly scary things about it are the abandoned slaughterhouse, and the memory of a serial killer whose victims were never found. At least, those are the only scary things until Evie’s aunt goes missing, and Evie has to embark on an otherworldly – and potentially deadly – quest to save her, striking a bargain with the shadowy Clackity in the process.

This was a delicious little ghost story mixed with some adventure and coming-of-age elements. I don’t often read middle-grade books because the writing style doesn’t appeal to me, but this one was just perfect. The quest Evie goes on was difficult without being impossible. She learns important things along the way, including how to trust herself, but not every problem and heartache can be solved. I liked the careful balance between relying on your support system for help, and digging deep into your own resources to help yourself. Either of those on their own can be too much, but this allowed for both.

The imagery all throughout the novel was creepy and spectacular. I would have loved to read this when I was a child/preteen. And I’m happy to say that this is a full and complete story, while leaving open hints about what the characters might do in a new story, if the author should wish to give Evie more adventures in the future.