I am a big fan of the Halloween season and am always looking for books with creepy vibes to read throughout October to get me into the spooky mood. However, I haven’t read much MG Horror, so I was delighted to get my hands on The Haunting of Aveline Jones. I just had a feeling that this was going to be the MG read to get me into the mood for all things sinister.

Aveline Jones is a big fan of ghost stories and just can’t get enough of them. When she is sent to stay with her Aunt Lillian in a dreary, creepy town called Malmouth over half term, she thinks things are going to be boring, that is until she discovers a creepy old book. The stories within the book are terror-inducing to say the least and Aveline soon finds out the book used to belong to Primrose Penberthy, who disappeared never to be seen again. Aveline then finds herself investigating Primrose’s disappearance unaware that something or someone is stirring and looking for her.

Well, this was such a spine-tingling, fear-inducing read that had me feeling creeped out for the most part. I was utterly absorbed in this terrifying tale and didn’t read it with the lights off. From the moment you begin the book, you feel uneasy, and you automatically know that something terrifying is going to happen, and you don’t know when. The way Hickes draws you in with his chilling descriptions of the town and its residents gets under your skin and you know something isn’t right. The town of Malmouth itself is dark, grey and makes you feel slightly unsettled which, in my opinion, was the whole purpose of it. Hickes wanted you to feel afraid and disturbed and this came off extremely well.

Plot-wise, I did enjoy the whole mystery of Primrose’s disappearance and found myself thinking up theories to how she came to vanish from the town, none of which were right mind you. If I’m being honest, I was shocked when I found out the truth and this did unnerve me, especially as we reached the climax of the story. It was also interesting to find out about the town’s history, including the house that Aveline was staying in with Lillian. When little details are brought into a story and have a big impact, then you know it’s a great one. The plot overall had me hooked and not wanting to stop reading and because of this, I did finish the book in one sitting.

Aveline was a fully rounded character that I took to straight away. She wasn’t embarrassed to like what she liked and at times I found her to be very strong-willed, alas a little bit bold. Her connection to Primrose was intriguing, to say the least, and I feel that the two of them would have ended up being good friends in different circumstances. My favourite character though had to be Mr Lieberman, the owner of the second-hand bookshop where Aveline picked up the book that kicked off the plot. He was so eccentric, talkative, alternative and extremely good-natured. I would love to meet someone just like him if I’m being totally honest.

The Haunting of Aveline Jones was a suspenseful, hair raising, frightening read that had me on the edge of my seat throughout. I was utterly engrossed in this terrifying tale and just couldn’t get enough. It is the perfect read for the spooky season and one that you should all be picking up and getting stuck into.

A brilliant, spooky read perfectly pitched for its targeted audience. I loved the old-fashioned ghost story feel to the story, and the balance with a contemporary setting and characters was really well-done. I'm looking forward to the second tome!

A wonderful, unique and creepy middle grade full to the brim with excellent descriptions. The story doesn't make for a complex novel by any means but despite that, I really enjoyed it's simplicity and classic feel. I got strong Clockwork Crow vibes.

I loved this book! Ghost stories are my thing and this one didn't disappoint. I found it very chilling in places - an incredible feat for a MG novel!

Well, this well and truly creeped me out! What a fabulously scary read - and I don’t actually like scary books! I absolutely adore Aveline, and all the other characters were gorgeous too. The scene of Malmouth was set perfectly; brilliant description that really makes you see it while you read. I didn’t think I could be scared by a children’s book but I was! Definitely going to read Aveline’s next adventure and buy this book for the horror loving students that visit my library.

The perfect length for a great little read! I'm quite a fan of a ghosty story, especially when the nights get longer and this didn't disappoint. Thought it was fab and quite different to your 'average' ghost story, had the right amount of scare with no gore. My only regret is not reading it on my annual holiday to Cornwall for the added scare! Its got ghosts, books and the seaside - what more could a person want? Thank you Phil Hickes! Will definitely be recommending this.

Love, love, loved this book! Middle grade is really lacking in spooky stories, particularly in the last few years. This is a perfect addition to the genre and a great Halloween read. The characters are likeable and the plot was strong. Will definitely be purchasing this book. Thank you for the review copy. I cannot wait to read about Aveline’s next adventure.

A great ghost story with genuine scares, but enough cosy details to lull you into a false sense of security. Perfect to read by the fire when the wind is howling outside...

There’s a chill in the air, the leaves are starting to come down and we’re almost into October...so this was a perfect time to curl up on the sofa and read this ghost story.
Aveline Jones is a serious young girl, used to spending time alone and she loves nothing more than to read ghost stories under the covers. As her half-term approaches, Aveline is upset to be forced to spend the holiday with her aunt in the Cornish seaside town of Malmouth.
From the moment she arrives Aveline senses something odd about the place - from the remote setting to the strange child-shaped mannequins that decorate many of the houses. Her aunt’s home makes strange noises and for a child used to living in the city this is a place where her imagination can run riot.
Aveline finds herself pushed into visiting the local bookstore. There she finds a friend in its chatty owner and his nephew, but she also discovers a mysterious book telling some of the local stories.
The setting is perfect for this quite charming story. Everything is quickly put in place, and though we have an idea that something scary is going to happen (which is, naturally, linked to the book Aveline has bought) there’s a reassuring adult presence to stop it being too scary for its intended audience. Aveline is a determined and resourceful character, whose imagination is to be lauded but there’s a resilience to her that I couldn’t help but admire.
A must-read for those who like to be scared without being terrified, and the illustrations were perfect for setting the mood of each chapter.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review this before its release...and I can’t be the only one excited to see there’s a second book to come.

8 autumnal books that you should read right now
As soon as it turned 1st September, I was all ready to curl up with a book and a blanket. I had a look through my TBR and picked out some autumnal books – and I thought I’d share them with you too!

The Haunting of Aveline Jones by Phil Hickes
This spooky middle grade mystery sounds perfect for Halloween. Aveline Jones loves reading ghost stories, so a dreary half-term becomes much more exciting when she discovers a spooky old book. Not only are the stories spine-tingling, but it once belonged to Primrose Penberthy, who vanished mysteriously, never to be seen again. Intrigued, Aveline decides to investigate Primrose’s disappearance. Now someone… or something, is stirring. And it is looking for Aveline.

I enjoyed this book, it was genuinely scary in parts and a great spooking book for middle grade. Loved the build up of elements that built the spooky atmosphere-the diary and the scarecrows worked particularly well. The ending built to a fantastic pace and it was very thrilling.

I really could not put this book down! It is the perfect autumnal ghost story and will send shivers down your spine.
Aveline Jones has been sent to stay with her aunt on the Cornish Coast for half term while her mother visits her sick grandmother. The gloomy, stormy seaside setting is so atmospheric and creates an eerie tone right from the start. When searching for a book on ghosts in the local second-hand bookshop, Aveline comes across the perfect volume of stories about the local area. The only thing is, she soon finds that the last story has been completely blacked out by the book's previous owner, Primose Penberthy, and Aveline is desperate to find out why. With the help of Mr Lieberman, the bookshop owner, and his nephew Harold, Aveline begins to investigate further and uncovers more than she bargained for...
This well-crafted, fast-paced tale is full of suspense and will keep you hooked right to the end. It is perfect for middle-graders and adults alike but it may lead to you keeping the lights on at bedtime!

The witching hour is nearly upon us guys! Spooky October is steadily approaching and a good TBR full of ‘haughty vibes’ is a requirement for this time of year.

And, what do I recommend? I HIGHLY, HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE HAUNTING OF AVELINE JONES!!! I’ll be perfectly honest when I say that I went into this book with pretty much no expectations, and then came out of it FULLY CREEPED OUT BUT SMILING!

Avaline’s favourite reads often involve the supernatural with a primary focus on ghosts. So when she is sent to a small costal town to spend half-term with her up-tight and rigid Aunty, she decides to erase the border by finding out the local legends. Only then, in an old dusty pile of books, does she find out about local girl Primrose Penberthy and her disappearance. It is up to Aveline to find out what happened to Primrose and just how the supernatural fits in here.

THIS BOOK WAS SO AMAZING! And, for a middle-grade, I did not expect it to haunt me so much. And I mean ‘haunt’ here in the sense that I was turning the light on so the ghosts didn’t eat me! Honestly, such a good read with great charcters— I loved the quirky, talkative old man who ran the bookshop— and the setting was just so perfect to create this creepy and ghostly vibe.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Thank you so much NetGallery and Usborne Publishing for this early readers copy! I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Read. Be happy. Stay safe.

There is something so cosy about spooky middle-grade reads at the start of autumn and I was delighted when I was approved for this one on NetGalley.

Aveline Jones is spending some time at her aunt’s old, creaking house in Malmouth on the Cornish coast. Bored out of her mind with limited phone and internet access, Aveline finds her way to the local second-hand bookshop, where she finds a fascinating tome, full of local ghost stories. But the book holds a mystery of its own and Aveline finds herself at the centre of a supernatural folktale that was never quite put to sleep.

The story is illustrated by these wonderful, atmospheric images by Keith Robinson that really add to the drama. The scarecrows bearing an uncanny resemblance to sick children really chilled me and gave the whole town an uneasy vibe that was apparent from the very first chapter. I knew I was in for more than a few scares!

Mr Lieberman, the owner of the bookshop, is a charming, eccentric man who I know would have endless stories to tell about his childhood in Germany and how he came to be in possession of the hundreds of books in his shop. I would love to spend an afternoon, exploring the stacks and uncovering mysteries and secrets. His shop is the only pocket of magical warmth in the whole of Malmouth.

Hickes did a really great job of personifying the setting. To me, the town itself seemed to be a huge, heaving creature waiting to burst and unleash all of its long-buried sinister secrets. Aside from the ghosts Aveline met as the narrative progressed, the stark empty streets and grey storm-buffeted town of Malmouth acted as the biggest, most unsettling entity of them all.

As well as being a sad, chilling ghost story, this is also a tale of friendship. Aveline feels a deep connection to Primrose Penberthy, a girl who went missing in Malmouth 30 years previously. Defying time and space barriers, Aveline feels herself developing a unique friendship with this girl with whom she has so much in common and yet will never get the chance to meet. The power of this friendship comes to its peak in the final climax of the book and my heart lifted as it materialised.

The Haunting of Aveline Jones is the perfect, eerie Halloween read for anyone who loves a quick spooky story. Although it is middle-grade, it is pretty frightening at points, so it’s perhaps not one for younger readers with nervous dispositions. Packed full of local folklore and intriguing mystery, this is the first in a series so I can’t wait to see what Aveline gets up to next.

This book made me yearn for autumn and as a summer lover this is no mean feat! Aveline Jones is chock full of ghosts, turbulent seas and friends in the unlikeliest of places.
Set by the sea and so beautifully described that at times I could truly imagine the sound of the waves, Aveline embarks on an adventure after finding a mysterious book. Alongside her friend she sets to solve a town’s mystery and save a missing girl, or is the girl trying to save her?
This is going straight into the library in school, I cannot wait to share this with children, it’s an excellent read, spooky not scary, cold yet full of warmth!

I am always intrigued by middle grade spooky books because it is a fine line to walk to make it spooky without stepping outside of the lines of the target group. I think The Haunting of Aveline Jones does that well. At the end of the day, many young kids are interested in spooky elements and ghosts and this book will appeal to many, just as Aveline will. 

Aveline is staying with her distant aunt for half-term as her mother goes to take care of her grandmother. Her aunt lives in an old house in a small town near the sea. It is not how she imagined spending her half-term, but at least she'll be able to read some more ghost stories. In a second hand book store she finds an old volume of ghost stories from the area. But the last story is crossed out. From there Aveline falls into a mystery that reaches back to an old case of a missing girl, Primrose, presumed death. 

I think what I liked a lot about this book is the mood that is there throughout the book. It feels grey and bleak in the town, with odd customs. I certainly felt the mood that is conveyed on the UK cover. There is something very unsettling about it all. The added illustrations by Keith Robinson that are spread throughout the book help set the mood. 

But another thing I liked is how that the adults were present for most of it. There is the show owner of the second hand bookstore and his cousin (of the same age as Aveline). But also surprisingly her aunt who builds a relationship with Aveline throughout everything that is happening. Never did she make Aveline feel silly for feeling as something paranormal was going on around them. She believed her, because she knew that Aveline would never make it up. 

So often there are middle grades where adults completely discard what the kids tell them. And while that does happen most of the time in real life, I love seeing it play out different because I think it is also a teaching moment for the adults that read middle grade. To be open to what our kids have to say. We don't have to squash them because we think it is silly. 

All in all I think this is a fun and spooky middle grade read that is perfect for the coming Halloween season.

I've just finished the haunting of Aveline Jones and as a lady in my 40's I know I am not this novels target audience, but I have to say I loved it, The story gradually builds up the suspense and it reminded me of the books I used to read when I was younger there was just the thrill.of fear for younger readers to enjoy. I will definitely buy this book for my granddaughter (I know I'm to young to be a nan ) and hopefully pass on the thrill of scaring yourself under the covers of your bed. I will look forward to reading more from Phil Hickes and Aveline

This is the perfect book to read on a rainy October day, curled up under a blanket, candles lit, hot chocolate steaming beside you. Unfortunately it was sunny when I read this book but the book's atmosphere is absorbing enough that I was transported to the dreary English seaside while reading anyway

This book follows Aveline as she is dropped off at her estranged aunt's to spend the half term holidays. Straight away, Aveline senses some strange things about the seaside town where her aunt lives, and soon finds herself involved in a mystery involving ghost stories and a child who went missing 30 years ago

I loved this book, and would've loved it as a middle grade aged person too. Aveline was a fab protagonist, and the side characters were great too. I loved the bookshop and could fully imagine myself getting lost for hours in there (especially when the prices sound so reasonable)

As I said, the atmosphere and setting are incredible. I could picture Malmouth perfectly, and it made me nostalgic for all of the English seaside towns I've visited. This would be the perfect Halloween read for someone who, like me, wants to be spooked but is a scardy cat

I wish this book had been around when I was growing up – younger me would have loved it (of course present me did too!) Atmospheric, creepy and chilling it was a perfect read for a grey, rainy day.

Aveline is staying with her Aunt Lillian for a few days in the coastal town of Malmouth. Out of season, this makes for a perfect backdrop to the story that follows – the stormy weather, the deserted streets, the unfamiliarity to city-born Aveline.

The writing was really imnersive and I could feel the wind whipping my hair and the spray from grey waves hitting my face as I hunkered down along the front with Aveline and local boy Harold, who she gradually – somewhat reluctantly at first! – befriends.

Shy, but hiding it with quick comments (and a long fringe), Harold’s clumsy attempts to make friends with Aveline were so well-written and touching to read; I thought he was a great character and I’d love to see more of him in the next book (which I found out about the other day and now can’t wait for!)

I also really liked the way the adults in the story were portrayed too – they aren’t stereotypically stupid, mean or absent, but real, supportive and caring. I especially Lillian and the effect Aveline’s visit had on her.

And when Aveline starts to suspect some ghostly goings on, they don’t dismiss her, but walk a careful line between believing her and suggesting alternative theories, helping her to get to the bottom of it.

And it’s these ghostly goings on that make the book so thrilling. Those and Keith Robinson’s wonderfully dark and atmospheric illustrations!

Aveline loves a good ghost story and ‘stuck’ at her aunt’s for a few days with limited internet and TV, she buys a book of ghost stories from Mr Lieberman’s (another great character!) bookshop down the road.

And this is where the trouble starts. A crossed out story at the end of the book, eerie visions in the sea, a mysterious previous owner gone missing, some truly disturbing scarecrow-like effigies and things that go bump in the night… the tension, mystery and spookiness gradually build and come together leading to an absolutely heart-pounding finale.

Plus, The Specials Madness and cherry red DMs.

I really enjoyed this, and I know if I’d read it as a child I’d have loved it then too. Creepy and atmospheric with a likeable and believable cast, I can’t wait to recommend this in work as the nights draw in and I’m so excited already for book two!

Set on the South-West coast of England, ghost-obsessed Aveline is dropped off to stay with her Aunt Lilian for half-term. She very quickly notices that Malmouth is a coastal town unlike any other when she begins to spot spooky, child-like scarecrows. A visit to the quirky, local bookshop leads to a chilling discovery; consequently, Aveline and 'Book Boy' Harold set out to solve a spooky mystery.

The story is set in autumn (my favourite time of year) and the author does a brilliant job of personifying the weather, using it to create a sense of foreboding throughout the book. The main characters are well-developed and the added narration adds more depth to the story.

If you enjoy spooky stories, 'The Haunting of Aveline Jones' is the perfect middle grade book to read during Halloween season. I have already pre-ordered a copy to share with my Y5-6 class next term! I was glad to read that there will be another Aveline Jones mystery to come. If I have one criticism of the book, it is that it ended too quickly!

Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for an advanced e-copy in exchange for my feedback.