Another winner YA thriller from Tess James-Mackey. Her ominous and original settings are like characters in their own right and never fail to set the scene in the most sinister way - this time, our girl Lacy is trapped in a haunted caravan park and has barely unpacked her bags before the murders begin.
Better Off Dead is pacy, atmospheric and brilliantly creepy with twists and turns which keep you guessing right up to the very last page.

Jess James-Mackey captures that eerie coastal setting so vividly you can almost feel the sea mist and hear the creak of the caravans at night. The tension builds beautifully, with just the right mix of mystery and fear. It’s scary in the best way not just because of the ghostly whispers or the figure on the cliffs, but because of how isolated and vulnerable Lacy feels as the truth closes in.
What makes this book so special is how it balances the scary with the sincere. Beneath the unsettling atmosphere and haunting moments lies a deeply human story about grief, survival, and finding strength when everything feels lost. The characters feel real and raw, and their emotions hit hard.

I'm not usually a fan of anything scary, but this book sounded so intriguing I just couldn't resist requesting for an ARC. I'm so glad I did because I was so invested, this book had me in a chokehold with the mix of a murder mystery slash paranormal mystery- we truly get the best of both worlds in this book, and ironically they're unrelated, but happen to the poor main character Lacey anyway.

I basked in the setting of a rundown Welsh holiday park, it had all the eerie elements, felt rough around the edges, and each character we meet has such an interesting and different personality. Each interaction felt so genuine, from the arguments and rising tensions, to the friendships and slight hint of a romance.

Lacey was a great main character, she's flawed but gradually learns to accept herself for who she is, not who her older sister Winter was trying to force her to be. Being from a working class family in a not so reputable county, I completely understood Lacey's judgememts and self-doubts, along with her journey of wanting more for herself and striving to break free of the stereotypes, to then accepting her roots and the small yet meaningful quirks she has, plus realising just how great her family actually is.

I do admit, one of the major twists (the paranormal one) I guessed halfway through the book, but the other one (check TW's before reading) I didn't, and I was shocked and both disgusted and shook on everyone's behalf. I did feel like the paranormal stuff was a bit thrown in there and random, especially as it's not directly related to the story, but nonetheless added to the creep factor.

The ending wraps up well, leaving off with a hint for a possible sequel, with most questions answered. Despite being YA, I really enjoyed this book, it's perfect for keeping it spooky on a dreary day, just don't look out of the window!

4/5 🌟

I really enjoyed this book. I had to stop reading a couple of times due to having things to do but I couldn't wait to get into it again. I did predict part of the ending but not fully how it turned out. I will definitely be checking out more books by this author.

Thanks again to Netgalley for allowing me to read this.