Today's read was just released last week. I really wanted to get to it by then but wanted the time to sink in and enjoy the creepiness. Because I had a very good suspicion that this was going to head in that direction. The author just happens to be one of my favorite paranormal authors, and I adored the series, which this one acts as a prequel to (if I understood that right).
Anyway, ghost and spook fans should get excited because if this one holds everything I suspect it will, it will be quite the fun read.
THE SECRETS OF WORTHINGTON ORPHANAGE
by R.A. Douthitt
Middle Grade Paranormal
250 pages
ages 10 to 18
When shadows linger and whisper their secrets, danger is never far behind…
Young orphan Darla Sue Jeffries never imagined the horrors lurking behind the pristine façade of Worthington Orphanage. No one could have.
Desperate to escape the clutches of Ruby Worthington, the cold and calculating director, Darla is determined to expose the truth about the orphanage’s chilling past. With only her wits, the memories of her beloved family, and the help of two ghostly allies, Darla unearths a web of lies that stretches far beyond the orphanage walls.
But Darla isn’t the only one seeking justice. Investigative reporter George Lawson is close to unraveling Ruby's deadly secrets. But he must confront the powerful forces determined to keep the orphanage's dark history buried. Can he release his story before tragedy strikes?
As the past and present collide, Darla faces a harrowing risk her life to save the forgotten children of Worthington Orphanage or succumb to the same fate that claimed so many before her.
In this gripping tale of courage, betrayal, and the unyielding pursuit of justice, The Secrets of Worthington Orphanage will haunt you long after the final page.
Young orphan Darla Sue Jeffries never imagined the horrors lurking behind the pristine façade of Worthington Orphanage. No one could have.
Desperate to escape the clutches of Ruby Worthington, the cold and calculating director, Darla is determined to expose the truth about the orphanage’s chilling past. With only her wits, the memories of her beloved family, and the help of two ghostly allies, Darla unearths a web of lies that stretches far beyond the orphanage walls.
But Darla isn’t the only one seeking justice. Investigative reporter George Lawson is close to unraveling Ruby's deadly secrets. But he must confront the powerful forces determined to keep the orphanage's dark history buried. Can he release his story before tragedy strikes?
As the past and present collide, Darla faces a harrowing risk her life to save the forgotten children of Worthington Orphanage or succumb to the same fate that claimed so many before her.
In this gripping tale of courage, betrayal, and the unyielding pursuit of justice, The Secrets of Worthington Orphanage will haunt you long after the final page.
MY TIDBITS
Ghosts, dark secrets, and mystery swirl together to create a haunting and grabbing adventure.
Darla isn't ready for the orphanage but doesn't really have a choice, since her parents both died and her brother has already been sent to a boy's home. While she's sure her grandmother has tried to find the best home for her, it doesn't take long for the orphanage's wonderful facade to crack. Already the first night, Darla doesn't only meet other girls but the ghosts of children, who had passed. All claim that breaking the rules could easily leave her locked below without food and water with no hope of ever coming out. Determined to escape, Darla soon realizes the only way to freedom is to expose the horrors the orphanage holds, but they go much deeper than she could imagine.
Right away, the reader can't help but sympathizing with Darla and hope that she makes it through, but she never plays the victim, either. Darla might have a heavy, emotional load when her grandmother drops her off at the orphanage, but she's level-headed and tries to take things in stride. Her fears, concerns, hopes, and goals are understandable as she steers the social situations within the orphanage, not always perfectly but as best she can. The other characters gain enough depth to make them interesting as Darla works with them or deals with whatever situations they bring. There's enough sense of friendship and hope to keep the tale from growing too dark, and the tension holds the entire way through.
This isn't a light, ghost read. The deaths of the ghosts were harsh, which might make this a difficult read for more sensitive ghost fans. The danger is raw and obvious, and the intentions of the evil characters aren't puffed over. So, this is one for upper middle graders even if Darla starts off with a younger flair, at first. She grows quickly as the mystery unfolds. And the clues are well-laid making it very hard to guess where everything is going until the end.
Readers, who enjoy mysteries with bite and ghosts with an air of grit, will enjoy this one.
And here she is...
Ruth A. Douthitt is an award-winning Christian fiction writer based out of Phoenix, AZ. She currently writes fiction for children and women's fiction and nonfiction for adults.
A teacher, speaker, professional artist, podcaster, runner, and an avid reader of biographies and history, Ruth loves all things creative.
A teacher, speaker, professional artist, podcaster, runner, and an avid reader of biographies and history, Ruth loves all things creative.
http://www.artbyruth.com/
