THE HAUNTING OF BELLINGTON COTTAGE

Can former friends set aside their drama to solve the mystery of a haunted cottage?

Bellington Cottage has a tragic history, bizarre taxidermy, and strange nighttime sounds. It’s also available on the Rent-A-Bode app, which brings 12-year-olds Iris and Violet and their respective grown-ups there on a winter vacation. The girls haven’t seen each other since another trip three years ago, when they turned a Cape May rental into a haunted house together. Iris, whose new best friend just moved away, is eager to reconnect and indulge in their shared love of spooky things. But Violet—who now prefers “Vee” and embraces a goth style—wants nothing to do with her. Then, strange things start happening. Taxidermied creatures move around. A tree swing slams against the trunk. An unplugged toaster activates with a pop. Setting aside their discord, Iris and Vee investigate. It seems that something—or someone—is sending them increasingly urgent messages. Authentic characters inhabit an evocatively described world in this thoughtful ghost story. Solving the mystery requires Iris and Vee to unravel multiple threads of conflict, from the Bellington family’s tragic, unfinished tale to their own tangled web of jealousy, family strife, and friendship fails. A powerful theme of positive communication weaves through and between the storylines. Readers who enjoy interpersonal themes and don’t mind a leisurely buildup to the real shivers will appreciate this tale. Characters read white.

Mild chills mingle with believable friendship issues in this appealing ghost story.