#BookReview: Find Him Where You Left Him Dead by @kris10writes @torteen

Synopsis: AT DAWN HE’LL BE GONE AND YOU’LL BE HERE FOREVER.

Kristen Simmons's masterful breakout horror novel that's " Jumanji but Japanese-inspired" (Kendare Blake) about estranged friends playing a deadly game in a nightmarish folkloric underworld.

“Twists, turns, and genuine palpable emotion.” ―David Levithan • “Haunting and unforgettable.” ―Melissa de la Cruz • “A nightmare I didn’t want to end.” ―Terry J. Benton-Walker • “Absorbing.” ―C. L. Herman • “Bone-chilling.” ―Lauren Shippen • “Heart-pounding.” ―Margaret Rogerson • “Twisted.” ―Lish McBride • “Won't let me sleep!” ―Chelsea Mueller • "Full of surprises." ―C. J. Redwine • “Intense.” ―Kendare Blake

Four years ago, five kids started a game. Not all of them survived.

Now, at the end of their senior year of high school, the survivors―Owen, Madeline, Emerson, and Dax―have reunited for one strange and terrible they’ve been summoned by the ghost of Ian, the friend they left for dead.

Together they return to the place where their friendship ended with one find Ian and bring him home. So they restart the deadly game they never finished―an innocent card-matching challenge called Meido. A game without instructions.

As soon as they begin, they're dragged out of their reality and into an eerie hellscape of Japanese underworlds, more horrifying than even the darkest folktales that Owen's grandmother told him. There, they meet Shinigami, an old wise woman who explains the 

They have one night to complete seven challenges or they'll all be stuck in this world forever.

Once inseparable, the survivors now can’t stand each other, but the challenges demand they work together, think quickly, and make sacrifices―blood, clothes, secrets, memories, and worse.

And once again, not everyone will make it out alive.

This title will be released on September 26, 2023.

Goodreads | Amazon

Rating: 4 Stars
My Review: This was more suspense thriller vs. horror. Which wasn't a bad thing. I liked the similarities to Jumunji.  The dark woods and setting of the story was great. The pacing in this one was wonderful and I loved the characters.  I do wish it would have been a tad darker but this was great for the middle ground for ya.  I think for this spooky season this would be a great addition to your TBR. 

Review

"Gritty, fascinating, and full of surprises, this is a story that lingers long after the final sentence."―C.J. Redwine, NYT's bestselling author of Rise of the Vicious Princess

"Kristen Simmons’s Find Him Where You Left Him Dead throws the reader into an intense horror-action game―like Jumanji but Japanese-inspired and really disturbing.” ―Kendare Blake, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Anna Dressed in Blood and the Three Dark Crowns series

“Heart-pounding, immersive, and chilling. I couldn’t put this book down, and can’t get it out of my head!” ―Margaret Rogerson, New York Times bestselling author of An Enchantment of Ravens

“Bone-chilling. you'll be kept on the edge of your seat and with your heart in your throat.” ―Lauren Shippen, author of The Infinite Noise

“Crafted from pure nightmares―so twisted, so turny, that the second you hit The End, you'll feel compelled to start the whole book over again.” ―Lish McBride, award-winning author and Morris Award Short List recipient

"Kristen Simmons strikes the right balance between horror that sticks to your bones and friendships that pull at your heart. The kind of great horror book I can't put down . . . but that also won't let me sleep!" ―Chelsea Mueller, author of Prom House and the Soul Charmer series

About the Author

Critically-acclaimed young adult author of more than a dozen books, including the Article Five trilogy, The Deceivers series, and The Glass Arrow, KRISTEN SIMMONS’ writing is inspired by her work with trauma survivors as a mental health therapist. She currently lives with her husband and son in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she spins stories, herds a small pack of semi-wild dogs, and teaches Jazzercise. To learn more, join her circle on Instagram, or at her website & newsletter.

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Posted in: 4 Stars, Netgalley, Review, TorTeen, Young Adult