Book 82, 2022

[chez_jae]

The October People by M.L. Bullock

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Over the course of two evenings, I read an ebook novella called The October People by ML Bullock. It's a spin-off of the author's "Gulf Coast Paranormal" series. This story follows team member Jocelyn Graves as she embarks on a solo mission to investigate the infamous Leaf Academy. It also reaches back in time to tell the story of Hugh McCandlish, one of the tragic victims of the academy.

Jocelyn is excited to be invited to investigate the Leaf Academy and document any paranormal activity she encounters. Expecting the usual opening doors, cold spots, and mysterious noises, Jocelyn is shocked to experience eerie music from the auditorium, disembodied voices, strange black feathers, and the spirit of a young boy. Is the ghost another unfortunate victim, or a dark entity masquerading as a child? If Jocelyn is very lucky, she won't find out the hard way...like Hugh McCandlish did.

This was downright creepy. It was not a cozy paranormal mystery by any means. Perfect for October/Halloween. I'm almost sorry I read it in September. Hah! The author deftly ratcheted the tension up, in both the past and the present, making it difficult to stop reading. I admired Jocelyn's moxie, as well as Hugh's determination to do the right thing. Characterizations were brilliant, including Jocelyn's rescue dog, Sherman.

Favorite line: "I'm not dead yet." // "That's a great motto. Maybe that should be your next tattoo."

Here's the trope-y 'breath' line: I realized that I had been holding my breath.

Spooky, compelling, and highly-recommended! Five stars.