"I was scared- with that crystalline, childish fear of being caught and punished. That fear thrashed behind my rib cage like a bird in cupped hands, perhaps the last truly childlike instance of that emotion I'd ever feel." ( )

audio fiction (5 hrs 40 min) - three misfit kids (two of them quite troubled) and an eccentric uncle (also troubled in his way) have a series of spooky encounters in 1980s Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada (nicknamed "Cataract City" in a previous book by same author). CW/TW: all kinds of trauma and unpleasantness, relayed through scary stories and traumatic incidents.

Fascinating storytelling (reminds me a bit of Chuck Palahniuk, though Davidson's narrator has a different sort of voice), alternating between the present (Jake's current brain surgery patients in Toronto that often develop unexpected characteristics) and the past (ghost hunting days as a 12-y.o. in 1980s Niagara Falls, including a relatively tame Halloween during the "after" SNGC period). A bit darker than I thought it would get (plenty of tragedy and grief) but fairly memorable and very unique. ( )

I originally thought this was a horror book. How wrong I was! A lovely coming-of-age story in the 1980s. It made me nostalgic for my teenage years.

This was not what I expected......it was hailed as a Stranger Things meets Stand by me read.....2 of my faves....and a coming of age story. I disagree with both descriptors. I found this while searching new reads for my October reading list......I definitely think the tags are a bit misleading on this one.

It didn't have the same feel as either book mentioned.....I wouldn't call it horror, although it does deal with the paranormal and supernatural.....sort of. It didn't feel like a coming of age story either.....maybe because it's a short read.....maybe because it deals with the adults as much as the children....maybe because it spends much of the story in the present......either way it didn't feel like a coming of age youth story at all.

Those things aside.....this was still a very good story. I did enjoy it immensely. I just wouldn't have added it to an October reading list.

This is a beautifully written story of a boy, Jake, his Uncle, Calvin, and friends they meets along the way...that immediately pulls you in. I appreciate Davidson's sense of humor and writing style. I read this very quickly.....I simply could NOT put it down! I fell in love with both Jake and Calvin......these are characters I would love to follow in a sequal....hint, hint.

I will definitely pursue other works by Craig Davidson for my future reading! ( )

This was haunting and wonderful. It was spooky and heartfelt. I loved every page. ( )