Hoping to get closer to her friend and crush Dougie, 16-year-old Heather agrees to a camping trip on the Scottish coast-s remote Black Cairn Point. Heather; her best friend, Emma; Emma-s combative boyfriend, Darren; and their friend Martin entertain themselves with campfire tales of pagan rituals and a boozy game of Truth or Dare. Later, Heather, Dougie, and Martin discover an ancient burial site on a nearby hill, where Dougie unearths a strange brooch. But after a heated confrontation with Darren, Martin stalks off and doesn-t return, setting off a shocking series of events. A year later, Heather and Dougie, who is in a coma, are the only survivors, and Heather-s story has convinced investigators, and her family, that she was responsible for her friends- disappearances. She must now come to terms with the past, or, if she can-t persuade the authorities of her innocence, forfeit her future. McFall (the Ferryman trilogy) compensates for a predictable setup and stereotypical characters with the foreboding, isolated beach setting, even if a shocking final twist doesn-t feel fully earned. Ages 14-up. Agent: Margot Edwards, Margot Edwards Rights Consultancy. (Jan.)

Gr 9 Up-Heather joins her friends Emma, Dougie, and Martin on a camping trip to Black Cairn Point in remote coastal Scotland. Unfortunately for Heather, Emma's boyfriend Darren is their driver, and the lovebirds spend all their time kissing and drinking. Left on her own, Heather deals with a crush on Dougie while trying not to hurt Martin, who has feelings for her. While exploring the area, the teens discover an ancient Druid burial mound and unearth a mysterious brooch. Back at the camp, tension between the boys rises. In the middle of a sudden storm, the teens realize that Martin has disappeared. The group separates to search for the missing boy, but the situation grows darker still. Heather finds Emma crying alone on the beach, having witnessed something pull Darren into the sea. Heather suspects the ancient brooch has something to do with their misfortunes, but before she can return the artifact, she, too, has an encounter with the evil among them. The story alternates between Heather being interviewed by a psychiatrist about the events that led her to a psychiatric ward, being accused of murder. The pacing is mostly adequate, but does lag a bit with Heather's romantic interactions, which are a bit out of place amid the more terrifying moments. Overall, however, it's a worthwhile read. VERDICT A page-turning tale with just the right amount of creepiness for readers who enjoy suspense and dark evildoing. Give to fans of horror and psychological thrillers. Sandi Jones, Wynne High School, Wynne, AR