Let's Split Up

Let's Split Up

By Author / Illustrator

Bill Wood

Genre

Suspense & Thrillers

Age range(s)

14+

Publisher

Scholastic

ISBN

9780702338526

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

26-09-2024

Synopsis

A nail-biting and perfectly formed thriller for the YA BookTok generation.  This is Scooby Doo meets Pretty Little Liars. 


When hot "it-couple" Brad and Shelley are brutally murdered in a manor on the edge of town, a group of teen friends investigate. Set in Sanera, a small community in California where rumour spreads as fast as the fire on the day of the killings, the theory is the old ghoul who haunts the house after his own murder hundreds of years ago has finally taken revenge. As Cam, Jonesy, Amber and new-girl Buffy investigate, the rumour feels closer to the truth than they ever dared think possible, and as they enter the mansion themselves, the idea of splitting up to find evidence will prove to be either the best ... or worst decision of all... A guaranteed page turner full of tension and twists you won't see coming!  An instant top ten bestseller on publication week and the Number One YA debut that week.


Praise for Let's Split Up: "Let's Split Up is a bingeable page-turner full of fun, frights and friendship. Compelling, original and twisty, I devoured it in one sitting. Bill Wood is a fresh and exciting new voice in YA" - Kathryn Foxfield, author of Good Girls Die First "Iconic. Perfect for anyone with a Scream and Scooby Doo gap in their hearts!" - Andy Darcy Theo, author of The Light That Binds Us.  "A fun, fast slasher as full of heart as it is hijinks" - Sarah Underwood, author Lies We Sing at Sea.  "Brings big Point Horror energy to a new generation." - Kat Ellis, author of Harrow Lake.  "Full of loveable characters, fun action and creepy atmosphere - I loved it!'"Amy McCaw author of Mina and the Undead series. 

Reviews

Clare

Let's Split Up is a fun (and frightening!) teen slasher story with a knowing nod to classic eighties and nineties horror. Think Goosebumps and Scream with a bit of Mike Myers thrown in!


Shelley and Brad are the poster couple at school – the cheerleader and Jock about to graduate. Pursuing Brad's potential ghost-hunting TV career, they record a video of themselves entering the decaying, supposedly haunted Carrington Mansion. But their misbegotten nocturnal escapade ends in murder and the community of sleepy Sanera is shaken to its core. Is this the infamous Carrington curse? Has a long-dead miser come to exact his revenge? Or is someone using an old story to cover their tracks and terrorise residents?


Tight-knit group Cam, Jonsey and Amber - as well as mysterious new girl Buffy - decide to investigate the murders, spurred on by a mix of fear, curiosity and a well-placed lack of faith in the local police. Putting themselves in all sorts of danger, not to mention skipping school and angering/worrying their families, the group soon find that they are dangerously close to uncovering a killer.


Let's Split Up is a really fast-paced and entertaining read; it’s a genuine homage to the horror genre with tropes and movie/book references everywhere. Half the fun of reading it is spotting them! The group of kids might fit some High School stereotypes but even this is cleverly-referenced and neatly fits into the storyline.


They are plenty of twists and lots of shock horror 'he’s behind you!' moments and a credible enough plot and conclusion. It's also nicely set-up for some Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys-style sequels, so plenty more fun to be had here!


334 pages / Reviewed by Clare Wilkins, school librarian

Suggested Reading Age 14+

 

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