Past Midnight - Book Review

Title ~ Past Midnight
Series ~ Past Midnight #1
Author ~ Mara Purnhagen
Release Date ~ September 1, 2010
Age Group ~ Young Adult
Publisher ~ Harlequin Teen
Source ~ Harlequin Teen

GOODREADS SUMMARY

Let me set the record straight. My name is Charlotte Silver and I'm not one of those paranormal-obsessed freaks you see on TV…no, those would be my parents, who have their own ghost-hunting reality show. And while I'm usually roped into the behind-the-scenes work, it turns out that I haven't gone unnoticed. Something happened on my parents' research trip in Charleston—and now I'm being stalked by some truly frightening other beings. Trying to fit into a new school and keeping my parents' creepy occupation a secret from my friends—and potential boyfriends—is hard enough without having angry spirits whispering in my ear.

All I ever wanted was to be normal, but with ghosts of my past and present colliding, now I just want to make it out of high school alive….

REVIEW

Boo! Past Midnight is a spooky mystery about Charlotte and her ghost-hunting parents. Charlotte is embarrassed by her parents because they have a ghost-hunting TV show and they have written books on the subject too. The funny thing is that Charlotte’s parents are trying to prove that ghosts do NOT exist. Perhaps they didn’t get the memo, because their daughter is being stalked by some real-life ghosts.

A pair of ghosts is haunting Charlotte because she reminds them of their own daughter, also named Charlotte, who disappeared one night many years ago. They spent the rest of their lives, and even their afterlives, searching for her. I love that Charlotte puts her embarrassment aside and asks her parents to help these ghosts finally find peace.

That’s not the only mystery going on. Charlotte’s best friend, Avery, has a ghostly secret too. I thought I had this one figured out, but it turns out I had it all wrong. I love it when that happens. I liked the friendship between these two and how Avery trusted Charlotte.

Past Midnight is a fast read with a unique spin on ghosts. I liked the characters, the mystery, and the overall idea. I am looking forward to reading the sequel, One Hundred Candles.

RATING

4 Liked

COVER COMMENTS

That must be one of the Charlottes in the background. I am not sure what the thorny branches mean, but I do like the misty green.