I wasn't sure what I expected when I downloaded this first look, but I was pleasantly surprised. Rather than a cookie-cutter, carbon-copy "scary" retelling of a familiar story pumped out for money, this is a truly original idea executed far better than most of the other YA offerings lining shelves these days. First off, the last story I would expect to get this kind of treatment is that of Holly Hobbie. I'm 32 and I barely know who the character is, so it was a decided risk to make her the focus of this novel. And yet, that seems to be exactly what sets the book apart from its competition. Rather than going after a story everyone knows that has been retold multiple times already, this book is taking something that not a lot of people know anymore and turning it into a genuinely creepy and atmospheric novel of suspense. Second, there is the way that the author executes this story. Free of cliches and dime-a-dozen characters, we get a portrait of an old small town with a mystery at its heart that is populated by characters other than white beautiful teens who are somehow both broke and rich at the same time. And the writing itself is another factor in the overall success of the book. The author manages to, with a few sentences and paragraphs, paint a vivid picture of the surroundings and bring the characters to life, without falling into the trap of accidentally creating an exposition dump that pulls you out of the story. This is by far one of the better YA books I have read recently, and one of the most atmospheric and immersive books I have read period. Can't wait to read the rest.