REVIEW: Captivating, Intriguing and Odd comes to mind when I think of the debut novel The Five Things by Beth Merwood. So, let me explain why I chose those words. First, I must say this was a pretty darn good debut novel. 

CAPTIVATING because there is a mystery at the center of the story. Many of us love a good mystery. It revolves around a devastating event and three young children try to figure out what really happened. You know how it is, your parents don’t tell you everything because you’re too young. So, you and your friends imagine all sorts of terrible scenarios. 

INTRIGUING because like me, you’re gonna want to know how this turns out and you’re along for the ride with these kids and their imaginings. Since this happened when they were 9 years old or so, this stays with them their whole lives. Thankfully, we don’t have to wonder that long!

ODD because this book takes place in England near the coast. I didn’t figure that out until the end of the book as I didn’t stop to look up the little towns. The author uses slang and terms that I’ve never heard before. Some of it I looked up but, most of it I could kind of figure out by the context in which it was used. 

I would recommend this book for all those that love a good mystery. 

I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest review. Thank you, Beth Merwood for the opportunity! 

SYNOPSIS: For nine-year-old Wendy, the summer of 1969 will never be forgotten.

Local kids have always told stories about the eerie wood on the outskirts of the village, and Wendy knows for sure that some of them are true. Now the school holidays have started and she’s going to the wood again with Anna and Sam, but they soon become convinced that someone is trying to frighten them off.

When a terrible event rocks the coastal community, the young friends can’t help thinking there must be a connection between the incident, the tales they’ve heard, and the strange happenings they’ve begun to witness. As glimpses of a darker world threaten their carefree existence, they feel compelled to search out the underlying truth.