White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson

White Smoke

by Tiffany D. Jackson

The Haunting of Hill House meets Get Out in this chilling YA psychological thriller and modern take on the classic haunted house story from New York Times bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson!

Marigold is running from ghosts. The phantoms of her old life keep haunting her, but a move with her newly blended family from their small California beach town to the embattled Midwestern city of Cedarville might be the fresh start she needs. Her mom has accepted a new job with the Sterling Foundation that comes with a free house, one that Mari now has to share with her bratty ten-year-old stepsister, Piper.

The renovated picture-perfect home on Maple Street, sitting between dilapidated houses, surrounded by wary neighbors has its . . . secrets. That’s only half the problem: household items vanish, doors open on their own, lights turn off, shadows walk past rooms, voices can be heard in the walls, and there’s a foul smell seeping through the vents only Mari seems to notice. Worse: Piper keeps talking about a friend who wants Mari gone.

But “running from ghosts” is just a metaphor, right?

As the house closes in, Mari learns that the danger isn’t limited to Maple Street. Cedarville has its secrets, too. And secrets always find their way through the cracks.

* An Amazon Best Book of the Month * Parade's Best YA Books of the Year * Indigo Best Books of the Year * SLJ Best Books of the Year * Kirkus Best Books of the Year * A YALSA Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults Book of the Year *

Reviewed by alindstadtcorbeax on

5 of 5 stars

Share
Star Rating: —> 4.5 Stars

HO-LY SH*T! This was EXACTLY what i've been looking for! The perfect haunted house story with its own twists, turns, & vibe, as well... this is definitely ANYTHING BUT a carbon copy like most haunted house based horror i've come across lately.

I am seriously impressed, and when it comes to horror because that is seriously hard to do !

I also really, really appreciated the mental health rep—anxiety, OCD, panic, and all the paranoia that can come with that, rep! It was pretty spot on for what anxiety & panic feels like, and knowing you're probably being irrational, but because of your sub-conscious can't help but seize up in a panic attack anyway. The mental health rep was just great.
(Unfortunately, I would know, for all o' the above. Anxiety is one hell of a bitch!

Last modified on

Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 15 September, 2021: Finished reading
  • 15 September, 2021: Reviewed