"Part ghost story, part coming-of-age story, John Searles' Help for the Haunted is a dazzling, dark portrait of a troubled family beset by the supernatural. Searles ratchets up the tension with every passing chapter, and delivers authentic and well-earned scares--all written through the lens of a lonely teenager searching for answers. The result is a novel both frightening and beautiful."
-- Gillian Flynn

An unforgettable story of a most unusual family, their deep secrets, their harrowing tragedy, and ultimately, a daughter's discovery of a dark and unexpected mystery.

Sylvie Mason's parents have an unusual occupation--helping "haunted souls" find peace. After receiving a strange phone call one winter's night, they leave the house and are later murdered in an old church in a horrifying act of violence.

A year later, Sylvie is living in the care of her older sister, who may be to blame for what happened to their parents. Now, the inquisitive teenager pursues the mystery, moving closer to the knowledge of what occurred that night--and to the truth about her family's past and the secrets that have haunted them for years.

Capturing the vivid eeriness of Stephen King's works with the compelling quirkiness of John Irving's beloved novels, Help for the Haunted is that rare story that brings to life a richly imagined and wholly original world. From the very first page, it takes readers on a captivating journey, told in the heartbreakingly resonant voice of a young heroine who is determined to discover the truth about her family and what went wrong one snowy winter night.

Author: John Searles
Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: William Morrow & Company
Published: 07/15/2014
Series: P.S.
Pages: 400
Weight: 0.66lbs
Size: 7.96h x 5.37w x 0.94d
ISBN: 9780060779641

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 5.7
Point Value: 22
Interest Level: Upper Grade
Quiz #/Name: 167828 / Help for the Haunted


Review Citation(s):
People Weekly 07/28/2014 pg. 45

About the Author
Searles, John: -

John Searles is a New York Times bestselling and award-winning author. His books are published in over a dozen languages and have been voted "Best of the Year" or top picks by Boston Globe, Entertainment Weekly, Salon and the American Library Association. He has appeared on NBC's Today Show, CBS This Morning, CNN, NPR's Fresh Air and other shows to discuss his books.