Chase has always been fascinated in the paranormal, and since junior year has worked on his YouTube channel about ghost hunting. Hunting for subscribers has taken over friendships outside the group and his schoolwork. His goals are constantly growing, now wanting a million subscribers. And he knows just how he’s going to do that.

The key to the channel is Chrissy who can hear people’s thoughts, and see ghosts. She has had a troubled childhood with her mum and doctors believing she has a mental illness, rather than what she is telling them. Chase is the first person to ask her what she sees, and actually believes her, and over their years at high school they have become close.

Another key member is Kiki, gorgeous, smart, always immaculately dressed and good with people. She is also notoriously late for everything.

Emma is their gadgets and tech expert, building ghost hunting equipment herself from parts off the internet. She has always been a loner and when angry will retreat alone and refuse to communicate when texted etc. For Emma, it’s about the Science of the hunt.

Chase, Chrissy, Kiki and Emma are the Ghost Gang – with an ever growing group of subscribers.

Chase has been working on the ultimate ghost gig for the past few months. They leave their home of Las Vegas behind and head to Los Angeles – home of Hollywood, but also of the most haunted hotel – Hearst Hotel. Staying overnight at Halloween and filming what Chrissy sees and they experience first hand is going to be – in Chase’s firm hopes – what shoots their channel into the stratosphere.

The Hearst Hotel has a famous history – first on the list is a girl named Eileen who went missing there and whose remains were found in an elevator shaft. The hotel is in a rough part of town where blocks of makeshift homes of cardboard, plastic and canvas surround it. The gang can see it once used to be grand, but soon discover it’s rundown, and unloved with sticky carpet, peeling wallpaper and stains on bedding.

If only that was the worst of it. Before they even made it to their dorm room, Chrissy has seen blood raining down on her friends in the elevator and ghosts wandering in the halls. Her trick of wearing a beanie to block them out hasn’t worked, but two beanies just might.

They soon discover something besides ghosts going on in the motel. The owner and her son sign them in, but the Ghost Gang mistrust them instantly. When they find their first dead body, their suspicions rise even higher.

Chrissy has never been assaulted by so many spectral sights, screams or smells. It’s getting hard to determine which is real and which is not. Another guest seems to be on the same wavelength with her, also claiming to be psychic and investigating the hotel. Chase doesn’t like Chrissy’s sudden trust and interest in this guy, after always having a thing for Chrissy but too scared to tell her.

Tensions rise between all four friends inside this malevolent building, nearly tearing them apart – but there is someone else who wants to do it for forever.

A great ghost story told in four viewpoints, all clearly marked at the beginning of each chapter. Think of all the creepy movies you’ve seen with ghostly visions and characters and then shake them all up together into one building in one time and you have Horror Hotel. But not all ghosts are bad…

The Ghost Gang’s history together has formed a bond, and the reader gets to know each one with their quirks and unspoken dreams. These are soon sorted out in the chaos of trying to stay alive. I love the ghost’s revenge on those who have wronged them!

Authors –  Faith McClaren and Victoria Fulton

Age – 14+

Find an excerpt here

(2021, Action, Betrayal, Courage, Crime, Friendship, Ghost, Horror, Love, Murder, Mystery, Revenge, Science, Scary, Spooky, Freaky, Creepy, Los Angeles, Haunted Hotel, You Tube Channel, Ghost Hunting, Paranormal, Trolls, Internet Subscribers)