Something is not right in the small town of Roaring Creek.
Vera Martinez has lived there all her life and she has no desire to stay there any longer than she has to. With one more year of school, she is working at the local hospital to save money for her escape. The townsfolk avoid Vera if they can. She endures all sorts of names and dirty looks from the locals and her classmates, because of her parent’s profession. They are Demonologists, working all over the world for the Vatican.
Vera has learnt to keep to herself and be content in her own company, with her aunt looking after her when her parents are away. She has every right to be angry at the world, but underneath her curtain of dark hair, black nail polish and black clothes, she has a kind heart. Still, she is wary when a popular guy at school begins staring at her in class. What does he want?
Max Oliver is only just holding things together. He’s popular, on the track team, and chased by the hottest girl in school. He’s also trying to keep the family restaurant on its feet, look after his 7 year old sister and keep an eye on his mum who has sunk into a pit of depression she can’t seem to climb out of. Seven years before, a huge gas explosion took many Roaring Creek lives – including Max’s dad.
His mum seems to be getting sicker by the day and when she does emerge from her bedroom, is increasingly strange. So much in fact he’s not sure she’s the same person. The only one in town who might believe him is the town weirdo – Vera Martinez.
Vera can’t believe Max has sought her out away from school, but still isn’t sure about what he’s trying to tell her. When she finally gives in, she understands the haunted look this popular boy now wears.
She’s also worried about one of her work friends. Samantha has joined a self-help group that is reaching out to Roaring Creek residents after multiple tragedies in their town. More and more people are joining á group called the Sunshine Club, looking for relief for their grief. Vera and Max are quickly caught up in the truth of all the tragedy in Roaring Creek.
With her parents abroad Vera knows she has to do something – even if it is breaking her family’s most important rule.
Told in both main character’s Vera and Max’s viewpoints, this delves into The Exorcist and The Conjuring territory. Small Town Monsters is so much more than possession however. This ‘taking over’ of a small town has been years in the making.
Vera is an interesting character with her strange background and a life of being shunned. Then there’s Max. At the beginning of the story he is two people. The popular fun-loving guy he shows his friends, but also a troubled, sleep-deprived teen with problems that quickly eclipse the normal life he once had.
Inspired by the famous demon hunters Lorraine and Ed Warren, and the 1978 Jonestown massacre, Small Town Monsters is a gripping, fast-paced horror novel.
Author – Small Town Monsters
Age – 14+
(2021, Penguin, Horror, Family, Courage, Grief, Murder, Crime, Secret, Cult, Danger, Mass Murder, Demons, Angel of Tears, Religious Alter, Possession, Exorcism, Gripping, Trust, Sister, Mother, Small town)