The Night House Files: The Deadsoul Project - Dan Smth

In 1977, something very unusual happened at Alpine Heights, a high-rise block of flats where soldiers awaiting family accommodation at Lightpipe Garrison were placed.  Now, forty-six years later, as the block is being demolished, The Night House, a secret organisation that investigates strange events, is looking into exactly what happened.  This book is the log of that investigation.

Kyle and Laruen live with their mother in a high rise block named Alpine Heights.  They also lived with their step-father, but have just been informed that he was killed in action, so when Kyle and Laruen discover him sitting at their kitchen table, they are shocked to say the least.  This shock grows to concern when they realise how oddly he's behaving, and then fear as this behaviour spreads to other residents of the building.  Determined to get to the bottom of what's going on, as well as save themselves, Kyle and Lauren determine to discover exactly what is going on. 

The Night House Files: The Deadsoul Project is the first in a new series from Dan Smith and continues his collaboration with Barrington Stoke.  His previous series, The Crooked Oak Mysteries, has proved very popular with my classes (both in previous years and with my current class), so the promise of a new series could only be good news.  Needless to say, the book by-passed my reading pile and I began reading it last weekend (during daylight hours!).

The book is set during the 70s and there are references to be found (dinner of crispy pancakes - I loved those!) whilst the book remains current and relevant.  The absence of technology and mobile phones gives the book an edge and leaves the children more isolated than they would be today, which really helped to build the tension.

The plot unfolds chronologically over two days and is interspersed with classified, top secret files from the modern day Nighthouse Investigation which is looking into the incident forty six years later.  I loved this element as it helped to add information and gives it a slightly non-fiction feel with news articles, interviews and diary entries.

With the mystery of military experiments and people behaving in unexpected and scary ways all interwoven into this creepy and very believable book, The Deadsoul Project is chilling and moreish in equal measure.  It's safe to say that Dan Smith has done it again with this book: I couldn't put it down!

Publishing 13th February, The Hight House Files: The Deadsoul Project is a grippingly scary book that will terrify and entertain even the most reluctant reader - just make sure you have a teddy bear ready to keep you company!