Gloam - Jack MacKay

When Gwen's grandmother dies, she discovers that her house has been left to Gwen and her siblings: Roger, and the twins Hazel and Hester. With their mother having recently died as well, the kids' step-father Henry moves them all to the house, which is located on a quiet island accessed only by a causeway.  With Henry needing to be on the mainland for work, he decides to employ a childminder to look after the children during the day; however, as soon as Esme arrives, Gwen knows something is not right.  The question is can she figure out what and convince her siblings to her way of thinking before it's too late?

Gloam is one of those books that is deceptively but genuinely creepy because for a great part of the story, everything is perfectly believable in a real-life setting.  It's a book that will give you chills and I'm really quite pleased I read it in the sunshine whilst on holiday!

The children have had such an awful time of things, having lost their grandfather, their mother, and their grandmother all in quick succession.  The house should be a safe haven for them and Henry is determined to build that for them, which is why he thinks that hiring Esme is the right thing to do.  Gwen has spent so long looking after her younger siblings that he feels it's time for somebody to take the responsibility from her.  But despite her grief, or perhaps because of it, Gwen is instantly on edge and knows there is something not right when Esme arrives.  

Gloam is ultimately a fight against the monsters under the bed and the daemons in our heads.  It's a story of love and loss, of learning how to grieve, of trusting your instincts and learning how to be brave.  It's creepy and unputdownable, but be warned... it's likely to leave you with a lump in your throat and a tear in you eye (thank-goodness for sunglasses!).

Gloam publishes on the 14th August.  Read it whilst the nights are still light and the monsters don't lurk under your bed!