Haunted Mystery Series

The Crossroads

Book 1

2010 Anthony And Agatha Awards Winner (Best Children’s/Young Adult Novel)
A Top 10 Crime Fiction Book For Youth (Booklist)
Children’s Choice List (Children’s Book Council/International Reading Association)

“Have you ever seen a face hidden in the bark of a tree and known that the man trapped inside wanted to hurt you?”

Zack, his dad, and new stepmother have just moved back to his father’s hometown in Connecticut, not knowing that their new house has a dark history. Fifty years ago, a crazed killer caused an accident at the nearby crossroads that took forty innocent lives. He died when his car hit a tree in a fiery crash, and his malevolent spirit has inhabited the tree ever since. During a huge storm, lightning hits the tree, releasing the spirit, who decides his evil spree isn’t over, and Zack is directly in his sights!

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Praise!

“Brief, fast-paced action chapters, tight plotting, several murders and a sympathetic main character keep things moving, as long-buried clues to the mystery of a tragic accident are revealed with some help from kindly phantoms.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“An absorbing psychological thriller as well as a rip-roaring ghost story, this switches points of view among humans, trees, and ghosts with astonishing élan. Expect lots of requests.”
—Booklist, starred review

“A well-told ghost story with plenty of twists and chills.”
—School Library Journal

“In this atmospheric horror tale…. Grabenstein’s solid mystery, eccentric characters (including a sympathetic stepmother), and intriguing ghosts (both good and evil) generate consistent suspense.”
—The Horn Book, Inc.

“The Crossroads is a heart-pounding, page-turning ghost story that will keep even the strong-willed awake long after the last page has been turned.”
—Teens Read Too

“Chris Grabenstein’s first children’s novel, The Crossroads will keep you on the edge of your seat.”
—The Well-Read Child

“The Crossroads is one of the best ghost-story mysteries I have ever read…. It was exciting all the way through.”
—Simon, age 11

Haunted Mysteries Series

1

2

3

4

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