What the Dead Want by Norah Olson (review)

In horror, inheriting a mansion is never as good as it sounds. Indeed, sixteen-year-old Gretchen’s “new” mansion is decaying, haunted, and tended by an old aunt who promptly commits suicide in front of her by drinking film-developing fluid. On top of all that, Gretchen’s somehow supposed to be helping release the spirits trapped in the house, even though some of them are cruel to her. The situation basically bites, even if it does finally give her some closure on her mother’s disappearance years before (yup, the reason was supernatural). Gretchen is pure teen throughout most of the book, mocking things that could be important as old fashioned, snarking about the accommodations, and feeling certain that three teens (two neighbors join her after her aunt dies) should fare just fine against haunted forces. Interspersed letters from a distant relative show that this house has quite the troubled history, tied in with racism, abuse, and even murder. Sharp character development means that ghost fans will attach to Gretchen (and Hawk and Hope, the neighbors) quickly, investing in their ultimate success while also enjoying the creepiness of the haunted house.