The Door to January by Gillian French (review)

Returning to Bernier, Maine after being bullied and nearly killed two years ago is what sixteen-year-old Natalie feels she needs to do to get rid of her haunting nightmares. Once in town, her dreams lead her to an old abandoned mansion. Almost immediately Natalie has visions of crying girls and ugly murders, but it's clear the events happened decades ago and she's uncertain how she's connected to any of it. Meanwhile, her return to town hasn't gone unnoticed by her former tormentors, and they revive their old routine, including threatening Natalie's life. The bully story doesn't quite match up to the ghost plot in development or appeal, and the bullies themselves are somewhat stereotypical, with the lead jerk a tatted-up tough guy with a pickup truck. The supernatural elements are deftly executed, however; the slow unraveling of the house's history, the increasing tension around Natalie's flashbacks to a distant crime, and the creepy but pitiable spirits that haunt her all come together to make a spine-tingling tale. Although the plotlines never quite coalesce, there's enough spooky mystery here to find an audience among chill seekers.