{I've Been Reading} It Came From Neverland

 Dungeons and Danger by Elizabeth Penney 

The second book in the Ravensea Castle series of cozy mysteries gives readers a more detailed look at the dungeons and sacred spring. Ghost hunters and treasure hunters have both descended on the castle, just as the family is preparing for Viking Fest, an event which will bring even more strangers to the property. I'm absolutely loving this series. Ghosts wander the dark old halls, the characters feel like people you'd actually want to visit, and the setting fascinates me. I look forward to the next book. 

It Came from Neverland by Cynthia Pelayo

Wendy Darling teaches at a home for orphaned children and volunteers in a hospital, telling stories to terribly injured soldiers. For twelve years, she's tried to forget what happened to her and her brothers when they disappeared and were later found in Kensington Garden. Now the children at the home are behaving oddly. Shadows stretch and loom and there's something wrong with the birds. One of the soliders whispers the last name she wants to hear and, even before a child goes missing, she can no longer ignore the signs that he's back. This book is wonderfully dark and creepy. The backdrop of the great war and the glimpses of Wendy's time with Peter and the Lost Boys paint a haunting picture of stolen youth. I got caught up in the story and couldn't put it down until I was done. 

Marion by Leah Rowan 

The cover copy had me expecting a 1960s setting with Marion Crane and Norman Bates -- and that's exactly why I picked it out to read. As soon as I realized that it's set in the present day, I was disappointed. But I got over that quickly. Some of the plot follows the basic structure of the movie and, now and then, there's a screaming moment that could've been lifted straight from the original Psycho. This author really knows how to create suspense on the printed page. If you're not dead set on something that includes the original setting and characters, I think you'll enjoy this one. 

Disclosure -- The publishers provided me with advance review copies.