Stranger Things: Darkness on the Edge of Town by Adam Christopher

Synopsis:
Christmas, Hawkins, 1984. All Chief Jim Hopper wants is to enjoy a quiet first Christmas with Eleven, but his adopted daughter has other plans. Over Hopper’s protests, she pulls a cardboard box marked “New York” out of the basement—and the tough questions begin. Why did Hopper leave Hawkins all those years ago? What does “Vietnam” mean? And why has he never talked about New York?

Summer, New York City, 1977. Hopper is starting over after returning home from Vietnam. A young daughter, a caring wife, and a new beat as an NYPD detective make it easy to slip back into life as a civilian. But after shadowy federal agents suddenly show up and seize the files about a series of brutal, unsolved murders, Hopper takes matters into his own hands, risking everything to discover the truth.

Review:
Darkness on the Edge of Town is a standalone, original novel from Hopper’s past. The story is told by Hopper to Eleven, with bits of conversation between the two throughout the novel. As a new police detective in New York, Hopper is given a new partner just as cagey government agents seize the case they had just started working.

As young Hopper and his partner investigate ritualistic murders, they stumble upon something bigger. And Hopper has to infiltrate a cult undercover. This story is a mix of murder mystery and thriller. Loaded with suspense and intrigue, I read this one quickly. The excitement builds to a climactic ending that doesn’t disappoint. This novel was a great way to keep me eager for this new season.

The Chosen by Taran Matharu

Synopsis:
Throughout history, people have vanished with no explanation. A group of teenagers are about to discover why.

Cade is settling into a new boarding school, contemplating his future, when he finds himself transported to another realm. He soon discovers their new world is populated with lost remnants from the past: prehistoric creatures, ancient relics, and stranger still―people. Overwhelmed by his new surroundings, Cade has little time to adjust, for soon he and his fellow classmates are forced to become contenders in a brutal game, controlled by mysterious overlords.

Review:
Cade is a misunderstood kid with no friends. Then suddenly, he arrives in a strange land along with some of his classmates in what seems to be a brutal game. There are few answers, and Cade has to rely on his knowledge, as well as the kindness of others, just to stay alive.

The Chosen is the first in a new YA science fiction series. This first novel is action-packed, dramatic, and mysterious. We’re introduced to many characters from several time periods – as well as some strange and dangerous creatures. Cade is a smart and likable boy. And he’s painfully relatable when he makes a selfish decision that he regrets later. We finally get some answers at the end of the book. Though the big reveal is quite strange, I look forward to reading more. This dark and suspenseful story is fast-paced and over too quickly. I will be impatiently waiting for the next in this engaging series.