LONG LANKIN by Lindsey Barraclough

Long Lankin
Lindsey Barraclough

Rating: B+
Release Date: 7/10/12


Synopsis from goodreads.com:
Beware of Long Lankin, that lives in the moss. . . .When Cora and her younger sister, Mimi, are sent to stay with their elderly aunt in the isolated village of Byers Guerdon, they receive a less than warm welcome. Auntie Ida is eccentric and rigid, and the girls are desperate to go back to London. But what they don't know is that their aunt's life was devastated the last time two young sisters were at Guerdon Hall, and she is determined to protect her nieces from an evil that has lain hidden for years. Along with Roger and Peter, two village boys, Cora must uncover the horrifying truth that has held Bryers Guerdon in its dark grip for centuries before it's too late for little Mimi. Riveting and intensely atmospheric, this stunning debut will hold readers in its spell long after the last page is turned.


My thoughts on the book:
Wow, this book was creepy! I didn't think it'd be that scary since it's a YA novel, but it was. I feel like bricking up all of my windows, just to be safe. Do not read this book alone at night, whatever you do. Trust me. You will be sorry. Barraclough will trick you into thinking you're safe when you're really not. She does this repeatedly throughout the novel, yet somehow, you never learn. Don't say I didn't warn you. 


Long Lankin is one of those novels that gets into your head, and while you're reading it, the outside world disappears. I really enjoyed getting to know all of the characters, and every single character was well-developed. Aunt Ida was a bit unsettling, to say the least, but most of the characters were quite enjoyable. Cora was a very intriguing and brave character. It was clear that she'd do anything for her little sister, Mimi. She never backed down, and she was willing to do what it took to save Mimi. Roger served as the comic relief, of sorts. I'm glad that someone was there to lighten the mood, or the book may have been to intense for me. Roger was a sweet kid, though, and I really enjoyed his and Cora's interactions. 


The plot was compelling, intriguing, and horrifying. This is one of those books that you can't put down, and even though some parts are scary, so you sit there making horrified faces at the book while you read, and hold the book as far away from your face as you can in order to "protect yourself" from it, you still can't put it down. That's the mark of a good horror story, if you ask me. I'm pretty sure my cat thought I was having some sort of facial muscle spasms/nervous twitches while I was reading this book. At least I read it during daylight hours. 


The pacing for this book was pretty spot on, but the ending did feel rushed. I felt like the entire ending could have been explained more and slowed down a bit. Overall, though, the pacing worked for me. I never felt like the story was dragging, and it only moved too quickly at the very end. The information was woven gracefully into the narrative, and I didn't feel like there weren't any massive info dumps to break up the flow of the story. 


Overall, I really enjoyed this book, even if it did creep me out. Barraclough is obviously a master of suspense, and she did a terrific job of alternating back and forth between giving the reader a false sense of security and scaring them. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good scary story! 


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