Daughter of Darkness

Lake's supernatural thriller sustains interest, although several heavily descriptive passages slow the momentum. Cass, a self-deprecating 15-year-old, lives in a New Jersey suburb with her father, a policeman, and her mother, a writer. At a Halloween party, the girl becomes upset that Rick, an occasional date, seems involved with Lin, a new student. The unfriendly beauty alarms Cass, especially when Lin warns her to ``stay away.'' Best friend Meg thinks the girl is merely possessive of Rick, but Cass isn't so sure; Lin lives, after all, on Midnight Place, an ordinary-looking yet spooky block. Then pal George is pushed down some stairs, classmates Viv and Jewel become ill and Cass is almost trapped in the girls' locker room. It isn't until she reads her mother's article on demonology that these and other perplexities become clear. Despite a wildly contrived resolution, the story features a strong, likable heroine and plenty of suspense--pluses sufficient to satisfy devotees of the genre. Ages 10-up. (Oct.)