Wicked Jenny

Hilton (Death Pact) takes on a classic trope—people involved with a horrible deed in their adolescence are threatened by something possibly supernatural as adults—in this middling horror novel. In 1988, teenager Andy Miller belongs to a group of five friends in northwestern England, one of whom, Carl Butler, has a sadistic streak. Two girls from their school—Melanie Bishop and her adoptive sister Poppy—encounter the group torturing frogs at a pond before going on their way—only to be viciously attacked. Andy and his pals were the last to see the sisters before someone bludgeoned them, killing Melanie and leaving Poppy with serious brain injuries. They suspect the assailant was Ian Nixon, an older boy reputed to be slow-witted, whom they’d seen nearby with a claw hammer, and report him to the police, leading to Ian’s arrest and suicide while in custody. Thirty-five years later, Carl is beaten to death, possibly by the legendary local monster Ginny Greenteeth. Whatever it was that killed Carl, it’s coming for the other four friends next. The final reveals are shocking but not particularly satisfying and Hilton isn’t successful at creating a spooky atmosphere. There’s little to make this stand out. (Jan.)