Review: Still Waters by Emma Carlson Berne

Still Waters by: Emma Carlson Berne
Publication Date: December 20, 2011
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Page Count: 212
Format: Paperback Original
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Buy the Book: Amazon

Summary from Goodreads:

Hannah can't wait to sneak off for a romantic weekend with her boyfriend, Colin. He's leaving for college soon, and Hannah wants their trip to the lake house to be one they'll never forget.

But once Hannah and Colin get there, things start to seem a bit...off. They can't find the town on any map. The house they are staying in looks as if someones been living there, even though it's been deserted for years. And Colin doesn't seem quite himself. As he grows more unstable, Hannah worries about Colin's dark side, and her own safety.
Nothing is as perfect as it seems, and what lies beneath may haunt her forever.

My Review:


I forewarn you that this book is one you won't want to read in the dark, when you are alone, or when it's completely silent around you. And most of all, in the middle of a storm. That being said, Still Waters was creepy, so creepy. Mysterious too, in the best way.


There really wasn't anything out of the ordinary in the first few chapters. Hannah's boyfriend, Colin, was leaving for Pratt University in a week and she had the idea of surprising him with a last minute trip to the Pine House that his family vacationed in when he was younger.


From the first mention of the Pine House, I  knew there was something off. Colin was acting all weird about it and I found myself frantically flipping pages to see what in the world was up with this place! And the town that surrounds the house is bizarre and eerily empty. It wasn't on any map. I got goosebumps several times when reading the descriptions of the woods and Pine House.


Hannah and Colin's relationship is the one of many people's dreams. She is the unpopular, seemingly plain girl, and he is the one with the girls swooning over him with his ever present camera. Things change, however, when they arrive at the house. Colin starts acting strange and it only gets worse.

Overall this book was terrifying in some parts and I had goosebumps practically the whole way through. I always give props to the author for being able to produce that reaction from an audience.

Is the eeriness of Pine House all in their heads, or is there more to it than just a cozy vacation home? Read it and find out!

Official Rating:

                                                    Three and a half Un-Birthday Cakes!