This wasn't what I expected - this story is much more complicated than the spooky-isolated-house-in-the-countryside story I thought it would be. Instead, it's the story of a kid with a messed up life, who is clinging to the mess for all he's worth. While he wavers between choosing the better life he's being offered or running away and stealing cars to crash, his little brother is up in the middle of the night having conversations with a creepy, secret visitor. It's a murder mystery and a family drama combined in a very strange way. ( )

This book is specifically aimed at teenage boys and is a fairly good read. It isn't the mysterious crime story I was expecting, and the magical element is totally unnecessary, but I did enjoy the Irish setting and I liked how Bobby, the troubled teenage protagonist manages to gradually turn his life around with the help of the neighbouring family. ( )

A suspenseful mystery/thriller with a touch of magic featuring a troubled teen and an Irish setting. ( )

In the fantasy novel Creature of the Night by Kate Thompson it is a story about a single parent family consisting of a mom and her two sons who move to a rural area so, that she can hopefully keep her oldest son, Robert, away from the peer pressures and bad influences of growing up in a city. Little does the family know that the house has hidden secrets that might force them to return back to the city. In my opinion I thought the book was provocative because of the lanuage usage, the abuse of alcohol and drugs, and the disrespectful behavior toward adults. As far as recommending it to young adult readers I would not recommend it. This is because of the things I listed above. I just felt like if a troubled young adult read this book they would feel like it was okay to continue to partake in the dangerous and reckless behavior that Robert does.

I was disappointed by this offering from Kate Thompson. It began with promise--including a sufficiently spooky atmosphere--but rather fizzled out. For those who purchase books for school or public libraries, you may be interested in knowing that there is a great deal of profanity in the book (which, really, in the long run doesn't add much.) I wouldn't recommend the book--not enough bang for the buck. If you must read it, borrow it from the library. I am unloading the copy I purchased. ( )