Ronnie was in the hayloft sliding down the piles of newly-stacked hay when he heard the car drive up into the yard and come to a stop. Spitting a mouthful of hayseeds from his lips and tongue, he ran over to the open doors and peered down into the yard.
"The Deserted Village" by Oliver Goldsmith is a timeless and melancholic poem that reflects on the societal changes brought about by urbanization and the loss of rural communities. Goldsmith's evocative verses lament the transformation of the titular village, where nature's beauty and the simple joys of life have given way to industrial progress and social upheaval. This classic work captures the enduring sentiment of nostalgia for a vanishing way of life and serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of progress.
*BEST MYSTERY/THRILLER FOR THE YEAR* for NPR "Come for the mounting horror and scares, but stay for a devastating examination of the nature of family secrets." - New York Times book review "[A] scary, highly entertaining debut...that pays homage to Shirley Jackson." - South Florida Sun Sentinel A Most Anticipated Book Goodreads * Publishers Weekly * Crime Reads * Popsugar * Bookish * #1 Loanstar Pick in Canada An Indie Next pick! A Library Reads Pick! The Blair Witch Project meets Midsommar in this brilliantly disturbing thriller from Camilla Sten, an electrifying new voice in suspense. Documentary filmmaker Alice Lindstedt has been obsessed with the vanishing residents of the old mining town, dubbed “The Lost Village,” since she was a little girl. In 1959, her grandmother’s entire family disappeared in this mysterious tragedy, and ever since, the unanswered questions surrounding the only two people who were left—a woman stoned to death in the town center and an abandoned newborn—have plagued her. She’s gathered a small crew of friends in the remote village to make a film about what really happened. But there will be no turning back. Not long after they’ve set up camp, mysterious things begin to happen. Equipment is destroyed. People go missing. As doubt breeds fear and their very minds begin to crack, one thing becomes startlingly clear to Alice: They are not alone. They’re looking for the truth... But what if it finds them first? Come find out. "RELENTLESSLY CREEPY." —Alma Katsu, author of The Hunger (An NPR Best Horror Novel) "IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP READING." —Ragnar Jonasson, author of The Island "Readers will revel in the chills." - Booklist
The Aldens are spending a week at Camp Coral in Florida. They love studying fish, learning how to windsurf, and exploring the ocean. But then a portion of coral reef is destroyed. The Boxcar Children are determined to find the culprit!
The Aldens try to find a missing magician. Henry is learning to perform magic tricks from The Amazing Arthur and is excited to participate in Greenfield Magic Shop's annual magic show. But then The Amazing Arthur goes missing. Is his disappearance part of a new magic trick or a mystery?
It's Greenfield's first dog show! The Aldens meet all kinds of dogs, from a spotted Dalmatian to a big, hairy sheepdog. But then strange pranks start happening at the show, and no one knows why. Can the children find the culprit and save the day?
After a hot-air balloon lands in their yard, the Aldens are invited to help out at a balloon festival! But when one balloon is mysteriously released without passengers, it looks like someone is trying to ruin the festival!