Fear Files: Hide and Seek by Christopher Edge

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✦ BLURB ✦

Nobody knows who started the Darkive. It's a database filled with first-hand accounts of strange, unexplained experiences. Ghosts; paranormal entities; weird anomalies. Each one is stored with a bank of evidence to prove the story. Are you ready to dive in?

Adam didn't think his camping trip with his best friend, Sol, could get any worse. Stumbling upon an abandoned ghost town, they find themselves playing a strange game of hide and seek. But who or what is trying to find them? And can Adam stay one step ahead?

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“You found the Darkive. Now the Darkive has found you.”

📚 PRE-READING THOUGHTS

A middle-grade horror pitched as a classified case file? Yes please. Fear Files promises creepy vibes with a clever twist - told in the form of documented paranormal encounters, complete with redacted notes and file annotations. I was hoping for something that would unsettle without overwhelming, and I couldn’t resist the ghost-town setup. Bonus points if it makes kids want to read more.

📖 POST-READING

As I thought…
This is a great blend of eerie atmosphere and accessible storytelling for younger readers. The “case file” format works so well - it turns the book into an interactive experience, as if the reader is discovering secret knowledge. The tone is spooky rather than outright scary, but there’s a growing sense of dread that builds up beautifully. Adam’s voice is believable and relatable, and the pacing is pitch-perfect for reluctant readers and horror lovers alike.

It surprised me by…
How polished the world-building is for such a short book. The ghost town isn’t just a backdrop - it’s layered with hints of past tragedy, local legend, and something very much not right lurking in the shadows. The explanations of concepts like ghost villages are smartly woven in, making it educational without ever feeling like it’s teaching. And the references to other "files" cleverly set up future entries in the series without being too obvious.

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✦ RECOMMENDATIONS ✦

Small Spaces by Katherine Arden

The Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine

TV: Creeped Out (BBC/Netflix)

✦ MUSIC PAIRING ✦

Because sometimes, the heart of a story plays out like a song.

🎵 Featured Song: “Bury a Friend” by Billie Eilish – eerie, whispery, and curious - just like Adam’s late-night wanderings.

🎶 Vibe Album: Coraline Original Motion Picture Soundtrack – creepy whimsy in musical form.

🎧 Artist Rec: Au/Ra – dark electro-pop with a youthful edge.

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✧ VIBE CHECK ✧

🎨 Colour Palette: Monochrome greys with flashes of stormy blue.

🎬 Soundtrack: The theme from Are You Afraid of the Dark?, with some Stranger Things synth flourishes.

🍂 Season: Late autumn—cold air, brittle leaves, and campfire smoke.

🫥 Mood: Goosebumpy anticipation.

👃 Scent: Damp earth and scorched marshmallows.

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★ TAROT CARD PULLED ★

Page of Cups – from the Nightfall Tarot
This version of the Page stands at the edge of a dark, reflective body of water, clutching a cup from which a fish rises - symbolising intuition, mystery, and the bravery to face the unknown. The black-and-white palette adds a chilling contrast that perfectly suits the eerie, suspenseful tone of Fear Files: Hide and Seek. It invites young readers to explore their curiosity while stepping carefully into spooky, shadowy places.

Fear Files: Hide and Seek publishes on the 2nd of October, 2025. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.