Demon Hunters Soul Feeder

Caiden and his best friend Sam work with Caiden’s dad as house clearers. They have done many clearances before – and have a warehouse full of things to prove it – but this one feels different. A bit ‘off’, in a way none of them can quite define. Is it the fact that they lose their sense of smell in the house or the weird artefacts they find there? Maybe it’s the fact that the late owner – Miss Kinski – was found dead but not decomposed, her head tilted right back, her eyes wide open,  staring at the ceiling, that has made the whole job a bit odd? Nevertheless they load up the vans with things from the property to take back to the warehouse for sorting and selling. The boys beg to be allowed to hang out in the warehouse, as they often do, but things only start to get weirder and they suspect that something other than furniture has come back with them. Will they be able to overcome whatever it was that has left Miss Kinski dead, with only their wits and friendship to help them?

Jennifer Killick has form when it comes to writing scary stories and this one certainly doesn’t disappoint on that score – but what comes through most strongly is the power of true friendship which ultimately helps the boys overcome the evil they have inadvertently brought back to the warehouse with them. It is really heartwarming to see how they respond when they are faced with an unpredictable foe and support each other even in the face of terrifying circumstances.

Barrington Stoke produce excellent books for struggling readers and this one is no exception being closely plotted and ultimately up-lifting with normality restored by the end. It might be best avoided by more sensitive children as the story is very much grounded in reality and there is an illustration of the dead Miss Kinski – which might just truly prove the stuff of nightmares.