Haunt: Dead Wrong

Will and Dougie are best friends. There’s only one problem: Will is dead; he’s a ghost. Will seems to be bound to Dougie, which means everywhere Dougie goes, he goes too. It’s not that easy, especially as Dougie is now seeing the girl that Will liked – and kissed just before he died.

Will wants to find out what happened the night he died – he never saw the car that hit him, and wonders if that’s why he’s still around. Dougie is worried about his dad’s strange behaviour – he’s been acting oddly since Will died. Then the boys meet Dougie’s dad’s old boss, Mr Bradbury, who is very intimidating. Dougie’s dad seems frightened of him – why? Is it something to do with Will’s death?

Will’s suspicions about Dougie’s dad and Dougie’s concern over Will’s feelings for his girlfriend start to drive them apart. Can the boys solve the mystery surrounding Will’s death? And can their friendship survive the answers they find?

This is the second book in the Haunt series. It is the sequel to Haunt: Dead Scared, and continues in the same humorous vein. The idea is reminiscent of Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased), but the use of teenage boys is a refreshing new twist.

The book provides some important examples of the problems teenage boys have to face in real life. It also looks at boy-girl relationships, although this is a minor part of the plot. Readers will engage with the main characters, Will and Dougie, and empathise with them even when they are quarrelling.

Overall, Haunt: Dead Wrong is a very enjoyable and exciting story that is also very funny. It will appeal not only to teenage boys, but also to pre-teenage boys.