Reviewed by Molly Martin
Dream Stalker
by Mari Bailey
Awe-Struck
Paperback: 112 pages, March 14, 2002, ISBN-13: 978-1587491849
Mari Bailey’s Dream Stalker begins as two jubilant girls plan to spend an entire week during their first visit to New York City. When Heather Morgan sets out with her best friend Tara Leonard on the high school graduation gift trip from their parents to New York City she is resolute that nothing is going to spoil her outing. Heather has plans to visit as many museums and see much of the city as she possibly can during the time she and Tara will have in the metropolis they have daydreamed of visiting, but have not visited before. The one solitary blemish on her zeal are chilling nightmares that have abruptly begun distressing Heather. They are dreams in which she is fleeing from something alarming. And making the dreams most alarming; it is a something unseen.
Mari Bailey has created an unnerving, roller coaster ride of a narrative for her readers. Dream Stalker is sure to draw young adult readers into the account and hold them spellbound while reading this attention-grabbing, suspense-filled page turner. Readers will find the work hard to put down as they devour passage after electrifying passage. The trepidation Heather experiences is inimitable, Tara is impeccable as the trustworthy, feet on the ground confidant. Curt Bonner causes many a chill. Aunt Delilah is an enchanting charmer.
Filled with much of the tautness found in Melinda Rucker Haynes’ YA novel Ghostly Acts, Dream Stalker is a fast-paced, thought-provoking read filled with potent situations and a rich textured fabric of New York neighborhoods complete with aromas, sights, sounds and characters. Bailey has fashioned a well thought out whodunit assured to please those who relish a good chilling thriller. Keep the lights on and the doors locked! Watch those signs, tipoffs and red herrings. The surprise ending may catch the non-observant unaware.
Reviewed by: molly martin
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