SLEEPWALKERS BY J. GABRIEL GATES

''Something in the ruins waits''

No other words could have offered a better opening than these words for THE SLEEPWALKERS, a teen horror novel by J. Gabriel Gates. Its creepy right from the first line. It will drive your fingers to keep its pages turning even at the dead of night, will make you go numb and is also able to give you the worst nightmares of your lifetime.

As many book covers of the bestselling titles, the cover of The Sleepwalkers will also captivate you. It shows a blurry image of a bare footed girl. It will make you wonder whether its a ghost or something more sinister.

The 19 year old popular Caleb Mason is celebrating his high school graduation day and planning to travel to Africa to enhance his profile as a journalist, when he receives a mysterious letter from his long lost childhood friend, Christine. As the plot thickens, Caleb along with his funny friend Bean travel to the place only to discover that its no more the same old place as he has known. In fact, things have taken turn for the worse. Children are disappearing with each passing day and the asylum has reopened with Christine being locked inside. Caleb vows to get her out. Will they all be able to make out alive or die trying? Christine's mother, a witch, is consumed with madness, and Christine's long-dead twin sister whispers clues to Caleb through the static of an a.m. radio. The terrifying prophesies of the spirits are coming to pass. Sixteen clocks are ticking; sixty-six murdered souls will destroy the world. As Caleb  gradually unveils the mysteries, he uncovers a truth more horrible than anything he had imagined, a truth that could only be uttered by the lips of the dead.

From the author of the very popular Dark Territory Series, the story promises you to hold on your seat with its well developed characters and its rich and engaging writing. It’s humorous, scary, creepy, cleverly written, lots of twists, disturbing, unsettling all in a good way. It is very well written, I could actually read it and imagine it happening. It wasn’t too far-fetched at all. I can't wait to recommend this book to the teens who complain that there are no "scary" books and then dare them to go to bed with the lights off.  

Many thanks to HCI books for sending me an advance copy for review. ''The Sleepwalkers'' is slated to be released on 3rd October, 2011.