I want to be the first person ever on the Waterstones app to have a review of this book... So yeah here I am.

This was genuinely wonderful. Imagine if you took all the best parts of a Riley Sager thriller, wrapped it in the horror trope knowledge of Grady Hendrix and then stored it in a YA sized box covered in Scooby Doo and Ghostface stickers. I loved every minute. I read the first 30 pages, life got in the way and then read the next 300 pages in one sitting as soon as I could. The ending caught me off guard, the characters were layered and believable and the imagery was something else, this is one of those rare books where you can picture every scene in vivid detail. Especially locations. If like me, you're a big fan of YA horror/thriller - you will absolutely want to read Let's Split Up!

Some of the things I learned as a child - such as how to tie my shoelaces - are still relevant to me all these, many, years later, while others have never been of any use whatsoever. Amongst those things falling into the second category must be don't go into a haunted house after dark and if you do, don't split up from the friends you're with - lessons that I learned very young from watching endless repeats of Scooby Doo, a programme that, sadly, today's children seem to be exposed to far less regularly. As an adult, I've learned that young people very often don't listen to grownups and in the case of this new thriller from BookTok star Bill Wood, it's a very good job they don't, or we wouldn't have much of a story to enjoy. And enjoy this, I most certainly did as I joined friends Cam, Jonesy, Amber and new addition to the gang Buffy as they investigate a double murder apparently committed by the ghoul of the long-dead owner of a grand local house by not only entering the house but, of course, choosing to go their separate ways. Carrington Manor has long attracted illegal visitors since the terrible fire there that was started by disgruntled locals, killing owner Robert Carrington, and when our story opens, we join just the latest in a long line of teenagers who have found their way inside shortly before what was meant to be an opportunity for budding TV presenter Brad to showcase his talents to prospective employers becomes his final performance. When the news of the tragic deaths of two of their fellow students is broken to those attending Sanera High School, the teenagers are dismissed and on reaching home Amber switches on the TV to try to find out more about what has happened, learning that Brad and his girlfriend Shelley's bodies have been found following another fire. Watching the press conference that is being held, it is soon clear that the local sheriff lacks experience in dealing with such matters and with speculation mounting over just what has happened, fuelled by a journalist who suggests a supernatural cause to the two deaths, Cam, Jonesy, Amber and Buffy meet up to discuss what they know. Deciding that between them they have the ability to crack the case, the four friends break into the manor house to investigate. But with the spirit of the original owner said to haunt the building, they soon decide that they will need to split up to enable them to carry out their research as thoroughly as possible. Can the four of them manage to stay safe as they explore what has happened, or are they destined to become victims of the malevolent spirit of Robert Carrington? Old houses always seem to have stories of a ghost, or ghosts, attached to them and for the residents of Sanera, local legend has it that Carrington Manor holds the ghoul of its owner who was murdered by the fire set by some of those living in the town all those years ago. When we are witness to the killing of Brad and Shelley, who are there to find evidence of Robert Carrington's continuing presence, the premise of the story is set most effectively for us, ensuring that we - like the four friends - are hooked into the mystery and need to know just what has happened. Cam and the others make for a great set of investigators and as the story unfolds, we hear in turn from him, Jonesy and Amber as to what is happening. As they get deeper and deeper into the mystery, it is clear that there is more going on than a simple haunting but right up until the end we do not know just what that is, making this a great choice for anyone who enjoys thrillers and is looking for something a little different from much of what is available. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to YA readers aged 14+.

Let’s split up is everything I wanted it to be. From start to finish it fed my slasher genre heart and kept me on the edge of my seat. Every time I thought I had worked it out it would just throw another twist into the works! The group of characters are all so loveable, creating the perfect sense of the found family trope from chapter one. This book really is Scream meets Scooby Doo and delivers in every way. I look forward to what else Wood will make in the future, as I will be there!

This was a fun mix of a slasher and a Scooby Doo type read, but make it queer! Jonesy, Cam, and Amber are from a small town where the only interesting that’s happened is the death of Robert Carrington in Carrington Manor. And his ghoul that they say still haunts the place. Then two of their schools most popular students end up dead while filming at Carrington Manor. Plus there’s new girl Buffy who showed up just after the murders and seems to be hiding something. As another death occurs and the police don’t seem to know what they’re doing, the four will decide it’s up to them to solve this mystery. But are they dealing with a ghoul or is there something else going on? And will investigating put them in the crosshairs? A fun vibe that will give you classic slasher as well as Scooby Doo nostalgia! A quick read you won’t be able to put down and have you dying to know who the killer is!