Night Frights #1: The Haunted Mustache by Joe McGee

What worked:

If you like STRANGE mysteries, this book is for you. As the title says, this small town is being haunted by a mustache, and the people tremble in fear every October 19. Men grow mustaches, and women and children tape on facial hair for protection against the curse. It seems a man’s factory exploded and the only thing they found of him was his top lip and mustache. The ghostly bristles attack bare faces that are foolish enough to leave their homes on the fateful date. Legend says the mustache has killed before.

Lucas and Parker have formed The Midnight Owl Detective Agency. Their class is told the true history of October 19, and they don’t react in fear like most of the citizens. The plot unfolds into a mystery for the kids to solve, as they try to break the curse that’s plagued the town for decades. They have the enthusiasm to get it done, but they lack the essential knowledge needed to get the job done. A know-it-all girl from class has the information, so the boys reluctantly allow her to join their team. Presumably, other Night Frights books in the series will find the kids solving new mysteries in the small town of Wolver Hollow.

The plot contains all of the common elements readers might expect in a ghost story. It has a malicious ghost, a spooky graveyard, a creepy haunted house, and it takes place on a dark and stormy night. The kids use familiar defenses against creatures of the night, such as salt, moving water, and light. The mustache has unexpected abilities readers will not believe, and its evilness is combined with a bit of playfulness, much like a cat toying with a mouse.

What didn’t work as well:

The ending of the book was a bit confusing. Without trying to give away too much information, the conflict was resolved, kind of. Several times during the plot, a character states that ghosts may seek revenge, and they have long memories. The idea of the haunted mustache targeting the kids and returning in the future is offered as a possibility throughout the story, but the epilogue then muddles things up. The purpose of the epilogue is clear, but it adds more confusion to the resolution than anything else.

The final verdict:

Menacing facial hair may be stalking you! This book will appeal to young readers, as it presents an unusual, threatening “monster”. The action moves quickly through a free-wheeling encounter with the spirit that generates enough suspense and fear to entertain kids.