The Most Frightening Story Ever Told by Philip Kerr

Billy Shivers doesn't do much but read.  He hangs out at the local library and reads about everything.  He has a special interest in ghosts.  When he finds there is local bookstore called "The Haunted Bookstore" he has to go visit.  It's not just a bookstore.  It's like a haunted house with all sorts of gadgets and tricks to scare you.  And it's there all the time, not just at Halloween...

Knopf Books for Young Readers and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published September 6th.

Billy hangs out in the store but has no money to purchase anything.  When the owner talks about wishing he had help but how he has no funds to pay for it, Billy volunteers.  He says he'll work as an intern and then he wouldn't have to be paid.  The owner accepts his offer.

This is a strange and twisted tale with miscellaneous scary stories, odd happenings, "punny" names, and a twist at the end.  Billy gets the daughter of the bookstore owner to talk to her father again.  He also wins a contest that has a prize of $1,000 and teaches the naughty kids a lesson.

The scary stories are not too scary and the story is interesting and well told.  The author got me, though.  I didn't see that ending coming.  There's a very ironic twist at the end that makes it a great read.  See what you think!