My Two Cents: DARK EYES by Rikki Goodwin

In "Dark Eyes" by Rikki Goodwin, a boy named Isaac finds more than he bargains for when, on a dare, he sneaks into a vacant house in his quiet, unassuming neighborhood. What starts off as an innocent trespass becomes something unsettling, even terrifying, when Isaac discovers a small, cage-like room inside, and a ghostly presence that seems to follow him home. At first, that presence seems sinister, appearing as a pair of disembodied, dark eyes that Isaac can't escape. But soon, he begins to suspect there's a connection between those spectral eyes, the secret room, and his mother, who died of a drug overdose when Isaac had been a baby.

All the while, Isaac finds himself plagued by inexplicable violent urges, and when the people he loves most -- father Quint, best friend Chuck, and babysitter Moss -- begin to fall victim to brutal attacks by an unknown assailant, Isaac fears those dark eyes belong to something that's taken up residence inside him -- something hungry and evil.

I fell in love with Goodwin's writing while reading her novel "Ghost Glasses." As in "Ghost Glasses," in "Dark Eyes," she explores themes of grief, remorse, and regret, as well as the heartbreaking desire many feel to undo the sins of the past. She also touches on the horror of addiction, and the multigenerational trauma it can cause. Goodwin's characters are flawed, fragile, and painfully human. There are no clear-cut villains or heroes, and even the most horrible in her cast (and believe me, there's one who's a real piece of work) still manage to have glimmers of decency and evoke empathy. That's a difficult task for a writer, but Goodwin has it mastered.

There are some unexpected twists in the story, and I don't want to give too much away. Suffice it to say, as Isaac and his loved ones try to unravel the mysterious truth behind the vacant house and its dark-eyed secrets, there are plenty of surprises -- of the good, bad, and gory variety -- to be had. "Dark Eyes" is a suspenseful, scary thrill ride, one you won't want to miss!

"Dark Eyes" releases on September 29, 2026. You can pre-order here.