Bill Wood – Let’s Split Up: Book Review

Let’s Split Up by Bill Wood Book Review

Let’s Split Up is a captivating YA horror-thriller about the brutal double murder of the “It couple” Brad and Shelley while they were recording an episode of Brad’s ghost-hunting podcast. So it is up to teenage friends Cam, Jonesy, Amber, and the new girl, Buffy, to investigate the murders. As they dig deeper into the mystery, they uncover chilling secrets about the mansion’s history and encounter numerous terrifying experiences.

Let’s Split Up features a diverse cast of characters, each with their own unique personalities and backgrounds. The main characters, Cam, Jonesy, Amber, and Buffy, bring a dynamic energy to the narrative, with each one living and breathing as an independent and fully rationalised character. The author, Bill Woods, has crafted these characters with such depth and detail that they become one of the many highlights of this novel. The addition of Buffy, the group’s newest member, adds an intriguing element to the story, leaving readers eager to uncover her mysteries.

Let’s Split Up explores several themes, including friendship, courage, and the pursuit of truth. It also delves into the effects of gossip in a small town and the classic battle between good and evil. The haunted history of the mansion enhances these themes, adding depth and tension to the story. Yes, at times, it may feel a little bit Scooby Doo, but that is the heart and soul of this novel. Let’s Split Up is Bill Wood’s love letter to the TV shows that entranced him as a kid. And if someone wrote me a love letter with this level of passion and integrity, I would instantly fall in love with them.

Another of Let’s Spilt Up’s strengths is the dialogue of the main cast of characters.

I haven’t read a lot of YA fiction, but my biggest gripe with what I have read is teenagers sounding like adults. However, Let’s Split Up does not suffer from this in any way. Each of the characters has a unique way of talking that always feels utterly true to their age and character.

The cast of Let’s Split Up

There is a cinematic style to the writing of Bill Wood. Each page is written with fine attention to detail, style, and a sense of place, making it almost like watching a film instead of reading a book. Especially when you factor in his skill in blending horror, mystery, and elements, which results in a unique and deeply engaging reading experience. Wood’s talent for building suspense and delivering unexpected twists keeps readers on the edge. One of the book’s key strengths is its ability to sustain suspense and keep readers guessing until the end.

Being of an age where most of the pop cultural references that are peppered throughout Let’s Split Up are relatively obvious to me.

At no point did they feel forced or unnecessary. I have to admit I am not one for nostalgia. I never clicked with Stranger Things, as it always felt written by people who didn’t grow up in the 80s. And, to me, it seemed to have been written from a crib sheet. And don’t get me started on the fandom for The Monster Squad. Thankfully, and this is a testament to the writing skill on show here from Bill Wood, Let’s Split Up feels fresh, vibrant and utter comp[elling in its use of pop culture references. I would love for this to become an ongoing series. And fingers crossed, Bill incorporated The New Schmoo; who remembers that show?

Now, I know some of you might be wondering if there’s a ‘Scrappy Doo’ moment in the novel.

Well, I’m not going to spoil it for you. I personally love Scrappy Doo, and I see a lot of myself in him. But does he make a pop culture appearance here? That’s a secret I’ll leave for you to uncover when you read Let’s Split Up.

Let’s Split Up by Bill Wood is an enthralling and exciting read that merges horror, mystery, and classic teen adventure. With its well-structured plot, unforgettable characters, and suspenseful writing, it is guaranteed to captivate fans of YA fiction and horror. If you’re in the mood for a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat, then Let’s Split Up will leave you with a huge smile on your face and a sense of pure gratification.

Further Reading an Interview with Author Bill Wood

Let’s Split Up by Bill Wood

Can a group of friends crack the murder case before the killer finds them too?

Scooby Doo meets Pretty Little Liars

When hot ‘it-couple’ Brad and Shelley are brutally murdered in a manor on the edge of town, a group of teen friends investigate.

Set in Sanera, a small community in California where rumour spreads as fast as the fire on the day of the killings, the theory is the old ghoul who haunts the house after his own murder hundreds of years ago has finally taken revenge. As Cam, Jonesy, Amber and new-girl Buffy investigate, the rumour feels closer to the truth than they ever dared think possible, and as they enter the mansion themselves, the idea of splitting up to find evidence will prove to be either the best… or worst decision of all …

MORE PRAISE FOR LET’S SPLIT UP

“Full of loveable characters, fun action and creepy atmosphere – I loved it!’”Amy McCaw author of Mina and the Undead series

“A thrilling, heart-stopping debut. High stakes, mysterious ghouls and a group of teens who I wish I was part of. A horror mystery to be devoured in one sitting. Just incredible.” – Ben Alderson, author of A Betrayal of Storms

“An unmissable love letter to the spooks of Scream and Scooby Doo. Deeply atmospheric, tense, and propulsive.” Lucy Rose, author of The Lamb

Let’s Split Up Launch Event

Tickets can be purchased for £10 which includes exclusive goody bags, snacks, the in convo and the screening: https://ticketing.picturehouses.com/Ticketing/visSelectTickets.aspx?cinemacode=004&txtSessionId=58292&visLang=1