The YA Horror 400 almanac strongly recommends Richard Farren Barber’s recently reissued Closer Still
Back in 2019, I reviewed Richard Farren Barber’s striking novella Closer Still, which Black Shuck originally published in their Signature Novellas series. The 115-page story sold terribly and was quickly forgotten. Few in the horror world gave it any press whatsoever except for Ginger Nuts of Horror, which, in a major feature, ranked it within their top fifty YA horror novels of the previous decade.
Closer still undoubtedly suffered from an identity crisis that did not help sales. The story features strong YA themes, but it was published as an adult novella with a drab cover and zero insight about the YA market. However, very recently, Richard Farren Barber decided to reissue and self-publish the book via Amazon with a snazzy new cover, and this forgotten little gem deserves to find a genuine teen audience. I’ve had two copies in my school library since its original publication. I regularly recommend it, and the teens who read it are always full of praise. The new edition is an absolute snip at £3.99.
Closer Still was one of the 400 reviews featured in my recently published YA HORROR 400 almanac, for which Richard also kindly wrote an accompanying article. The review from the YA HORROR 400 is published verbatim below, and if you are interested in reading the 399 other features, it can be bought from Amazon, both on Kindle and paperback.
Closer Still (2019) by Richard Farren Barber
Buzzwords: Hauntings, ghosts, guilt, social media, bullying, revenge, teens in trouble and school drama.
Why read it: Powerful and emotive use of guilt and bullying in everyday school setting. This novella length story has been published for the adult market but has outstanding YA potential just waiting to be discovered.
Notes: Whenever Richard publishes a new book I’m a guaranteed first reader. Favourites include Perfect Darkness Perfect Silence (2017), Living and the Lost (2019) and Twenty Years Gone (2022).
Age suitability: 14+ (Although short, it is truly shocking, and once read, not easily forgotten).
Fear Factor: 9/10 (Every parent’s nightmare is wrapped within this perfectly packaged novella).
If you like this try: Laura Bates – The Burning, Caroline Flarity – The Ghost Hunter’s Daughter, William Hussey – Jekyll’s Mirror, Kathryn Foxfield – Good Girls Die First, Lauren James – The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker, Liz Kessler – Haunt Me, Mindy McGinnis – The Initial Insult, Jeyn Roberts – When They Fade and Pam Smy – Thornhill.
Closer Still (2019) by Richard Farren Barber – Review
Richard Farren Barber’s Closer Still is a ghost story with a seriously good haunting. Much of which is very restrained and rarely stretches beyond the bedroom of a deeply troubled teenager. This book was not written with the YA market in mind. But the believable and engaging characters make it an experience many teenagers will connect with. Pulling in at a brief 130-pages, with absolutely no flab or a word wasted. It could be the perfect gift for a teen who does not read much or is put off by big books and fancies a contemporary ghost story within a school setting. I road tested this out with my teenage daughter, who read it in two sittings, I since bought two copies for my school library where it has been very popular with teenage girls whom I’ve encouraged to look beyond the uninspiring cover.
Fifteen-year-old Rachel is bullied by a group of girls who were once her best friends. With the tormenting often taking place at school. Much of the rest of the novella takes place in Rachel’s bedroom where she sees the ghost of her dead ex-best friend Katie. The ghost is not exactly unpleasant, more unnerving, with the dead girl having an unknown agenda of her own. Before the death all the girls were best friends, and much of the novella is about what happened to their relationship and the circumstances leading to her death. The author expertly shrouds this shocking revelation until late into the story. Picking up pace nicely as the ghost grows both more powerful and restless. This was an absolute cracker of a novella. Combining several storylines relevant to teens of today, including social media, bullying, teenage angst, friendship, guilt and the supernatural.
Author Interlude:
Richard Farren Barber discusses Closer Still
In Closer Still, Richard Farren Barber examines teen friendships’ complex and often painful nature.
I was helping out on a school trip and watching the interactions of a group of girls in the class; messages passed back and forth, supplemented by whispers and knowing looks. I wasn’t privy to the details but even as an outsider the emotions were palpable. One of the girls began crying and when I alerted the teacher her response was telling: “Don’t worry,” she said, “They’ll be best friends again tomorrow.” Teenagers have complex friendships. There’s nothing earth-shattering about that observation. The nature of teenage relations is at the heart of Closer Still.
The power which bonds us at an age where we are passionate and vulnerable. Where relationships turn in an instant. With a word, enemies become friends, and friends become enemies. There is something fascinating and captivating about the power of relationships like that. Relationships which can save or destroy. When I was writing Closer Still I was keen to explore the raw power of teenage relationships. I was attracted by the blind faith which comes with friendships. Rachel is haunted by the ghost of her best friend, Katie, who died in a tragic accident. So when Rachel is bullied by other girls at the school it’s only reasonable that Katie will protect her. And now Katie is no longer tied to the mortal world, her abilities, her passion, her relationship, is amplified.
Tony Jones
Closer Still (2019) by Richard Farren Barber
“Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer still.”
Rachel Cook has more problems than most teenagers: bullied at a new school, a boy who doesn’t even know she exists, a masochistic Maths Teacher. And haunted by the ghost of her best friend.
Katie’s return offers companionship and protection against a clique driven by terrible secrets. As Katie grows in influence and power, Rachel comes to fear Katie may have her own agenda and she finds herself hurtling towards a terrifying ending.
Rachel has to decide who to trust: who are her friends and who are her enemies? Because, someday soon, her life will depend on it.
“A modern ghost story that manages to succeed as both supernatural chiller and high school drama.” – This is Horror
“(A) very well written, atmospheric and thoughtful ghost story.” – Ginger Nuts of Horror
“A ghost story of the highest quality which is also great for teenagers.” – Inkheist
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