Those We Fear

When a dangerous situation forces 18-year-old Maria to leave her Boston home, she’s swept away to Scotland as part of the Witness Protection Program. ?In a strange land with a new name, Maria hides out as an au pair at the mysterious Harley Estate. Already known as an “over-feeler”—and paranoid for good reason—Maria is spooked by the odd behavior of the Harley residents: from the eccentric kids in her care, to the miserly nurse with the sheet-white skin, to the attractive yet broody eldest son, Jonathan. As the days pass, the vanishing portraits, the cloaked figures and the disembodied humming in the dead of night could perhaps be explained away, but it’s the discovery of Harley’s macabre and deadly family history that confirms Maria’s growing fears and suspicions may be more than just nerves; she may have fallen into something even more horrifying and threatening than what she left behind—something not even of this world.

From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-Upon graduating high school, Maria has the extreme misfortune of witnessing her own mother's murder. The teen is immediately put into the witness protection program, where she is given the opportunity to choose her own location and occupation. She opts to become a nanny in a remote area of Scotland. Although this new life promises adventure and discovery, it is not without challenge. Maria is still mourning her mother, and taking on a new identity is not an easy task. Will she ever be able to resume her old life? Communicate with her friends? Attend college? Or will her entire future be dictated by these gruesome events? If all of this baggage weren't enough, Maria finds that the family she comes to work for is plagued with their own dangerous and mysterious past. Griffith's writing will pique teens' curiosity from the very first page. Though some of the plot points are a bit unrealistic, they are adequately tied up by the author, who manages to make the characters believable and relatable. Recommend for libraries wishing to bulk up their realistic fiction section. VERDICT A great read wrought with adventure, travel, and just enough romance to keep teens intrigued.-Jennifer Furuyama, Pendleton Public Library, ORα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Ash Krafton, bestselling author of the Demimonde series.

"A story so evocative and immersing, you'll read it with a tight pulse and a held breath, hyper-vigilant and trusting no one."

Janae Mitchell, bestselling author, For Always.

"A story that is like none I've ever read before...Those We Fear is a ghostly tale and a captivating read for anyone who likes a believable, yet eerie mystery. Victoria Griffith's writing style is excellent, allowing her words to come together effortlessly."

About the Author

Victoria Griffith is the author of the highly praised new adult adventure, Amazon Burning (Astor+Blue Editions, 2014) and the non-fiction picture book, The Fabulous Flying Machines of Alberto Santos-Dumont (Abrams, 2011), which won numerous awards, including the prestigious Parents' Choice. Before becoming a full-time author, Victoria spent twenty years as an international journalist, fifteen of which were spent as a foreign correspondent for the UK's Financial Times. During that time, she had fun writing on a wide range of topics, including Brazil's Yanomami Indians, architecture, space exploration, the human genome, and the growth of the Internet. She even managed to fit in some children's book reviews. Victoria lives in Boston with her husband and three daughters.

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