The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon (audiobook)

 genre: mystery

West Hall, Vermont, is a rather typical New England town, with one exception. Over the years, there have been strange disappearances - not so many to cause a panic, but enough to make one wonder.  In the history of of West Hall one can find the story of Sara Harrison Shea, who, in 1908 was found dead in the field near her home.  She left behind a diary that tells a fantastic story of reversing death and strange creatures in the woods.  In the present day, teenage Ruthie comes home one night to find her mother missing - a copy of Sara's diary the only clue.  The more Ruthie investigates, the more questions she has - how could her mother have anything to do with a long-dead woman?

This is not my typical sort of book but I was looking for an atmospheric, wintery sort of book and this is a great, creepy choice.  It's paranormal and yet strangely believable, the human heart exposed as we try to imagine what WE would do if the person most beloved to us passed away.  The story moves along quickly as we switch between time periods, narrators and the diary itself.  One additional main character sort of surprised me when she was introduced but I liked how all the threads pieced together.  If you like creepy winter stories that tie history to the present, I'd say this is a solid choice.  Four stars for giving me chills more than one and for totally entertaining me.  Audio is really well done.