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Haunted Mystery #2
The Hanging Hill
How serious is stage fright? At the Hanging Hill Playhouse, it can kill you.
After narrowly escaping a malevolent spirit in The Crossroads, Zack and Judy are hoping to relax during the rehearsals for a show based on Judy’s bestselling children’s books. Little do they know that the director is planning to raise a horde of evil specters from the dead, and to accomplish this, he needs a human sacrifice . . . and Zack fits the bill perfectly.
This second book featuring the intrepid Zack and his stepmother, Judy, is full of the same humorous and spine-tingling storytelling that has made Chris Grabenstein a fast favorite with young and old alike.
After narrowly escaping a malevolent spirit in The Crossroads, Zack and Judy are hoping to relax during the rehearsals for a show based on Judy’s bestselling children’s books. Little do they know that the director is planning to raise a horde of evil specters from the dead, and to accomplish this, he needs a human sacrifice . . . and Zack fits the bill perfectly.
This second book featuring the intrepid Zack and his stepmother, Judy, is full of the same humorous and spine-tingling storytelling that has made Chris Grabenstein a fast favorite with young and old alike.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published August 11, 2009
44 people are currently reading
849 people want to read
About the author
Chris Grabenstein
159 books2,443 followersCHRIS GRABENSTEIN is a #1 New York Times bestselling author. His books include the LEMONCELLO, WONDERLAND, HAUNTED MYSTERY, DOG SQUAD, and SMARTEST KID IN THE UNIVERSE series, and many fun and funny page-turners co-authored with James Patterson. You can visit Chris at ChrisGrabenstein.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
July 21, 2010
So, how is it that one author can write so well to two different audiences and carry it off so well? I'm always boggled by an author who writes really well - but those (and there are many) who can do it for more than one series just amaze me.
This is the second in the YA series with Zack, his step-mother Judy and the problems they have with ghosts. This time Judy and Zack have traveled to the Hanging Hill Playhouse to produce one of Judy's books as a musical. This is a very old house and, of course, it has its fair share of ghosts. This time Zack is called the demon slayer and will be expected to stop bad (very bad) things from happening.
I seem to be reading a lot about ghosts or demons lately which is very strange because that isn't my normal fair. Still, I'll read anything that Chris Grabenstein writes - just because he writes so well and the story is always entertaining and the characters are so well drawn.
If you haven't started this series yet, don't let the fact that it is written for young adults hold you back, the stories are written for anyone who likes to read and loves a mystery.
This is the second in the YA series with Zack, his step-mother Judy and the problems they have with ghosts. This time Judy and Zack have traveled to the Hanging Hill Playhouse to produce one of Judy's books as a musical. This is a very old house and, of course, it has its fair share of ghosts. This time Zack is called the demon slayer and will be expected to stop bad (very bad) things from happening.
I seem to be reading a lot about ghosts or demons lately which is very strange because that isn't my normal fair. Still, I'll read anything that Chris Grabenstein writes - just because he writes so well and the story is always entertaining and the characters are so well drawn.
If you haven't started this series yet, don't let the fact that it is written for young adults hold you back, the stories are written for anyone who likes to read and loves a mystery.
September 10, 2024
That had some gruesome ghosts and nastiness for a MG book! Also, the MC's mother...ick.
June 29, 2017
Loving this series! I like how it's a worthwhile mystery and the whole seeing-ghosts thing isn't overdone. I also really like how the adults are portrayed in the books, some are very supportive and great, some are horrible, and their interactions and motivations feel true. Fun!
February 21, 2018
Another winner from an author who, as it turns out, is crazy talented! How had I never heard of this guy? He even makes scary stories enjoyable!
November 21, 2023
I read the book “The Hanging Hill,” by Chris Grabenstein. The book is about a boy, Zach, who can see ghosts, going to a playhouse with his step mother, Judy, who can also see ghosts, for a play being adapted from a book Judy wrote. But the director of the play has evil motives with the two child actors involved. What I like about this book is the relationship dynamics between the characters. The witty humor Zach and Judy share, Zach and Megan's friendship, and Judy and Megan's moms friendship. I like the way Grabenstein deals with Zach's trauma with his mom, it’s really well done and interesting to read. Something that I dislike about the book is that it gets a little too nerdy for me, and towards the end there’s a dramatic turn to violence that is unexpected. Also the main villain seems a little comical, and it’s hard to take him seriously. Overall, I enjoy the book, mostly because of the characters and their dynamics. I think this book would be best suited for middle school aged kids, who are into supernatural things like ghosts and magic and stuff like that. I can’t really compare it to any other book, it’s a one of a kind, but I think that’s a positive for it, not a negative. If I had to give it a rating, I’d give it a 3.5/5.
December 9, 2018
The same energy as the frst book but somehow it isn't as quite engaging. However, it's got all the elements that make a Grabenstein mystery what it is and I might say I'm not disappointed.
August 27, 2024
This 2nd book was even better than the first. I might have to buy the complete set in physical form. If you like adventure and mystery in muddle grade, try this series.
May 15, 2010
#2 in the YA paranormal mystery series featuring Zack Jennings and his family. Eleven-year-old Zack and his stepmother Judy are off to Chatham, CT where Judy's book Curiosity Cat is being produced as a play by the rather famous director Reginald Grimes at the Hanging Hill Theatre. Theatres are notoriously full of ghosts as Zack and Judy, who can also see ghosts, find out quickly, much to their dismay.
Some ghosts are benevolent, others seem neutral and still others downright evil. Zack is excited to learn that one of his favorite actresses, Meghan McKenna, will be playing the girl's role in the play and when they meet they get along famously--and Zack learns that Meghan can also see ghosts. Her co-star, Derek Stone, can't--and he's also got an annoying Hollywood mom and is allergic to Zack's beloved dog, Zipper. Strange things begin happening almost from the moment of their arrival and soon Zack and Meghan are off exploring and uncover a deadly plot headed by none other than the strange Grimes himself and which many of the theatre's ghosts are involved in, too.
This was a wonderful book, plenty of scary moments and lots of great fun throughout, whether you're eleven years old or eleven plus forty! Highly recommended, and though it stands well on its own, I think it's best enjoyed if you read The Crossroads, the first book featuring Zack and Judy, first.
Some ghosts are benevolent, others seem neutral and still others downright evil. Zack is excited to learn that one of his favorite actresses, Meghan McKenna, will be playing the girl's role in the play and when they meet they get along famously--and Zack learns that Meghan can also see ghosts. Her co-star, Derek Stone, can't--and he's also got an annoying Hollywood mom and is allergic to Zack's beloved dog, Zipper. Strange things begin happening almost from the moment of their arrival and soon Zack and Meghan are off exploring and uncover a deadly plot headed by none other than the strange Grimes himself and which many of the theatre's ghosts are involved in, too.
This was a wonderful book, plenty of scary moments and lots of great fun throughout, whether you're eleven years old or eleven plus forty! Highly recommended, and though it stands well on its own, I think it's best enjoyed if you read The Crossroads, the first book featuring Zack and Judy, first.
March 2, 2013
The Hanging Hill is Grabenstein’s sequel to The Crossroads, and in some respects it is an even better read. The protagonist Zack is funnier and more well-rounded, and there were flights of imagination that had me laughing out loud. There is an exciting mystery, and of course, more ghosts for Zack to meet, and evil demons to vanquish, including one from his past, although this time he is not alone. Apparently there are other people who can see ghosts, and Zack teams up with a few of them to rid the Hanging Hill Playhouse of its ancient curse. My only quibble with the book lies with the portrayal of a few of the minor characters. I wonder if Mr. Grabenstein couldn’t have found some other way to curse the ground under the playhouse than to fall back on the old racial stereotype of an Indian chief with the ability to hand curses down through the ages. As the partner of a native American, I grow increasingly tired of seeing almost all Indians in children’s and juvenile literature portrayed as chiefs and princesses, endowed with supernatural powers. But aside from that minor complaint, and a perhaps slightly over-complicated plot line, I found The Hangin Hill a great read, and highly recommend it.
March 29, 2010
This scary, funny sequel to The Crossroads is even better than the first book! Young Zack, who is a ghost seer, accompanied by his stepmother, Judy, and his Jack Russell terrier, Zipper, travels to the Hanging Hill Playhouse, where a play based on Judy's "Curiosity Cat" children's books is to be performed by the Pandemonium Players. Unfortunately, the director, who obviously has a screw loose, has other plans, which involve using an ancient Carthaginian ritual that will feed children to Moloch and summon the demonic spirits of hell who he believes will give him unlimited wealth and make him ruler of the world.
The Hanging Hill is a marvelous mixture of the supernatural, thrills and chills, suspense, twists, humor, and terrific characters, some of whom are creepy, while others are delightful, including Meghan, the well-known child actress (who is also a ghost seer), her mother, Mary, and a local librarian, Doris Ann Norris, who helps Zack and Meghan research the origin of the word "pandemonium" and find out why the theater's acting company is called the Pandemonium Players. This book is great fun for both kids and adults. I can hardly wait for the next installment!
The Hanging Hill is a marvelous mixture of the supernatural, thrills and chills, suspense, twists, humor, and terrific characters, some of whom are creepy, while others are delightful, including Meghan, the well-known child actress (who is also a ghost seer), her mother, Mary, and a local librarian, Doris Ann Norris, who helps Zack and Meghan research the origin of the word "pandemonium" and find out why the theater's acting company is called the Pandemonium Players. This book is great fun for both kids and adults. I can hardly wait for the next installment!
July 2, 2011
I don't know what I can say about this one that I didn't already say about the first book in the series. Grabenstein has created a delightfully spooky and mysterious series for middle-grade readers that I can't devour fast enough. The books are fun and exciting, fast-paced and filled with memorable characters (both physical and spectral). I loved that this one took place in a haunted theater. Perhaps the only thing I didn't love about this one is Zack's dead mother's attempts to make amends with her son. One of my favorite things about the first book was that she was not romanticized like most dead people are. In this one, there is a little more information on her life before she married Zack's father but it still doesn't fully explain how she got to be the villain we heard about in book one. To me, it seemed a bit of a cop-out that she would now be trying to fix after death what she damaged in life, but it didn't detract from the story too much. Overall, another delightful tale from Grabenstein. I can't wait to read more!
September 20, 2009
This is Grabenstein's second book for younger readers, a sequel to The Crossroads. The main characters have discovered that they really have a talent for seeing ghosts; their first adventure wasn't a fluke. Zack and his stepmom Judy really can see ghosts, and the Hanging Hill Playhouse seems to be full of them. They are there for a production of one of Judy's children's books that was turned into a play. This is a fast-paced read, with ghosts, bad guys, attempts at magic and bringing people back from the dead, with an explosive finish. I enjoyed this book, but not quite as much as The Crossroads.
My review is also posted on my blog: http://pattispenandpicks.blogspot.com...
My review is also posted on my blog: http://pattispenandpicks.blogspot.com...
March 8, 2010
Zach sees ghosts. He killed a demon in "The Crossroads." Now he has to free the ghosts at the Hanging Hill Playhouse and send the demons back where they came from. Guided by his mother's ghost (with whom he had a very bad relationship before she died), his dog, Zipper, and a little juggler girl ghost, Zach, once again, comes to the rescue of people who need it, including his stepmother and the rest of the cast of "Curiousity Cat," a musical based on his stepmother's books. Lots of fun, as always. Love Chris Grabenstein!
September 27, 2019
This is a disappointment after The Crossroads. Sequels are always a tough go for me, especially mysteries. The main plot point is uncovered in book 1, making all the books that follow feel either stale and/or overdone. This book suffers from both.
Zach is back with his wonderful stepmom Judy. She is a writer and her book has been turned into a play. They arrive at the Hanging Hill Summer Theatre ready to begin rehearsals. Grimes, the director, has a reputation for being strict, but talented. Upon arrival, the janitor warns Zach to stay away. He's not happy that there are two kids in the play either. Derek is wimpy and lazy. He is not the original boy cast in the play, which is odd. Meghan is the opposite. She and Zach hit it off right away, especially when he learns she can see ghosts too.
Grimes has been approached by a man from the middle east who has big plans. He explains to Grimes that he comes from a royal bloodline with the ability to call forth ghosts. Once Grimes understands the full potential of his ability, he no longer cares about the play. It's all about power. But two kids, born on the full moon, must be sacrificed to bring forth the army of criminal ghosts. The plan is laid and Zach must stop it.
Way too much going on in this book. Minor characters fleet in and out with no real purpose. The ghost of Zach's real mom is a perfect example of this. The plot goes from being a simple ghost revenge story in book 1 to this big convoluted plot to big forth mayhem in book 2. Loved The Crossroads. Did not love The Hanging Hill.
Zach is back with his wonderful stepmom Judy. She is a writer and her book has been turned into a play. They arrive at the Hanging Hill Summer Theatre ready to begin rehearsals. Grimes, the director, has a reputation for being strict, but talented. Upon arrival, the janitor warns Zach to stay away. He's not happy that there are two kids in the play either. Derek is wimpy and lazy. He is not the original boy cast in the play, which is odd. Meghan is the opposite. She and Zach hit it off right away, especially when he learns she can see ghosts too.
Grimes has been approached by a man from the middle east who has big plans. He explains to Grimes that he comes from a royal bloodline with the ability to call forth ghosts. Once Grimes understands the full potential of his ability, he no longer cares about the play. It's all about power. But two kids, born on the full moon, must be sacrificed to bring forth the army of criminal ghosts. The plan is laid and Zach must stop it.
Way too much going on in this book. Minor characters fleet in and out with no real purpose. The ghost of Zach's real mom is a perfect example of this. The plot goes from being a simple ghost revenge story in book 1 to this big convoluted plot to big forth mayhem in book 2. Loved The Crossroads. Did not love The Hanging Hill.
August 6, 2018
This is a fast paced sequel to Grabenstein's first book, The Crossroads. Judy's book series about curious cats has been adapted into a musical. Judy and Zack head to the playhouse, Hanging Hill, to oversee production and rehearsals. Immediately Zack begins to see ghosts, but he does not want to bother Judy with it since she has much stress with her workload. The two main child actors arrive and the female lead can also see ghosts. The history of hanging Hill comes to life as ghosts appear everywhere. Of course demons appear too. A snarly janitor as well as the play's famous director have histories of their own. It seems demons want to re-inhabit their earthly bodies and need these children to accomplish this goal. Although this book was not as engrossing as the first novel, it was still a pleasant read appropriate for middle schoolers.
February 14, 2018
Multiple POVs ~ Zack, the bad guys and the Hanging Hill director. I'm surprised that Zack wasn't more cautious or afraid of moving to a place called Hanging Hill.
It's been many years since I read the first book, so I don't remember any history about Zack. I like Judy, the nice stepmother.
Likes:
* Cool haunted house cover (it does look like a face)
* Zack's thoughtfulness to not want to bother Judy
* Judy, nice step-mother, who can see ghosts and is a celebrated children's story writer
* Judy's book turned into the play, Curiosity Cat
* Zack's dog, Zipper
* Surprise Hanging Hill Playhouse
* Imagination games
Dislikes:
* Jumping between points of views got confusing at times
* Read this book without time gaps or it will be difficult to follow
* Scary theater directing genius, Reginald Grimes
With-reservations:
threats, death penalty, violence, murder, human sacrifice, hell gate, traps, demons, necromancy
It's been many years since I read the first book, so I don't remember any history about Zack. I like Judy, the nice stepmother.
Likes:
* Cool haunted house cover (it does look like a face)
* Zack's thoughtfulness to not want to bother Judy
* Judy, nice step-mother, who can see ghosts and is a celebrated children's story writer
* Judy's book turned into the play, Curiosity Cat
* Zack's dog, Zipper
* Surprise Hanging Hill Playhouse
* Imagination games
Dislikes:
* Jumping between points of views got confusing at times
* Read this book without time gaps or it will be difficult to follow
* Scary theater directing genius, Reginald Grimes
With-reservations:
threats, death penalty, violence, murder, human sacrifice, hell gate, traps, demons, necromancy
January 6, 2018
I took a star off for the predictable “new friend who turns out to be a ghost”. The seeming “stepmom who just wants his love” trope, while it could’ve been introduced better is actually very touching. The grief from his mother’s death is authentic and well-fleshed-out.
The antagonist could have been portrayed creepier given the depth of his evil but hey - this is a kids’ book and an intriguing story.
The antagonist could have been portrayed creepier given the depth of his evil but hey - this is a kids’ book and an intriguing story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2018
I am not a horror fan but really like the other books I've read by Chris Grabenstein, so I found this series at the library. Still not a fan of the genre, but also really like these books. Way to confuse myself. Suspense is about as far as I usually go and since this is a kid's book, I can live with it, though I still had to be a little careful about when I read it.
September 6, 2025
The Crossroads read very much like a one off , stand alone horror story a la Zebra or Signet. Imagine my surprise when I opened The Hanging Hill and discovered it continued the story of Zack and Judy. Hanging Hill read much more like a cozy mystery with ghosts and demons, I probably shouldn't find hanging pilgrims, dead serial killers, and semitic gods cozy but that's trauma for you.
August 16, 2017
This was a very quick read. I enjoyed it's funny moments with a touch of creeepiness. I would recommend this book for a child age 10 and up, or even age 8 if they are advanced readers.
A very enjoyable book!
A very enjoyable book!
November 1, 2023
For a middle-school level haunted mystery, it is an engaging read. Some of the characters were a little one-dimensional and could have been fleshed out (pun intended?) a bit more, but the main characters have grown in this, the second book in the series.
November 28, 2017
This was a very exciting adventure! Loved how he wove the characters alive and dead together! Has a more intense feel than the Lemoncello books. Definitely a page turner!
September 16, 2018
One of my new favorite authors.
October 5, 2018
Good option for kids looking for "horror" genre.
December 1, 2019
I am all about a good ghost story or a mystery. I think this book took it too far with summoning the evil spirits that have died and demonology. It will not be in my classroom.
April 15, 2022
this book was so good, the progression of the story was so AWESOME. This book was funny, scary, mysterious and kinda sad too. i absolutely loved reading it.
April 23, 2024
Kids book, but Chris doesn't talk down to them. Fun, fluffy read for adults.
March 21, 2025
Will Zack find his purpose at the theater? Will he save his friends and family?
April 13, 2025
I like Zack's relationship with Judy. And I like that even the little kid with the allergies and totally realistic fear of the supernormal had a crucial part to play in the climax.
December 19, 2025
Feels a little slapdash compared to the first book in the series, but still a fun paranormal adventure.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews