The Voice in the Mirror

Nightmare Hall #29

by Diane Hoh

Salem U. is buzzing with holiday activities. Annie loves the holidays, until two of her friends have horrible accidents—and she may be next.

What Annie doesn't know is that one of her friends has a dark past. He has murdered a girl and now his mind is split in two. One part that of a student, the other that of a guilty killer.

He listens to "the voice in the mirror" that tells him that each new girl he meets is actually a reincarnation of the girl he killed, returning to expose him. The voice tells him he has no chance, unless he can eliminate the problem...permanently.

Genres: Young Adult, Horror

227 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1995

About the author

Diane Hoh is the author of fifty-seven novels for young adults. She grew up in Warren, Pennsylvania but currently resides in Austin, Texas. Reading and writing are her favorite things, alongside gardening and grandchildren.

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the last Nightmare Hall book, and I could never find a copy of it as a kid, so this was my first time reading it.

This was absolutely insane in the best possible way, and I loved every minute of it. Plus, it surprisingly takes place at Christmas time, so it was very timely to read it now.

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay, it didn't take place at Nightmare Hall though 🙄

* A bunch of students are organising some fund raising for the paediatrics department at the hospital, when they start being attacked.
* Helene is crushed by a falling Christmas tree, Lisbet is pushed down an elevator shaft and buried in the woods in the snow, and Annie is hanging above the stage by a cable when the cable snaps.
* In other, first person chapters someone is arguing with their reflection, and discussing how best to kill one girl and then another because they're not who they say they are, they're really Elyse - the girl that this person had to kill to get a scholarship.
* Quentin tells Annie that he's concerned about James because he's talking to a mirror and using different voices, but Annie writes it off as play rehersals. She even witnesses someone talking inside the room but does nothing.
* Whilst they're tidying after the play the bad guy gets Annie alone and tries to push her down an elevator shift, all the time explaining that he has to kill her because he needs his scholarship.
* Annie manages to jab him with a reindeer antler, and get away, and realises that the bad guy is Quentin. She later realises that him talking about James talking to the mirror was a cry for help, and that her dismissing his concerns led him to believe that there was nothing wrong with the behaviour.

This was okay, nothing special. I never really thought much of these when I was a teenager and I guess I agree now 😂