Lost in Wonderland by Nicky Peacock
Publication Date: April 16, 2016
Publisher: Evernight Teen
Imagine Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse meets Criminal Minds meets Alice in Wonderland meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer sans vampires but with kickass Buffy and you might have a taste of what’s in store for you with Nicky Peacock’s Lost in Wonderland.
Kayla and her big brother, Shilo, live with their parents in a small town in Alaska until their mother disappears. Shilo believes that she was taken by a monster. All evidence points to her running off with an ex-lover, which drives her husband to suicide leaving the kids behind. Shilo ends up in an institution where he talks to his imaginary friend, Mr. Custard. Kayla goes to live with one foster family who can’t meet her needs and then goes to a second and becomes Mouse and part of Wonderland, an organization that uses covert intelligence and money from a Silicon Valley computer genius to track down human monsters and do what the police are unable to do.
Lost in Wonderland is a fast paced, darkly humorous ride. Mouse makes a fabulous heroine in the tradition of Buffy. There are smart twists and not much is predictable. You find yourself completely involved and hanging on while this tale careerns towards its ending. I am already looking forward to more installments and hope that they are engaging as this one.
This is classified as “thriller,” but I would toss in YA paranormal and mystery as well. There is violence so it’s geared for teens 14+.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
From Amazon: Lost in Wonderland
rating: 
(4 butterflies and a ladybug out of 5 butterflies)