Project 17

Project 17


By: Laurie Faria Stolarz
Reviewed by: gothiclolitamaiden, 15
Rating: Really liked it


When six high school students sneak into an abandoned mental institution to make a film about their night there, they do not expect the inexplicable and terrifying events that keep occuring within the crumbling, maze-like building, causing them to question themselves.

Laurie Faria Stolarz has mastered the art of building suspense. Throughout the book, Project 17 has a creepy atmosphere. Maybe it's the fact that the story takes place in an abandoned mental hospital, maybe it's the fact that some of the events described in the book are true. Danvers State Hospital was a real place, it partially demolished in 2007, as in the book. After finishing the book I just had to look up the place.

Project 17 really creeped me out, the author takes full advantage of the creepy setting, using excellent imagery and of course telling the twisted stories of the individuals who resided in the asylum, and still do.

All of the characters are really fascinating and well-developed. Each of them felt like someone who I could relate to, I could almost imagine that they went to my high school. At first, most of them appear to be stereotypes: player, over-acheiver, drama queen, goth girl and class clown, but they're all deeper than that. Some of the romance in the book felt a little bit forced, but it didn't detract from the creepy experience. Project 17 is a real page-turner, it hooks you from the beginning.
I would recommend Project 17 to horror fans, but just don't read it if you're alone at night. I made that mistake.


Recommended to: Horror fans 14+