The Phantom Tower by Keir Graff is the perfect mix of spooky and mystery that will pull in any reader looking for a suspenseful novel. Mal and Colm (MalColm when their mom is mad) are twins who have just moved to Chicago. The change of scenery is just what the two and their mom need to get over the death of their father. However, there is something a little strange about the apartment building they move into. There’s the missing 13th floor, but yet there’s a button with the number 13 that appears in the elevator.  Then there’s the princess in the penthouse. As Colm and Mal get out and explore this quirky building, they discover more questions than answers.

It’s these questions that make The Phantom Tower such an intriguing mystery. However, it’s Graff’s ability to take a cast of eccentric, but lovable, characters and set them in a quirky location that makes this an enjoyable read. Throw in the spooky aspect of ghosts and a mysterious setting and you have a novel that will be hard to put down.

This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Penguin

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  1 mild obscenity. 

Violence/Gore:  2 brothers punch each other in the shoulder (9 times); 1 brother goes after the other with fists flailing because he’s mad; character punches 2 of the other characters in the arm; description of adult throwing himself from the roof to commit suicide and he lands on another person killing him; man threatens to have everyone hanged; one ghost kicks another ghost. 

Sex/Nudity:  Girl and boy hug.

Mature Subject Matter:

Death of loved one, ghosts/supernatural, death, suicide.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

Ghost appears to be smoking a cigarette; someone is described as smelling like pipe tobacco.