Kirkus Review
In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, Lupe returns to Puerto Rico to solve another paranormal mystery in this follow-up to Five Midnights (2019). Lupe has spent the last year since defeating El Cuco back home with her recovering alcoholic father in Vermont--while worrying about her loved ones back in Puerto Rico as they grapple with their new normal. Marisol has turned her frustrations toward activism, rebuilding homes, and defending land from buyouts by mainland corporations. Javier, meanwhile, is just trying to make ends meet while struggling under a dark cloud of unresolved trauma. When Lupe returns to spend the summer on the island, however, all are quickly wrapped up in a murder mystery with ghostly ties. On the island of Vieques, developers putting in a new resort seem to have raised the dead, and ghostly sightings are being reported amid violent deaths. The pacing is tight as each chapter focuses on the developing plot through the shifting perspectives of the main characters. The climactic moment feels a little cheesy and Scooby-Doo--esque, but there is a tongue-in-cheek self-awareness of the "meddling kids" trope. Though not explored in depth as the mystery unfolds, themes of colonialism, trauma, and recovery are woven throughout. Most of the cast is Puerto Rican; there is also some light romance between two male characters. A page-turner: part mystery, part ghost story, with touches of romance and social commentary. (Paranormal mystery. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Cardinal's sequel to Five Midnights (2019) drops readers right back onto the small Puerto Rican island of Vieques, which has been decimated by Hurricane Maria. When Lupe returns for another summer, she finds Javier working on the construction site of a luxury resort--the land of which was purchased for cheap after the hurricane--and Marisol attempting to protest the land sale that she feels took advantage of devastated residents. As rumors spread of ghostly figures walking the beaches, a number of men are found dead with their hearts ripped out. Is this the result of another Puerto Rican legend come to life, or is the villain more human? In this installment, the supernatural element is more classic vengeful ghost, sans the Puerto Rican horror of El Cuco that made Lupe and her friends' first adventure so compelling. With little explanation given of previous plot or characters, this quick read's appeal may be limited to existing fans.