Locked in Time

Nore Robbins arrives at her father's Louisiana plantation to spend the summer with her new stepfamily. After her mother's death, her father married Lisette Bergé, who lives there with her two children, Gabe and Josie. Strange occurrences begin to plague Nore as she settles into life at Shadow Grove plantation. Her stepfamily's behavior raises questions, and historical details don't add up when Nore investigates the past. Nore must uncover the truth about her mysterious new stepfamily while protecting her father from potential danger. The stakes rise as she races to solve the puzzle before it's too late. This supernatural thriller explores themes of immortality, family bonds, and the natural cycle of aging and death. The Louisiana setting adds atmosphere to a story that questions whether eternal youth would be a gift or a curse.

Readers find this a fast-paced young adult thriller that keeps them engaged, though many note it's not Duncan's strongest work. The book maintains a 3.8/5 rating on Goodreads from over 3,000 readers. Readers appreciated: - Quick pace and easy reading level - Building sense of suspense - Relatable teenage protagonist - Louisiana bayou setting Common criticisms: - Predictable plot twists - Underdeveloped side characters - Dated references and dialogue - Rushed ending Amazon reviews (3.9/5 from 89 reviews) highlight the "page-turning quality" but note the book "shows its age." Multiple readers on LibraryThing (3.5/5) mentioned enjoying it more as teenagers than adults. Several Goodreads reviewers specifically praised the atmospheric setting: "The swampy Louisiana backdrop adds genuine creepiness" while others found the premise "too far-fetched" and the resolution "unsatisfying." Common comparison: Readers frequently note this book is not as compelling as Duncan's "Down a Dark Hall" or "I Know What You Did Last Summer."

Jade Green by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor A young woman moves to a haunted house in Charleston where she uncovers dark family secrets and confronts supernatural forces to protect her new household.

The Twin by Natasha Preston A girl discovers her new stepsister harbors sinister intentions and must expose the truth about her stepfamily's deadly plans.

Down a Dark Hall by Lois Duncan A student at an exclusive boarding school uncovers supernatural phenomena and must escape before dark forces claim her and her classmates.

The Year Without Summer by Kat Armstrong A teen moves to her father's remote estate and confronts an immortal family who gained eternal life through a dark bargain.

The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall by Katie Alender A girl inherits an abandoned asylum and must unravel its history while facing supernatural entities that reveal her family's connection to the building's past.

🌟 The Louisiana plantation setting was inspired by real historic homes in the area, particularly those along the famous River Road between Baton Rouge and New Orleans 🌟 Lois Duncan began her writing career at age 13 when she sold her first story to a magazine, and went on to publish over 50 books throughout her career 🌟 The concept of immortality explored in the book draws from various cultural myths, including the Greek legend of Tithonus, who received eternal life but not eternal youth 🌟 Unlike many of Duncan's other supernatural thrillers, this book focuses more on psychological suspense rather than overt horror elements 🌟 The novel was originally published in 1985 during a period when Young Adult literature was just beginning to emerge as a distinct category in publishing