I labeled this book as fantasy, but I think it's a very mysterious fantasy. I expected it to be sort of like Lemony Snicket books - a witty, black humor kind of thing. It is like that, but it's also much more unusual than I expected. The author doesn't get all cutesy or spare any gory details - there are some very nearly adult themes in the book. The plot is clearly setting up for a series, so there are some elements that seem vague and confusing for now, but all in all I was very interested by this unusual story, and I will definitely read the sequel. ( )

As eleven-year-old Joy Wells, proud resident of the nearly-abandoned town of Spooking, tries to stop construction of a water park in a bog she believes is home to a monster and the setting of her favorite horror story, a man with his own mysterious connection to Spooking will do anything to stop her.

Great book. Well written; fascinating, particular and appealing characters; and very funny! The plot develops very slowly with only one real climax, but it's so much fun to read that I didn't really care. ( )

Joy and her brother Byron are Spookies, meaning they live in the creepy town of Spooking rather than the shiny new town of Darlington. Joy is fine with this because she is all about anything different or odd. When Joy discovers that the folks in Darlington intend to build a water park and destroy her beloved bog (home of the Bog Fiend) she is determined to stop the plan at any cost. But there are people just as determined to see the bog destoyed and Joy may have just bitten off more than she can chew.

I enjoyed this book in the end. I have to say that although the writing is very good, it took me a bit to warm up to it. But now I can't wait to see what happens. I really like the quirky characters and the villian is truely evil. I think older kids and tweens will enjoy this book and I think it could appeal to boys and girls. ( )

Reviewed by Rebecca Wells for TeensReadToo.com

Joy Wells, connoisseur of classic horror stories, the famous author E. A. Peugeot, and the swamp in her hometown of Spooking, has a problem. In fact, she has several.

First, she is forced to abandon her creaky old town of Spooking to descend to the suburban city of Darlington to attend school. Second, no one else seems to appreciate how amazing the spooky Spooking swamp is. And third, she has discovered that someone in Darlington has a plan to build a water park over her beloved swamp!

The Spooking swamp is the source of endless entertainment and speculation for Joy, especially because it may have eerie connections to E. A. Peugeot's haunting masterpiece, "The Bawl of the Bog Fiend." Joy loves the swamp, but it appears that no one else does, and without opposition, it is clear that the Spooking swamp will soon be extinct.

What can Joy do but oppose this horrendous plan, taking a stand against those determined to annihilate the swamp - and the town of Spooking - forever?

FIENDISH DEEDS lays the groundwork for what promises to be a unique and compelling trilogy. The premise of this young adult book is interesting and, though the conflict acquires a certain level of melodrama through Joy's point of view, it still manages to nudge the reader towards speculations about the meaning of progress and the value of history. Joy is a fearless and quirky protagonist who unhesitatingly draws the reader into her own interests and cares, including the ever present E. A. Peugeot, a clever doppelganger of Edgar Allen Poe.

FIENDISH DEEDS hits the ground running with a feisty protagonist, unlikely allies, and a sinister adversary as it introduces a grand adventure touched with mystery, action, horror, and the barest hint of romance. I was utterly disappointed to reach the end of the book only to find that FIENDISH DEEDS raises innumerable questions that it then refuses to answer. My only consolation is that there is a second (and third) book to come. ( )