Picture this: it's almost midnight. Your kid is supposed to be asleep. But instead, they're hunched over their phone, blanket pulled up to their nose, heart hammering — because the group chat just got weird. Really, really weird.
That's exactly the kind of read-until-your-eyes-hurt story we've been waiting for in the middle-grade mystery space. And now it's here.
Let's be honest — getting a 10-year-old to put down their phone for a book can feel like a minor miracle. What if the book was set inside the phone?
The Ghost in the Group Chat by RLB Designs opens at 11:47 PM in a locked school group chat. Leo and his friends are supposed to be swapping rubrics for a history project. What they get instead is a mysterious user named The_Grey_Lady — and a screen that literally frosts over when she appears.
The Story
11:47 PM
She sends one photo: a girl in a lace dress standing before a heavy iron door. But it's not just creepy. The silver locket in the photo is the exact same one Leo saw in his friend Maya's backpack that very day. Now Leo and his crew are racing to uncover a lost ledger and a key missing for thirty-six thousand days — before the digital hauntings become something far more real.
Part supernatural thriller, part friendship story, and entirely un-put-downable. Perfect for fans of Small Spaces and Goosebumps who are ready for something a little more layered.
It speaks their language — literally
Group chats, glitching screens, mysterious usernames. This story meets kids where they actually live.
A real mystery worth solving
Clues, a hidden ledger, a key missing for nearly a century — the kind of puzzle that keeps young readers flipping pages at midnight.
Strong friendship dynamics
Leo, Maya, and the group have to trust each other — and themselves — to solve something bigger than any history assignment.
Just spooky enough
Chilling without being traumatizing. The perfect amount of creepy for ages 9–13 — especially that kid who thinks they're too old for "regular" stories.
Available in paperback ($13 + shipping), hardcover ($17 + shipping), or instant digital download.
Paperback: 6x9 inch $13 plus shipping
Hardcover: 6x9 inch $17 plus shipping
DOWNLOADABLE - PDF / Kindle File HERE
Digital PDF / Kindle version available at beacons.ai/rlbdesigns
You know that kid — the one who says "I don't like reading" while secretly finishing an entire series under the covers? The Ghost in the Group Chat was made for them.
This is a story that respects the intelligence of pre-teens. It doesn't talk down to them. It gives them a real mystery to unravel, real friendships to root for, and just enough supernatural edge to keep things electrifying.
Whether you're shopping for a birthday, a holiday, a "just because" gift, or something to tuck into a summer reading bag — this one delivers. It's also a wonderful conversation starter about online safety, history, and how the past has a funny way of catching up with us.
Educators, this one's for you too. The story weaves in elements of research, historical investigation, and critical thinking — dressed up in a spooky-fun package that won't feel like homework. Use it for a classroom read-aloud, an independent reading unit, or a discussion springboard around digital literacy and history.
The themes of friendship, courage, and doing the right thing even when it's scary? Timeless. Priceless. Very much on your side.
Written with love, a little mystery, and a whole lot of moonlight ✦ RLB Designs
