During the ‘90s, teen horror fiction was huge. Authors like R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike already had major hits, and Scholastic’s Point Horror was thriving. Recently I’ve made it my personal mission to collect and read as many of the titles from the decade as possible. This month, for Horror Bound’s “Spine-chilling children” week, I’m taking a look at Scared to Death: Bobby’s Watching by Ted Pickford.

Before purchasing this title from a used bookstore, I had no prior knowledge of the series. Ted Pickford’s Scared to Death is a trilogy which was published throughout 1993 by Bantam Books. The first book, Bobby’s Watching, was followed by Bobby’s Back and the concluding book, Bridesmaids in Black. The spine for Bobby’s Watching indicates adult “horror” but the subject matter, writing style, suggested age group, and overall presentation point toward YA.

Pickford lays out the premise of the entire series during the opening chapters of Bobby’s Watching. The story concerns main character Bobby Wimmer, who, at the age of twelve, was picked on by a group of kids collectively known as the Five. The bullying led to Bobby getting hurt and, ultimately, the death of his mother while she was on the way to visit him in the hospital. Flash forward six years later, and Bobby is determined to get even with the Five, as he makes plans to kill them one by one.

First on Bobby’s list is the protagonist of Bobby’s Watching, Leigh Millen. Leigh is a college student who dreams of one day becoming a professional musician. The story effectively shrouds the campus setting in deep mystery, as there is a common belief that there is some sort of prowler who is stalking the students. With Bobby’s relentless and deadly pursuit, the subplots intertwine until the truth finally becomes clear for the main characters.

Bobby’s Watching takes many of the teen horror tropes that are so often seen within Point Horror and Fear Street titles and ups the ante tenfold. The selling point of the book makes no bones about the eventual outcome. By focusing so closely on the character of Bobby, Pickford delivers a book that is slightly more twisted and meaner than most of its counterparts. With some chapters told from Bobby’s POV, readers are subjected to go along with Bobby’s diabolical and depraved plans as they unfold. Even though the book is never overly gory or sadistic, you can think of Bobby’s Watching as a baby step into the sub-genre of extreme horror.

Oftentimes, the teen horror books that were churned out during the ‘90s present readers with the feeling that none of the characters are ever in any kind of real danger. Instead, the books are fun reads that keep the reader guessing as to whom the true identity of the antagonist might belong. Here, Scared to Death presents the familiar material as a story of suspense rather than one of mystery (with the exception of a small twist near the end that doesn’t work quite as well as it should), as the identity of the killer/antagonist is made clear from the get-go.

The finale of Bobby’s Watching throws in a plot point that will have readers eager to find out what happens next. I love horror storylines like this one, both in books and in movies, where the plot development and introduction/involvement of characters throughout the series’ individual installments contribute to an overall “mythology” of the story’s big picture. After reading only one book in the Scared to Death series, I will comfortably place it next to my favorites by R.L. Stine. If you’re looking for a teen book series that is akin to binging an entire horror movie franchise, and you’ve already read Stine’s The Babysitter I-IV, check out Ted Pickford’s Scared to Death. I’m only one book in, but I can’t wait to see where the story goes.