Dark and Shallow Lies by by Ginny Myers Sain

In Dark and Shallow Lies, seventeen-year-old Grey returns to La Cachette, Louisiana, the self-proclaimed "Psychic Capital of the World," only to find her best friend Elora missing and the truth concealed. Doubtful of Elora's inexplicable disappearance and the lack of answers in a town full of psychics, Grey uncovers a web of hidden truths held by her grandmother, childhood crush, and deceased mother. When a mysterious stranger connected to Elora and the town's grim history emerges, Grey realises the danger lurking in La Cachette's past. As secrets fester and a murderer roams, trust becomes elusive, threatening to tear the town apart.

I picked this book up last month for spooky season. I remember watching an Electric Monkey panel a while back with this author and it sounded intriguing but I put off getting it as I was worried it would be too creepy or scary for me - I am so glad it wasn't! It definitely gave me Where the Crawdads Sing and To Kill A Mockingbird vibes due to the setting, a small Southern town where everyone knows everyone else. The writing style was easy to read and immerse yourself in and before I knew it I'd read 70 pages on the first day of picking it up.

I loved the psychic element to this story. Most of the characters had the gift but it emerged in different ways - some can hear the voices of the death, some have visions or can draw something they see, some can be in two places at once. This definitely made it a lot harder to believe any of the characters were telling the truth thus raising the mystery and intrigue of the story as a whole. Myers Sain manages to make the whole town seem dark and uncomfortable rather than cheerful and welcoming but captures the close knit community aspect really well.

I liked Grey as a central character. She is almost seen as an outsider since she only visits La Cachette during the Summer and reading the story from her perspective as she questions everyone from the kids she grew up with to her grandmother, Honey, aids in giving you that uncomfortable feeling that no one is really who they seem.

If you're looking for something that will keep you guessing to the very end, Dark and Shallow Lies is it. I loved this book and definitely recommend it if you're looking for a page turning YA thriller!

Rating:

Trigger Warnings: Murder, Child Death, Death, Grief, Death of a Parent, Murder, Gun Violence, Blood, Gore, Suicide, Domestic Abuse, Incest