The Beast You Let In

The unsolved decades-old murder of local Ashling teen Veronica Green has long been treated as lore in the small rural town—until a Halloween party on the anniversary of her death sparks a chain of events that culminate in a quest for ruthless vengeance in this chilling thriller with a supernatural bent. After 17-year-old self-described “loser” Hazel Whitman, who is queer, and her popular twin Beth attend the party, Beth vanishes, reappearing hours later claiming to be Veronica. Hazel indulges her sibling’s identity shift, but the longer Beth’s strange behavior persists, the more uncertain Hazel becomes about whether Beth is pretending or possessed by Veronica’s ghost. Teaming up with other students, Hazel seeks to uncover answers about Veronica’s past and stop the source of the horrors haunting Ashling. Strategically placed diary entries from Veronica heighten tension and expose instances of brutal bullying and violence perpetuated by the town’s conservative values. A rushed climax somewhat undercuts carefully built suspense; nevertheless, thoughtful portrayals of queer teens navigating small-town politics emerge as a standout strength of this unsettling murder mystery by Mele (Summer’s Edge). The twins cue as white. Ages 14–up. Agent: Ginger Clark, Ginger Clark Literary. (Apr.)