Mystery Guest

Stoffels (Deep Water) traces the months leading up to a teen’s murder, to which three people confess, in this suspenseful whodunit that incorporates themes of abuse. High schooler Maria is dreading summer vacation, especially when she learns that her physically abusive brother, Ferris, is returning home from a detention center, and Mike, the man who sexually assaulted her, has arrived in town on business. Life gets even more complicated for Maria and her girlfriend, Pip, when Pip’s obsessive ex-girlfriend, Norah, and Cody, a mysterious, handsome stranger, arrive on the scene. Then Maria starts receiving text messages from someone known only as Mystery Guest, who challenges her to increasingly dangerous dares, including balancing from precarious heights and traversing busy roadways. When it becomes clear that Mystery Guest knows more about Maria than they should, she fears that it’s a matter of time until her darkest secrets surface. Spare, efficient writing lacks detail, making it difficult to connect with the characters and setting, and shocking reveals undercut the emotional impact of the novel’s exploration of familial abuse, sexual violence, and mental health struggles. Nevertheless, tension remains high across a snappy, genuinely disturbing thriller that will appeal to readers looking for a whirlwind read. Ages 12–up. (July)