Coming August 26, 2025, from Putnam/Penguin Teen
Two teen girls must uncover the dark, occult secrets lurking in their Cape Cod town to solve a series of murders—and save themselves from the same fate—in this twisty, witchy thriller.
When Mazzy and her best friend Nora sneak down to the beach one moonlit night to cast a spell, they don’t expect to find a dead body. But as the tide rolls in, it carries the remains of a woman who is missing her hands and teeth.
The girls know they should leave the investigation to the police, but they can’t shake the weird, supernatural connection they feel with the dead woman. Using spellwork and divination, they set out to find answers of their own. But after they uncover a rash of local disappearances stretching back years—and both girls start having occult visions and hearing ghostly, whispering voices—Mazzy worries that she and Nora are in danger.
Then, Nora finds a second body. And a whispering voice is telling her where to find more. With everything spiraling, Mazzy needs to figure out who to trust and how to sever this supernatural connection—or she and Nora might be the next bodies to wash up on the beach.
Reviews
“This suspenseful horror delivers on everything that a reader could hope for from the genre: creepy graveyard settings, a deadly secret society, tarot spreads, other (respectful) ties to the occult, and pacing with the perfect blend of buildup and action. Lesperance ramps up tension as things spiral out of Mazzy’s control, imbuing the story with an anxiety that only leaves on the last page, making this a hard book to put down. Readers who are drawn to suspenseful supernatural fiction that will keep them up at night will want to pick this up for their next read.”
– BCCB, starred review
“Lesperance utilizes sharp and evocative prose to present a witchy, friendship-focused tale that boasts creeping, gothic ambiance and whirlwind pacing.”
– Publishers Weekly
“A hair-raising adventure … Mazzy’s first-person present narration is clear and expressive, and plot twists will keep readers on the edge of their seats.”
– Booklist
“The perfect mix of mystery and witchcraft. This is a fun, spooky read that will keep readers hooked until the end.”
– School Library Journal
Nicole Lesperance 