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Best Dark Books

December 2024

Wintergirls

Lia’s world shattered when her best friend Cassie died. Now, haunted by Cassie’s ghost and battling her own demons, Lia struggles with anorexia and self-harm. Anderson’s raw, poetic prose captures the aching emptiness and desperate hunger of a girl caught between life and death. As Lia spirals deeper into her illness, readers are drawn into her fractured mind, feeling every painful step of her journey. A haunting, unflinching look at the devastating effects of eating disorders.

The Sleeping and the Dead

Detective Peter Porteous is called to a remote Scottish island when a body is discovered in a peat bog. As he delves into the case, he uncovers long-buried secrets and a web of lies that have haunted the tight-knit community for decades. With each revelation, Peter finds himself drawn deeper into the island’s dark history, risking everything to unravel the truth. Cleeves masterfully weaves a tale of suspense and human nature, keeping readers guessing until the very end.

The Seagull

Detective Jimmy Perez returns to the windswept Shetland Islands in Ann Cleeves’ gripping mystery, “The Seagull.” When human remains are unearthed at a local beach, Perez is drawn into a complex web of secrets and lies stretching back decades. As he unravels the connections between past and present, Perez must confront his own demons while racing to catch a killer. Cleeves’ masterful storytelling and vivid descriptions of the stark island landscape create an atmospheric thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Thin Air

Detective Jimmy Perez returns to his Shetland Islands home, only to be thrust into a perplexing case. A young woman vanishes during a music festival, leaving behind whispers of folklore and dark secrets. As fog shrouds the rugged landscape, Perez unravels a web of lies and long-buried truths. Cleeves masterfully weaves atmosphere and suspense, capturing the isolation and close-knit nature of island life. I found myself shivering alongside the characters, feeling the damp chill seep into my bones as I turned each page.

The Chocolate War

Cormier’s haunting masterpiece delves into the dark underbelly of high school politics. When Jerry Renault refuses to participate in Trinity School’s annual chocolate sale, he becomes an unwitting rebel, challenging the corrupt power structure. Through Jerry’s struggle, we witness the brutal consequences of nonconformity and the crushing weight of peer pressure. This raw, unflinching exploration of adolescent cruelty and moral courage will leave you questioning the nature of individuality and the true cost of standing up for what’s right.