Hell to Pay - by Lora Beth Johnson (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Oceans Eight meets Six of Crows in this YA fantasy heist novel about a teenage con artist and her ragtag crew teaming up for their toughest job yet: stealing a soul from the Afterlife.

Elle Fields comes from a long line of thieves who specialize in breaking into the Afterlife to steal secrets--and magic--from the dead. But after her parents' disappearance and her brother's death, Elle is left adrift, without even her crew to rely on.

Until a mysterious stranger offers her a job she can't refuse: stealing a soul from the Afterlife. If Elle can get it done, it could be the key to restoring the life she lost.

The only problem is getting her crew back together. Oh, and the fact that the job's impossible--but Elle is confident that she'll be able to work it all out.

After all, how hard could it be to raise the dead?

Review Quotes

"A con artist summons her old crew for their trickiest heist yet: stealing her brother's soul back from hell. Ambitious and refreshing; readers will want to settle in for the long con." --Kirkus Reviews

"A searing fantasy novel...Unique worldbuilding, rapid-fire action and surprising twists further invest the audience in this dog-eat-dog heist with high stakes and deadly consequences. The resulting found family narrative is a heartening reminder of the resilience of the human spirit." --PW

"Readers will find this fast-paced book full of plot twists, magic, and cons an enjoyable paranormal mystery. A great addition to any library in need of a paranormal or fantasy mystery and for fans of modern takes on the Greek/Roman pantheon." --SLJ

"I adored this novel about a found family that relies on crime, magic, and sarcasm to survive! I couldn't get enough!" --Beth Revis, New York Times bestselling author of Night of the Witch and Across the Universe

"With twisty heists, an eclectic crew, and otherworldly magic, this book has it all! Hell to Pay is a high-stakes, magical masterpiece." --Kayvion Lewis, award-winning author of Thieves' Gambit

"Impeccably witty, deftly crafted, and cinematic in the truest sense of the word, Hell to Pay reinvents your favorite classic heist tropes with a spooky twist against a richly imagined contemporary fantasy backdrop you'll want to immerse yourself in long after the final page is turned." --Andrea Tang, author of These Deadly Prophecies and To the Death

"Instantly one of my all-time favorite reads, Hell to Pay is an absolute riot of magic, thrills, and banter. I fell in love with its ragtag crew of con artists, swoony love interest, and action-packed heist that's to die for--literally." --Emily Suvada, award-winning author of the Mortal Coil trilogy

About the Author

As an only child, Lora Beth Johnson grew up telling herself stories and reading past her bedtime. She spent her adulthood collecting degrees, careers, and stamps in her passport before realizing her passion for creating fictional worlds. When she's not writing, she's teaching college English and learning new languages. She lives in Davidson, NC with her little roommate, Colocataire the Yorki-poo.

Find her on Instagram @lorabethjohnson