Little Monsters - by Kara Thomas (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

For fans of Pretty Little Liars, comes a psychological thriller, from the author of The Cheerleaders, about about how when you're the new girl in town, you can't trust anyone, especially other teenage girls.

Kacey is the new girl in Broken Falls. When she moved in with her father, she stepped into a brand-new life. A life with a stepbrother, a stepmother, and strangest of all, an adoring younger half sister.

Kacey's new life is eerily charming compared with the wild highs and lows of the old one she lived with her volatile mother. And everyone is so nice in Broken Falls--she's even been welcomed into a tight new circle of friends.

Which is why it's so odd when her closest friends, Bailey and Jade, start acting distant. And when they don't invite her to the biggest party of the year, it doesn't exactly feel like an accident.

But Kacey will never be able to ask, because Bailey never makes it home from that party. Suddenly, Broken Falls doesn't seem so welcoming after all--especially once everyone starts looking to the new girl for answers.

Review Quotes

Praise for Little Monsters:

A Junior Library Guild Selection

"A disturbing portrait of how bad news and gossip can curdle when mixed together."-Oprah.com

"An eerie and masterly psychological thriller...[that] culminates in a shocking and disturbing ending. Thomas expertly captures the pointed nuances and the fickle, manipulative bonds of adolescent girls' friendships."-SLJ

"Taut and suspenseful...this gritty page-turner will easily hook a broad range of readers"-Booklist

"An intense psychological thriller that all but ensures the lights will be left on between dusk and dawn."-Publishers Weekly

"Gritty and realistic...this mystery will leave readers in awe."-VOYA

"A twisted story of obsession and manipulation, Little Monsters captivated me right up to its surprising conclusion--and left me wondering how well I really know my friends."-Chelsea Sedoti, author of The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett

"A brilliant, well-written masterpiece, full of unreliable narrators, suspense, and plot twists that will leave you at the edge of your seat."-Inah P., The Bibliophile Confessions

"A twisted and evocative tale of teenage friendships, obsession, and family dynamics all wrapped up in a mystery that is as compelling as it is dark."-Liz, Liz Loves Books

"The ending left me staring slack-jawed."-Leah Lorenzo, Bumble Bee Books

"Little Monsters was absolutely amazing. It pulled me in and now that I am done with it, I am going to have such a major book hangover....Every time I thought I was close to having [the mystery] figured out, Kara Thomas would throw something at us and it would change EVERYTHING!"-Stephanie Torina, Reading is Better With Cupackes

Praise for The Darkest Corners

An International Thriller Writers Award Finalist
An ABC Best Book for Teens
A Junior Library Guild Selection

"Gripping from start to finish, The Darkest Corners took me into an underbelly I didn't know existed, with twists that left me shocked and racing forward to get to the end."-Victoria Aveyard, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Red Queen

"A tight, twisted thriller, full of deft reversals and disturbing revelations--deeply, compulsively satisfying!"-Brenna Yovanoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Replacement

"As dark as Gillian Flynn and as compulsive as Serial...Kara Thomas's mystery debut is intricate, chilling, and deeply compelling. Unforgettable!"--Laura Salters, author of Run Away

"You'll be up all night tearing through the pages, gasping through the twists and turns."-Bustle.com

"[It] will have you questioning the lies young girls tell, and the ripple effects they can have."-EW.com

★ "Thomas carefully crafts the suspense, leaving present-tense narrator Tessa--and readers--to doubt even those she loves the most...An unsettling story of loss, lies, and violence lurking in the shadows of a small town." --Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

★ "On the heels of Making a Murderer and The Jinx comes a psychological thriller strongly rooted in the true-crime tradition...Expertly plotted with plenty of twists and turns--never mind a truly shocking conclusion--this gritty thriller is sure to find a wide audience among teens and adults alike. Equally concerned with a quest for the truth and the powerful motivation of guilt, this compelling novel won't linger on the shelf." --Booklist, Starred review

★ "Thomas keeps it real with a jaded heroine from the have-nots societal segment who holds onto her humanity, and a frank illustration of failure in the justice system. Hand this one to older teens who love dark mysteries or fans of Netflix's Making a Murderer."--Shelf Awareness, Starred review

"Clearly drawn...[and] alive until the twisty end."--Bulletin

"Strong character development and thrilling reveals...this novel is a sure bet."--SLJ

About the Author

Kara Thomas has written for everything from her high school newspaper to Warner Bros. Television. She is a true-crime addict who lives on Long Island with her husband and rescue cat. She is the author of The Darkest Corners, Little Monsters, The Cheerleaders, and That Weekend. To learn more about Kara and her books, visit her at kara-thomas.com or follow @karatwrites on Twitter and Instagram.