The Cheerleaders - by Kara Thomas (Paperback)

About the Book

Five years after a series of accidents that left five cheerleaders dead, including her sister, Monica's world begins to unravel after learning that the events of the past are not over.

Book Synopsis

"Sharp, brilliantly plotted, and totally engrossing."--KAREN M. MCMANUS, New York Times bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying

"A crafty, dark, and disturbing story."--KATHLEEN GLASGOW, New York Times bestselling author of Girl In Pieces

"A little bit Riverdale and a little bit Veronica Mars."--RILEY SAGER, bestselling author of Final Girls

A Goodreads Best Young Adult Book of the Year Nominee

From the author of The Darkest Corners and Little Monsters comes an all-new edge-of-your-seat thriller set in upstate New York about an eerie sequence of seemingly unrelated events that leaves five cheerleaders dead.

There are no more cheerleaders in the town of Sunnybrook.

First there was the car accident--two girls dead after hitting a tree on a rainy night. Not long after, the murders happened. Those two girls were killed by the man next door. The police shot him, so no one will ever know his reasons. Monica's sister was the last cheerleader to die. After her suicide, Sunnybrook High disbanded the cheer squad. No one wanted to be reminded of the girls they'd lost.

That was five years ago. Now the faculty and students at Sunnybrook High want to remember the lost cheerleaders. But for Monica, it's not that easy. She just wants to forget.

Only, Monica's world is starting to unravel. There are the letters in her stepdad's desk, an unearthed, years-old cell phone, a strange new friend at school. . . . Whatever happened five years ago isn't over. Some people in town know more than they're saying. And somehow, Monica is at the center of it all.

There are no more cheerleaders in Sunnybrook, but that doesn't mean anyone else is safe.

More Praise for Kara Thomas:

"Gripping from start to finish . . . with twists that left me shocked."--VICTORIA AVEYARD, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Red Queen

"You'll be up all night tearing through the pages."--BUSTLE

"This deliciously deceptive thriller...is a must-have."--SLJ

Review Quotes

Praise for The Cheerleaders

A YALSA Best Book for Young Adults
A Goodreads Best Young Adult Book of the Year Nominee

"Sharp, brilliantly plotted, and totally engrossing. Every time I thought I had it figured out, the story twisted again. Kara Thomas should teach a master class in suspense." --KAREN M. MCMANUS, New York Times bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying

"A little bit Riverdale and a little bit Veronica Mars, The Cheerleaders is a twisty page-turner that will have you doubting every character you meet--and everything you think you know." --RILEY SAGER, bestselling author of Final Girls

"A crafty, dark, and disturbing story, but in Thomas's masterful book, the real crime is how dangerous it is to grow up female. The Cheerleaders is a riveting read."--KATHLEEN GLASGOW, New York Times bestselling author of Girl In Pieces

"At times eerie, exciting, and even frightening...this deliciously deceptive thriller and provocative drama is a must-have."--SLJ

"Keeping the audience guessing until the very end...[The Cheerleaders is a] satisfying, whodunnit with a solution as complicated as its premise."--Kirkus Reviews

"Thomas builds her novel around an appealingly gruesome case...beset by herrings, and it keeps the pace moving at a solid clip....A solid pick for mystery fans."--Booklist

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

"[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.