Description

This deluxe edition is printed with gorgeous stenciled edges and a stunning foil-stamped case!

An Instant New York Times and Indie Bestseller. A Goodreads Most Anticipated Horror Novel. A New York Public Library, Chicago Public Library, and BCCB Best Book of the Year.

"A true blood-soaked Southern Gothic for the modern age.” —Andrew Joseph White, New York Times–bestselling author of Hell Followed With Us and The Spirit Bears its Teeth

"Immersive and atmospheric." —Publishers Weekly

Four unlikely allies in a small town investigate a local teen's disappearance, and what they discover festering at the core of their community is far more sinister and ancient than they could’ve ever imagined. For fans of True Detective, Mexican Gothic, and Midsommar.

When Dawson Sumter goes missing, all he leaves behind is a smattering of blood in room 4 of the debt-ridden motel owned by Neera Singh's family. Disappearances like this aren't uncommon in the rural Georgia town of Carrion, especially every thirteen years when a periodical cicada brood returns from underground, shrieking their deafening screams.

For Neera, Dawson is another reminder that in this corner of the South, the rich only get richer, and the poor—well, nothing good comes their way.

Neera sets out to investigate Dawson’s whereabouts—if he even still lives—along with three other teens: Isaiah, son of a prominent judge and clandestine true crime podcaster; Reid, son of the wealthiest man in the region; and Sam, estranged daughter of the local hitman. As they find themselves entangled in a messy web of secrets and lies, they discover the riches of the adjacent Lake Clearwater community may have a terrifying source of power dating back to the town’s founding and an ancient urban legend about three devils, each more sinister than the next. How deep does the rot go, and can they find a way to escape its reach?

About the Author

Praise For…

An Instant New York Times and Indie Bestseller
A New York Public Library and Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2025
A Goodreads Most Anticipated Horror Novel
A BCCB Blue Ribbon Awards List Nominee

“Kaur has written a true blood-soaked Southern Gothic for the modern age.” —Andrew Joseph White, New York Times–bestselling author of Hell Followed With Us and The Spirit Bears its Teeth

“Xan Kaur masterfully weaves small-town mystery with an unrelenting sense of dread, all while delivering a story that’s as thought-provoking as it is chilling. Dripping with heart and voice from the very first page.” —Nick Brooks, Odyssey Award–winning author of Promise Boys

"Atmospheric and tense." —Kirkus Reviews

"Brilliantly executed." —BCCB

"Immersive and atmospheric." —Publishers Weekly

"Kaur’s debut offers nuance to the Deep South, acknowledging the politics, religious fervor, and racial tensions often attributed to Southerners with depth and care." —Booklist