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by Xan Kaur
In this Southern gothic horror novel, 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 She is a Haunting, 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?
"The humid Georgia summer setting provides an intense backdrop, acting as a character in and of itself. The four protagonists are well-developed, seriously flawed yet utterly understandable...A harrowing tale of desire, despair, and the devil." —Kirkus Reviews
"Together they uncover Carrion's terrifying secrets, including an ancient legend about three devil brothers. Uneven pacing results in a somewhat rushed conclusion, but Kaur perceptively combines themes of classism, prejudice, and generational power with a supernatural premise enriched by an immersive and atmospheric backdrop." —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
"A story that truly understands no devil can ever be half as terrifying as the cruelty of a powerful man. 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, When Devils Sing is definitely one you're going to want to read!" ―Nick Brooks, Odyssey Award–winning author of Promise Boys
This information about When Devils Sing was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Xan Kaur grew up in rural Georgia, where there were more gnats than people. When not writing, you can find her behind a camera or swimming in the nearest ocean. When Devils Sing is her debut novel.
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