Science Fiction & Fantasy
![Ginny Myers Sain - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_a_ginny_myers_sain.jpg)
Dark and Shallow Lies
A teen girl disappears from her small town deep in the bayou, where magic festers beneath the surface of the swamp like water rot, in this chilling debut supernatural thriller for fans of Natasha Preston, Karen McManus, and Rory Power.
La Cachette, Louisiana, is the worst place to be if you have something to hide.
This tiny town, where seventeen-year-old Grey spends her summers, is the self-proclaimed Psychic Capital of the World-and the place where Elora Pellerin, Grey's best friend, disappeared six months earlier.
Grey can't believe that Elora vanished into thin air any more than she can believe that nobody in a town full of psychics knows what happened. But as she digs into the night that Elora went missing, she begins to realize that everybody in town is hiding something-her grandmother Honey; her childhood crush Hart; and even her late mother, whose secrets continue to call to Grey from beyond the grave.
When a mysterious stranger emerges from the bayou-a stormy-eyed boy with links to Elora and the town's bloody history-Grey realizes that La Cachette's past is far more present and dangerous than she'd ever understood. Suddenly, she doesn't know who she can trust. In a town where secrets lurk just below the surface, and where a murderer is on the loose, nobody can be presumed innocent-and La Cachette's dark and shallow lies may just rip the town apart.
La Cachette, Louisiana, is the worst place to be if you have something to hide.
This tiny town, where seventeen-year-old Grey spends her summers, is the self-proclaimed Psychic Capital of the World-and the place where Elora Pellerin, Grey's best friend, disappeared six months earlier.
Grey can't believe that Elora vanished into thin air any more than she can believe that nobody in a town full of psychics knows what happened. But as she digs into the night that Elora went missing, she begins to realize that everybody in town is hiding something-her grandmother Honey; her childhood crush Hart; and even her late mother, whose secrets continue to call to Grey from beyond the grave.
When a mysterious stranger emerges from the bayou-a stormy-eyed boy with links to Elora and the town's bloody history-Grey realizes that La Cachette's past is far more present and dangerous than she'd ever understood. Suddenly, she doesn't know who she can trust. In a town where secrets lurk just below the surface, and where a murderer is on the loose, nobody can be presumed innocent-and La Cachette's dark and shallow lies may just rip the town apart.
Editorial Reviews
* "Dreamy prose conjures a mythical Southern Gothic atmosphere, mixing violence with a Byronic characterization of Elora's stepbrother Hart. Taut pacing builds sustained terror on the page with each successive suspect in this formidable debut." -Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Murky waters, hidden gators, and nasty cottonmouths match the setting to its darkly unsettling story….Fans of Brenna Yovanoff's Fiendish or Natalie C. Parker's Beware the Wild will find this atmospheric thriller deeply satisfying." –BCCB
"A darkly atmospheric mystery set in the bayous of Louisiana."- School Library Journal
"Haunting and arresting, this is one stunning debut. Ginny Myers Sain has written a totally engrossing small-town mystery about what happens when you finally dig up long-buried secrets." -Jessica Goodman, New York Times bestselling author of They'll Never Catch Us
"Don't even try to resist-Ginny Myers Sain will lure you into the spellbinding world of the deep Louisiana bayou with this riveting missing girl mystery populated by a bewitching cast of characters; spun to life in lush, atmospheric prose; and teeming with a dark mythology that is part folklore, part psychic mysticism, and entirely compelling." -Kit Frick, author of I Killed Zoe Spanos
"Enchanting and chilling at once, you'll instantly get sucked into this atmospheric tale of kindred spirits brimming with secrets that could tear them apart. Ginny Myers Sain's haunting, lush, lyrical prose will keep you captivated till the end." -Diana Urban, author of All Your Twisted Secrets
"Murky waters, hidden gators, and nasty cottonmouths match the setting to its darkly unsettling story….Fans of Brenna Yovanoff's Fiendish or Natalie C. Parker's Beware the Wild will find this atmospheric thriller deeply satisfying." –BCCB
"A darkly atmospheric mystery set in the bayous of Louisiana."- School Library Journal
"Haunting and arresting, this is one stunning debut. Ginny Myers Sain has written a totally engrossing small-town mystery about what happens when you finally dig up long-buried secrets." -Jessica Goodman, New York Times bestselling author of They'll Never Catch Us
"Don't even try to resist-Ginny Myers Sain will lure you into the spellbinding world of the deep Louisiana bayou with this riveting missing girl mystery populated by a bewitching cast of characters; spun to life in lush, atmospheric prose; and teeming with a dark mythology that is part folklore, part psychic mysticism, and entirely compelling." -Kit Frick, author of I Killed Zoe Spanos
"Enchanting and chilling at once, you'll instantly get sucked into this atmospheric tale of kindred spirits brimming with secrets that could tear them apart. Ginny Myers Sain's haunting, lush, lyrical prose will keep you captivated till the end." -Diana Urban, author of All Your Twisted Secrets
Readers Top Reviews
Speedwriterlouise
I’m not normally a big fan of American YA novels, but I loved this book. For a start, the setting – a bayou town in Louisiana – is brilliantly evoked, together with the varied psychic powers of many of the inhabitants. In fact the supernatural element to what is essentially a murder mystery made the story even more enjoyable. I’d love to read more books by this author.
Amanda HudsonSpee
I picked this up for a nice relaxed read... and finished it within a day!!!!! ... and it only came out yesterday (02/09 at the time of reading) This had me hooked from the opening sentence and kept twisting and turning throughout the whole book. So many time's I thought I had figured out what had happened to Elora, only to be thrown yet another curveball. As a coming of age story, it was the right side of messy with love interests, mistakes and emotions. The cast of characters were firmly fleshed out in my head, despite there being so many and Grey was a great main character. As for it being a YA thriller, there were plenty of times where I was on the edge of my seat, filled with dread, or unable to put it down to even grab a cup of tea. I had my top guesses, but honestly no idea as I didn't want to think anyone of the characters could be responsible for Elora's disappearance. By the end, the twists came in so thick and fast, I simply had to just hang on for the ride! And no, none of my guesses were right. There is nothing bad I can say about this book - so just go and read it!
Sherry BAmanda Hu
- mystery, coming of age, supernatural. It's about lifelong friendships struggling not to come undone cuz of violence, heartbreaking loss, the need to know more & why in a tiny Louisiana bayou town full of psychics hiding the truth. At times I hurt too much from the main character's pain, at other times the suspense had me on the edge of my seat. Just a lot of emotions while reading this book. And, bonus, I didn't figure out who did what but it made sense when revealed.
Jessica S.Sherry
I received this ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. I was in no way compensated for this review. Ginny Myers Sain’s debut, Dark and Shallow Lies is the paranormal mystery thriller we’ve all been waiting for! This was a deeply intriguing read that held me riveted pretty much from the start. I loved that Grey lived in a town where just about everyone had a psychic talent. There must be something special in their water! This was one mystery that had me guessing throughout the story and I honestly didn’t see the killer coming! Grey is returning to Louisiana home for the summer. She spends her school year with her father out of state and in the summer she always returns to her bayou home. Though this year is different, her best friend, her birthday twin, Elora has been missing since February and she is determined to find out what happened to her. Grey and her friends are known as the Summer Children as they were all born in the same summer some weeks and days apart. They’re all psychics, except for Grey. She hasn’t developed any powers…yet. Everyone is still mourning the loss of Elora. No one knows what happened to her, but it seems most have written her off for dead after all this time. But Grey holds out on hope. If anything, she at least wants to find the answers to what happened to her best friend. The story moves along at a somewhat slower pace. Grey isn’t actively investigating 24/7. Part of me did get a little bored when things just seemed too normal. But it was never for very long as something odd would happen or some memory would spark something or even a clue would be found. There was never a very long pause for normalcy and that was appreciated. Grey meets a mysterious new stranger in town named Zale. He’s a quiet sort of boy who just makes her feel things she never thought possible. But also in town, is her long ago crush Hart. There is some sort of love like triangle going on, but it’s not one of those “who will Grey choose” and readers divide out into teams. It was hard to figure out which guy was the right one for Grey, both had their merits, but Grey was never actually pursuing a relationship with anyone. What I enjoyed a lot and thought gave a great eerie feel to the story was the short paragraph that came with each chapter of something scary happening. It’s describing a scene that ends up being long series of dreams that Grey is having that give clues to what might have happened to Elora all those months ago. The atmosphere to this book was spot on! Summers in Louisiana just a few hours away from good ol’ New Orleans! It was a sight to see, even if we never really get into NOLA. But you could really feel the heightened heat of the summer and smell the nearby ocean and the swampy areas where the gators live. Ginny really painted a scene in this book and ...
Kimberly Rae Hans
"A teen girl disappears from her small town deep in the bayou, where magic festers beneath the surface of the swamp like water rot, in this chilling debut supernatural thriller." I was drawn in by the cover. I try not to read books solely based on their outer beauty...but you know...I'd be a fool not to admit its a draw and I love good cover art. Then, the blurb sold me. A murder mystery in a town full of psychics, in the middle of the bayou? Yeah, how could I pass it up! Dark and Shallow lies is a slow burn. Things significantly pick up pace at the end, but the build up is deliciously atmospheric and gripping. Grey's grief is palpable on each and every page. She can't believe Elora is gone, and MUST find out what happened. But the closer she comes to the truth...the more dangerous things become, and I can't tell you how many times my theories changed as I read. The setting itself is a beautiful character; it breathes a life of its own. The author captures the feel of the bayou with rich symbolism. The town rots and sinks into itself as much as the secrets rot and overwhelm their people. Expertly crafted, Dark and Shallow lies kept me guessing until the very end. I will look forward to whatever else Ginny Myers Sain creates.
Short Excerpt Teaser
The last time I saw my best friend, she called me a pathetic liar and then she punched me in the mouth. The shock of it almost kept me from feeling anything until it was over. And I had no idea what Elora was thinking in that last moment. Because she didn't say. And I'm not a mind reader.
Honey is. My mother was. I guess. All the women in my family, right up to me.
But not me.
I'm thinking of that night last summer as I stand on the front porch of the Mystic Rose and stare at Elora's missing poster, trying to catch my breath. I'm wondering why they chose that picture. The one with her eyes half-closed. She hated that picture.
Jesus.
She hates that picture.
I've been steeling myself for this moment since I got that phone call back in February. Trying to imagine what it would be like to come home and step off the boat into a La Cachette without Elora. And I knew it would be bad. But I hadn't been prepared for the poster.
The words MISSING GIRL printed in red caps.
The sheriff's phone number.
My chest tightens. I drop my backpack to sink down and sit on the front steps so I can pull myself together. Clear my head of that weird flash that hit me out of nowhere.
Elora running from someone.
Being chased through the rain.
Swallowed up by the dark.
A few seconds to shake off that terror. Her terror. That's all I need. Then surely I'll be able to breathe again.
The screen door slams, and I hear footsteps on the porch behind me. It's Evie. "Hey, Grey." She perches beside me on the steps, like a bird, and offers me half a stick of gum dug out of the pocket of her cutoff shorts. "Miss Roselyn said you was comin' this mornin'. You just get in?"
La Cachette, Louisiana, is the self-proclaimed "Psychic Capital of the World," so I always find it odd that every summer visit starts with people firing off questions they should already know the answers to.
How was school dis year?
Still makin'good grades?
Gotcha a boyfriend yet?
"Yeah." I unwrap Evie's offering and nod toward the backpack at my feet. "Got off the mail boat a few minutes ago." The gum's a little stale, and I wonder how long she's been carrying it around.
"We didn't know if you'd come this year . . ." Evie's voice trails off, and she glances at the curling edges of the MISSING poster. At the picture in the center. Half-closed eyes and a long dark ponytail. That bright blue tank top with the faded yellow stars. And a knock-you-on-your-ass smile.
Elora.
"She's my best friend," I say. "My-" But I can't choke out the words.
"Your twin flame," Evie finishes for me, and I nod. She settles onto the step and slips her hand into mine. "So you had to come."
Evie's gentle sweetness is as familiar as the worn smoothness of the porch step. And the smell of the river. I'm glad she was the first one to find me.
Sweat stings the corners of my eyes, and I pull up the collar of my T-shirt to dab it away. Barely eight thirty in the morning and already a million degrees with 500 percent humidity. I lived down here full-time till I was almost nine years old, so you'd think I'd be used to it, but it always takes me a while to reacclimate after spending the school year up in Arkansas with my dad. I mean, it's hot there, too . . . but not like this.
Nowhere is hot like this. Or wet like this. Spending the summer in La Cachette is like living inside someone's mouth for three months out of the year.
I pull my eyes away from Elora's picture in time to watch the back half of a big black snake disappear into a clump of tall sedge grass beyond the boardwalk. It's too far away to say for sure if it's a moccasin. But I figure it probably is. That thick body gives it away. And I know they're always out there, sliding back and forth beneath our feet like the slow roll of the tides. Every once in a while, one of them finds its way up onto the boardwalk and into someone's house, where it meets its doom at the business end of a long-handled hoe. Or a shovel.
I don't like to think about the snake, or where it might be heading, but it's better than staring at that poster while the words missing girl burn deep into my brain.
"You okay, Grey?" Evie asks. She's twisting a strand of almost-white-blonde hair around one finger.
...
Honey is. My mother was. I guess. All the women in my family, right up to me.
But not me.
I'm thinking of that night last summer as I stand on the front porch of the Mystic Rose and stare at Elora's missing poster, trying to catch my breath. I'm wondering why they chose that picture. The one with her eyes half-closed. She hated that picture.
Jesus.
She hates that picture.
I've been steeling myself for this moment since I got that phone call back in February. Trying to imagine what it would be like to come home and step off the boat into a La Cachette without Elora. And I knew it would be bad. But I hadn't been prepared for the poster.
The words MISSING GIRL printed in red caps.
The sheriff's phone number.
My chest tightens. I drop my backpack to sink down and sit on the front steps so I can pull myself together. Clear my head of that weird flash that hit me out of nowhere.
Elora running from someone.
Being chased through the rain.
Swallowed up by the dark.
A few seconds to shake off that terror. Her terror. That's all I need. Then surely I'll be able to breathe again.
The screen door slams, and I hear footsteps on the porch behind me. It's Evie. "Hey, Grey." She perches beside me on the steps, like a bird, and offers me half a stick of gum dug out of the pocket of her cutoff shorts. "Miss Roselyn said you was comin' this mornin'. You just get in?"
La Cachette, Louisiana, is the self-proclaimed "Psychic Capital of the World," so I always find it odd that every summer visit starts with people firing off questions they should already know the answers to.
How was school dis year?
Still makin'good grades?
Gotcha a boyfriend yet?
"Yeah." I unwrap Evie's offering and nod toward the backpack at my feet. "Got off the mail boat a few minutes ago." The gum's a little stale, and I wonder how long she's been carrying it around.
"We didn't know if you'd come this year . . ." Evie's voice trails off, and she glances at the curling edges of the MISSING poster. At the picture in the center. Half-closed eyes and a long dark ponytail. That bright blue tank top with the faded yellow stars. And a knock-you-on-your-ass smile.
Elora.
"She's my best friend," I say. "My-" But I can't choke out the words.
"Your twin flame," Evie finishes for me, and I nod. She settles onto the step and slips her hand into mine. "So you had to come."
Evie's gentle sweetness is as familiar as the worn smoothness of the porch step. And the smell of the river. I'm glad she was the first one to find me.
Sweat stings the corners of my eyes, and I pull up the collar of my T-shirt to dab it away. Barely eight thirty in the morning and already a million degrees with 500 percent humidity. I lived down here full-time till I was almost nine years old, so you'd think I'd be used to it, but it always takes me a while to reacclimate after spending the school year up in Arkansas with my dad. I mean, it's hot there, too . . . but not like this.
Nowhere is hot like this. Or wet like this. Spending the summer in La Cachette is like living inside someone's mouth for three months out of the year.
I pull my eyes away from Elora's picture in time to watch the back half of a big black snake disappear into a clump of tall sedge grass beyond the boardwalk. It's too far away to say for sure if it's a moccasin. But I figure it probably is. That thick body gives it away. And I know they're always out there, sliding back and forth beneath our feet like the slow roll of the tides. Every once in a while, one of them finds its way up onto the boardwalk and into someone's house, where it meets its doom at the business end of a long-handled hoe. Or a shovel.
I don't like to think about the snake, or where it might be heading, but it's better than staring at that poster while the words missing girl burn deep into my brain.
"You okay, Grey?" Evie asks. She's twisting a strand of almost-white-blonde hair around one finger.
...
