Be Not Far from Me

In the dark and stunning sequel to The Initial Insult, award-winning author Mindy McGinnis concludes this suspenseful YA duology as long-held family secrets finally come to light . . . changing Amontillado forevermore. Perfect for fans of Truly Devious and Sadie!Tress Montor murdered Felicity Turnado—but she might not have to live with the guilt for long. With an infected arm held together by duct tape, the panther who clawed her open on the loose, and the whole town on the hunt for the lost homecoming queen, the odds are stacked against Tress. As her mind slides deeper into delirium, Tress is haunted by the growing sound of Felicity’s heartbeat pulsing from the “best friend” charm around her fevered neck.Ribbit Usher has been a punchline his whole life—from his nickname to his latest turn as the unwitting star of a humiliating viral video. In the past he’s willingly played the fool, but now it’s time to fulfill his destiny. That means saving the girl, so that Felicity can take her place at his side and Ribbit can exact revenge on all who have done him wrong—which includes his cousin, Tress. Ribbit is held by a pact he made with his mother long ago, a pact that must be delivered upon in four days.With time ticking down and an enemy she considers a friend lurking in the shadows, Tress’s grip on reality is failing. Can she keep both mind and body together long enough to finally find out what happened to her parents?* Junior Library Guild selection * A YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Title * A Kirkus Best Book of the Year *- Modern Poe Retelling: Welcome to Amontillado, Ohio. In a town haunted by the names of Usher and Montor, a new cask of secrets is about to be opened.- Multiple POV: Follow Tress, the murderer haunted by guilt and a festering wound, and her cousin Ribbit, a boy desperate for revenge after a humiliating viral video goes global.- Unreliable Narrator: As Tress’s infection deepens, her grip on reality slips. Is the heartbeat from Felicity’s charm real, or is she losing her mind while a panther stalks the woods?- Dark Family Secrets: Tress is desperate to learn the truth about her parents’ disappearance. But in Amontillado, some secrets are best left buried.

Es sollte ein Zelt-Trip mit Freunden werden - Jungs und Mädchen, Bier und Lagerfeuer, mitten in der Natur. Was konnte schon passieren?Als Ashley in den Smoky Mountains verloren geht, weiß sie, dass sie ganz auf sich allein gestellt ist. Dass sie immer weitergehen muss, wenn sie jemals hier rauskommen will. Doch dann verletzt sie sich. Und ihre Kräfte schwinden.Eine Survivalstory, so wunderschön, atemberaubend und erschreckend wie die Wildnis selbst.'McGinnis' emotionale, beinahe körperlich nachempfindbare Erzählung zeigt uns eine starke, sturköpfige und überaus fähige Protagonistin mit einem unerschütterlichen Respekt für die Natur. Unmöglich aus der Hand zu legen.' (Kirkus Reviews)

2024 Whippoorwill Award Honor Book2025–2026 MASL Gateway Award FinalistFrom award-winning author Mindy McGinnis comes a thrilling and gripping YA mystery about a small town’s past and the secrets unearthed by way of two teen girls—and a podcast. Perfect for fans of Sadie, The Cheerleaders, and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. A lifetime of hard work has put Lydia Chass on track to attend a prestigious journalism program and leave Henley behind—until a school error leaves her a credit short of graduating.Bristal Jamison has a bad reputation and a foul mouth, but she also needs one more credit to graduate. An unexpected partnership forms as the two remake Lydia’s town history podcast to investigate the Long Stretch of Bad Days—a week when Henley was hit by a tornado and a flash flood as well as its first, only, and unsolved murder.As their investigation unearths buried secrets, some don’t want them to see the light. When the threats escalate, the girls have to uncover the truth before the dark history of Henley catches up with them.- Unlikely Allies: Lydia Chass is on the fast track to an Ivy League journalism school. Bristal Jamison is on the fast track to detention. A shared graduation requirement forces them together to solve a crime the town forgot.- Cold Case Investigation: They reopen the town’s only unsolved murder, which occurred during the infamous Long Stretch of Bad Days—a week that also brought a devastating tornado and a flash flood.- Dark History: The deeper Lydia and Bristal dig into Henley's past, the more dangerous their present becomes. Someone wants the truth to stay buried with the dead.- Amateur Sleuths: Armed with a microphone and recording equipment, the two teens turn a school project into a real-time investigation, putting themselves in the path of a killer.