Tender Beasts by Liselle Sambury

In this gripping psychological thriller, Sunny Behre navigates a shattered reality after her mother's death unveils a sinister family secret. Tasked with caring for her estranged brother, Dom, accused of a brutal murder, Sunny is torn between loyalty and doubt. Determined to fulfill her mother's cryptic wish, Sunny's resolve intensifies when another classmate is gruesomely murdered, implicating Dom once again.

As Sunny delves into the investigation, a tangled web of family secrets unravels, exposing her siblings' dark pasts. The narrative weaves a complex tale where loyalty clashes with the pursuit of truth, and Sunny must confront the possibility that her picture-perfect family harbors dangerous mysteries.

The story unfolds against the backdrop of a private school rocked by violence, creating an atmosphere of suspense and uncertainty. With each revelation, Sunny is forced to reevaluate her relationships, grappling with the choice of preserving the family legacy or protecting the brother who remains an enigma.

The psychological tension escalates as Sunny and Dom work together to unravel the mystery, highlighting the fragile balance between familial bonds and unsettling truths. "The Taking of Jake Livingston" and "Ace of Spades" fans will find themselves immersed in a riveting thriller, where the line between innocence and guilt blurs, and secrets threaten to dismantle the very foundation of Sunny's world.