The Thicket, Paperback/Noelle West Ihli

None of it was supposed to be real. The screams. The monsters. The blood. So Norah Lewis ignored her brother's screams. Just like everyone else at the Thicket. "One of my top choices for horror novel of 2021 ." -Anthony Avina, author of Identity "Loved it . . . not just as a serial-killer thriller, but as a look into our own psyche." -Jacqui Corn-Uys, Reedsy Management is quick to dismiss the incident as an isolated tragedy, promising heightened security and a new "no masks" policy. Parents' groups lobby for a shutdown while thrill seekers-including many of Norah's classmates-clamor for a chance to visit the notorious "real" haunted attraction. Haunted by survivor's guilt, Norah secretly plans a return visit to retrace her brother's steps. But the masked man in the grainy security footage hasn't chosen the Thicket at random. And, like Norah, he's planning a return visit.