Girls Who Play Dead: An Uputdownable Gothic Thriller From The Author Of Their Vicious Games

*Girls Who Play Dead* by Joelle Wellington is a propulsive young adult gothic thriller that turns a lakeside town’s pretty surface into something far stranger and darker. Set in Prophets Lake, it follows Mikky Graves as he’s pulled back home after his sister Kyla’s best friend, Erin, is murdered—an event that cracks open long-buried tensions in their family-run funeral home.

Mikky expects grief. What he doesn’t expect is Kyla’s fury, her new silences, and the feeling that everyone in town is rehearsing the same story. As he starts asking questions, the investigation threads through local loyalties, a beauty brand that keeps Prophets Lake afloat, and secrets that don’t want daylight.

Perfect for readers who love twisty mysteries, small-town secrets, and suburban gothic atmosphere—especially fans of Holly Jackson-style YA suspense.

Step into Prophets Lake and see what the town is determined to keep hidden.