SYNOPSIS

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.

MY THOUGHTS

I gobbled up Dark and Shallow Lies. You will too. I cannot sing my praise for Dark and Shallow Lies loud enough.

Sain’s captured the Deep South perfectly, the magic, the sweat, the folklore—It is rich and feels like you are walking side by side with Grey and the other summer children. If you have ever lived in the south, Dark and Shallow Lies feels like home. If you haven’t, welcome to the south.

There are so many things I loved about this book. By far my favorite thing was the gifts the characters have—visions, clairaudients, detecting auras, and empaths to name a few. Everyone has a little something to bring to the table, connection the characters to a world unseen to most. From the first few pages Sain swept me away with how she was able to weave the mystic world into reality.

IN LA CACHETTE, THE LINE BETWEEN WHAT’S REAL AND WHAT ISN’T GETS BLURRY SOMETIMES
I loved the vibe of La Cachette and Dark and Shallow Lies as a whole. Ginny Myers Sain built a world I want to keep visiting with characters I cannot get enough of.

If you are looking for your next spooky mystic mystery read, look no further than Dark and Shallow.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an e-ARC of Dark and Shallow Lies by Ginny Myers Sain.
A supernatural murder mystery that includes psychics, ghosts, suspense, and hurricanes is an easy book to recommend to teens. Ginny Myers Sain brings the Louisiana bayou to life in her novel. The setting adds to the suspense, and her descriptions bring it to life. The characters are a mix of personalities, and each has a unique psychic ability. However, the climax and antagonist created a weird culmination that I had trouble getting behind. It was not the ending I was anticipating, and it left me wanting more.

3,5 stars

Dark and Shallow Lies is an interesting dark mystery about a small community hidden away in the bayou. That can only mean one thing: twisted people.

We follow 17 year old Grey as she returns to her place of birth, La Chachette for that Summer. A place hidden away in the bayou where she grew up with 10 other children all born in the same year. They are a tight knit group. Unlike the others however Grey is the only one that seems to want to stay.

This book is one you can dive into deep. I only came up for air at the end of it. Once you are in you are swept along the dark vibe and feel of the bayou and the mystery of the dissapearance of a young girl. I think that is what I liked best about this whole book. The setting of the bayou and this small community. The bayou being the best place to hide away. The author manages to weave the feel of the bayou and the south throughout the entire book.

Having said that I think that the plot in itself wasn't that surprising. I called the plot twists pretty early on in the book. While I was in the book I was swept in by the writing itself and the bayou feel, but as soon as I was finished that was it. I had no reall attachment to it or the characters. The middle also dragged in places. It is almost 500 pages and looking back, it certainly could have been cut back here and there.

Regardless I do think this is a fun book to read on a stormy night to get swept up in. Just for that one evening and moment. That can be good enough too.

La Cachette, Louisiana - a tiny town, deep in the bayou proclaimed the 'psychic capital of the world' - where magic festers in the rotting swamps, and where Grey's best friend has gone missing.

But in a town of intuitive senses and supernatural minds... does anything really go missing?

The setting definitely steals the spotlight as a main character in this story of secrets, legends, and superstitions - a town with a history of disturbed spirits and long-buried secrets. I was instantly immersed in the dark and chilling atmosphere feeling cloaked in dark, misty fog and tethered in drippy, mossy vines that held on to the very last enchanting twist.

The culmination of this spellbinding and intoxicating story is an intense perfect storm of haunting suspense where all the dark and shallow lies finally come to the surface - and this is one storm you don't want to miss.

Review: 5 Stars

“What do you feel?” he asks me. “It’s like you said,” I tell him. “Nothing but fear.” Run and hide.

Hide and run. I’ll count from ten, then join the fun. Say a prayer and bow your head. If my light finds you, you’ll be dead. Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one. Ready or not, here I come. I’m Dempsey Fontenot. You better run.

Dark and Shallow Lies is the type of book that tears through you as you tear through it. While I typically just read fantasy novels I couldn’t help but be drawn to this one. I love books with southern gothic vibes and this book is filled with them. Ever since I read Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea I’ve sought out books with southern gothic vibes and this book reminded me of that duology in all the best ways. Dark and Shallow Lies is a vivid and eerie mystery set in Louisiana that I ripped through in a day.

“There are things out here in the dark, Greycie.” He finally releases me, and I stagger backward a step or two. He’s still got ahold of me with his eyes, though. “Dangerous things.”

The writing is lyrical and captivating. I found it incredibly easy to sink into the humid Louisiana summer setting and follow Grey as she hunted for clues to what happened to Elora. The writing was so vivid and atmospheric, but managed to keep a fast pace. I loved the setting and felt like I was watching every minute of the book play out in my head. I really loved the dialogue as it helped show each of the character’s personalities. The writing had me captivated and highlighting so many quotes.

“Knowing is hard,” he says, “but it’s a thing you can survive. The not knowing will kill you in the end. It’s the secrets that fester.”

I loved the characters so much, they were all so well done. Grey was a fantastic main character to follow and I really connected with her. The writing really showed all of her emotions and I could feel her guilt, her grief and her desperation as she searched for answers. Hart was another character who I really liked. He was so broken and there were times here my heart just ached because I could feel his pain. Zane was a favorite of mine as well and I loved all of the scenes with him and Grey. All of the characters were so well developed and their reactions to events made this story come to life.

Because if she were really dead, surely I would be, too. How do you go on living with only half a heart? Suddenly I can’t get enough air. I’m panicking. Gasping for breath. My vision is blurry. I’m trembling. Zale reaches over to take my hand, and I feel the electric shock of his skin against mine. My whole arm tingles. I pull my eyes away from Elora’s ring. Zale’s hand on mine. And I find myself in the blue of his eyes.

I picked up a copy of Dark and Shallow Lies because I saw it on my friend Brithanie’s Instagram and it looked right up my alley. I was hoping for some southern gothic vibes, but I didn’t expect this book to leave me feeling so gutted. I was so emotionally invested in this story. I am so grateful for the recommendation and I really loved this book. If you have this one on your radar do yourself a favor and read it now.

“Lots of people fall in love with monsters,” he tells me. “Only they don’t realize it until it’s too late.”

More Favorite Quotes

“You know what’s awful, Grey?” Evie wipes at her face, then she wraps her skinny arms around her chest and shivers hard. “The dead? They lie. Just like the rest of us.”

“This place is a riptide. And we’re all caught in it. Nobody ever gets outta here.” He looks down at me. “Well, nobody but you. The rest of us, we’re stuck here. For good.”

My heart aches. I should have been there. I should have been the one to save Elora. To sit with her in the darkest part of the night.

I think about something Honey always says when she does a tarot reading. It may not be what you were expecting, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t what you need.

Zale turns those ice-blue eyes on me, and for the first time, I notice the deep sadness in them.

“How do you keep a secret in a town full of psychics?” I ask him, and light flashes bright inside those ice-fire eyes. “You tell the truth,” he answers. “At least part of it.”

“Dat ol’ rougarou? He’s a shape-shifter, sure enough. So you be careful, Grey. He may come right up on ya. Might sit down real close. Maybe even hold your hand. And you won’t ever know it till you see dem teeth.” Wrynn turns and disappears into the night, but her words float back to me like the sound of wind chimes. “And by den, it’s too late. You’re already dead.”

And it feels so good to talk to someone. Really talk to someone. About things that don’t hurt. And about things that do. Night after night, we sit out there until the sky goes inky and the owls start to call and I know I’m late for supper. And then some. But I never want to go in. Because being with Zale makes me feel like maybe I’ll be okay. And the whole time I’m with him, I drink up that peaceful, slightly fuzzy feeling like it’s cold, fresh water. And I’m dying of thirst.

And it feels so good to talk to someone. Really talk to someone. About things that don’t hurt. And about things that do. Night after night, we sit out there until the sky goes inky and the owls start to call and I know I’m late for supper. And then some. But I never want to go in. Because being with Zale makes me feel like maybe I’ll be okay. And the whole time I’m with him, I drink up that peaceful, slightly fuzzy feeling like it’s cold, fresh water. And I’m dying of thirst.

Had I let him soothe and charm me with magic eyes and an ocean-deep voice and a touch that took my breath away?

And the world is perfectly calm when he kisses me.

“𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐞'𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐛𝐲 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐬. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞."

WOW. I loved this!! 😮🙌🏻 A small-town mystery x paranormal thriller with fantasy elements?! Gimme, gimme. The plot twists had me reeling! And I'm still a little in shock! 😂

We follow Grey, one of the Summer Children in La Cachette, a remote Louisianna town and psychic capital of the world deep in the bayou, as she makes her yearly return to her hometown for the summer. But this year everything is different. Her best friend and twin flame, Elora, has mysteriously gone missing and Grey is determined to find Elora and discover what happened.

In a town full of spiritualists and psychics, you'd think there would be no secrets, right? WRONG. Chillingly intoxicating and utterly mysterious, this story is chock full of secrets, secrets, and more secrets 😳 The complete eerieness of it all had me fully captivated. There are things hidden and concealed and shrouded and untold. Strangers and darkness and romance. The story unfolds in a slow, massive build of events and strange happenings and then ⚡ jaw-dropping, full audible gasp plot twists. One after another after another 😳😳😳 Another amazing tale I’d love to see come to life on screen 🙌🏻 It would be SO GOOD.

• READ THIS FOR/IF YOU LIKE •
— small Louisiana town x the bayou
— a disappearance + missing girl
— psychics x tarot cards x numerology
— eerie and ominous vibes
— twin flames/souls
— ghost stories
— summer days
— myth & legends about shifters
— elemental magic
— a friendlyish? but still scary croc 🐊
— intense kissing moments 💋

CW: kidnapping, mention of suicide + domestic violence, arson, murder, hurricane/mention of Katrina

Thank you to Penguin Teen and Ginny for my advanced e-copy!

Thank you Penguin For an ARC of this fantastic and dark book. I’m not one for horror or creepy books but this thrilling adventure made it hard to put down. We are on the case with Grey trying to figure out what happened to her best friend Elisa whose been missing. With the eerie Louisiana backdrop and a mysterious boy thrown into the mix we are just as desperate to figure out all the secrets and betrayals as Grey.

First, I would like to thank Penguin Random House for sending me an ebook version of Dark and Shallow Lies for an honest review and here it is!

There are a few things I really enjoyed about this book and a few things that I did not. I'm going to just break down overall, I was trying to figure out who killed Elora just like Grey and that's what really made me intrigued with this reading. It was a mystery but you also wanted Grey to find Elora alive but at some point you just knew she's dead.

Things I enjoyed:
1. The mystery and thrill of it all, it gave me a good hint of anxiety but like in a way you wanted to read more.
2. I had the pleasure of fangirling about this book to the author who is a sweetheart!
3. Grey, I loved her character and I really loved Hart too.
4. Zale. He deserved better :(
5. The cover??? gorgeous
6. Beautifully written.

Things I did not enjoy:
1. I saw the word Israel and had to put the book down because my Palestinian ancestors are not having it.
2. Elora and Hart ain't going to ruin it but wtf
3. The beginning was slow-paced but push through

ANYWAYS, really good read! Thanks Penguin Random House!!

Dark and Shallow Lies was a book that I was truly not expecting to love as much as I did. Obviously, I was hoping to enjoy it- that's why I picked it up. But I was not expecting to love it.


This book was absolutely fantastic and I honestly could not put it down. I don't read a lot of horror, mainly because I had the stereotype of every horror being a remake of The Conjuring, but it's very far from the truth. The story blew me out of the water!


I felt like the synopsis doesn't do it justice, because from the premise it only seems like a regular small town disappearance/ghost story, but oh my God it is so much more!


I love how the author excellently crafted not only the horror elements but the mystery as well. The author so skillfully misleads us with every clue, all while foreshadowing a twist I could not have anticipated- and yet made sense.


The pacing did feel like it really thawed in the middle and things got a little repetitive but then it was crazy right till the end.


It's very creepy, very dark, sinister, and an emotionally charged read. There's a red herring, a twist, and revelation at every turn.


The writing style was perfect and added to the creepy vibe of the story. It's in the first person+ present tense, which makes it feel a lot more urgent and fast-paced.


The setting was brilliantly crafted and it came alive in my eyes with how real it felt. The town of La Cochette, where everybody knows everybody and everyone is some sort of psychic. The bloody history, its secrets, and its dark waters.


Safe to say, the characters, and their backstories, are so messed up! Everyone has some shady secret or the other up their sleeve.


There was also this one character that I still don't know if I love or if I hate. I can't name them or it will be a spoiler, but if you have read the book and know who I'm talking about, just put a warning in your comment and rant away with me.


So that one character did something terrible, but it wasn't entirely their fault. They are so messy, so flawed and cut open, and just have the worst luck that I don't really know how to feel about them.

But they're still a very interesting thing to explore.


I'll just come out and say that characters do die in the story and it's very painful, but the hardest part is that NOT A SINGLE ONE of them deserved to die. Well, except maybe one, and I'm sure there are people conflicted about that too.


There is a lot of mention of death in the story, on and off-page, and even if we didn't actually get to know them, I still felt horrible about it.


This book is really creepy and scary but also so, so sad because of all the things that happen to this town and the people.

Set on a backdrop of magical Louisiana, Dark and Shallow Lies has every element of the perfect young adult thriller. Not only does it have magical intrigue, shifty characters you’re unsure of, and a plot that just keeps you turning page after page, but it also has the emotional satisfaction you look for in a thriller. I did not leave this book disappointed, and I know you won’t too.

I think the writing style is where this book excels. Myers Sain writes beautiful, descriptive prose that enchants the reader page after page. The way she describes the Louisiana bayou truly transports you, and I loved every moment of it. It honestly felt as if I was exploring the town of La Cachette alongside Grey, Hart and the other kids in La Cachette. From the alligator pond to the psychic bookstore, each of the locations Myers Sain wrote were memorable, and I won’t be forgetting them any time soon. Dark and Shallow Lies is perfectly paced and carefully plotted, leading the reader on a journey of ups, downs and a whole lot of mystery. Just when you think you know what’s happening, a spanner gets thrown in the works and you’re left guessing. As someone who never really guesses plot twists anyway, this was a fun book to read.

Ok, wow, seriously haven't wanted to finish a book in one night for a long time. This right here had me guessing until the end...even though I am not a big fan of multiple plot twisting plot twists, I knew I'd love the moment they were building up to. The flashes at the beginning of each chapter, coming together near the end to become THAT? Brilliant!!!
I didn't care much about some of the characters, but their presence, their "powers" and the numerology was important to the story.
The atmosphere of that last storm was beautifully written, I felt the chilling winds, the cold water, the mud and the enveloping darkness. I did guess part of the plot, not much though, I would have never expected THAT character to go down THAT road! Makes sense to say it's always the quiet ones that you don't see coming! The ending left me a little shocked, but it mattered to me that peace finally settled over the main character, her mind and her thoughts were so consuming.
All in all I really loved this one!

The cover, the title, and the blurb all caught my attention, and I was very excited to read this book.

The first sentence really pulled me in and I loved the first couple chapters as well. The small town vibe, the group of friends, the magic. I loved it! I loved the writing too. It was vivid and atmospheric.

I loved the beginning and I loved the ending, but there was just a lot of muddle in the middle. Because of that, I couldn't enjoy the book as much as I could have.

I hated Hart from the first time we see him in the book. I found him to be a very toxic and abusive character. But it was apparently okay because he and Grey grew up together and loved Elora? There was a scene in which he was dragging Grey around. His handprint ended up bruised into her skin, and she kept telling him that he was hurting her. But it was just never addressed again? Grey just continued romanticizing him and feeling sorry for him. It didn't sit right with me that his abusive actions were kind of explained away because he had a terrible childhood. And also, him being in love with his step sister was not great.

I really liked Zale and I have nothing bad to say about him. He was my favourite character. But the way Grey started to suspect him after one conversation with Hart really frustrated me. It seemed like things were just happening to Grey. She wasn't proactive at all, and didn't seem to take any actions on her own. The only think she really figured out (accidentally) was Zale's identity. Everything else was told to her, or she didn't figure out until it was literally happening in front of her eyes.

I really liked Case as well. I would have loved to see the other Summer Children in the story more.

Evie really annoyed me and I don't like how that whole story wrapped up. I don't understand how small little Evie managed to hurt Elora in the way that she did. All in only 15 minutes too.

Overall, it was okay. I enjoyed it, but it's not one of my favourite reads. That's just my opinion though, and I'm sure lots of readers would enjoy a book like this.

Okay, I absolutely adored this book. I loved the bayou setting and all of the Magical realism that was woven into the story. I had gotten into a slump of reading really cheesy YA books that I wasn’t enjoying and I have to say, this one got me out of it. The plot was captivating and there were so many complex, well-developed characters it would be hard not to enjoy this book!

I really loved this eerie and creepy mystery with supernatural twist. I really loved the small town and the focus on a group of kids that all of abilities in sense. I also loved the eerie elements of the story. It was really quick read, but one where i questioned just about everything. It does deal with harder topics towards the end, but it also is a really prefect thriller for late summer early fall.. I will def read more by this author in the future.

Thank you Penguin group and Netgalley for the ARC. This was a wonderfully atmospheric book. Set in the deep Louisiana bayou, this story is a perfect balance of magic, mystery, and atmosphere. You could perfectly picture the setting and the magic of this small town. The mystery combined with the magical element really made you wanting to keep turning those pages to find out what happens at the end and I wish I could say I predicted the ending but I didn't! The cast of characters are very interesting and I would have loved to know more about them. The MC was really well written and I didn't find myself annoyed by her thought process/motivations (like can happen in YA mystery/thrillers). Overall a great read and I would definitely recommend checking it out!

An atmospheric Southern Gothic, set deep in the Louisiana bayou, where secrets are hidden in plain sight, and even a town full of psychics can fail to see the rottenness seeping beneath their society. A missing girl, too many suspects, rage and alcohol, and visions of death and destruction mark this book's meandering narrative. What does it mean to be a monster? What lies lurk just below the surface of the bayou? A wonderful read.

I enjoyed this novel a little less than I had hoped. Whilst I enjoyed the premise and the overall plot of the story, I wasn't aware of some of the very triggering topics in which this novel covers. If I had known about these triggers, I feel as though I would have enjoyed the novel to a greater extent. However, I really enjoyed the spooky vibes that this book delivered. The spooky sensation doubled my interest to continue reading this novel.

This was honestly such an interesting book. I was absolutely thrilled to receive an early copy and could not wait to start it. It didn’t disappoint either! This book combines some of my favorite things: magic and mystery.

Grey is such a cool FMC who is coming into her powers and hoping to solve the mystery of her best friends death when she returns to her hometown for the summer. Her characters determinations and POV during the investigation was so much fun to experience. I also really appreciated the detail that the author put into the side characters and the magic system. I instantly fell in love with Honey and definitely felt a found family trope in this book.

I enjoyed the writing style of Ginny Meyers Sain so much and I would definitely recommend this read📚. I did not see that ending coming but I was so integrated into this book I finished it in a day!

I would like to thank PRH International for providing the review copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The story followed Greycie who went back to La Cachette as she tried to unravel the truth behind the disappearance of her best friend Elora. As she dig into the case, she realized everyone was keeping something from her, even those who she supposedly knew inside out. Not only that, she suddenly saw flashes or visions of events that might actually be clues about the night Elora went missing. In addition to that, there was this blue-eyed stranger she spotted one night whom nobody seemed to know.

First of all, I loved the setting. The mood for a creepy, atmospheric small rural town full of psychics and mysteries was established really well. The vivid descriptions made it easy for me to visualize the places that were relevant to the plot. The story itself was suspenseful, and it kept me guessing until the very end. It blended thriller elements as well as some supernatural things. I read this in one sitting, but most of the time, the pacing was quite slow. There was also a love triangle trope present, which some reader might actually like. Lastly, I liked the last part. The plot twist at the end, and the truth behind the flashes and visions was well-thought. That was really unexpected.

The characters were diverse and interesting, especially the Summer children. Although each was included in some scenes, there weren’t enough chances to get to really know them. Relationships between the characters had a huge role in making the plot more intense and emotional especially in this kind of story. I preferred to feel the chemistry and emotions through scenes and dialogues instead of explicitly being told.

The author’s writing style was so easy to ease into. The words flowed naturally, and the tone and atmosphere were consistent throughout the novel. This is her debut novel yet she already did a good job. I’m sure she would be able to create more promising works in the future.

Overall, Dark and Shallow Lies was a YA mystery thriller set in a small town full of secrets which people rather buried deep.

CW: murder, drowning, arson, mentioned physical and emotional abuse, strangulation, self-harm, incest (step-siblings)

𝘿𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙇𝙞𝙚𝙨 tells about a teen girl who looking for her mysterious missing bestfriend in a small town.
⠀
🌟 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪
⠀
"We all have one twin soul out there in the world. People say the moment you meet your twin flame is ths moment the earth beneath your feet begins to shift."—Chapter 3
⠀
Starting with Grey, a teen girl who came back to her hometown and found her bestfriend disappear. With her curiosity and unacceptable feeling, she searched information about her.
⠀
I like the writing style and can't believe it's a debut novel. It's a captivating story from the first chapter. I also like how Author describes the setting place and add some folklores in the story.
⠀
For the characters, I love Zale, a mysterious guy. I think he needs more attention. 🥰 And the last, since it's a thriller book, I have my guess who did this, and you know what.. I'm wrong. 😂 I didn't see the twists coming and  it surprises me. 🙈
⠀
Overall, this book has an magical story and perfect for paranormal thriller fans. If you're looking forward for dark young adult book, twisty, and standalone, you can try to read 𝘿𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙇𝙞𝙚𝙨.