THE DARK WE KNOW

Gillian Flynn Books
August 13, 2024


Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | Indigo (CAN) | Blackwell’s (UK/Int)

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A lyrical, propulsive YA horror that’s perfect for fans of She Is a Haunting, Stephen King’s It, and The Haunting of Hill House, about a teen who must return home to confront the monster that took the lives of her best friends—before it devours her, too.  

Isadora Chang swore never to return to the hometown that haunts her. Growing up in Slater, she never felt at ease in the repressive small town, even before she realized she was bisexual—but after the deaths of two childhood friends, Slater went from feeling claustrophobic to suffocating. Isa took off before the town could swallow her, too. Even though it meant leaving everything she knew behind, including her last surviving friend, Mason. 

When Isa’s abusive father dies, however, she agrees to come back just long enough to collect the inheritance. But then Mason turns up at the cemetery with a revelation and a plea: their friends were murdered by an evil that haunts the town, and he needs Isa to help stop it—before it takes anyone else. 

When Isa begins to hear strange songs on the wind, and eerie artwork fills her sketchbook that she can’t recall drawing, she’s forced to stop running and confront her past. Because something is waiting in the shadows of Slater’s valleys, something that feeds on the pain and heartbreak of its children. Whatever it is, it knows Isa’s back . . . and it won’t let her escape twice. 

Wen-yi Lee’s young adult debut is an intimate and gripping exploration of trauma, healing, and the lasting power of friendship, as a teen must finally face the sinister forces that defined her childhood, and in doing so, demand her right to survive.


“…a dark and compelling supernatural mystery buoyed by earnestly-written, queer-centric characters. I am enthralled.”

Gillian Flynn, Gillian Flynn Books

“A haunting, unforgettable debut. With gorgeous prose, palpable atmosphere, and intricate character work, Lee examines what it means to belong to a place and fight for a better world. Like the song of Slater’s mountains, The Dark We Know will settle into your bones and call you back again and again.”

Allison Saft, New York Times bestselling author of Down Comes the Night

“The true hallmark of an exceptional horror novel is in its hold, and in her debut outing, Wen-yi Lee has crafted a gorgeously dark and unforgettable story that will linger long after the book is closed. The Dark We Know heralds the arrival of a rare and exciting literary talent—do not miss it.”

Courtney Summers, New York Times bestselling author of I’m The Girl

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