Description

Lamar Giles takes readers on a wild and dark ride in this contemporary Witness Protection thriller, perfect for fans of James Patterson, Harlan Coben, and John Grisham.

Nick Pearson is hiding in plain sight. In fact, his name isn't really Nick Pearson. He shouldn't tell you his real name, his real hometown, or why his family just moved to Stepton, Virginia. And he definitely shouldn't tell you about his friend Eli Cruz and the major conspiracy Eli was uncovering when he died. About how Nick had to choose between solving Eli's murder with his hot sister, Reya, and "staying low-key" like the Program said to do.

But he's going to tell you—unless he gets caught first. . . .


  • Conspiracy Thriller: Eli was dead. The official story is a lie. In a town where everyone has a secret, Nick is the only one who can expose the truth about the government experiment codenamed Whispertown.
  • Teen Detective: The Program demands he stay invisible. But to solve his friend's murder, Nick has to risk exposing his own identity and becoming the next target.
  • Secrets and Lies: Nick's whole life is a lie. But he's about to discover his own family secrets are more dangerous than the criminals they're hiding from.
  • Romantic Subplot: He's investigating her brother's murder. She's the only one he can trust. Getting close to Reya is the biggest risk of all.

About the author(s)

Lamar Giles writes for teens and adults. He is the author of the Edgar Award finalists Fake ID and Endangered as well as the critically acclaimed Overturned, Spin, and The Last Last-Day-of-Summer. He is a founding member of We Need Diverse Books and resides in Virginia. Visit him online at lamargiles.com.

Reviews

“Smart, punchy teen dialogue; a strong African American protagonist; and non-stop twists and turns make this mystery pop.” - The Horn Book

“[An] engrossing thriller.” - Publishers Weekly

“Conspiracy theorists and thriller fans alike will be guessing right up to the end of this exciting debut.” - Booklist

“Fast action, judicious plot twists, and sufficiently evil teens and adults should keep thrill-seeking readers awake long into the night. ” - Kirkus Reviews

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