MISCHIEF GIRLS
A Junior Library Guild Pick!
Out Now from Random House / Delacorte Press
“The dark academia whodunit you need to read next. Trust me.” —Maureen Johnson, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Truly Devious series
THIRTY YEARS AGO: three students walked into the woods surrounding Ellison College, and only one came out. They became known as the Mischief Girls, and their case was never solved.
HALLOWEEN WEEK, MODERN DAY: Ellison freshman Raina isn’t interested in digging into the past. To combat her personal demons, she volunteers at Night Walk, a campus program dedicated to helping students get home safely. Until one night, Raina escorts a fellow freshman to her dorm…only to learn that the girl disappeared before she ever made it through the door.
NOW: With the help of the missing girl’s stepbrother, Raina begins to investigate. But when the pair of them discover that she’d been looking into the Mischief Girls murders prior to her vanishing, the case suddenly becomes much more complicated.
From professors’ offices to state penitentiaries, Raina relentlessly hunts down the truth. But if she wants to find it, she’ll have to accept that maybe what happened to the missing girl didn’t begin the night she disappeared.
Maybe it all started thirty years ago, in the woods.
*Print Copy Note: On pg. 271, the second paragraph from the bottom should begin with “Pooja”, not “Landon”. A correction has been submitted!*
Praise for Mischief Girls:
“Smart, thrilling, and surprising . . . will have you immediately begging for the author’s next book.” —Kara Thomas, author of The Cheerleaders
“An up-all-night nail-biter with sharp plotting and unusually thoughtful things to say about the flaws of the criminal justice system and the ways past mistakes echo into the present. Fans of Truly, Devious and A Good Girl's Guide to Murder won't want to miss it!” —Lauren Muñoz, author of Suddenly a Murder
“This novel hits the familiar beats of a procedural that murder mystery fans will love, while managing to raise serious questions about the nature of justice and who receives it in our society. In addition, the author develops multifaceted characters of all races and genders with realistic motives and downfalls. Refreshingly absent is the "savant" trope, wherein the novice detective gets everything right and cleverly figures out the murderer's means, motive, and opportunity before anyone else. Instead, Raina's superpower is her doggedness in not giving up on Anika, even when the local police seem uninterested in her disappearance….A worthwhile read for mystery fans, especially those who appreciate a side dose of romance or searching for identity.” —School Library Journal
“The pacy, twisty plot, replete with red herrings, makes for compulsive reading. Avachat gives Raina a strong narrative voice and an intriguing backstory, ensuring readers will return for the second series entry….Twisty and engrossing.” —Kirkus Reviews
“This fast-paced whodunit has enough twists to make the reader dizzy….Plot-driven with modern characters to root for, the cryptic ending leaves room for a continuation.” —Booklist