The Darkest Corners by Kara Thomas is a dark psychological thriller with a plot so intricately wound it leaves you guessing even after problems seem to have been figured out. Set in Fayette, Pennsylvania, the novel closely follows 18 year-old Tessa who is still struggling to come to terms with what had happened to her last summer in Fayette when she was eight; the summer the Ohio River Monster serial killer was caught  and Tessa helped put him away on death row.

When Tessa returns to Fayette to visit her father who is sick and dying in prison, she can’t help but meet old friends and acquaintances from long ago. Despite wanting to avoid her once best friend, Callie, Tessa inevitably crosses paths with her, and new questions related to the night the two had locked up the Ohio River Monster, a serial killer responsible for the death of Callie’s cousin, Lori, and four other girls, arise. That same night, Callie had caught sight of the killer, Wyatt Stokes, and the girls provided a testimony that put him in jail. Tessa’s encounter with the Ohio River Monster, however, was far from being over, and days after arriving in Fayette, the body of her childhood friend was found, murdered like the rest of the victims. With Stokes still sitting on death row, Tessa and Callie are forced to recall the night Lori went missing and re-evaluate their testimony as well as the killer. As accusations fly, questions of Tessa’s runaway sister and missing mother come into play, as well as her father’s twisted intentions.

While the mystery unfolds in front of Tessa, I couldn’t help but try to be Sherlock Holmes and attempt to solve the case alongside her. The novel contains a vivid storyline with characters that almost felt tangible, and has an intricate plot weaved in and out of itself, not fully resolving the case until the final pages. Thomas captures the dilemma of the teenagers with such realistic clarity, and all of the mystery-solving was figured out piece after piece, the actions and facts of the case fitting together to create an even bigger picture. The questions behind the murders kept me thinking throughout the entire book, egging me to try and solve the case, and to figure out where all the pieces fit, leaving me guessing until the very end.

The Darkest Corners was a thrilling read, containing aspects from all types of genres. It wasn’t overly bloody or filled with gore, but contained a balance of mystery as well as strong characters, and a detailed plot that any reader would enjoy.