Better off Dead: 'YA chiller thriller at its best' Ravena Guron Tess James-Mackey 9781836430919

Just how many deaths does it take to close a holiday park?

All Lacy wants is to escape to Paris and be with her older sister. But she needs to make some money first, so she takes a summer job at a caravan park in North Wales.

When one of the guests is brutally murdered, rumours start to swirl about the park being haunted. There are sightings of a mysterious figure walking along the clifftops at night and Lacy can't shake off the feeling that she's being watched. Could there be some truth to the stories? And can she discover who - or what - the killer is before she becomes the next victim?

Tess James-Mackey is an author based in Shrewsbury who loves writing teens into terrifying situations inspired by her lived experiences. Her YA debut Someone is Watching You published in 2023. When she's not allowing her mind to wander to dark and twisty places, she pursues more wholesome activities, like growing mediocre vegetables in her garden, camping with her daughter, and the odd bit of horse riding when she's feeling brave enough.

Praise for Tess James-Mackey:

'I held my breath from the first page. Tightly plotted with a main character to root for, this is tense and immersive addition to the YA thriller genre' Cynthia Murphy, author of Last One to Die

'Tess storms on to the YA scene with a relentless thriller full of genuine jump-scares and spine-tingling chills. I couldn't put it down!' Kesia Lupo, author of We Are Blood and Thunder

'Full of creeping twists and turns, readers will devour this fantastic thriller!' Kat Ellis, author of Harrow Lake

'Unpredictable and chilling - a haunting mystery that kept me guessing until the very end.' Jenny Pearson, author of The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates

'Better off Dead is both gripping and tense, with a complex main character whose journey to unravel an unsettling web of eerie events keeps you turning the pages. This is YA chiller thriller at its best.' Ravena Guron, bestselling author of Mondays are Murder

'Better off Dead kept me up far past my bedtime! A heart-pounding thriller with a rich atmospheric setting, unpredictable twists, and a heroine you can't help but love.' Anika Hussain, author of Heartbreaker

'Tess James Mackey is the official queen of creepy YA and Better Off Dead is another riveting read! ... This book has atmosphere in spades and a pacy plot-line that will make you want to sleep with the light on, long after you have finished reading it!' Jan Dunning, award-winning author of The Last Thing You'll Hear

'Better Off Dead is pacy, atmospheric and brilliantly creepy with twists and turns which keep you guessing right up to the very last page.' Sue Cunningham, author of Cloud Nine

'A thrilling labyrinth of plot twists and red herrings. Tess James-Mackey brilliantly disorientates us so we question everyone and trust no-one.' Scarlett Dunmore, author of How to Survive a Horror Movie

'With elements so macabre I didn't want to touch the pages on which they were written, Better Off Dead wound itself into my nighttime thoughts until I shut the book for good. As ever with James-Mackey, the characters are nuanced and the plot is twisty as hell. Though who knew hell was a holiday park in Wales!' Amy Beashel