Better the Devil
Erik J. Brown
HarperCollins/Storytide
January 20, 2026
Age 13+

An unnamed teen runaway, arrested for shoplifting, sees the resemblance between himself and the poster of a missing boy. But claiming to be Nate Beaumont for a meal and respite from the street (and his bio parents’ forced conversion therapy) becomes much more complicated when Nate’s family arrives to claim him as their long-missing son. As “Nate” is drawn into the Beaumont family, their often-strange reactions to his return prove that danger can lurk in even the best family home. “Nate” is implicated in a string of accidents and learns that the boy he’s impersonating was killed by his psychopathic brother. And he might just be again.

In a chilling psychological thriller, set in a stereotypical suburban home, Brown plots nightmare events—kidnapping, arrest, trauma, and murder—against the place most people turn for safety. This contrast of emotion runs throughout the title, balancing dread with moments of humor, parental neglect and withholding with the support of found family and helps to hold full terror at bay. Each character is drawn with a mysteriously elusive quality, keeping readers guessing about their intentions and allowing the true predator to stay hidden throughout most of the action. It also lets the two-part resolution unfold in scenes of escalating horror as the murder and murderer of a young boy are revealed and the killer draws his plans to their terrible conclusion. Fast pacing and snappy dialog add to the tension and make for a quick and scary read perfect for teen fans of true crime podcasts and shows like Criminal Minds.