As someone who’s never seen a horror film in her life and cringes away from Halloween decorations, None Shall Sleep by Ellie Marney was an experiment. Mysteries, specifically thriller mysteries are not high on my list, but this book surprised and intrigued me. While I don’t have much background to judge and make comparisons, I thought the plot was unique and the characters interesting.

The FBI recruit two teenagers—one of which is a previous serial kill survivor, Emma Lewis, and the other a US Marshall candidate, Travis Bell—to interview juvenile killers in hopes of gaining insight for cold cases. But with a new serial killer, The Butcher, on the loose, Emma and Travis become increasingly tangled within an active case. While Emma grapples with her survivor’s guilt and contact with notorious killer, Simon Gutmunsson, a game emerges between two killers and Emma isn’t sure who she wants to win.

The writing and pace of the novel are perfect for what a psychological thriller should be. Marney provides just enough information and suspense to keep the pages turning. While the content was at times extremely disturbing—as it should be in a novel focused on serial killers—Marney does a good job of sprinkling in peaceful and hopeful scenes that balance the disgust we feel at the gruesome murders.

Overall I’d recommend this book to anyone who appreciates psychological thrillers. The story is good, the characters well-fleshed out, and the book well-written. However, I’d also extend a hand to those (like me) who are looking to experiment with a new genre. Psychological thriller is not a genre that frequents my bookshelf, but after reading this book I might need to reexamine. – Kira Kaplan