Review: Dark and Shallow Lies by Ginny Myers Sain

I read Dark and Shallow Lies a few years ago and unfortunately forgot to pen down my thoughts, which is a shame because it’s a compelling YA novel that deserves attention. This debut novel by Ginny Myers Sain offers a rich blend of suspense and supernatural elements set against the eerie backdrop of a small Louisiana town.

The story follows seventeen-year-old Grey, who is grappling with the mysterious disappearance of her best friend, Elora, in the town of La Cachette. Known as the Psychic Capital of the World, the town's atmosphere is thick with secrets and unspoken truths, which provides a perfect setting for this chilling narrative.

The novel starts strong, pulling readers into its web of mystery with a gripping premise. The sense of foreboding and the intricacies of the town's supernatural underpinnings create a captivating atmosphere. However, the middle section of the book feels a bit sluggish, with some parts dragging and affecting the overall pacing. Despite this, the suspense builds steadily towards a thrilling and unexpected conclusion.

While the setting and mood are excellently crafted, the character development could have been more nuanced. Grey's interactions with her grandmother, her childhood crush, and the other townsfolk add depth, but some relationships and backstories are left underexplored. The plot’s resolution, though intense, felt somewhat abrupt, leaving me wishing for a bit more elaboration.

Overall, Dark and Shallow Lies is an engaging read that showcases Sain’s talent for creating an atmospheric and suspenseful story. Despite some pacing issues and a need for deeper character exploration, the book’s unique setting and intriguing plot twists make it a worthwhile read for fans of YA mysteries with a supernatural twist.

I read this one a few years ago and forgot to write a review, which is a shame. This is a solid YA book with lots of solid suspense and thrills.

The beginning grabbed my attention, and the ending was a wild, unexpected ride, but the middle part moved slowly.

Ginny Myers Sain is easily becoming a favorite author of mine! And why are her covers always the most stunning?!

Ginny Myers Sain's "Dark and Shallow Lies" presents a chilling debut supernatural thriller that weaves a mysterious tapestry in the bayou town of La Cachette, Louisiana. While the novel promises an intriguing blend of magic, secrets, and a disappearance that haunts the community, it falls short of achieving its full potential.

The story revolves around seventeen-year-old Grey, who grapples with the sudden disappearance of her best friend, Elora Pellerin. The town, self-proclaimed as the Psychic Capital of the World, sets the stage for a tale where magic festers beneath the surface like water rot. The narrative is rich with elements of mystery, and Sain introduces a compelling premise with the potential for an enthralling exploration of the supernatural.

However, as the plot unfolds, the execution feels somewhat uneven. While the promise of a town full of psychics hiding secrets is tantalizing, the revelations often lack the depth and impact needed to elevate the suspense. Grey's journey to uncover the truth behind Elora's disappearance should have been a riveting exploration of the town's dark underbelly, but it occasionally meanders, leaving the reader wanting more substance and urgency.

The characters, while interesting, could have been more fully developed. Grey's relationships with her grandmother, childhood crush Hart, and her late mother offer glimpses into the complexity of La Cachette's inhabitants, yet these connections sometimes feel underexplored. The introduction of a mysterious stranger with links to Elora and the town's history adds an intriguing layer, but the resolution of these connections lacks the impact necessary to make the narrative truly unforgettable.

The prose is generally well-crafted, capturing the eerie atmosphere of the bayou, but there are moments when the pacing stumbles, affecting the overall flow of the story. The tension builds steadily, yet the climax and resolution may leave some readers wanting a more satisfying payoff for the investment in the plot.

In conclusion, "Dark and Shallow Lies" has the bones of a captivating supernatural thriller, but it doesn't fully deliver on the promises of its premise. While the novel provides an engaging exploration of a small town's secrets, it lacks the narrative finesse needed to make it a standout in the genre. Despite its shortcomings, readers who enjoy atmospheric settings and a touch of the supernatural may find elements to appreciate in Sain's debut work.

The book is Eerie and intriguing. However, there was a few things in the plot that I got confused so I kept turning back the pages to reread. Not bad though, it all tied up at the end

This one kept me turning the pages! This interconnected, multitalented group of friends held a multitude of secrets, and the end was a great twist.

I appreciated how different this book was from anything I’ve read lately! I’d definitely read more from this author

I really enjoyed the setting of this. It was eerie and really atmospheric. The author was really great at setting the tone with the details of the surroundings and made the little swamp town really creepy. The story itself, I wanted to love it but everything fell kind of flat. I felt like there was more to the characters that could have been provided or elaborated on, especially since most of them had some kind of magical power. The mystery was intriguing and the reveal was intense, but everything was over almost as soon as it started.

Although this book was really good, for some reason I kept zooming out of the story. I am unsure why this happened, but it did make for a frustrating reading experience. I think I will give this another go sometime, but for now I'm glad I finished it. Can definitely recommend, though!

If you’re looking for books to read in the pre-halloween or Halloween season that are equal parts eerie, mysterious, creepy, have magic and the supernatural in them and have a hint of culture too, then add Dark and Shallow Lies to your list.

Seventeen year old Grey always happily spends her summers in La Cachette, a tiny coastal Louisiana swamp town, with her grandmother. However, this time is different because Elora, Grey’s best friend, disappeared without a trace or clue as to where she could be, from the town six months ago. In this town everyone’s supposedly meant to be psychic and yet no one can tell her where Elora is. That added with the fact that it seems like everyone is lying and keeping secrets, the last thing Grey needs is to start getting flashes which only leave her with more questions than before, like Is Elora still even alive? Is Elora trying to reach her and tell her something or is it somebody else?

Dark and Shallow Lies is a wonderfully written mystery with lots of supernatural and fantasy elements. It pulls you in from the very first page and keeps you guessing about the mystery every second since. Every time I thought I’d finally figured out the mystery, I was proven wrong. There were lots of twists and turns in this story, some of which you never see coming, and they always add to the appeal of the story.

For a debut novel, the standards this book met were so incredibly high. The characters were interesting, complex and super fun to follow throughout the story. The world building was absolutely incredible. The mystery was so well executed, the hints for it perfectly dropped. And the writing itself?? Fantastic. Ginny captures the vibe of the story perfectly and she really snags the readers attention.

This book was un-put-down-able. (If that’s not a word, I’m inventing it!)

I loved how atmospheric Ginny Myers Sain's DARK AND SHALLOW LIES was; the La Cachette, Louisiana, setting held such a strong, compelling presence. The mystery and history was intriguing, but ultimately this book missed the mark for me. I wish that the relationships between the characters had been developed more. I'd still recommend it for those looking for an eerie mystery/thriller!

Mystery, Horror, a girl's love, a towns secrets. I could not put this book down. I loved it. Page after page, I got sucked in and read it in one setting! Definitely remember to cancel all your plans if you pick this one up

This was a kooky YA thriller. It was weird (in a good way) and I really enjoyed the premise that surrounds the mystery.

Ginny Myers Sain, in her debut young adult novel, weaves an atmospheric Southern Gothic paranormal mystery set in the bayous of Louisiana. Gators, cottonmouths, and a town slowly sinking into the muck of the bayou are the least of Graycie’s worries this summer. All of her friends seem to be developing their psychic skills but hers are a big zero, except, that is, for the strange dreams she has…and the whispers on the wind. But the worst thing is that her best friend in the entire world went missing six months ago. Graycie is determined to find out what happened. Well-written, with complex and intriguing characters, a strong and imaginative plot, and loads of atmosphere. Ginny Sain hooked me on the first page.

This one was so creepy and held my interest the entire time. I was spooked and had know clue what was happening. Loved it.

I'll be honest, I was a bit hesitant at first because I hadn't heard really anything about this book. It's cover is what intrigued me the most but I'm glad I chose to give it a chance. The plot was interesting and the setting honestly made the book. It does have some fantasy-type themes but they are mostly background noise helping to move the plot. I think this author has serious potential considering that this is her first novel. I would recommend to lovers of fiction and mystery but note that there is a bit of fantasy/magic going on.
Full review to come on YouTube.

I loved the premise of this book. It took a cool, unique culture and turned it into a mystery coming-of-age story. The characters each had their own unique personality quirks, and mixed with their "magic" it added an extra cool layer. The different ages of generations, the importance and significance of the bayou town, and how everything wraps up at the end was amazing. Every open question got answered, and it shocked me in the best way. A great YA mystery novel with a touch of fantasy.

Didn't capture my attention and engagement. Interested in trying it again though and hopefully it will take.

Grey has spent every summer with her grandmother in a tourist town featuring psychics, being surrounded by her friends and their psychic gifts, tending her grandmother's new age store, even while she herself has no psychic gift. Well, this summer is different- this summer her best friend Elora is missing, her friend group is coming apart at the seams and Grey is having the most intense realistic dreams of death. Can coming back to the only place she called home help solve the mystery of Elora's disappearance?

Overall this was a really interesting and twisty murder mystery with some mild paranormal elements that I enjoyed. Dark and Shallow Lies was a standalone novel with a satisfying ending that wrapped up nicely and I would love to read more from this author in the future. Her plot was unique, the mystery was unpredictable and the characters (be it the main or the side) were all very well fleshed out and developed, as if they were real people I knew and understood. I highly recommend this for anyone who enjoys mysteries with a psychic spin, conflicted angsty emotions and realistic dangers, be it from people or nature.