When Devils Sing

In Kaur’s Southern gothic horror debut, a periodic cicada emergence brings to light a web of sinister secrets and lies involving a missing boy, four teens, and eerily entwined histories. Every 13 years, screeching cicada broods resurface and descend upon Carrion, Ga., an event that always seems to coincide with the mysterious vanishing of residents and tourists. Local teen Dawson, the most recent disappearance, is last seen in British Punjabi Neera’s immigrant family-owned motel; a blood-spattered room is the only evidence of the victim’s presence. As Neera sets out to learn more about Dawson and the lore behind these missing cases, she becomes involved with three other teens: Dawson’s former friend Sam, tasked with covering up his disappearance; affluent local Reid, part of the town’s wealthiest family; and Black covert crime podcaster Isaiah, who’s determined to investigate a tip he received from Dawson before he went missing. Together they uncover Carrion’s terrifying secrets, including an ancient legend about three devil brothers. Uneven pacing results in a somewhat rushed conclusion, but Kaur perceptively combines themes of classism, prejudice, and generational power with a supernatural premise enriched by an immersive and atmospheric backdrop. Most characters read as white. Ages 14–up. Agent: Pete Knapp, Park, Fine & Brower Literary. (May)