Twin Tides

Two long-lost identical twins of Vietnamese descent reunite to solve the mystery of their mother’s murder in a debut horror offering reminiscent of The Haunting of Bly Manor that tackles themes of grief, family, and racial inequality. Georgetown student Aria Nguyen pays her way through school using the funds she receives completing assignments for privileged classmates. Meanwhile, wealthy California influencer Caliste Ha spends all her free time maintaining her carefully curated social media accounts. Previously unaware of the other’s existence, the 18-year-olds are brought together when authorities inform them that the body of their disappeared mother—whom they barely remember—has been dredged from a lagoon in small-town Minnesota. Shocked to learn they’re identical twins, the siblings set out to discover the truth behind their mother’s death and their separation. But delving into the past reveals dark family secrets and rouses a murderous spirit seeking vengeance. Plodding pacing and hackneyed dialogue dampen readers’ investment in the girls’ plight. Still, Nguyen wields pulse-pounding scares, heartrending scenarios, and chilling supernatural elements across the protagonists’ alternating third-person narration. The intermittent first-person POV of an enigmatic character called the Ghoul heightens suspense throughout. Ages 12–up. Agent: Katelyn Detweiler, Jill Grinberg Literary. (Dec.)