Wander in the Dark

By: Jumata Emill

Narrated by: Kevin R. Free, Nile Bullock

In this pulse-pounding thriller from the author of The Black Queen, two brothers must come together to solve the murder of the most popular girl in school after one of them is caught fleeing the scene of her death.

A COSMOPOLITAN BEST YOUNG ADULT BOOK OF THE YEAR

Amir Trudeau only goes to his half brother Marcel’s birthday party because of Chloe Danvers. Chloe is rich, and hot, and fits right into the perfect life Marcel inherited when their father left Amir’s mother to start a new family with Marcel’s mom. But Chloe is hot enough for Amir to forget that for one night.

Does she want to hook up? Or is she trying to meddle in the estranged brothers’ messy family drama? Amir can’t tell. He doesn’t know what Chloe wants from him when, in the final hours of Mardi Gras, she asks him to take her home and stay—her parents are away and she doesn’t want to be alone.

Amir never finds out, because when he wakes up, Chloe is dead—stabbed while he was passed out on the couch. And in no time, Amir becomes the only suspect. A Black teenager caught fleeing the scene of a rich white girl’s murder? All of New Orleans agrees: the case is open-and-shut.

Amir is innocent. He has a lawyer, but unless someone can figure out who really killed Chloe, things don’t look good for him. His number one ally? Marcel. Their relationship is messy, but Marcel knows that Amir isn’t a murderer—and maybe proving his innocence will repair the rift between them.

To find Chloe’s killer, Amir and Marcel need to dig into her secrets. And what they find is darker than either could have guessed. Parents will go to any lengths to protect their children, and in a city as old as New Orleans, the right family connections can bury even the ugliest truths.

Critic reviews

★ "Emill employs smart sleuthing, messy teen dynamics, and hidden agendas, as well as liberal use of Black cultural references and a vividly portrayed New Orleans, to present a propulsive and engaging thriller." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "The plot accelerates at top speed to its exhausting, nail-biting, and unexpected climax, and there is enough falling action to allow readers to catch a breath....With his second novel, Emill is proving himself a fresh and talented writer." —Booklist, starred review

★ "[An] enthralling, gripping murder mystery....Emill powerfully displays an unfair justice system, harmful stereotypes, political power, and inherent racism in private institutions. The author alternatively shows the strength and resiliency of family, friends, and community as they fight for justice." —Shelf Awareness, starred review

"An edgy, fast-paced thriller exploring important issues." —Kirkus Reviews

"Truthful and twisted at the same time, Wander in the Dark is both a thrill and a delight." —BookPage

Outstanding

I was intrigued the entire book. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

HE DID IT AGAIN.!

Let me start off by saying that I absolutely loved "Black Queen" so when I found out Mr. Emill was coming out with a new book I immediately hit preorder. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this book. Sometimes when an author writes a second book it's never as good as the first. But let me tell you Mr. Emill is not one of those authors. This book had me from the very first line. I couldn't stop reading it. No spoilers here but Mr. Emill knows how to write plot twists. I couldn't have guessed what happened in this book even if I wanted to. This book was such a entertaining read. I was intrigued, then sad, then mad, then beyond pissed off. It was such an excellent way to start my year.

I couldn’t stop listening…

This book was fast paced, which kept me listening! I l loved the main characters and their development throughout the narrative. I also loved the plot twists that kept me guessing.

Timely & Extraordinary!

One of the best YA novels I have read in a while. I honestly couldn't put it down. A great gift for graduating HS seniors.

Cool twists and turns in the plot

I can’t wait for the movie! Great balance of action, mystery, suspense and tender moments.