Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

You stop fearing the Devil when you're holding his hand…
Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White's sleepy, seaside town…until River West comes along. River rents the guesthouse behind Violet's crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more? Violet's grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery…who makes you want to kiss back. Violet's already so knee-deep in love, she can't see straight. And that's just how River likes it.
A gothic thriller romance with shades of Stephen King and F. Scott Fitzgerald, set against a creepy summertime backdrop--a must-read for fans of Beautiful Creatures, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, and Anna Dressed in Blood.
From School Library JournalGr 10 Up-With their beloved grandmother, Freddie, deceased and their artistic, absentee parents blowing the family money abroad, 17-year-old twins Violet and Luke are as neglected as Citizen Kane, their formerly grand and now dilapidated home on a seaside cliff. Antagonistic Luke and sultry neighbor Sunshine are Violet's only company until she rents the guesthouse to enigmatic River West. His crooked smile, discerning palate, and penchant for lying leave Violet both enamored and distrustful. He is cavalier with the mind-manipulating supernatural power he is unable, and somewhat reluctant, to control. In a small town with its fair share of lurid tales, River's appearance brings with it devil sightings, missing children, and disturbing deaths. Tucholke's gothic tone, plot, and setting, complete with a deteriorating estate full of dark family secrets, is reminiscent of Daphne du Maurier or YA fare such as Kami Garcia's and Margaret Stohl's Beautiful Creatures (Little, Brown, 2009). Violet's narration is frank and perceptive, livened with humor and an almost poetically descriptive lilt. She is a combination of naive and mature, having grown up in relative seclusion with limited supervision. Violet and River's attraction is palpable, but their romance is tainted by his shifty morals and shady charm. Swearing and sexual situations are non-gratuitous. Adults are easily appeased and generally turn a blind eye. Give this one to fans of creepy mysteries, particularly tales that don't skimp on the violence. They'll appreciate the conclusion's heart-pounding, bile-rising standoff.-Danielle Serra, Cliffside Park Public Library, NJα© Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review«Lavishly rendered, darkly romantic, and beautifully unsettling--Tucholke's debut isn't a book you'll soon forget.» (Melissa Marr, New York Times bestselling author of the Wicked Lovely series)
«Like something between a disturbed dream and a wicked fantasy, BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA will slip under your skin and capture the darkest corners of your imagination. This is a hypnotic, terrifying debut that won't soon escape my mind.» (Nova Ren Suma, author of Imaginary Girls)
«Tucholke's story of devils, innocence, and family secrets is lush, and rhythmic as a song. Seductive with a capital 'S'.» (Kendare Blake, author of Anna Dressed in Blood and Girl of Nightmares)
«A rich blend of gothic horror and modern romance, studded with nods toward literary, cinematic and musical classics. A lush setting and provocative characters elevate this debut above others.»
(Kirkus Reviews)
«Tucholke debuts with a thoroughly eerie novel . . . a chilling supernatural exploration of free will and reality's fluidity.»
(Publishers Weekly)
«Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea will slip under your skin and capture the darkest corners of your imagination. A hypnotic, terrifying debut.» (Nova Ren Suma, author of Imaginary Girls)