Better off Dead

by Tess James-Mackey

Just how many deaths does it take to close a holiday park?

All Lacy wants is to escape to Paris and be with her older sister. But she needs to make some money first, so she takes a summer job at a caravan park in North Wales.

When one of the guests is brutally murdered, rumours start to swirl about the park being haunted. There are sightings of a mysterious figure walking along the clifftops at night and Lacy can’t shake off the feeling that she’s being watched. Could there be some truth to the stories? And can she discover who – or what – the killer is before she becomes the next victim?

Genres: Young Adult

Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 5, 2026

About the author

After growing up in rural Shropshire, Tess set out to explore the world and find her place in it. She quickly rushed straight back to Shrewsbury when she realised she'd been where she belonged from the start. She now lives in a quiet suburb with a noisy partner and daughter, two extremely noisy cats, and a less noisy tortoise.

She spent years mucking out and getting trampled on by horses, before finally deciding she might prefer a less precarious office job. Between analysing insurance risk, she writes teens into terrifying situations inspired by her lived experiences.

When she's not allowing her mind to wander to dark and twisty places, she pursues more wholesome activities, like growing mediocre vegetables in her garden, camping with her daughter, and even riding the odd horse.

Reviews

[Keira · Rating 2 out of 5]

What is the point of setting a horror novel at a caravan park in Wales if you’re going to completely underutilized the setting. I was expecting arcades and creepy mascots interacting with creepy kids, instead I got an apartment block and a beach. Pair that with a slow paced book in which barely anything happens and you get a book I did not like.
The plot felt very disjointed and barely blended together. Certain things got mentioned then went nowhere. The ending was the most disconnected feeling part, meaning the ending wasn’t at all satisfying. It also felt like it wrapped up a bit too easily for the main character.
While I didn’t like Lacey as a character, I did like her character development throughout the book. That is the only thing I can say I liked about this book.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better off Dead- 4/5 stars

"She didn't want to be some pathetic damsel in distress."

*This was sent to me by Tess James-Mackey and Oneworld Publications via NetGalley for an honest review; thank you so much for the opportunity*

Trigger/ Content Warnings
Graphic portrayals of violence, injury and murder
Discussions of sexual harassment
Depictions of sexual assault
Toxic friend group
Toxic sibling relationship
Dermatillomania
Potential suicide

Review
This story follows Lacy, a working class British girl who alongside her older sister is desperate to escape her life and move to Paris. After her sister seemingly decides to leave for Paris without her, Lacy decides to apply for a job at caravan park in North Wales. Just after arriving, a guest is brutally murdered, leading to heightened paranoia from staff and Lacy specifically becomes paranoid about seeing a mysterious figure watching her.

Lacy's sister Winter constantly haunts the narrative in more ways than one which at the start of the novel I was getting frustrated at due to the repetition and just how awfully Lacy acted in an attempt to impress her sister. However, near the end of the novel at the climax, there was a clear shift in Winter's portrayal that as a survivor of sexual assault myself I couldn't help but empathise with. I do also think this sensitive subject was handled well.

The climax itself is why I gave this novel 4 stars as before that it was coming out as a solid 3 in my mind as it wasn't bad, it was just very slowly paced. That being said, the climax was like a lightbulb moment and whilst I did predict part of the twist (the killer of the guest), I was very happy to be wrong about the other killer (or even that there was an other killer). I think this twist massively paid off for me and I appreciate the author for leaning fully into that aspect as it really helped change my opinion of the story overall!

Overall
Overall, this is a great YA thriller if you are able to get past the trigger warnings and I hope that the potential sequel bait at the end comes to pass as I think a lot can still be done with the characters post-twist and their dynamics!

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[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

I'm not usually a fan of anything scary, but this book sounded so intriguing I just couldn't resist requesting for an ARC. I'm so glad I did because I was so invested, this book had me in a chokehold with the mix of a murder mystery slash paranormal mystery- we truly get the best of both worlds in this book, and ironically they're unrelated, but happen to the poor main character Lacey anyway.

I basked in the setting of a rundown Welsh holiday park, it had all the eerie elements, felt rough around the edges, and each character we meet has such an interesting and different personality. Each interaction felt so genuine, from the arguments and rising tensions, to the friendships and slight hint of a romance.

Lacey was a great main character, she's flawed but gradually learns to accept herself for who she is, not who her older sister Winter was trying to force her to be. Being from a working class family in a not so reputable county, I completely understood Lacey's judgememts and self-doubts, along with her journey of wanting more for herself and striving to break free of the stereotypes, to then accepting her roots and the small yet meaningful quirks she has, plus realising just how great her family actually is.

I do admit, one of the major twists (the paranormal one) I guessed halfway through the book, but the other one (check TW's before reading) I didn't, and I was shocked and both disgusted and shook on everyone's behalf. I did feel like the paranormal stuff was a bit thrown in there and random, especially as it's not directly related to the story, but nonetheless added to the creep factor.

The ending wraps up well, leaving off with a hint for a possible sequel, with most questions answered. Despite being YA, I really enjoyed this book, it's perfect for keeping it spooky on a dreary day, just don't look out of the window!

4/5 🌟

[Izzy Lou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I requested this book partly because of how off putting the cover was (in the best way) and I think this book really emulated that atmosphere. Better off dead is a solid thriller that i would recommend to people that like mysteries with a side of supernatural.

Our main character Lacy is a great lead to follow as you watch her grapple with her inner conflict over her actions and feelings. I really enjoyed reading her development over the book. I think this book has some really compelling side characters that you either want to punch or wrap in a hug (I’m talking about Ceri she deserves a big hug). I think this book handles tougher topics in a great way for teens, Andy is an absolute creep and the text is very clear in stating that the teens were vulnerable around him. I think it being stated is good for teens to really break down the issue, especially to help them understand if they are ever at a job with an older manager trying to act like they are one of them.

I had fun theorising for this book and I found that I was pretty much right on the who but was not so accurate with the how. Overall, I definitely think this is a great book to read if you want something that will spook you and I would recommend it.

[Daisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

*All my thanks go to netgalley and the publishing team for giving me the opportunity to read this book.*


Better off dead deserves all the hype it can get.

This book has to be one of my favourite thrillers/ mysteries for many reasons. The main reason I loved this book was the ability it had to keep you hooked through giving you enough information that you didn't feel lost but not so much so that you were guessing the plot twists. Other ways the book kept you hooked was the characters and writing style. The characters, especially Lacy and Winter, all had that bit of complexity to them meaning I wanted to know more about them. The final reason I liked this book was the writing style and way it was written- i felt as if I was a character in the story watching as the writing was so good.

[Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe overall the plot was interesting. You meet Lacy who wants a fresh start and to move.She starts a job and she realises there's something going on. The plot kept me entertained however I did struggle with Lacy's personality at the start however there is some character development at the end. The ending is a bit predictable but overall the book is still worth the read and is still entertaining.

I received an arc copy through netgally in exchange for an honest review.

[Anni (annithebookaholic) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5☆

Thank you to the publisher, the author and NetGalley for an arc of this book. All opinions are completely my own.

This was a really good thriller!

I loved following our main character and the setting felt unique to me. A rundown trailer ground in North Wales? Yes, please! There were many twists and turns that hooked me and the characters very diverse and interesting. The author's writing was great and was very fitting for the storyline of the book. The pacing was great and this was the perfect length. I really enjoyed the ending, it brought an unexpected element to the story.

I really recommend this to any YA thriller lover!

[Brooke McCann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I had to stop reading a couple of times due to having things to do but I couldn't wait to get into it again. I did predict part of the ending but not fully how it turned out. I will definitely be checking out more books by this author.

Thanks again to Netgalley for allowing me to read this.

[Antonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was absolutely hooked by this book! I loved the eerie atmosphere & could really put myself in Lacys shoes. I njoyed watching her grow as a character. The reveals were satisfying & the ending bittersweet

Would recommend for fans of 'Don't Let the Forrest In', 'How To Survive a Horror Movie' & 'You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight'

Thanks Netgalley for my ARC

[Atlanta Colling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better Off Dead was such a gripping, fast-paced read.

Tess James-Mackey delivers a tense and twisty story that hooked me early on and kept me second-guessing almost everyone. The atmosphere is sharp and unsettling in the best way — there’s this steady undercurrent of suspicion that never quite lets you relax.

What I really enjoyed was how layered the characters felt. No one is completely transparent, and motivations slowly unravel in a way that keeps the tension high. The shifting dynamics between them made the mystery feel personal rather than just plot-driven, which I always appreciate in a thriller.

There were moments where I guessed certain elements ahead of time, which is why this lands at four stars rather than five for me — but that didn’t take away from the overall enjoyment. The pacing is strong, especially in the second half, and the final stretch absolutely flies.

If you enjoy character-focused thrillers with emotional stakes and plenty of suspicion woven throughout, this is definitely worth picking up. Dark, compelling, and hard to put down.

[Laura Castelo · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars.

[Sue H H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner YA thriller from Tess James-Mackey. Her ominous and original settings are like characters in their own right and never fail to set the scene in the most sinister way - this time, our girl Lacy is trapped in a haunted caravan park and has barely unpacked her bags before the murders begin.
Better Off Dead is pacy, atmospheric and brilliantly creepy with twists and turns which will keep you guessing right up to the very last page.