The Guilty Ones

by Kyla Stone

Perfect mothers. Perfect daughters. Perfect lies.
After her husband’s death, Dahlia Kincaid and her 14-year-old daughter Mia move to the exclusive lakefront community of Blackthorn Shores, Michigan, hoping for a fresh start. It feels like a miracle. Lakefront views. Immaculate homes. And a coveted spot in the elite circle of neighborhood mothers. Even Mia is welcomed by the popular girls.

For the first time, Dahlia dares to believe they’ve finally found belonging.

Then one of the girls is found dead after a neighborhood slumber party.

The police suspect murder. All eyes turn to Mia. Blood stains her clothes. Fresh scratches mark her arms. And her story keeps changing. Every new piece of evidence cuts deeper. Every lie Mia tells makes Dahlia wonder what else her daughter is hiding.

As suspicion mounts, the mothers who once embraced Dahlia turn wary and watchful. Rumors sharpen into accusations. Mia withdraws, shutting Dahlia out. Desperate to protect her, Dahlia begins her own hunt for the truth, digging into the secrets buried beneath the community’s polished façade. But every answer she uncovers brings her closer to losing both her daughter and the life she’s fought to build here.

One thing is someone in Blackthorn Shores is a killer. But as Dahlia closes in on the truth, her worst fear isn't that the killer will escape—it's that she already knows who it is.

From USA Today bestselling author Kyla Stone comes a propulsive domestic thriller perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Shari Lapena, and Freida McFadden.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Suspense

410 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 31, 2025

Reviews

[❥ KAT ❥ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will write up a review once my internet is fixed..

Pretty little liars..secrets and lies..

This book goes to show that whatever this author writes, I will read, because this is a genre she’s not known for writing.

Like a puzzle with missing pieces which we had to put together bit by bit with very little to go on other than what this fierce mother uncovered as she strove to clear her daughter’s reputation.

[Lauren Speringo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This needed to be shorter. I lost interest during the last third of the book and I couldn’t wait for it to be over. Also had a young adult vibe to it at times that felt silly and annoying.

[Donna Weber ( Recuperating from Surgery) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoah! Page Turner!!

[Urmas A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book. Kyla is very good at building up the atmosphere - who are the people, how their houses and themselves look like. It makes you to pay attention to the details and actions of the characters. However she manages very well to mislead us dipping some hints in a slow pace. She keeps the excitement up during the conversations and action scenes describing the situation during the dialogue which puts the reader into the middle of the action. The flash-backs are very well timed - you always understand why it was needed at that exact moment. I did not get the point of the last chapter initially, but it made total sense in the end.

[Kayla Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a mother to a teen daughter that turns 14 in just weeks, this is one of my worst nightmares.

I devoured this in less than 24 hours. I was constantly changing my thought on who the guilty one was. I need not expect that last chapter. Oof it was rough, but this was such a good read. I was constantly changing my mind on what I thought happened and who did it.

I love Kyla's Edge of Collapse & other apocalypse series, but this locked in that I will read anything she writes.

[Christie Lampe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started off very strong for me, but felt too long. I started to struggle with the later half and just wanted to finish it rather than caring what happened.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read most of Kyla Stone's apocalyptic series and love them all. She writes in the thriller genre just as well.

The setting is a wealthy gated community that houses some mean girls along with some grown-up mean girls also known as their mothers. Ater losing their husband and father, Dahlia and Mia move to this community not because they are wealthy like the others but because they inherited a small cottage. They are welcomed into the community right away and are very thankful to be included in the established teen and mom cliques. After a sleepover becomes a tragedy Dahlia finds herself fighting to protect her daughter and wondering if they ever were welcomed.

A tense and twisty story that keeps you guessing until the very end. I continued to change my mind on who was to blame and didn't see the ending coming.

[Stephanie Shaw · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this book has an interesting storyline, there are so many characters that it makes it difficult to follow and remember who is who. Six mothers and their six daughters, with husbands, siblings and other neighbors thrown into the mix. It was a lot to try to keep up with.

[Micala B. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ehh

It was ok.
A little too juvenile for me.
A lot of girl drama and cruelty. And there was a lot of redundancy, and predictable. It just wasn't for me.

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot of people loved this book. It was not poorly written. But I found all the characters to be despicable. Without anyone to root for, I didn’t care who was blamed and/ or responsible.

[Rebecca Soderlund · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 - an interesting enough psychological thriller but not super believable and written rudimentarily

[fang ma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m impressed by how rigorous the plot construction is—nothing struck me as unreasonable. The twists are well-timed, and I truly didn’t anticipate how it would end.

Still, compared with her earlier post-apocalyptic fiction, I’m not sure the suspense genre plays to her greatest strengths. Her previous work felt remarkably realistic and alive, with a strong command of large-scale storytelling. In that light, focusing on intrigue among wealthy suburban housewives feels slightly smaller than what she’s capable of.

[Ashley Trussell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book more than I did. It caught my attention in the beginning but I had it figured out early on so the rest was annoying. I couldn't wait for it to be over just to prove that I was right. I didn't like any of the characters. The girls were mean, the moms were mean and stupid. A lot of talk about the dog and what he was doing.. Dahlia making idiotic decisions.. it just didn't hit the mark for me.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kyla does such a great job story telling. I was intrigued the whole time I read. I kept going back and forth on who was guilty. The characters are easy to follow and relate to as well. This is such a well written book on a hard topic that delves into teenage mom/daughter dynamics.

[Emily Spadavecchia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Figured out the twist within 75 pages that’s a record so this gets 3 stars because I was generous

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 …extra points for the beautiful cover which is why I picked it. Lot of characters to keep track of and most of them suck. The execution of the story could have been a bit more streamlined.

[Hannah Austin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book pissed me off almost the entire time I was reading it.

[Katrina evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

gripping read

This book has everything . Drama murder intrigue . I enjoyed it very much . Ive read Kyla Stones series of 6 books about the apocalypse, they were great . Not read any of the stand alone ones . Will def read some more .

[Nelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, I thought I knew who it was…but then boom I didn’t 😂😊

[Robin Ginther-Venneri · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Guilty Ones: A Psychological Thriller
By: Kyla Stone
Publisher: Paper Moon Press
Published Date: December 31, 2025
ASIN: B0G28SMYVF
Page Count: 422

Triggers: bullying, teen death, grief, social-media cruelty, gaslighting, community cover-ups, murder investigation, parental desperation, psychological manipulation

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Skull Dread Rating: 💀💀

What Did I Just Walk Into?
A grieving mom and her 14-year-old daughter move to a glossy, lakefront gated community where the lawns are trimmed, the smiles are sharper than knives, and the “mom circle” membership comes with an unspoken NDA. Then a sleepover ends with a girl dead at the bottom of a cliff… and the evidence points straight at Mia. So now it’s Dahlia vs. the police, the rumor mill, and a neighborhood full of wealthy people who treat the truth like it’s optional.

Here’s What Slapped:
The vibe is teen social hierarchy colliding with polished, wealthy-neighborhood image control, and it’s deliciously tense from page one.

The teen dynamics felt painfully real: the cliques, the social media performative cruelty, the fear of becoming the next target.

Dahlia is messy in the most believable way. Not “thriller-mom with perfect instincts,” but “terrified parent making questionable choices because her kid might be in danger.”

The pacing? Absolutely feral. This book does not politely allow breaks for laundry or basic human responsibilities.

Twists that actually land. Not random for shock value, but the kind that make you backtrack mentally like, “Oh… you sneaky genius.”

What Could’ve Been Better:
If you like your characters always making calm, logical decisions, this will personally offend you. Dahlia spirals and I mean SPIRALS, but honestly? That’s kind of the point. Grief plus fear plus a community that closes ranks will turn anybody into a sleep-deprived detective with a doom soundtrack.

Perfect for Readers Who Love:
• domestic thrillers with “perfect neighborhood” rot
• stories about mothers and daughters where love is fierce, flawed, and terrifying
• secrets, lies, and rich people using money like a weapon

Sum up:
This is the kind of thriller that grabs you by the throat with a manicured glove and whispers, “Smile for the neighbors.” It’s chilling, heartbreaking, and wildly addictive, with teen social warfare that feels uncomfortably real and an ending that makes you say “OH COME ON” out loud in the best way.

Reviewed by Robin for Robin’s Review

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

**A worthy non-apocalyptic drama**

Full disclosure: I'm a major Kyla Stone fan here, people. I've read every single one of her apocalyptic series, falling in love with literally ALL of them (despite the flaws). Each of them played their part in cementing Kyla as one of my favorite authors of end-of-the-world stories. But this? This is my first time reading an entirely other genre from Kyla, one that apparently is her first run too.

I admittedly was a little leery when I started this thing, as not all authors can pull off bringing new genres to life. But I had high hopes anyway, since I still adore Kyla's writing style and means of livening up her characters, so...what could really go wrong? It's just another sandbox, really. And as it turns out, nothing much went wrong at all.

This was most definitely a SOLID entry in the realm of thrillers. The things I was hoping for happened swimmingly: smooth writing style, good pace, personable characters, and the premise itself. My attention was immediately snagged and never wavered, and I found myself fully invested in what ACTUALLY happened and why. While I couldn't really relate to the characters (as I'm not a mother), I do think the relationships between all of them were done extremely well.

Now yes, it must be said that there were some minor complaints from me, enough that warranted a star deduction. Aside from the mild moments of predictability, I do feel that the police presence was too minimal considering the serious nature of the crime. I couldn't buy how "absent" they felt. I also felt that some characters were a wee bit too overly "cooperative" in seemingly uncomfortable situations. While I get needing to do so for the sake of exposition, it also diminished the realism.

All in all, though, there were far more praiseworthy traits in this book than not. I was never bored, always engaged, and had myself a good time learning all the revelations, including the shocking one at the very end (which was thankfully something I DIDN'T see coming). This was a great first step into an entirely new genre for Kyla Stone and I hope to see more from her to iron out the kinks! Click here for random commentary and highlights.

I've received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thanks much!

[Ez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fabulous read that grabbed me by the throat and wouldn't let go. Set within what seems to be a perfect neighbourhood, everyone's lives are turned on their head when a small group of friends from an elite private school go for a run of the mill sleepover. When tragedy strikes and one of the girls ends up dead from a fall, the lengths the community goes to to close ranks and protect their own turns friend against friend and leads to the question: who can you really trust?

Kyla Stone had my heart pumping from page one. What should have been a relatively normal teenage gathering and right of passage leads to a thrilling, suspenseful investigation where no one is above suspicion. Dahlia has been lulled into a false sense of security. Having believed she'd finally found her place in the exclusive Blackthorn Shores, Michigan, she sets up a life for herself and her daughter, Mia. All of that changes, however, when Leah, Mia's best friend, is found at the bottom of a cliff dead and everyone seems to be pointing the finger at Dahlia's daughter. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep readers turning the pages and the author has done a marvellous job of not only creating a world you feel like you've fallen into, but one that also drags you under as the mystery leaves you guessing right up until the end. The underlying ugliness of the community and the circle of friends twists your stomach: bulling, teenage angst and the desperate need to be in control and popular, grief and gaslighting underpin the investigation, promoted and manipulated by the wealthy and privileged who both allow it to take place and then desperately try to keep their secrets hidden. Alongside that is Dahlia's desperate race to prove her daughter's innocence and protect her at all costs.

I'm a rabid fan of Kyla Stone and while this is a new genre for her, she absolutely nailed it for me. Her writing dragged me into the story, making me feel the frustration and hurt of Dahlia as she and her daughter were ostracised and played, as well her desperation for the truth. I hope the author writes more in this genre because I'm hooked.

[Christina Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let’s talk about this amazingly stressful ride! The Guilty Ones by Kyla Stone had me on the edge of my seat, holding my breath, and staring at my kindle screen when I finished it! There was no way I could have prepared myself for the twist at the end..and then the final chapter was totally mind blowing!

Dahlia and her daughter Mia Kincaid moved to an upscale bougie lakefront community in Blackthorn Shores, Michigan after the death of her husband. Mia is 14 years old and is fitting in well with the other teenage girls in the gated neighborhood, until that horrible night. Dahlia gets a phone call in the early morning hours, there’s been an accident at the sleep over her daughter was at. One of the girls is found outside and she has been murdered! Who would do this? Why would they do it? Everything Dahlia has built up since they moved here comes crashing down when all the evidence and accusations point to Mia. Her daughter couldn’t have done this? As she starts the race against the clock with the police and their investigation, she starts to see all the cracks in the perfectly polished neighborhood. The other four girls and their perfect mothers are all hiding something! Can she figure it out before it’s too late? Can she bring the real killer to light before she loses her daughter forever?

This was such a gripping book! And I found out it’s this author’s first psychological thriller! I couldn’t believe it! It’s so well written, the building of characters and the tension as the days pass is truly remarkable. I was holding my breath, gasping, and I even cried near the end! I was truly engulfed in this book! An amazing read, 5 ⭐️

[Kathy Schmitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping from the first page, this novel asks a haunting question: when tragedy strikes, how far will a wealthy community go to protect its own—no matter the cost to the truth? Fourteen-year-old Leah Cho attends what should be a harmless sleepover with classmates from an elite private school. What begins as a night of gossip, dress-up, and teenage excitement ends in horror when Leah is found dead at the base of a cliff.

As the investigation unfolds, suspicion quickly falls on her closest friend, Mia. Secrets begin to surface, exposing the dark underbelly of privilege, popularity, and cruelty among the teens—and the adults who enable it. As Mia’s mother fights desperately to prove her daughter’s innocence, the residents of the gated, affluent community band together, using their wealth and influence to silence questions and bury uncomfortable truths.

This story is equal parts chilling, heartbreaking, and impossible to put down. Anyone who has ever felt excluded, bullied by the “in crowd,” or struggled to belong in middle or high school will recognize themselves in these characters—and in the fear that keeps people from standing up for what’s right. Mia’s mother is far from perfect, but her flawed decisions ring true as those of a parent willing to do anything to protect her child.

Though this marks a departure into a new genre for the author, she handles it with confidence and skill. I truly hope she continues writing stories like this. Clear your schedule before you start—once you begin, you won’t want to stop reading.

[Jo Collett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy moly this book was addictive! I couldn't put it down. Every parent that reads this book will understand how determined Dahlia was to protect her daughter at all costs.
Set in a gated community, the residents live in their luxury houses with their high end fashion and expensive cars. Dahlia is recently widowed and struggling to make ends meet, whilst sole parenting her teenage daughter Mia. They both move into the high end gated community after inheriting an old ramshackled and doomed house from a family member,  The house, like Dahlia and Mia do not fit in with the luxury and wealth of the gated community.  Despite this gaping difference between Dahlia and her neighbours, the local mums and teenage daughters welcomed Dahlia and Mia into their inner friendship circle.
However, all is not as it seems and after a sleepover that turns to tradegy Dahlia finds herself fighting to protect her daughter.

There are somany twists and turns in this book and so many powerful messages. The fragility of young friendships in this modern world and a mothers ferocious protection of her child. It will certainly leave you thinking and reflecting at the end.

Kyla Stone is known for her dystopian books of which I am a massive fan. Kyla has stepped out of her comfort zone to write a psychological thriller and she has absolutely succeeded with this book and I really hope it's the first of many!

[Brea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kyla’s psychological thriller debut has convinced me that she can write in any genre, and not only will she write a smashing success, but I will devour anything she writes.

This book exceeded my guarded expectations. I am a well seasoned fan of Kyla’s writing, especially her Edge of Collapse and Lost Light series. It is risky for authors to jump genres, and I was nervous that this would be a transition that might not meet the same success as her other books. I am thrilled that she has completely proved me wrong.

This book was almost too real. It took me several days to finish because it had me so enthralled in Dahlia’s world that I felt like I WAS her. I felt stressed, while still being deeply invested. I had to take breaks, which is unusual for me and thrillers. Kyla kept me guessing, hitting with twists while still keeping the book realistic and possible. I didn’t see the end coming at all.

This read was a refreshing take on psychological thrillers, as many authors take things too far to feel possible, softening the effect of their plot twists and overall stories. This is not the case for Kyla; this story could very easily happen. The legal elements and other details were realistic and believable.

I will be recommending this book to everyone I know, and I cannot wait for Kyla’s next book. I am hesitant to give psychological thrillers 5 stars due to their tendency to be unbelievable, but this book gets an enthusiastic 5 stars from me!

[Laci · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the death of Mia’s dad, Dahlia moves her and Mia to a quiet lakefront community hoping for a fresh start and a chance to rebuild their lives. But the “perfect” neighborhood vibe doesn’t last long. When one of Mia’s classmates ends up dead after a sleepover, Mia suddenly becomes the center of the investigation - and Dahlia is left trying to figure out if her daughter is hiding something or if the truth is far more complicated.

Every parent, every kid, every family seemed to be hiding something. I kept going back and forth trying to figure out who was telling the truth and who wasn’t.

This story really dives into the darker side of middle school dynamics. The bullying, the mean girl behavior, the social hierarchies…it all felt very real and honestly pretty brutal. It shows how quickly things can spiral when kids are trying to fit in, keep secrets, and deal with the pressure of those toxic friendships.

As a parent, this one definitely hit hard. The idea of your child being caught up in something like this or not knowing the full truth about what they’re going through at school, is terrifying. It honestly made me dread the middle school and high school years with my own kids a little more.

Overall, this was a really gripping psychological thriller about secrets, toxic friendships, and just how far a parent will go to protect their child. Definitely one that keeps you thinking while you read.

[Elaine M Bak · Rating 5 out of 5]

More Than a Whodunit — Deeply Human and Unforgettable

The Guilty Ones was an instant add to my TBR the moment Kyla Stone released it — she’s an auto-download author for me, and this book absolutely delivered.

I was especially excited to see her step into a new genre, and she nailed it. This story kept me on edge from start to finish, and there were moments I was so emotionally invested that I had to physically stop myself from skipping ahead to find out what really happened.

This novel is often recommended for readers who enjoy Freida McFadden, and while I’ve read a lot of Freida’s work too, where Kyla truly stands apart is in her character development. I didn’t just want to know what happened — I genuinely cared about who it was happening to. The characters felt real, layered, and deeply human, which made the tension hit that much harder.

Beyond the mystery, this book offers a sharp and unsettling look at the cruelty of social dynamics, the pressure to fit in, and the way social media can amplify fear, judgment, and groupthink. It’s gripping, emotionally charged, and incredibly well done.

Highly recommended — especially for readers who want a thriller that doesn’t just keep you guessing, but makes you feel every step of the way.

[B. Fleetwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone unfamiliar with Kyla Stone's writing will be in for a pleasant surprise. Her books are exciting, gripping and brilliantly plotted and this novel is all of these things and more. A departure from her dystopian / YA fiction, The Guilty Ones is an adult psychological thriller delving into the mystery surrounding the death of a fourteen-year-old girl at a slumber party. Seen through the eyes of Dahlia, the widowed mother of Mia one of the girls at the party and now a suspect, the reader is drawn into an underworld of secrecy, power struggles and bullying of a magnitude that has become all too familiar in our media-addicted world. I couldn't put it down and the characters in the book and the parallels with real life have stayed with me since. More please Kyla Stone. Your writing is excellent.

[Ann Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have only read 'edge of collapse series' which is magnificent. I was offered this book as I am part of the ARC team in exchange for an honest review.

It is very different from edge of collapse as this is a psychological thriller. Not usually my bag, but it was gripping
I wouldn't want to live on that neighbourhood apart from the fact it's on the edge of a cliff, they are all superficial
A 14 year old girl has been murdered, but who did it. I did wonder in the beginning if it was one of the mothers
The question is, how far would you go to protect your daughter, and clean up her mess

I love Kyla Stone, and it was my first review on the ARC team
I want to read all of her other books

Thanks Kyla another great read