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Dead Things
When fifteen-year-old Debbie Boyle stumbles across the rotting body of the most popular girl in school, she becomes the center of a story no one wants her to tell.
Everyone already knows what happened—at least, they think they do. In a town built on rumors, secrets spread faster than truth, and the woods behind Debbie’s trailer park hold more than one kind of dead thing.
As accusations spiral and suspicion turns toward the people closest to her, Debbie is forced to decide what she’s willing to risk: her reputation, her friendships, or the truth.
Because in this town, the real danger isn’t what’s buried in the woods—it’s what people are willing to believe.
Everyone already knows what happened—at least, they think they do. In a town built on rumors, secrets spread faster than truth, and the woods behind Debbie’s trailer park hold more than one kind of dead thing.
As accusations spiral and suspicion turns toward the people closest to her, Debbie is forced to decide what she’s willing to risk: her reputation, her friendships, or the truth.
Because in this town, the real danger isn’t what’s buried in the woods—it’s what people are willing to believe.
299 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 25, 2026
About the author
Erica Sage
6 books66 followers
DEAD THINGS — Coming September 25, 2026
Erica Sage is an author and English teacher who lives in Washington State with her family. When not reading and writing, she loves to hike and garden.
Her young adult novels include DEAD THINGS, forthcoming from Evernight Teen, and JACKED UP, published by Sky Pony Press.
She also writes short fiction. Her story "Starling," published by Indie It Press, was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Other stories include "The Watch" (Indie It Press), "Dinner Time" and "The Collective" (Underland Press), and "What Looms in the Hollows" (The Quiet Ones).
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 7, 2026
Sage does a great job slowly building tension and suspense with this story. The characters all felt flawed in completely believable ways that allowed them to feel more real. Though this is labelled as YA, it does not at all feel juvenile and in fact tackles some highly complex and heavy topics with the respect that they deserve.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Dead Things by Erica Sage is a dark, emotionally heavy read that blends grief, obsession, complicated relationships, and unsettling subject matter into something that feels both intimate and disturbing. There is a quiet darkness surrounding the novel from the beginning, and Sage allows that discomfort to slowly grow rather than relying entirely on shock.
What really worked for me was how the darker elements are connected to very human emotions. Grief, loneliness, attachment, desire, and the need to feel understood all become part of the tension, giving the story an emotional depth that I wasn't entirely expecting.
Some of my favorite moments were the scenes set in the woods and outside the trailer parks. Sage's descriptions made these environments feel incredibly vivid without overwhelming the story with unnecessary detail. As I was reading, the scenes played out so clearly in my head that the book almost felt cinematic. I could picture the characters moving through these spaces, which made the reading experience much more immersive.
The book also flows extremely well. The shorter chapters complement the story perfectly and create a natural rhythm that makes it incredibly easy to keep reading. Nothing feels unnecessarily stretched out, and the transitions between scenes keep the story moving without making it feel rushed. The short chapters also give the heavier moments enough room to breathe before pulling you into the next part of the story.
I also appreciated how flawed and complicated the characters are. They don't always behave in ways that are easy to understand or agree with, but that unpredictability makes them feel believable. Sage allows them to exist within uncomfortable emotional spaces without constantly explaining or justifying their choices. As relationships become more complicated, the lines between affection, dependence, loneliness, and obsession become increasingly difficult to separate.
Even though Dead Things is classified as YA, it doesn't necessarily read like what I typically associate with YA fiction. The subject matter can be dark and serious, and Sage approaches it with a level of maturity that I really appreciated. The characters may be young, but the writing never feels cheesy, overly juvenile, or afraid to explore heavier emotions and situations.
There is also a rawness to Sage's prose that makes certain moments feel incredibly personal. Her writing is descriptive without becoming excessive, allowing the emotional weight and imagery to work together naturally.
Dead Things finds its strength in discomfort rather than constant action. It's strange, melancholic, emotionally messy, and surprisingly mature. Between the complicated characters, heavier themes, vivid settings, and smooth pacing, this was the kind of story that became incredibly easy to visualize and get lost in.
What really worked for me was how the darker elements are connected to very human emotions. Grief, loneliness, attachment, desire, and the need to feel understood all become part of the tension, giving the story an emotional depth that I wasn't entirely expecting.
Some of my favorite moments were the scenes set in the woods and outside the trailer parks. Sage's descriptions made these environments feel incredibly vivid without overwhelming the story with unnecessary detail. As I was reading, the scenes played out so clearly in my head that the book almost felt cinematic. I could picture the characters moving through these spaces, which made the reading experience much more immersive.
The book also flows extremely well. The shorter chapters complement the story perfectly and create a natural rhythm that makes it incredibly easy to keep reading. Nothing feels unnecessarily stretched out, and the transitions between scenes keep the story moving without making it feel rushed. The short chapters also give the heavier moments enough room to breathe before pulling you into the next part of the story.
I also appreciated how flawed and complicated the characters are. They don't always behave in ways that are easy to understand or agree with, but that unpredictability makes them feel believable. Sage allows them to exist within uncomfortable emotional spaces without constantly explaining or justifying their choices. As relationships become more complicated, the lines between affection, dependence, loneliness, and obsession become increasingly difficult to separate.
Even though Dead Things is classified as YA, it doesn't necessarily read like what I typically associate with YA fiction. The subject matter can be dark and serious, and Sage approaches it with a level of maturity that I really appreciated. The characters may be young, but the writing never feels cheesy, overly juvenile, or afraid to explore heavier emotions and situations.
There is also a rawness to Sage's prose that makes certain moments feel incredibly personal. Her writing is descriptive without becoming excessive, allowing the emotional weight and imagery to work together naturally.
Dead Things finds its strength in discomfort rather than constant action. It's strange, melancholic, emotionally messy, and surprisingly mature. Between the complicated characters, heavier themes, vivid settings, and smooth pacing, this was the kind of story that became incredibly easy to visualize and get lost in.
Review of advance copy received from Author
read if you like:
🌲 creepy woods settings
🏡 small town gossip
👯♀️ missing girls
summary:
If you want a good fall mystery to get into the mood, this book is everything you need.
It follows 15-year-old Debbie Boyle, who finds the body of the most popular girl in school in the woods behind her trailer park. Suddenly, her otherwise pretty uneventful life is thrown into the spotlight, and everyone in town has an opinion about what happened. Rumors start flying, while the kids who live in the trailer park are hiding secrets of their own about the graveyard and abandoned mines where the girl was found. There’s even a local legend about the “Woodsman,” who is said to lurk in the graveyard waiting for unsuspecting young girls.
I really liked the setup of this one — a dead body in the woods, a group of teenagers who are hiding things, and an abandoned mining town. The atmosphere was easily one of my favorite parts — the woods, old mines and small-town gossip gave the whole story a dark, slightly unsettling feeling without turning it into full-on horror.
I also liked that there was more going on here than just figuring out who killed the girl. A lot of the story is about who gets believed, how quickly people make assumptions, and how easy it is for suspicion to land on the people behind on their luck or living in less-than-ideal situations.
There are multiple characters to keep track of and plenty of secrets, accusations and shifting suspicions, so I definitely changed my mind a few times about what I thought had happened. I do think this leans more YA than some of the thrillers I normally read, but the mystery kept me engaged the whole time.
Overall, a really fun pick if you like small-town mysteries, messy friend groups, local legends and stories where basically everyone is suspicious.
🌲 creepy woods settings
🏡 small town gossip
👯♀️ missing girls
summary:
If you want a good fall mystery to get into the mood, this book is everything you need.
It follows 15-year-old Debbie Boyle, who finds the body of the most popular girl in school in the woods behind her trailer park. Suddenly, her otherwise pretty uneventful life is thrown into the spotlight, and everyone in town has an opinion about what happened. Rumors start flying, while the kids who live in the trailer park are hiding secrets of their own about the graveyard and abandoned mines where the girl was found. There’s even a local legend about the “Woodsman,” who is said to lurk in the graveyard waiting for unsuspecting young girls.
I really liked the setup of this one — a dead body in the woods, a group of teenagers who are hiding things, and an abandoned mining town. The atmosphere was easily one of my favorite parts — the woods, old mines and small-town gossip gave the whole story a dark, slightly unsettling feeling without turning it into full-on horror.
I also liked that there was more going on here than just figuring out who killed the girl. A lot of the story is about who gets believed, how quickly people make assumptions, and how easy it is for suspicion to land on the people behind on their luck or living in less-than-ideal situations.
There are multiple characters to keep track of and plenty of secrets, accusations and shifting suspicions, so I definitely changed my mind a few times about what I thought had happened. I do think this leans more YA than some of the thrillers I normally read, but the mystery kept me engaged the whole time.
Overall, a really fun pick if you like small-town mysteries, messy friend groups, local legends and stories where basically everyone is suspicious.
November 6, 2026
Dead Things was heavy and mysterious in a way that felt deliberate, and careful. It was also beautiful, nearly poetic. The kind of writing that makes sorrow feel precise instead of vague. I could feel the gaping maw of the class divide in my chest, the quiet, constant awareness of having been born on the wrong side of town, of knowing the rules were never written with you in mind.
There was justice in the end, and I appreciated that. But I was resentful that it had to come at the expense of the raw truth. It felt like the story itself was admitting that the system wouldn’t have delivered it any other way. That line, “Blessed are the innocent girls that fight back”, stayed with me. It felt like both a blessing and a warning.
One of my favorite elements was how author chose to keep the narrator unknown until the very end. It created a secondary mystery layered on top of the main plot, quiet and patient, waiting for you to notice. That restraint made the whole book feel more intentional.
What Dead Things did best, for me, was show how willing people are to overlook the truth as long as the consequences stay someone else’s problem. They’ll accept the easier story, the one that keeps the dirty laundry neatly folded and put away, reduced to barely a whisper. Anything to avoid looking too closely at what was always there.
It left me unsettled in the best way. Not angry exactly — more like clear-eyed and a little sad
There was justice in the end, and I appreciated that. But I was resentful that it had to come at the expense of the raw truth. It felt like the story itself was admitting that the system wouldn’t have delivered it any other way. That line, “Blessed are the innocent girls that fight back”, stayed with me. It felt like both a blessing and a warning.
One of my favorite elements was how author chose to keep the narrator unknown until the very end. It created a secondary mystery layered on top of the main plot, quiet and patient, waiting for you to notice. That restraint made the whole book feel more intentional.
What Dead Things did best, for me, was show how willing people are to overlook the truth as long as the consequences stay someone else’s problem. They’ll accept the easier story, the one that keeps the dirty laundry neatly folded and put away, reduced to barely a whisper. Anything to avoid looking too closely at what was always there.
It left me unsettled in the best way. Not angry exactly — more like clear-eyed and a little sad
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 20, 2026
Erica Sage’s characters and Washingtonian sensibilities create an atmosphere where the wicked plot of DEAD THINGS can spread its tantalizing fingers. In addition to ‘who-done-it?’ DEAD THINGS asks who’s telling the story, who gets believed, and who gets blamed. It’s a testament to Sage’s character building that a reader is just as excited to find out who the narrator is as they are to identify the killer (or killers!). And beneath the dead things, the labyrinthine mines, the dark histories of Washington labor loss, class prejudice, and cynicism, there’s the teen characters’ very human need to belong and be believed.
DEAD THINGS is both intellectually sharp and an absolute delight. Here’s a description of the school popular girls through Wanda’s sardonic POV: “They all looked the same, that group of girls. Long light brown hair, make-up—colored faces, round stuffed-animal eyes. They didn’t stand out. They blended. They blurred. They smeared like a possum hit by a semi.” But Sage’s punchy chapters, apropos chapter titles, sense of style and humor are only the beginning. Her seamless POV transitions keep the narrative fresh as characters pass the protagonist baton. And intriguingly, Sage’s metafictional elements refract back at a reader as they jump too quickly to conclusions, blame the wrong people, and snag on the traps Sage sets amid the salal, sword fern, and adolescent angst.
“Creating drama was unnecessary. Real life held us captive enough,” Sage’s narrator writes. No vampires or werewolves needed, though allusions to the creepiest parts of “Little Red Riding Hood” and other classics, define this must-read as literary YA at its finest.
DEAD THINGS is both intellectually sharp and an absolute delight. Here’s a description of the school popular girls through Wanda’s sardonic POV: “They all looked the same, that group of girls. Long light brown hair, make-up—colored faces, round stuffed-animal eyes. They didn’t stand out. They blended. They blurred. They smeared like a possum hit by a semi.” But Sage’s punchy chapters, apropos chapter titles, sense of style and humor are only the beginning. Her seamless POV transitions keep the narrative fresh as characters pass the protagonist baton. And intriguingly, Sage’s metafictional elements refract back at a reader as they jump too quickly to conclusions, blame the wrong people, and snag on the traps Sage sets amid the salal, sword fern, and adolescent angst.
“Creating drama was unnecessary. Real life held us captive enough,” Sage’s narrator writes. No vampires or werewolves needed, though allusions to the creepiest parts of “Little Red Riding Hood” and other classics, define this must-read as literary YA at its finest.
September 27, 2026
★★★★★
*Dead Things* is the kind of book that reminds me why I love getting completely lost in a story.
Erica Sage’s writing immediately reminded me of Delia Owens’ *Where the Crawdads Sing*—not because the stories are similar, but because of the way Sage writes. Her prose is atmospheric, lyrical, and beautifully descriptive. She has a way of making the setting feel alive, weaving in sensory details so naturally that you don’t just picture where the characters are—you feel like you’re standing there with them.
But what really got me was how much emotion sits underneath the writing. There’s a quietness to it that makes the heavier moments hit even harder. The characters feel complicated and human, and Sage trusts the reader to notice the small moments instead of explaining every emotion for us. Those little details ended up being some of my favorite parts.
This is a story that slowly pulls you into its world and then makes you care deeply about the people in it. I found myself thinking about the characters when I wasn’t reading and wanting to get back to them—which is always the sign of a great book for me.
Beautifully written, immersive, emotional, and incredibly memorable. *Dead Things* is going to stick with me for a long time. An easy five stars.
*Dead Things* is the kind of book that reminds me why I love getting completely lost in a story.
Erica Sage’s writing immediately reminded me of Delia Owens’ *Where the Crawdads Sing*—not because the stories are similar, but because of the way Sage writes. Her prose is atmospheric, lyrical, and beautifully descriptive. She has a way of making the setting feel alive, weaving in sensory details so naturally that you don’t just picture where the characters are—you feel like you’re standing there with them.
But what really got me was how much emotion sits underneath the writing. There’s a quietness to it that makes the heavier moments hit even harder. The characters feel complicated and human, and Sage trusts the reader to notice the small moments instead of explaining every emotion for us. Those little details ended up being some of my favorite parts.
This is a story that slowly pulls you into its world and then makes you care deeply about the people in it. I found myself thinking about the characters when I wasn’t reading and wanting to get back to them—which is always the sign of a great book for me.
Beautifully written, immersive, emotional, and incredibly memorable. *Dead Things* is going to stick with me for a long time. An easy five stars.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I genuinely don’t know how to review Dead Things without just saying GO READ IT. This book kept me guessing all the way to the very end, and every time I thought I had something figured out, I was completely wrong.
The characters were all shady in the absolute best way. Everyone in the trailer park seemed to have their own secrets, and I loved never knowing who I could trust. There was this constant feeling that there was something
going on beneath the surface with every single character.
It was somehow both a slow burn and a total page-turner. I wanted to savor it, but at the same time, I needed to know what was going to happen next. And the best part? I never once guessed where the story was going.
The twists, the secrets, the characters, the atmosphere...it all came together so perfectly. By the end, I was sitting there thinking, HOW DID I NOT SEE THAT COMING?!
Erica Sage absolutely nailed this one. If you love books that make you question everyone, keep you guessing, and have you convinced you’ve figured it out only to prove you completely wrong… you NEED to read Dead Things.
Seriously. Put it on your TBR. You will not regret it. 📚🔥
The characters were all shady in the absolute best way. Everyone in the trailer park seemed to have their own secrets, and I loved never knowing who I could trust. There was this constant feeling that there was something
going on beneath the surface with every single character.
It was somehow both a slow burn and a total page-turner. I wanted to savor it, but at the same time, I needed to know what was going to happen next. And the best part? I never once guessed where the story was going.
The twists, the secrets, the characters, the atmosphere...it all came together so perfectly. By the end, I was sitting there thinking, HOW DID I NOT SEE THAT COMING?!
Erica Sage absolutely nailed this one. If you love books that make you question everyone, keep you guessing, and have you convinced you’ve figured it out only to prove you completely wrong… you NEED to read Dead Things.
Seriously. Put it on your TBR. You will not regret it. 📚🔥
September 28, 2026
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! I’m a huge fan of the suspense/thriller/mystery/“whodunit” vibe, so obviously I loved that aspect. This book kept me guessing until the very end. I had moments where I thought I had figured it out, and then bam! I’m questioning everything as more secrets unravel between the characters.
Sage does such a wonderful job weaving every aspect of this book together — it’s clear that each conversation between the characters and every tiny detail within the setting, plot, etc. is so intentional and carefully crafted.
Overall — definitely recommend! Go read it! 😊
Sage does such a wonderful job weaving every aspect of this book together — it’s clear that each conversation between the characters and every tiny detail within the setting, plot, etc. is so intentional and carefully crafted.
Overall — definitely recommend! Go read it! 😊
November 5, 2026
Wow! This book had me hooked from the very beginning! I finished reading Dead Things in less than 24 hours! The unique concept of presenting all the characters’ perspectives and experiences throughout the book keeps you on your toes and guessing until the very end. Every time I thought I had figured out the plot, I was thrown a curveball, which is a clear sign of a masterfully crafted whodunit story! I thoroughly enjoyed it, well done!
October 20, 2026
What an amazing read! This was absolutely a sit-down-and-can’t-put-it-down kind of book for me. I’ve been actively trying to stop guessing whodunit while reading thrillers, but honestly, I don’t think I would have figured this one out even if I had tried! The author beautifully creates a spooky atmosphere that pairs perfectly with gripping storytelling, keeping you second-guessing who is truly to blame until the very end. Such a talented and imaginative storyteller—I can’t wait to read the next Erica Sage book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
“A story belongs to far more people than you ever hear from, or ever hear about”
Erica Sage’s second novel is absolutely entrancing! The twists and turns had me second guessing what I thought I knew was true the entire time. The setting alone had me hooked. The abandoned mines behind the trailer park, the group of kids from the trailer park, and the mystery surrounding the disappearance (and death!) of one of the most popular girls in school made the whole story feel eerie from the beginning.
The vivid imagery and figurative language were so vivid and creepy- it was unsettling in the best way. I also loved the intentional contrast between the kids from the trailer park and the popular and wealthy kids, AND the enigma of the Woodsman. Both of these intentional additions added another layer to the mystery and made me even more invested in getting to the bottom of the murder... and the past.
This was one of only a very small handful of books that I’ve read where I constantly had a new theory, only for it to change a few chapters later. Creepy, mysterious, thought-provoking, layered, and genuinely unpredictable. Don’t miss Dead Things by Erica Sage!
Who’s watching you? 👀
Other highlights:
“The woods remained silent—nothing stirred. An animal would move on, crack another branch. The birds, though, that was the tell. They hadn’t resumed their birdsong. There must be a man out there.”
“When she imagined it all over again, when she let her eyes rest on the poster stapled to the inside of her skull, she could see it all in bird’s-eye view. Marissa, a fraction of who she once was, picked and gnawed and melting. Debbie, supple and fresh, alive. Juxtaposed on the earth floor, a before and after.”
Erica Sage’s second novel is absolutely entrancing! The twists and turns had me second guessing what I thought I knew was true the entire time. The setting alone had me hooked. The abandoned mines behind the trailer park, the group of kids from the trailer park, and the mystery surrounding the disappearance (and death!) of one of the most popular girls in school made the whole story feel eerie from the beginning.
The vivid imagery and figurative language were so vivid and creepy- it was unsettling in the best way. I also loved the intentional contrast between the kids from the trailer park and the popular and wealthy kids, AND the enigma of the Woodsman. Both of these intentional additions added another layer to the mystery and made me even more invested in getting to the bottom of the murder... and the past.
This was one of only a very small handful of books that I’ve read where I constantly had a new theory, only for it to change a few chapters later. Creepy, mysterious, thought-provoking, layered, and genuinely unpredictable. Don’t miss Dead Things by Erica Sage!
Who’s watching you? 👀
Other highlights:
“The woods remained silent—nothing stirred. An animal would move on, crack another branch. The birds, though, that was the tell. They hadn’t resumed their birdsong. There must be a man out there.”
“When she imagined it all over again, when she let her eyes rest on the poster stapled to the inside of her skull, she could see it all in bird’s-eye view. Marissa, a fraction of who she once was, picked and gnawed and melting. Debbie, supple and fresh, alive. Juxtaposed on the earth floor, a before and after.”
October 4, 2026
Delightfully creepy in all the right ways! Sage’s descriptions have added new words to my vernacular that I’ll be using for years to come. Compelling and unexpected, I felt like I was wandering the woods with each character. Well done!!
October 20, 2026
Couldn’t. Put. It. Down.
October 30, 2026
This novel was a fun adventure with an ending i really did not expect. The charecters are very fleshed out and the story engaging. I finished it in a day and think many will as well because you want to keep reading.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Well, I mean, I'm rather pleased with it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Dead Things was such a fun, unsettling read.
Erica Sage creates an atmosphere that really gets under your skin. Between the mine and surrounding woods, the trailer park on the outskirts of town, the divide between the wealthy kids and the trailer park kids, and the eerie legend of the Woodsman, this small town feels like it has plenty to hide. All of those elements come together to create an uneasy backdrop that kept me invested from the start.
I really enjoyed the characters and the way the story unfolded. The tension builds gradually as rumors spread, suspicions grow, and it becomes harder and harder to know who to believe. Debbie is a compelling character to follow through all of it, and I loved watching the pieces slowly come together around her. While the narrative/interlude-style chapters did not land quite as strongly for me personally, they were a small part of an otherwise thoroughly enjoyable story.
The mystery completely got me. I genuinely had no idea who killed the girl, so the reveal absolutely blew me away. And somehow, that was not even the biggest surprise. What happened afterward completely floored me—I did not see it coming, and the way everything played out made the ending especially memorable.
Overall, Dead Things is atmospheric, unsettling, twisty, and full of surprises. It was a wild ride, and Erica did a fantastic job with it. This was very much a 4.5-star read for me—an absorbing, suspenseful story that kept me guessing until the end. I hope this book finds its way into the hands of readers who love a dark, twisty small-town mystery.
Thank you, Erica, for giving me the chance to read Dead Things before publication.
Erica Sage creates an atmosphere that really gets under your skin. Between the mine and surrounding woods, the trailer park on the outskirts of town, the divide between the wealthy kids and the trailer park kids, and the eerie legend of the Woodsman, this small town feels like it has plenty to hide. All of those elements come together to create an uneasy backdrop that kept me invested from the start.
I really enjoyed the characters and the way the story unfolded. The tension builds gradually as rumors spread, suspicions grow, and it becomes harder and harder to know who to believe. Debbie is a compelling character to follow through all of it, and I loved watching the pieces slowly come together around her. While the narrative/interlude-style chapters did not land quite as strongly for me personally, they were a small part of an otherwise thoroughly enjoyable story.
The mystery completely got me. I genuinely had no idea who killed the girl, so the reveal absolutely blew me away. And somehow, that was not even the biggest surprise. What happened afterward completely floored me—I did not see it coming, and the way everything played out made the ending especially memorable.
Overall, Dead Things is atmospheric, unsettling, twisty, and full of surprises. It was a wild ride, and Erica did a fantastic job with it. This was very much a 4.5-star read for me—an absorbing, suspenseful story that kept me guessing until the end. I hope this book finds its way into the hands of readers who love a dark, twisty small-town mystery.
Thank you, Erica, for giving me the chance to read Dead Things before publication.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews