Death by the River
Alexandrea Weis & Lucas Astor
Published by: Vesuvian Books
Publication date: October 2nd 2018
Genres: Horror, Young Adult

A high school “American Psycho.”

SOME TRUTHS ARE BETTER KEPT SECRET.

SOME SECRETS ARE BETTER OFF DEAD.

Along the banks of the Bogue Falaya River, sits the abandoned St. Francis Seminary. Beneath a canopy of oaks, blocked from prying eyes, the teens of St. Benedict High gather here on Fridays. The rest of the week belongs to school and family—but weekends belong to the river.

And the river belongs to Beau Devereaux.

The only child of a powerful family, Beau can do no wrong. Handsome. Charming. Intelligent. The star quarterback of the football team. The “prince” of St. Benedict is the ultimate catch.

He is also a psychopath.

A dirty family secret buried for years, Beau’s evil grows unchecked. In the shadows of the ruined St. Francis Abbey, he commits unspeakable acts on his victims and ensures their silence with threats and intimidation. Senior year, Beau sets his sights on his girlfriend’s headstrong twin sister, Leslie, who hates him. Everything he wants but cannot have, she will be his ultimate prize.

As the victim toll mounts, it becomes crystal clear that someone has to stop Beau Devereaux.

And that someone will pay with their life.

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My Review

Oh my, where do I even begin with this review? I one million percent loved this book. Like, I can't even begin to describe how fantastic I thought it was. 
I love YA, and I love horror. They're two of my favorite genres. And this book hits the mark in both genres. 
There's the twins, Leslie and  Dawn, who are complete opposites. Dawn is head cheerleader, super popular, and cares what people think of her. Leslie, on the other hands, is happy just being herself. Dawn is also dating star quarterback Beau, while Leslie has a normal boyfriend who doesn't care about any of that stuff (popularity, sports, etc). 
Beau's family is the most powerful in town, but Beau doesn't want anything to do with his family's legacy. He has plans of his own. Dark plans. Evil plans. He wants what he can't have, and that's Leslie. 

I have to say I wasn't overly fond of Dawn. She irked me because of her constant need to be in the spotlight, to be reassured, etc. She was a bit too naive for my liking. But...well, I won't spoil things. 
I also despised Beau, but that was for obvious reasons. He's a sick, messed up psychopath, so yeah. I also hated Dawn and Leslie's parents. They were frustrating. Well, mostly her mom.
I did like Leslie, though. She was one of the normal ones.  So was her boyfriend.

Now, I won't say anything else because, trust me, you want to read this book. It's dark, it's intense, and there is a twist at the end that literally gave me goosebumps. Like, I felt chills when I read the last line. Then I screamed and ran to tell my fiance all about the book. Yeah...

There are some scenes that could potentially be triggers for some readers, as they depict rape and violence, so if that bothers you, you may have a hard time with the book. 
Honestly, this had one of those "revenge flick" vibes to it, sort of like Last House on the Left or I Spit On Your Grave. But a bit more tame than those movies. 

Overall, I found Death by the River to be one intense, dark descent into the bowels of one teenage boy's sick and twisted mind, and by the end, I was beyond wound up from being kept on the edge for so long. It's that good.

Five very-well deserved stars from me.

Author Bio:

Lucas Astor is from New York, has resided in Central America and the Middle East, and traveled through Europe. He lives a very private, virtually reclusive lifestyle, preferring to spend time with a close-knit group of friends than be in the spotlight.
He is an author and poet with a penchant for telling stories that delve into the dark side of the human psyche. He likes to explore the evil that exists, not just in the world, but right next door behind a smiling face.
Photography, making wine, and helping endangered species are just some of his interests. Lucas is an expert archer and enjoys jazz, blues, and classical music.
One of his favorite quotes is: “It’s better to be silent than be a fool.” ~Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird)
Alexandrea Weis is an advanced practice registered nurse who was born and raised in New Orleans. Having been brought up in the motion picture industry, she learned to tell stories from a different perspective and began writing at the age of eight. Infusing the rich tapestry of her hometown into her award-winning novels, she believes that creating vivid characters makes a story memorable. A permitted/certified wildlife rehabber with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, Weis rescues orphaned and injured wildlife. She lives with her husband and pets in New Orleans.

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