Description

For fans of One of Us is Lying, Cruel Intentions and The Inheritance Games comes a heart-pounding YA thriller about the mysterious disappearance of a brilliant but complicated tech prodigy from an elite New England boarding school.

Welcome to Branson Academy, where secrets can kill, trust is a dangerous game, and the deadliest lessons aren't taught in the classroom.

When his friend, tech prodigy Mackenzie Fleming, goes missing, soccer star and honors student Lucas Rambally is determined to find her. As rumors swirl, some say Mackenzie is pulling another vanishing act; after all, she's gone missing before and always returned. But this time, Lucas can't shake the feeling his friend is in serious trouble.

As his search intensifies, Lucas uncovers a web of dark secrets that could bring Branson Academy to its knees. Then queen bee Ivy Ishihara starts dropping sinister chess references. And they're not just clever wordplay—they're dire warnings. Lucas has stumbled into a game he was never meant to play, and one wrong move could prove fatal.

The clock is ticking, and to find out what really happened to Mackenzie, Lucas must answer one simple question: Is his friend in mortal danger or is her disappearance a mind-blowing con that conceals something far more shocking than anyone could have imagined?

In this twisted game of deception, the truth might be the deadliest player of all.