Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

May 27, 2013
Tucholke debuts with a thoroughly eerie novel set in a quintessential horror-story location: a quaint Maine town. Violet White and her 17-year-old twin brother are living in the dilapidated glory of their family’s coastal estate while their parents traipse Europe. To help pay the bills, Violet places an ad for a boarder for their guesthouse; it’s quickly answered by River West, a mysterious boy who cannily avoids giving straight answers about his past. Violet doesn’t typically pay boys much mind, but she’s soon spending the night with River, both drawn to and wary of him. The enigma of who or what River is pulls readers through the story with steady, unsettling momentum, especially as frightening visions and events pile up (at one point, the town’s children form a ragtag army, ready to battle the Devil with wooden stakes) and family secrets come to light. Tucholke luxuriates in the details of small-town life, including her characters’ gourmand tendencies and their quick-witted interactions, in a chilling supernatural exploration of free will and reality’s fluidity. Ages 14–up. Agent: Joanna Volpe, New Leaf Literary & Media.

When their money runs out, Violet White decides to rent out the guesthouse behind her family's aging estate, but she is not prepared for the new tenant, who is either part god or all devil. Seventeen-year-old Violet and her twin brother, Luke, have been raised by their bohemian artist parents and their grandmother, Freddie. However, when Freddie dies and their parents leave for Europe, the teens face a long, hot, boring summer all alone. Everything changes with the arrival of River West, a mysterious boy with dark hair, a suspicious past and a strange power that even he does not fully understand. River reveals himself as a liar, a supernatural vigilante and a great kisser. Unfortunately, by the time Violet realizes the danger, she is hopelessly in love. This first installment in a new series is a rich blend of gothic horror and modern romance, studded with nods toward literary, cinematic and musical classics. A lush setting and provocative characters elevate this debut above others in the supernatural-romance genre. However, readers willing to press through the meandering plot will still need to negotiate Violet's moral ambiguity in the face of River's evil actions. A sumptuous, if soulless romance; here's hoping for a little more heart in the sequel. (Paranormal romance. 14 & up) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from July 1, 2013

Gr 10 Up-With their beloved grandmother, Freddie, deceased and their artistic, absentee parents blowing the family money abroad, 17-year-old twins Violet and Luke are as neglected as Citizen Kane, their formerly grand and now dilapidated home on a seaside cliff. Antagonistic Luke and sultry neighbor Sunshine are Violet's only company until she rents the guesthouse to enigmatic River West. His crooked smile, discerning palate, and penchant for lying leave Violet both enamored and distrustful. He is cavalier with the mind-manipulating supernatural power he is unable, and somewhat reluctant, to control. In a small town with its fair share of lurid tales, River's appearance brings with it devil sightings, missing children, and disturbing deaths. Tucholke's gothic tone, plot, and setting, complete with a deteriorating estate full of dark family secrets, is reminiscent of Daphne du Maurier or YA fare such as Kami Garcia's and Margaret Stohl's Beautiful Creatures (Little, Brown, 2009). Violet's narration is frank and perceptive, livened with humor and an almost poetically descriptive lilt. She is a combination of naive and mature, having grown up in relative seclusion with limited supervision. Violet and River's attraction is palpable, but their romance is tainted by his shifty morals and shady charm. Swearing and sexual situations are non-gratuitous. Adults are easily appeased and generally turn a blind eye. Give this one to fans of creepy mysteries, particularly tales that don't skimp on the violence. They'll appreciate the conclusion's heart-pounding, bile-rising standoff.-Danielle Serra, Cliffside Park Public Library, NJ

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from October 15, 2013
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* Violet and her twin brother, Luke, live in a crumbling mansion by the sea. There's not much of a town, and nothing much happens. Then River West rents their guest house, and all hell breaks loose. People die; children stalk the cemetery with stakes; and strange, alluring River delights and frightens Violet in equal measure. Violet's beloved grandmother always told her to be wary of the devil, and it's not a leap to wonder if he has strolled into her life under the guise of a copper-headed boy with a crooked smile. Tucholke paints this moody, gothic romance with a languid brush. Moments of horror nestle against warm, dreamy kisses. Though the text could have been tighterand the number of important characters fewerthere are unexpected twists that make the story a surprise. That, and the faded elegance that permeates almost every page, elevates this above more generic offerings of its type. Violet, too, has a quirky uniqueness that will draw readers, just as it draws Riverfor better or worse.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)