
Darkly
Random House Children's Books · Print & ebook · October 28, 2025
A Mystery pick for readers exploring Darkly.
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- Who it’s for
- A darkly atmospheric thriller where hidden clues and unnerving games keep curiosity on edge.
- Themes
- Dark secrets, Obsession, Hidden clues and intrigue
- Genres
- Thrillers & Suspense, YA Horror, Gothic Fiction
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Start with this bookAbout this book
#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A powder keg of dark secrets and mind-bending puzzles, this must-read thriller is “addictively suspenseful” (The Washington Post) and “full of atmospheric thrills” (Los Angeles Times)—from the New York Times bestselling author of Night Film. The striking first edition paperback of Darkly will feature sprayed edges with a checkerboard design! Your favorite game has come to life.
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And you don’t want to find out what happens if you lose… “Pessl is gargantuan: wildly smart, extremely surprising, a wordsmith, a queen. Read her.” —E. Lockhart, #1 New York Times bestselling author of We Were Liars A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR Arcadia “Dia” Gannon has been obsessed with Louisiana Veda, the game designer whose obsessive creations and company, Darkly, have gained a cultlike following. Dia is shocked when she’s chosen for a highly-coveted internship, along with six other teenagers from around the world. Why her? Dia has never won anything in her life. Darkly, once a game-making empire renowned for its ingenious and utterly terrifying toys and games, now lies dormant after Veda’s mysterious death. The remaining games are priced like rare works of art, with some fetching millions of dollars at auction. As Dia and her fellow interns delve into the heart of Darkly, they discover hidden symbols, buried clues, and a web of intrigue. Who are these other teens, and what secrets do they keep? Why were any of them really chosen? The answers lie within the twisted labyrinth of Darkly—a chilling and addictive read by Marisha Pessl. This summer will be the most twisted Darkly game of all. “Complex and captivating.” —Erin A. Craig, #1 New York Times bestselling author of House of Salt and Sorrows
Puzzles with Teeth
A darkly atmospheric thriller where hidden clues and unnerving games keep curiosity on edge.
Come here for
- Intricate puzzles and buried clues
- A cult game-maker’s eerie legacy
Expect
- A web of secrets among seven teen interns
- A chilling, immersive mystery
Where it sits
| Gothic Fiction | 46% |
|---|---|
| Thrillers & Suspense | 37% |
| YA Horror | 32% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Contemporary YA Romance
- YA Psychological Thrillers
- Gothic Fiction
- Authors
- Marisha Pessl
- Publisher
- Random House Children's Books
- Published
- October 28, 2025
- Format
- Print & ebook
- Theme
- Dark secrets · Obsession · Hidden clues and intrigue
- Reading lane
- Contemporary YA Romance