It Takes Monsters

Published by Scarlet
Distributed by Simon & Schuster

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About The Book


A SheReads "Most Anticipated" Thriller

She had decided to kill her husband. But then somebody else got there first. . . .


Victoria Tate has had enough of her controlling, incompetent husband Warren. But planning the perfect murder is more difficult than it looks. When the social event of the year, an over-the-top costume ball, is rescheduled for the date she has selected for her crime, Victoria has to scramble to make sure she will still be able to follow through. But even hours of listening to crime podcasts cannot prepare her for the next wrench that is thrown into her plans: Warren turns up dead by someone else’s hand.

Now Victoria finds herself at the centre of a murder investigation in which she is actually innocent. The real killer taunts her, making it clear that they knew what she was planning all along. With the police closing in and her neighbours turning on her, Victoria is going to lose everything she had hoped to gain from Warren’s death, unless she can figure out who wanted her husband dead and why. It turns out that Warren was better at keeping secrets than she ever could have guessed. But which secret is the one that led to his death? And even if she can find the answers, does Victoria have what it takes to confront a real murderer?

In this twisty thriller from the author of Chloe Cates Is Missing, danger comes from both the monsters among us and the monsters that lurk inside us.

About The Author

Mandy McHugh holds an MA in English from the College of Saint Rose and a BA in English Education from Le Moyne College. Her works have appeared in various literary magazines and podcasts, and she lives in upstate New York with her husband, two kids, and dog.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Scarlet (October 17, 2023)
  • Length: 312 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781613164440

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Raves and Reviews

"A tale guaranteed to keep genre fans up till dawn."

– Kirkus

"Gripping debut [...] Chapters told from multiple perspectives skillfully tease out the characters' respective secrets to reveal the rage lurking beneath their smiling faces. McHugh is off to a strong start."

– Publishers Weekly

"This is a promising debut on a timely topic that might seem unbelievable save the recent headlines about the ruinous life of Britney Spears and the never-ending list of child stars and their misfortunes."

– Booklist

"It's a mommy blog gone terribly wrong in this captivating debut from Mandy McHugh. CHLOE CATES IS MISSING has everything I want in a domestic thriller: propulsive storytelling, razor-sharp prose, disturbing behavior, explosive secrets, and a uniquely dysfunctional family. Settle in for this stunner; once you start reading, you won't be able to stop."

– Megan Collins, author of The Family Plot

"McHugh weaves these stories together seamlessly in an of-the-moment thriller that will leave you guessing what the truth is until the final page. A terrific debut!"

– Catherine McKenzie, USA Today bestselling author of I'll Never Tell and Six Weeks to Live

"From the timely social media relevance, to the constant tension, to the tightly weaved plot, this one doesn't let go until delivering an ending that will leave your mouth hanging open. With chilling prose and an atmospheric setting, I'm already looking forward to her next."

– Jaime Lynn Hendricks, author of Finding Tessa

"In the way that we constantly check our retweets or shamelessly devour the latest social media scandal, I compulsively devoured Chloe Cates Is Missing. With characters you love to hate, this novel is Drama with a capital D—and is utterly terrifying in its snapshot of our selfie society's obsession with popularity and perception."

– Tara Laskowski, award-winning author of One Night Gone and The Mother Next Door

"Mandy McHugh delightfully claws away the glitter to reveal the darkness and dysfunction roiling beneath the surface of a seemingly perfect family. Everyone has a secret they're desperate to hide, everyone is lying, and it's great fun (can I call murder fun?) to fit the shifting pieces together. A spectacular debut from a promising writer."

– Laura McHugh, award-winning author of What's Done in Darkness

"Fast-paced and brimming with secrets to unspool, Mandy McHugh's razor sharp debut explores the dark side of internet fame and is as addictive as social media itself. A refreshingly original read that will have you rethinking what's behind those carefully curated online personas."

– Lindsay Cameron, author of Just One Look

"Full of disturbing secrets, a supremely dysfunctional family and an unapologetically unlikeable protagonist, McHugh raises important questions around what parents should be allowed to post about their children on social media. Scratch the shiny surface of this perfect family and you'll see the dark secrets lurking beneath the glitter. A smart and textured thriller."

– Christina McDonald, USA Today Bestselling Author

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