Between the Devil
and the Deep Blue Sea
You stop fearing the Devil when you're holding his hand...
Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White's sleepy, seaside town...until River West comes along. River rents the guesthouse behind Violet's crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more? Violet's grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery...who makes you want to kiss back. Violet's already so knee-deep in love, she can't see straight. And that's just how River likes it.
A gothic thriller romance with shades of Stephen King and F. Scott Fitzgerald, set against a creepy summertime backdrop.
A 2013 YALSA Teens Top Ten nominee
A 2017 YALSA Popular Paperback
“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.”
–-SLJ starred review
“Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is a stunning debut with complex characters, an atmospheric setting, and a distinct voice. Tucholke’s command of imagery and language is especially striking…Tucholke has real talent and, hopefully, will be writing for years to come.”
-–VOYA starred review
“People die; children stalk the cemetery with stakes; and strange, alluring River delights and frightens Violet in equal measure…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 River—for better or worse.”
-–Booklist starred review