Rhoda Penmark appears to be the perfect child. At eight years old, she has pristine manners, immaculate appearance, and exceptional grades. Her mother Christine dotes on her, proud of raising such an exemplary daughter. But when a classmate dies during a school picnic, Christine begins noticing disturbing patterns in her daughter's behavior. Small incidents take on sinister meaning. Rhoda's calm reactions to tragedy seem unnatural. Her explanations don't add up. As more deaths occur around Rhoda, Christine faces an unthinkable possibility. Her beloved daughter might be responsible for these tragedies. The realization forces Christine into an impossible position between maternal love and moral horror. She must confront the terrifying question of what to do when evil emerges from innocence itself.
Genres: fiction, 20th-century, mystery, crime, horror, psychological-thriller
Vibes: dark, emotional, intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: child-prodigy, maternal-horror, unreliable-narrator
Period: 20th-century
Paperback · Peacock Book / Penguin
Content warnings: child-death, murder