First published 2025
Jordyn arrives at a prestigious historically Black university in Washington DC ready to excel in prelaw. She has escaped her overprotective parents and looks forward to independence. Her plans change when she returns to her dorm room to find Devonte, her roommate's recently released brother, sleeping on their sofa. He needs somewhere to stay while rebuilding his life after prison. Devonte charms the students around him with intelligent conversation and life advice. He quickly builds a following among her peers. Jordyn notices something dark underneath his friendly exterior and helpful guidance. His influence over the other students grows stronger. When one of her roommates disappears, Jordyn realizes she must act. She partners with the university's only white student to investigate what happened. Together they work to uncover the truth behind Devonte's real intentions. Jordyn discovers she may be caught in a complex scheme that threatens to destroy everything she has worked toward.
Genres: african-american, mystery, crime, contemporary, thriller
Vibes: dark, emotional, fast-paced, intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Washington DC
Period: 21st-century
366 pages · Kindle Edition · Quill Tree Books
Content warnings: mental-illness