HONEYSUCKLE AND BONE

Eighteen-year-old New Yorker Carina Marshall is working as an au pair for the wealthy, prominent Hall family in Jamaica for a few months until their permanent nanny arrives.

Jamaican American Carina’s days are filled with tending to Jada and Luis, the family’s youngest kids, and spending time with the other staff members at Blackbead House, the Halls’ formal mansion. She also accompanies the Halls to high-profile events—Ian, the patriarch of the family, is running for prime minister. Amid what should be a carefree summer job, Carina harbors a deep secret that no one in the country knows: She’s being plagued by a mysterious entity that seems to want her gone, no matter what it takes. She feels a “dense heat” and notices a “honeyed scent,” both of which are preludes to something going wrong around her. As Carina’s circumstances deteriorate, she faces a decision that could put her new friendships and her job on the line—and reveal everything she hopes to keep hidden. Carina is an enigmatic character who harbors many secrets, which unravel and will intrigue readers as they follow her journey to uncovering what’s happening at Blackbead House. The story’s ominous elements contrast vividly with the beautiful ones, and the portrayal of the luxurious Jamaica the wealthy enjoy stands in stark contrast to that of those who are less fortunate. The deliberate pacing in this book centering on a Black cast helps build the tension.

A deliciously dark and mysterious debut.