I received an advance reader’s copy (ARC) of Kill Creatures by Rory Power. Since this version is just a proof and not the final version, I won’t quote directly and will keep my comments general.

Kill Creatures by Rory Power follows Nan, a teenage girl who’s been through a tragedy. A year ago, her three best friends disappeared in Saltcedar Canyon, never to be seen again. This rocked the small community, and one year later, they come together on the shores of the lake to hold a vigil. But then, a body emerges from the water: it’s Luce, and she’s alive. The townsfolk are astounded, but no one more so than Nan—after all, she killed Luce and the other two girls. So how is Luce here now? And what does she know about what Nan did?

Ah, unreliable narrators. When done right, they’re so fascinating. Luckily, I’d say this one was done right.

It’s equal parts intriguing and disturbing to read from Nan’s point of view. On one hand, a young woman longing to have deep friendships and connections is relatable, but on the other hand, it’s hard to know how much of her emotions are genuine, and how much is self-deception. That, coupled with knowing from the start that she was responsible for her friends’ deaths lends a lot of tension to the story. She’s a compelling—but obviously not exactly likable—character, straddling the line between a sociopath and an angsty teenager. Trying to pick out the red flags in her behavior is most of the appeal of this book, as well as seeing what happens now that Luce is back.

So while much of this story follows the fallout of Luce’s miraculous return, there is a second timeline, tracking the days leading up to the girls’ disappearance. Through these flashbacks, you get to know Luce, Edie, and Jane, and how their friendship with Nan was in those days. It’s a low simmer of mean girl energy, but also some moments of genuine friendliness, just enough to make you wonder what the true nature of their feelings are. Again, seeing through Nan’s eyes here makes you second guess everything you’re told.

As the story progresses in the present timeline, it becomes clearer and clearer that Nan’s perception of the situation is flawed, and that there was something more going on with her friends than she thought, particularly with Luce herself. And seeing how the girls’ families react to things adds to the web of strangeness. And once the final act comes around, and revelations make themselves known, it’s really satisfying. All the clues were there, gradually exposed, and keen eyed readers (admittedly more keen eyed than myself) will have picked up on things, so the truth doesn’t feel like a blindside. Without spoilers, this was an excellent conclusion, particularly the final couple of chapters.

All that said, though, this is probably not a story for younger readers, or anyone sensitive to themes of violence against teen girls. There are instances of murder and serious injury, kidnapping, referenced alcohol abuse, psychosis, and mental manipulation.

But in the end, I thought that Kill Creatures was a dark and well-written story. The characters aren’t exactly likeable, but the examination of relationships and how jealousy affects them, and concepts of truth and delusion make for a fascinating read. It’s not a happy read, or an easy one, but a gripping story nonetheless. Fans of twisty thrillers will like this, and anyone wanting a vacation read with some bite should read this one.

Kill Creatures is available as of today, June 3rd, 2025!