Portrait of a Shadow by Meriam Metoui (signed first edition)
A missing sister. A mysterious boy. And a painting that holds the truth beneath its peeling edge…
Inez is missing, but missing things can always be found.
Mae knows this as a fact, even though the police investigation has come to a standstill, even though her parents are moving on. But when she goes to clear out her older sister’s studio, she finds a mess of research and a white canvas that seems even older than the ornate frame it is set in. The closer Mae gets to the canvas, the more difficult it is to pull her eyes away from its mottled surface, its heavy layers of white paint, its peeling top corner she is tempted to pull to see what’s beneath. But she doesn’t. Not yet.
Mae decides to trace her sister’s last steps in the hopes of finding answers, certain that Inez’s disappearance is related to the painting. And she knows she is desperate enough to let the strange boy who claims to have been Inez’s neighbor tag along. Even if his good looks don’t help distract from his avoidance of her questions. So begins a scavenger hunt piecing together what they can find from what Inez left behind. One that leads to centuries-old questions best left unasked and secrets best kept in the dark.
From the author of A Guide to the Dark comes another romantic and eerie mystery about the lengths we are willing to go for the truth and the ones we love.
★ “Masterfully written, this is a deceptively charming horror story that also skillfully weaves in romance, sacrifice, and heartbreak. Thrilling intrigue that leverages desperation and deception in almost equal measures.” – Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Metoui doles out the history of the painting slowly, intensifying the unease . . . Mae’s dogged need to discover the truth fuels this suspenseful paranormal thriller about selfish greed.” – Booklist
“[A] tightly paced thriller that deftly touches on issues of forced cultural assimilation and parental pressure . . . Metoui delivers a tale of love, obsession, and betrayal that’s a wild ride from start to finish.” – Publishers Weekly
“Metoui has woven a twisting tale of desperation, sisterhood, lies, and what you’re willing to give up–or destroy–in pursuit of what you want most. This book left me reeling…and you’ll never look at a white painting the same way again.” – Andrew Joseph White, New York Times bestselling author of Hell Followed With Us and The Spirit Bares Its Teeth
“Metoui weaves in so many twists and turns, mystery fans will be frantically turning the page to see what comes next!” – Sara Farizan, award-winning and critically acclaimed author of If You Could Be Mine
Hardcover, first edition, signed by the author. Young Adult ages 14-18
$ 20.99
