• Age: 13 to 18
• Grade: 8 to 12

Fifteen-year-old Gemma’s life on a small New Brunswick island with her father, Jonah, is not an exciting one. Her mother ran off when she was an infant, and Jonah, an amateur scientist, spends most of his time conducting experiments he thinks will one day bring him fame. But when a woman arrives on the island, Gemma tries to play matchmaker – only to discover Jonah’s hidden journals, which hold terrifying secrets about both their lives.

Mystery, science, and dreams of a better life collide in this page-turning young adult novel from Barbara Radecki.

Before transitioning to writing, Barbara Radecki was an established actor with many film and television roles and hundreds of commercials to her credit. In recent years, several of her screenplays have been optioned or sold. As a screenwriter, her most recent film, Modern Persuasion, will be out in 2020. Born in Vancouver and now based in Toronto, Radecki was nominated for the Kobo Emerging Writers’ Prize for her first YA novel, The Darkhouse

Barbara Radecki's profile page

• Short-listed, Kobo Emerging Writer Prize (Speculative Fiction)

“The well-paced narrative builds from Gemma’s quiet longing to her bold quest for the truth to a shocking conclusion readers won’t see coming. Science, mystery, and family collide in this creepy, satisfying page-turner.” Starred review

Kirkus Reviews

“The Darkhouse doesn’t just hold you, it grips you tightly by the throat as it pulls you through a story that bewitches, thrills, shocks and tantalizes you. Barbara Radecki writes with imagination, intelligence and emotion, a lethal combination that keeps you from doing anything till you finish this book.”

Colin Mochrie

“The Darkhouse is a complex gem — mystery, psychological thriller, love story, and drama — all wrapped up in a story that will shock you and make you race to the last page.”

David Skuy

“Radecki throws in gasp-worthy twists and takes the plot far beyond the boundaries of expectation – about 100 gripping pages past where most novels would end. It’s a smarter and more sinister The Face on the Milk Carton for this generation.”

The Globe and Mail

“All the elements are in place for a winning YA psychological thriller, and for the most part, The Darkhouse succeeds. The novel is well paced, with a narrative just twisty enough to keep even seasoned readers guessing.”

Quill and Quire