The swamps

Glass (Nothing Ever Happens Here) serves up an atmospheric thriller about a video production crew's efforts to crack a pair of missing persons cases. Macy's amateur interest in ghost hunting has evolved into a hit YouTube show, Ghost Patrol, that she cohosts with her husband, Ethan. The couple travels to the Louisiana bayou after learning of the recent disappearances of two local women, Elizabeth Brockton and Emily Tremblay: Elizabeth was sitting in front of her home when she vanished, and a few weeks later, Emily disappeared while walking home from a restaurant. The parish where both lived is teeming with "tales of curses and evil," and rumors that black magic was involved inspire Macy and Ethan to investigate, hoping to attract more viewers and land a Netflix deal. Their project proves risky when, after they start looking into Elizabeth's and Emily's disappearances, the couple learns of a grisly murder in the area and comes to believe they've been coaxed to Louisiana by sinister forces. Eerie prose ("The cypress trees look like finger bones with the flesh stripped off") and a cornucopia of surprises keep the pages of this Southern gothic turning. Fans of Michael Koryta fans should take note. Agent: Sharon Bowers, Folio Literary. (Jan.)

A true-crime media team ventures into the Louisiana swamplands and uncovers terrifying secrets in Glass' thriller. Macy and Ethan, social media influencers and married hosts of the popular paranormal YouTube channelGhost Patrol, head into the swamp to investigate the recent, curious disappearances of two women. With a potential Netflix deal on the table, they hope to capture viral footage, but Macy senses something is very off from the beginning. A pouch soaked in blood hanging in a tree, a shotgun left by the fireplace of their decaying rental cabin, and a stranger looming over their bed at night point to dangers more real than ghost stories. When their teammates (Tasha, who harbors a lingering resentment, and Max, a sound engineer, who brings along his volatile brother) arrive, the fragile group dynamic begins to splinter. An interview with a grieving husband ends with his disturbed daughter biting Macy ("She screams in protest once her jaw releases from my flesh, and then she grabs for my hair") and later brandishing a drill--with that, the cinematically vivid mystery begins. Glass writes with precision, alternating points of view to explore not just the mystery but the characters' growing mistrust, ambition, and unraveling identities. Her pacing is tight, favoring short chapters that heighten tension while allowing for brief moments of emotional depth, and she richly evokes the swamp without going overboard. The heat, rot, and isolation of the setting--known for its supernatural phenomena and local superstitions--mirror the psychological collapse at the heart of the story, bringing an essence of reality to the narrative. Rather than relying on jump scares or needless gore, the author builds unease through suggestion, judiciously dropped clues, and ambiguity. The novel critiques the commodification of tragedy while keeping readers hooked with unpredictable turns, all while maintaining a modern feel. Glass strikes an effective balance between character insight, omnipresent danger, and spooky chills, ensuring readers keep turning the pages. A chilling, sharply written thriller that never loses its sense of creeping dread. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.