WHAT ROUGH BEAST

A brutal assault, a strange wildlife reserve, and an age-old horror collide.

In Bethington, Ohio, “boys will be boys” is the rule of law. Ava Germaine learned that quickly. After publicly calling out the blatant misogyny she witnessed, she was silenced in a cruel, humiliating attack that she doesn’t remember—though two of her classmates do. Now an outcast, she spends her free time working alongside the gruff, enigmatic Widow Zedeker at Restoration Acres, a wildlife refuge where she’s regularly reminded of nature’s harsh side. Micah Harding, the sheriff’s son, was there the night of the attack, but he can’t decide what to do with his guilt and shame; acting on it would lead to scrutiny of his own behavior. Hailey Wagner—pretty, conniving, and dirt-poor—is willing to do anything to suppress the truth that threatens her relationship with her rich boyfriend, Ethan Brimley. Meanwhile, strange events begin to occur at Restoration Acres: Ava discovers a mysterious egg at the preserve and feels compelled to nurture it, unaware that whatever is growing inside has been waiting a very long time to appear. Alternating viewpoints build suspense while showcasing three distinct, sharply observant voices, each grappling with the sexism, misogyny, and class tensions that define Bethington. The mounting tension pays off in a grisly, explosive finale. The predominantly white-cued cast underscores the book’s focus on systems of power that flourish in insular, small towns.

A timely, unsettling, and insightful page-turner in which the monsters wear many faces.