IF WE TELL YOU

After a dramatic brush with death, twin brothers from small-town Alberta flee home, sent by their parents on a flight to Scotland.

Fifteen-year-olds Cameron and Lewis Larsen are overwhelmed with fear and uncertainty after their parents kill two strangers to protect them—and then send them away. They make an uneasy trek to the home of Margaret “Maggs” Ross in Edinburgh, where they begin to search for answers while still trying to maintain cover. Following their dad’s advice—he warned that identical twins are memorable—the boys interact separately with Maggs’ neighbors as well as the visitors staying at her guesthouse. They appear one at a time and pretend they’re a single person named Will, which results in some funny situations. Some of these people—including fellow teens Aisha, Ruby, and Jamie—also become enmeshed in the mystery, and a sprawling, intricate backstory unfolds involving mobsters, MI6, secret passwords, art heists, underground tunnels, and more. While at times the story can feel a bit overstuffed, the first-person narration, which alternates between the brothers, works well to ground the novel: Lewis’ nervous internal monologues contrast with Cameron’s more self-assured but still vulnerable voice. The abrupt ending leaves things wide open for a sequel. Most central characters present white. Brown-skinned Aisha wears hijab, and there’s additional diversity among the supporting cast. Lewis is bisexual.

An expansive thriller with two likable characters at its heart.