THE DISTANT DEAD

'An...impressive tale of American gothic '
- Times and Sunday Times Crime Club 

'A searing, powerful story'
- CrimeReads (Most Anticipated Books, Summer 2020) 

'Stunning... an ideal recommendation for fans of Kate Atkinson and Jodi Picoult'
- Booklist (starred review) 

'With her usual blend of inventive storytelling and gorgeous prose, Heather Young delivers big themes and a poignant coming of age story in this complex, page-turning mystery/thriller... The Distant Dead is not to be missed'
- James McLaughlin, author of Bearskin  

'The suspense is slow and steady in this meditative, artistic take on the murder mystery... An unusual, compelling portrait of a people and a place where the future always seems impossibly far away'
- Bookpage (starred review) 

'Bright, flawless writing, wonderful characters, and a sense of pacing that ratchets up the tension-what more could you want from a thriller? I loved this book'
- Rene Denfeld, bestselling author of The Child Finder and The Butterly Girl  

'[The Distant Dead] is at heart about the timelessness of human curiosity, the eternal possibility of forgiveness, and the everyday miracle of survival. Electrifying, ambitious, and crushingly beautiful'
- Kirkus (starred review) 

'A moving psychological thriller... This emotionally resonant saga, firmly rooted in the high desert hills, will keep readers turning the pages'
- Publishers Weekly 

'A breathtaking read, with flawed and authentic characters who hit so close to home that at times it is impossible not to root for them, just as we might for those closest to us'
- San Francisco Chronicle 

'The Distant Dead is a novel populated with angels and demons. Throughout this engrossing examination of home and family, forgiveness and revenge, Young skillfully weaves in the devastation of America's opioid epidemic and the claustrophobia of small-town life'
- Mystery Scene 

'Haunting and tense'
- If These Books Could Talk 

'I was yanked into the story from the first page and could barely tear my eyes away'
- The Book Lover's Boudoir 

'A slow burner, an atmospheric dark read'
- Cheryl M-M's Book Blog 

'This is the kind of book you want to savour'
- No More Grumpy Bookseller 

'A slow burn whodunnit which repays the patient reader with a most satisfying reading experience'
- Rachel Read It 

'A five star read... The twists in this novel pack a punch. I never saw them coming, and I'm still in awe'
- Jessica Belmont's Book Blog 

'A slow burning story that will keep you haunted for days!'
- Varietats 

'Electrifying, stunning and powerful'
- ChopperCrimeBooks 

'This dark tale is enthralling... a captivating thriller that is hard to predict... a haunting read in the best way'
- Runalong The Shelves 

'I've never read anything like The Distant Dead before... I found this to be a crime novel that was also about loss, acceptance and friendship'
- Steph's Book Blog 

'I was unsettled, unnerved and just mesmerised by the plot... a unique, deep-felt and moving mystery'
- Zoe's Book Nook 

'The beauty of this book is in the unforgettable characters and the choices they face... This is a book that may smolder its way into a white hot memory'
- Scintilla