About the book
A Chicago Public Library Best Teen Book of 2024
A 2025 YALSA Top Ten Best Fiction Selection
From award-winning author Mindy McGinnis comes a mesmerizing YA psychological mystery following a teen girl who is grappling with the death of her brother as she starts a new job in the caverns of Ohio—only to become the number one suspect in her coworker's murder. Perfect for fans of Courtney Summers and Kathleen Glasgow.
Neely’s monsters don’t always follow her rules, so when the little girl under her bed, the man in her closet, and the disembodied voice that shadows her every move become louder, she knows she’s in trouble. With a history of mental illness in her family and the suicide of her older brother heavy on her mind, Neely takes a job as a tour guide in the one place her monsters can’t follow—the caverns. There . . . she meets Mila. Mila is everything Neely isn’t—beautiful, strong, and confident. As the two become closer, Neely’s innocent crush grows into something more. When a midnight staff party exposes Neely to drugs, she follows Mila’s lead . . . only to have her hallucinations escalate.
When Mila is found brutally murdered in the caverns, Neely has to admit that her memories of that night are vague at best. With her monsters now out in the open and her grip on reality slipping, Neely must figure out who killed Mila . . . and face the possibility that it might have been her.
- Unreliable Narrator: Neely’s memories of the murder are a blur of drugs and hallucinations. With her monsters growing louder, she can’t even trust her own mind.
- Sapphic Thriller: Just as Neely’s crush on the confident, beautiful Mila begins to grow into something more, Mila is found dead—and Neely is the number one suspect.
- Mental Illness Representation: A raw and unflinching look at a teen girl's struggle with mental illness, family trauma, and the terrifying possibility that the monsters in her head might be real.
- Murder Mystery: In the deep, dark caverns that were once her only refuge, Neely must race to find the real killer before she's convicted of a crime she can't remember committing.
Editions of Under This Red Rock
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780063230415
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780063230422
- EBook
- ISBN 9780063230439
Read an Excerpt
A Chicago Public Library Best Teen Book of 2024
A 2025 YALSA Top Ten Best Fiction Selection
From award-winning author Mindy McGinnis comes a mesmerizing YA psychological mystery following a teen girl who is grappling with the death of her brother as she starts a new job in the caverns of Ohio—only to become the number one suspect in her coworker's murder. Perfect for fans of Courtney Summers and Kathleen Glasgow.
Neely’s monsters don’t always follow her rules, so when the little girl under her bed, the man in her closet, and the disembodied voice that shadows her every move become louder, she knows she’s in trouble. With a history of mental illness in her family and the suicide of her older brother heavy on her mind, Neely takes a job as a tour guide in the one place her monsters can’t follow—the caverns. There . . . she meets Mila. Mila is everything Neely isn’t—beautiful, strong, and confident. As the two become closer, Neely’s innocent crush grows into something more. When a midnight staff party exposes Neely to drugs, she follows Mila’s lead . . . only to have her hallucinations escalate.
When Mila is found brutally murdered in the caverns, Neely has to admit that her memories of that night are vague at best. With her monsters now out in the open and her grip on reality slipping, Neely must figure out who killed Mila . . . and face the possibility that it might have been her.
- Unreliable Narrator: Neely’s memories of the murder are a blur of drugs and hallucinations. With her monsters growing louder, she can’t even trust her own mind.
- Sapphic Thriller: Just as Neely’s crush on the confident, beautiful Mila begins to grow into something more, Mila is found dead—and Neely is the number one suspect.
- Mental Illness Representation: A raw and unflinching look at a teen girl's struggle with mental illness, family trauma, and the terrifying possibility that the monsters in her head might be real.
- Murder Mystery: In the deep, dark caverns that were once her only refuge, Neely must race to find the real killer before she's convicted of a crime she can't remember committing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Under This Red Rock about?
A Chicago Public Library Best Teen Book of 2024
A 2025 YALSA Top Ten Best Fiction Selection
From award-winning author Mindy McGinnis comes a mesmerizing YA psychological mystery following a teen girl who is grappling with the death of her brother as she starts a new job in the caverns of Ohio—only to become the number one suspect in her coworker's murder. Perfect for fans of Courtney Summers and Kathleen Glasgow.
Neely’s monsters don’t always follow her rules, so when the little girl under her bed, the man in her closet, and the disembodied voice that shadows her every move become louder, she knows she’s in trouble. With a history of mental illness in her family and the suicide of her older brother heavy on her mind, Neely takes a job as a tour guide in the one place her monsters can’t follow—the caverns. There . . . she meets Mila. Mila is everything Neely isn’t—beautiful, strong, and confident. As the two become closer, Neely’s innocent crush grows into something more. When a midnight staff party exposes Neely to drugs, she follows Mila’s lead . . . only to have her hallucinations escalate.
When Mila is found brutally murdered in the caverns, Neely has to admit that her memories of that night are vague at best. With her monsters now out in the open and her grip on reality slipping, Neely must figure out who killed Mila . . . and face the possibility that it might have been her.
- Unreliable Narrator: Neely’s memories of the murder are a blur of drugs and hallucinations. With her monsters growing louder, she can’t even trust her own mind.
- Sapphic Thriller: Just as Neely’s crush on the confident, beautiful Mila begins to grow into something more, Mila is found dead—and Neely is the number one suspect.
- Mental Illness Representation: A raw and unflinching look at a teen girl's struggle with mental illness, family trauma, and the terrifying possibility that the monsters in her head might be real.
- Murder Mystery: In the deep, dark caverns that were once her only refuge, Neely must race to find the real killer before she's convicted of a crime she can't remember committing.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Under This Red Rock?
Children’s, Teenage and Educational > Children’s / Teenage fiction and true stories > Children’s / Teenage fiction: General, modern and contemporary fiction
Where can I read a sample of Under This Red Rock?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780063230415
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Under This Red Rock?
Mindy McGinnis
Who is the Publisher of the book Under This Red Rock?
HarperCollins
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Under This Red Rock is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780063230415) and paperback(ISBN 9780063230422) and ebook(ISBN 9780063230439)
Where can I buy Under This Red Rock online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Under This Red Rock from below
Where can I buy Under This Red Rock?