Marked for Death

Bestselling YA author Melinda Salisbury delivers a gripping, supernatural teen thriller as videoing without consent leads to deadly consequences for Liv and her friends.

Messing about on the train home from school, Liv’s friend Sophie angles her phone to film a strange old woman sitting in their carriage with a cat. There’s an argument when the woman objects, and Sophie is scratched by the cat before the odd pair vanish.

Hours later, Sophie is dead. The police report it as a tragic accident, but shortly afterwards, Mickey is the second of the friends to be scratched. And the second to die.

Liv finds the circumstances too strange to be a coincidence, but can she piece together what is happening and how to stop it before it’s too late?

Particularly suitable for readers aged 11+ with a reading age of 8.

Reviews

"Once this creepy cautionary tale sinks its claws into you, there's no escape until it's over. Unsettling and downright scary, it'll leave its mark on your nightmares." – S.J. Wills

"Mounting dread and terrified teens make this modern twist on fairy tale curses a cautionary tale of shocking malevolence. Be warned: Here is one cat video you'll never want to see on the internet!'" – Keith Gray

"Fast-paced, thrilling and gleefully gruesome, this is perfect for a young reader who loves a healthy dose of horror in their reading. Will make you question how much you really love cats." – Jack Mackay

"A real teen horror with no punches pulled! Marked For Death is a nail biting, terrifying read." – Catherine Johnson

"A cautionary tale and a perfectly spooky page-turner. Like the best horror, it's fantastical and timeless imagery turns the screw on very real and modern worries. An excellent Struwwelpeter for our times!" – Luke Palmer

About the author

Melinda Salisbury is the bestselling author of multiple YA novels, including the Sin Eater’s Daughter series and the State of Sorrow duology. Her books have been published in 15 countries to date and been collectively nominated for numerous national and international awards and accolades, including the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, the YA Book Prize, the Branford Boase and the Carnegie Medal.