Better the Devil by Erik J Brown

When a runaway teen is arrested for shoplifting, he's desperate not to be sent back to the hyper-religious parents he knows will never accept him. While at the police station, he notices a resemblance to the aged-up photos of Nate Beaumont, a child who went missing ten years ago—and, in a moment of desperation, he takes Nate’s identity in hopes that it will help him make a quick getaway.

Before he can run again, Nate’s family arrives and welcomes him home to a life he never had. As "Nate" watches and waits for his chance to run, he finds that the Beaumonts are nurturing and loving, very different from his own parents.

But soon unsettling things start to happen—vandalism, alarms going off in the middle of the night—and it becomes clear that someone knows "Nate" isn't who he says he is...and that the real Nate wasn't kidnapped, but murdered.

As he starts to unravel the mystery, he gets ever closer to the devil he may know—and learns he might be their next victim.

---

Some identities are stolen. Some secrets are deadly. 🖤🔥

Pre-Reading Thoughts:
I went in expecting a thriller with teen angst, but this one immediately promised moral tension layered on top of psychological suspense. The idea of a runaway stepping into a missing child’s life - and discovering a world that’s both welcoming and terrifying - hooked me right away.

Post-Reading:

• As I thought…
  The tension and pacing are relentless. The teen perspective is authentic, and the narrative balances fear, curiosity, and the desperation to survive. Brown nails that mix of teen voice and chilling suspense.

• It surprised me by…
  The emotional weight of the Beaumont family’s warmth. I was bracing for all darkness, but the glimpses of love make the danger feel sharper and the stakes higher. The gradual revelation that Nate wasn’t just kidnapped, but may have been murdered, adds a slow-burn horror that hits hard.

Music Pairing:
🎵 Featured Song: “Control” by Halsey
🎶 Vibe Album: Dark Indie Thrillers - atmospheric, tense, and pulsing
🎧 Artist Recommendation: Billie Eilish

Vibe Check:
🎨 Colour Palette: Midnight blue, blood red, shadow grey
🎶 Soundtrack: Creaking floorboards, distant alarms, quiet city streets at night
🌧️ Season: Winter - long, dark nights, sharp air
😨 Mood: Tense, suspenseful, morally complex
🍂 Scent: Rain, wet asphalt, and candle wax

Tarot Pull: 9 of Swords. Fear, paranoia, nightmares - but is it paranoia if someone's really out to get you?

For fans of: One of Us is Lying (teen secrets and tension) and We Were Liars (psychological suspense with emotional weight).