“In the midst of the island’s sticky heat, sweet fragrances, and luscious tastes, there is a haunting that pulses through these magnetic pages—and our bold, lovable main character, Carina, must figure out why before it’s too late. Eerie, propulsive, and sumptuous, Honeysuckle and Bone is a trip to Jamaica you won’t soon forget.” —Ayesha Curry, Sweet July Books
“The story’s ominous elements contrast vividly with the beautiful ones, and the portrayal of the luxurious Jamaica the wealthy enjoy stands in stark contrast to that of those who are less fortunate… A deliciously dark and mysterious debut.” –Kirkus, starred review
“Tobias’s debut is an atmospheric ghost story that shines in multiple respects, from its tense, satisfying mystery and tight pacing to its thoughtful commentary on class in Jamaica and Jamaican American identity, as well as its vibrant secondary characters.” —School Library Journal, starred review
“A Jamaican gothic ghost story about a teen girl who becomes a nanny at an extravagant estate named Blackbead House? Say less! I’m always here for genre-savvy takes on the good old “scrappy young woman enters a spooky house of secrets” theme.” —Goodreads editors
“Tobias brings lots of ghostly atmosphere to her debut, with evocatively described hauntings in the sweltering Jamaican heat. Carina’s growing friendship with the other young staff members—and one burgeoning romance—nicely ground the plot, and her search for the identity of the duppy contains plenty of twists…. [T]hose in it for the eerie vibes and buried secrets will be satisfied.” –Booklist
“Immersive, beguiling, and teeming with sinister secrets, Honeysuckle and Bone is a tense coil of a mystery that crackles with energy and haunting, vivid beauty. The voice is magnetic, the setting is undeniably alive, and the ghosts are insistent with devastating truths. This is a gorgeous, pulse-pounding debut.” —Nova Ren Suma, New York Times bestselling author
“Here’s a debut novel you’ll want to add to your TBR this month. Teenager Carina Marshall takes a job as an au pair for the wealthy Hall family. Their gorgeous and stately Jamaican estate, called the Blackbead House, seems to be the perfect escape for Carina after months of rumors and targeted bullying. But the house is not what it seems. In fact, it might be haunted. Something in that house might be out to get her.” —Book Riot
“When folk magic and unquiet spirits are the least of your worries, that’s good horror. Tobias has crafted a debut that’s a bit of a miracle: a gothic that has its (honeysuckle-scented) cake and eats it too. Sweeping and foreboding, but never stuffy thanks to its vibrantly realized setting, likable characters, and a narrator who’d be her own worst enemy, if not for all her actual enemies and the swirling mystery she’s dug herself into.” —Adam Cesare, Bram Stoker Award-winning and USA Today bestselling author of Clown in a Cornfield and Influencer
“Honeysuckle and Bone is a deliciously uncomfortable journey into a suffocating world of wealth and secrets. Tobias’s talented storytelling will demand your attention as she explores not only our fear of ghosts, but the fear of being witnessed for who we really are. It’s one thing to admire an extravagant exterior—it’s another to venture into dark corners and find what’s lurking in the shadows. Carina is a messy, vulnerable narrator and I loved her, shadows and all.” —Jas Hammonds, award-winning author of We Deserve Monuments
“Honeysuckle and Bone will haunt your days and nights long after you’ve closed the book; this is a story that wraps you in warmth and lures you in with lush beauty, only for you to realize that the cold dread lurking beneath the vibrant tropical air has already worked its way under your skin. Here is proof that no matter where we go, our ghosts will always find us and demand a powerful reckoning—and that sometimes, it’s our own secrets that hound us harder than the dead.” —Sarah Glenn Marsh, author of The Girls Are Never Gone
“Guilt and desperation saturate the pages as vividly as the Caribbean heat. Luminous and claustrophobic, Honeysuckle and Bone knows it’s not just the ghosts you can’t escape—it’s yourself. Carina’s accumulating lies make for a reading experience as acutely uncomfortable as bingeing a season of Dexter.” —Amelinda Bérubé, author of Here There Are Monsters
“Honeysuckle and Bone is a gripping tale of Caribbean folklore and mysticism that pulled me in right away. Tobias brings Jamaica to life with vivid sights, sounds, and colors, creating a setting that is lush and imaginative. The story seamlessly blends horror with themes of grief, loss, and love, while also authentically exploring the bonds of found family. With unflinching social commentary on class and privilege, this haunting tale delves into what happens when secrets—and the dead—just won’t stay buried. Honeysuckle and Bone commands a space in the horror genre, and I’m here for it!” —Lisa Springer, author of There’s No Way I’d Die First
“Rich and haunting, Honeysuckle and Bone is an eerie ghost story that delves deep into an exploration of identity and class. Tobias’s masterful handling of a teenage girl’s exploration of grief and her homeland shapes a propulsive narrative that you won’t want to put down.” —Joelle Wellington, author of Their Vicious Games
“A beautifully lush and haunting gothic tale, Honeysuckle and Bone is both a chilling mystery and a heartbreaking portrait of all the ways grief leaves its mark. I gasped at every shocking twist and harrowing reveal as Carina unearthed the dark secrets of Blackbead House and discovered that no matter how far she ran, the ghosts of the past were always right behind her.” —Linda Cheng, author of Gorgeous Gruesome Faces
“Lush and alluring…. [the] first-person-present narration fosters tension while immersing readers in the sights, sounds, and culture of Jamaica.” —Publishers Weekly
“Readers who enjoy twisted thrillers in bright tropical settings will revel in Honeysuckle and Bone’s exploration of the contrast between glittery surfaces and the secrets buried beneath them.” —BookPage
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