Court Stevens makes a stunning transition from young adult fiction to adult literary thriller with Tell Me Something Good, a novel that flows like the Ohio River itself—dark, murky, and carrying the debris of buried secrets downstream. This is Southern Gothic at its finest, where the landscape becomes a character and the past refuses to stay dead, no matter how deep you bury it.
The story opens with Anna Ryder, a woman whose world crumbles when her mother Starr receives a terminal cancer diagnosis. Desperate for money to fund treatments, Anna ventures across the river from poverty-stricken Luxor, Illinois, to the affluent hunting lodges of Bent Tree, Kentucky—a place her mother has always forbidden her to go. What begins as a simple job hunt quickly transforms into something far more sinister when Anna discovers she’s walking into the epicenter of a decades-old murder case that has haunted both sides of the river.
Characters That Breathe and Bleed
Stevens demonstrates remarkable growth in her character development, crafting individuals who feel authentically flawed and beautifully human. Anna Ryder emerges as a protagonist whose fierce love for her mother drives every decision, even when those choices lead her into increasingly dangerous territory. Her relationship with ex-fiancé Jack Higgins crackles with the kind of unresolved tension that makes readers’ hearts race—not just from romance, but from the weight of mistakes that can’t be undone.
The supporting cast shines equally bright. Foster Portage, the podcaster with secrets of her own, becomes Anna’s unlikely ally in ways that feel both surprising and inevitable. Murray Orlov stands out as one of the most compelling antagonists in recent thriller fiction—a man whose capacity for both love and destruction makes him simultaneously sympathetic and terrifying. Stevens refuses to paint her characters in simple black and white, instead offering complex individuals whose motivations feel painfully real.
A Mystery That Unfolds Like Origami
The narrative structure of Tell Me Something Good deserves particular praise. Stevens weaves together multiple timelines and perspectives with the skill of a master craftsperson, never leaving readers confused but constantly keeping them guessing. The story moves between past and present, revealing information at precisely the right moments to maintain tension while building toward revelations that feel both shocking and inevitable.
The central mystery—the murder of nine women known as the Choir Girls—serves as more than just a plot device. It becomes a metaphor for how violence ripples through communities, affecting generations and shaping lives in ways both seen and unseen. The way Stevens connects this historical crime to present-day events demonstrates sophisticated plotting that respects both the victims and the ongoing trauma experienced by survivors.
Atmospheric Excellence
Perhaps Stevens’ greatest achievement lies in her creation of atmosphere. The contrast between poverty-stricken Luxor and the wealthy hunting lodges of Bent Tree becomes a character in itself, highlighting themes of class disparity and power imbalance that run throughout the novel. The Ohio River serves as both physical and metaphorical boundary—a barrier that seems crossable but carries dangerous currents beneath its surface.
The author’s descriptions of the Kentucky marshlands and Illinois farmland paint vivid pictures without becoming overwrought. When Anna discovers the hidden boat in her mother’s barn, the scene unfolds with such visceral detail that readers can practically smell the decay and feel the oppressive weight of buried secrets.
Themes That Resonate
Tell Me Something Good tackles weighty themes with remarkable nuance. The novel explores how trauma shapes identity, particularly through Anna’s recovered memories and Foster’s lifelong search for answers about her mother’s death. Stevens doesn’t offer easy solutions or simple healing narratives; instead, she presents the messy reality of how people carry pain and find ways to move forward without ever fully moving on.
The theme of class conflict runs deep throughout the narrative. The stark contrast between Anna’s desperate financial situation and the casual wealth displayed at the Lodges creates tension that feels authentic to contemporary American society. Stevens avoids preaching, allowing the disparities to speak for themselves through character actions and circumstances.
Technical Mastery and Minor Stumbles
Stevens’ prose has matured significantly from her young adult work. Her sentences carry weight and rhythm that enhance the story’s dark atmosphere. The dialogue feels natural and distinct for each character, particularly in capturing the different speech patterns between characters from different economic backgrounds.
However, the novel isn’t without its challenges. The complex plot occasionally becomes dense, with multiple character relationships and historical connections that require careful attention from readers. Some may find the extensive cast of characters initially overwhelming, though Stevens does provide enough context for readers to keep track of the various relationships and motivations.
The pacing occasionally slows during exposition-heavy sections, particularly when revealing background information about the hunting lodges’ operations. While this information proves crucial to the overall plot, it sometimes interrupts the narrative momentum.
A New Voice in Adult Fiction
For readers familiar with Stevens’ young adult novels like Dress Codes for Small Towns and The June Boys, Tell Me Something Good represents a natural evolution. The author’s signature themes of community secrets and the power of found family remain present, but with added layers of complexity and moral ambiguity that adult fiction allows.
Stevens demonstrates remarkable skill in handling mature themes without losing the emotional authenticity that made her young adult work so compelling. The romantic elements feel genuine rather than forced, and the violence, while present, serves the story rather than sensationalizing trauma.
Similar Reads Worth Exploring
Readers who appreciate Tell Me Something Good might enjoy:
- Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens – for atmospheric Southern mystery
- Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn – for complex family secrets and dark psychological elements
- The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides – for intricate plotting and unreliable perspectives
- Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty – for ensemble cast and gradually revealed secrets
- In the Woods by Tana French – for literary mystery with atmospheric depth
Final Verdict
Tell Me Something Good announces Court Stevens as a significant new voice in adult literary thriller fiction. While the novel has minor pacing issues and complexity that demands attention from readers, it succeeds brilliantly in creating an immersive world where past and present collide with devastating consequences.
This is a book that lingers long after the final page, raising questions about justice, forgiveness, and the prices we pay for love. Stevens has crafted something special here—a thriller that thrills not just through plot twists and suspense, but through genuine emotional investment in characters whose fates matter deeply to readers.
For fans of atmospheric mysteries with strong character development and social consciousness, Tell Me Something Good delivers exactly what its title promises. It’s a novel that proves sometimes the most powerful stories emerge from the darkest waters, where secrets surface like bodies that refuse to stay buried.