Stay Dead

by April Henry Narrated by Tessa Netting

Overview

"Milan is in a race against time and terror to get to her parents' one trusted friend before she ends up dead, too... readers will be intrigued and thrilled to see how it all turns out." -Booklist

New York Times*bestselling author April Henry delivers*a thrilling murder mystery featuring a teen with an assassin on her trail fighting to uncover the truth behind a government cover up, perfect for fans of Karen McManus.

Sometimes, the only way to live is to make sure the world thinks you're dead . . .*

In the aftermath of a car accident that claimed the life of her senator father, sixteen-year-old Milan finds herself adrift, expelled from her third boarding school. Milan's mother, who has assumed the senate seat, diverts her private plane to pick up her daughter. But on their way home, a bomb rips off a wing and the plane crashes in the mountains. In her final moments, Milan's mother entrusts her with a key. She reveals it will unlock the evidence that so many people have already died for-including Milan's father. The only way Milan can survive, her mom tells her, is to let everyone believe she died with the other passengers.

¿Milan is forced to navigate a perilous descent in freezing conditions while outwitting everything from a drone to wild animals. With relentless assassins on her trail, she must untangle the web of deceit and save herself and countless others. Will she piece together the truth in time?

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Praise for Stay Dead:

"When the senator’s plane goes down, Milan miraculously escapes, going on a multiday survival trek through snowy, dangerous woods…. Milan is in a race against time and terror to get to her parents’ one trusted friend before she ends up dead, too. Milan’s trek through the freezing woods shows she’s clever, and readers will be intrigued and thrilled to see how it all turns out."—Booklist

"A teenager’s survival skills are put to the test—along with her relationships with the people she relies on the most….. The three plotlines blend seamlessly, with the dramatic initial setup drawing readers into this fast-paced thriller…. A page-turning cat-and-mouse survival story."—Kirkus Reviews

"In turns, the novel follows the stories of Milan, Lenny, her would-be assassin, and Janie, a dairy farmer who leased her land to Prospect Power for natural gas extraction (commonly called fracking). The cat-and-mouse between Milan and Lenny adds a thick layer of tension, especially as Lenny closes in on her target…. Perfect for fans of What Beauty There Is by Cory Anderson or Be Not Far From Me by Mindy McGinnis."—School Library Journal

"April Henry has done it again – we’re dragged into a tension-filled story that refuses to let go. Pacy survival tale, eco-thriller, and murder mystery all rolled into one.  Stay Dead will knock your socks off!"—Ellie Marney, New York Times bestselling author of None Shall Sleep

"If ever a book should be called a page-turner, it is this one. April Henry’s latest novel grabbed me with its explosive opening, layered mystery, and its short, sharp chapters, which meant I couldn’t put it down. A wonderfully compulsive thriller."

—Vincent Ralph, New York Times bestselling author of Secrets Never Die and Lock the Doors.

"A taut, tense, spectacularly cinematic novel that will keep readers on the edge of their seat. Stay Dead is April Henry at the top of her game."—Kathleen Glasgow, New York Times bestselling author of Girl in Pieces and The Agathas series

"This brilliant survival thriller has twists and turns that kept me breathless, a heroine with true grit, and a ripped-from-the-headlines message that no one should ignore."—Margot Harrison, author of Only She Came Back, We Made It All Up, and The Killer In Me

School Library Journal

05/03/2024

Gr 9 Up—Sixteen-year-old Milan has been kicked out of yet another boarding school—her third in the six months since her dad, Senator Jack Mayhew, died in a car accident. Her mom, who has since been elected to her husband's senate seat, has to detour her private plane to pick Milan up in Colorado. As the plane is flying over Oregon's Cascade Mountains on its way to Portland, disaster strikes. An explosion sends the aircraft plummeting towards the snow-covered peaks. Her mother survives just long enough to tell Milan that her dad's death and the plane crash weren't accidents. They were assassinations. Her mom insists that if Milan wants to live she needs to "stay dead." In turns, the novel follows the stories of Milan, Lenny, her would-be assassin, and Janie, a dairy farmer who leased her land to Prospect Power for natural gas extraction (commonly called fracking). The cat-and-mouse between Milan and Lenny adds a thick layer of tension, especially as Lenny closes in on her target. While Janie's story can feel contrived, it does provide necessary background on fracking and things come together nicely as the climax looms. Most characters cue white. VERDICT Perfect for fans of What Beauty There Is by Cory Anderson or Be Not Far From Me by Mindy McGinnis.—Katie Patterson

Product Details

BN ID:	2940159237781
Publisher:	Hachette Audio
Publication date:	05/28/2024
Edition description:	Unabridged

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