Gaslit

By Author / Illustrator

Megan Davidhizar

Genre

Suspense & Thrillers

Age range(s)

14+

Publisher

Harper Fire

ISBN

9780008617035

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

15-01-2026

Synopsis

An incredible and unputdownable YA thriller, with incredible twists and turns that will have you guessing until the very last page, from the author of Silent Sister - perfect for fans of Holly Jackson and Karen McManus.

"A masterclass in suspenseful storytelling" - Karen M. McManus. "Simering with tension, terrifically paced and plotted." - Kathleen Glasgow

When a night of babysitting turns fatal, a girl burdened with survivor's guilt becomes increasingly convinced that someone is responsible for the gas leak that killed her family member - and that she was the intended target all along.

Ella wishes that she could do something more fun on New Year's Eve than babysit, but lately her life has taken a scary turn with a diagnosis that she is trying her best to ignore. So after she barely recovers from another paralyzing migraine, Ella arrives late to her aunt's house for babysitting.

But when nobody answers the door, she knows something isn't right. Breaking in, she finds her cousins unconscious on the floor. And Aunt Julie is dead. Ella is barely able to rescue them from the house before she collapses into the snow.

When investigators discover that the cause of death was from a gas leak, a small voice in the back of her head keeps reminding Ella that it could have been her - not Aunt Julie - inside that house. Ella is determined to find out what really happened to her aunt, but her family is so sure it was an accident. After all, Ella's paranoia must just be a side effect of her diagnosis - a diagnosis that makes everyone tiptoe around her.

As deadly lies begin to seep through the cracks of the investigation, Ella gets the feeling that the gas leak might not have been an accident - and that someone might be out to kill her next.

With incredible twists, an unputdownable story, and a fantastic concept, Gaslit is an extraordinary YA thriller that will keep you guessing until the very last page.

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Reviews

Sue

When a migraine cancels Ella's New Year's Eve plans, she agrees to babysit for her younger cousin, Joey. Arriving at her aunt's house, she is horrified to find the family unconscious and strives to save them. An investigation discovers that there had been a gas leak, leading to the death of her aunt, but Ella is convinced that there might be more to it than that. However, having recently been diagnosed with a brain tumour, she is worried that her paranoia must just be a side effect of her illness, leaving her unsure who to trust and what to believe . . .

Once started, this thriller must be finished; Gaslit is a compelling and absorbing read. Full of twists and turns, it is a story which takes you by surprise again and again! Fiercely independent and fearing that others will treat her differently, Ella is determined to keep her diagnosis a secret from as many people as possible, which has isolated her from most of her friends. As she and her older cousin, Chris, start to investigate, Ella finds herself questioning herself, her perceptions and her grasp on reality, leading the reader constantly unsettled as the story shifts and shifts again.

Gaslit is a tense, disquieting read as Ella constantly doubts herself, re-evaluating her memories and experiences, but one which is very cleverly handled, offering a layered and satisfying read. As ever with a story like this, it is impossible to offer a full review without ruining the plot for anyone who hasn't read the book. All I can say is that it is a cracking read which keeps you guessing (clever use of title!) - and hoping - right to the last page.

352 pages / Reviewed by Sue Wilsher, teacher