Letters – who’d have thought they could kill? The letters tempt anyone’s feelings while dragging them through the twists and turns of every page, leaving the emotions with more questions than answers. They are a written communication that poisons the very thoughts that corrupt the brain. Nobody Knows But You is a thriller that tugs at the strings of sanity. It is a test to see just how far one would be willing to tilt into the depths of unimaginable darkness.

Nobody Knows But You by Anica Mrose Rissis is a piercing book that lets the heart dangle, bleeding with every word. The unique style – being written in the form of epistolary and news reports – is one of the extraordinary ideas of Rissis’ book. The story is arranged by events leading up to a summer camp murder that calls into question the minds of people.

Kayla is a sixteen year old girl forced to attend the thrilling event every summer has: a summer camp. The book starts with Kayla’s letters, which are written to her best friend Laine. The book unfolds with a seemingly tranquil summer camp, but there is a sinister shadow lurking around the corner. She’s a quiet young teen that doesn’t enjoy taking part in extracurriculars and struggles in the beginning with the crushing weight of her insecurities. Her parents and older brother are the most successful people in her life. Moreover, having a normal life makes her feel as though she is not a part of the family. The girls start their adventure by breaking rules and sneaking out at night. This light hearted fun soon changes when a tragic murder occurs at the summer camp.

The YA thriller follows the homicide which is introduced through Kayla’s recollection of the summer camp events. The murderer’s blood stained hands are slowly revealed throughout the tale. However, the victim claimed by vile intelligence is introduced fairly soon in the novel. The book leaks a radical change that turns a joke sour.
The author manipulates the words on the page causing toxins to twist one’s thoughts. She lets the idea of “you know it’s either me or you” swing in circles around the end of the book, causing it to arise from jealousy, a venomous system of the belief that a loved one might be unfaithful.

Rissis’ strong writing is one of the unique things that makes the book stand out from other, similar thrillers. Another key thing that makes her stand out is the destructive perspective she portrays revolving around the minds of sixteen year olds. The novel can be recommended if one is looking for a good sanity twister. The story portrays the fire which burns into everyone’s so-called dark side. The letters find amusement in the deceitful truths, ever so slightly snapping the strings that hold the minds’ thoughts together.