This Place Kills Me

This Place Kills Me is the fresh, whip-smart 1980s boarding school murder mystery from Mariko Tamaki and Nicole Goux — and it’s a certified award magnet, winning the 2026 Eisner Award for Best Writer for Tamaki and Best Publication for Teens. The premise is irresistible: it’s 1985, and the students of a prestigious boarding school are reeling from the death of their beloved teacher, Mr. Baker. Five of them know more than they’re letting on — and as the investigation closes in, the stories they’ve told each other (and themselves) begin to unravel in very different directions.

Tamaki brings all her YA mastery to the genre — this is The Secret History meets Pretty Little Liars with her signature empathy and razor-sharp social observation — while Goux’s art captures the era’s specific textures (cassette tapes, letterman jackets, that particular pre-internet loneliness) with a dynamic, expressive style that makes the ensemble cast instantly readable. The result is a mystery that keeps you guessing while also being a genuine coming-of-age story about the stories we tell to survive high school. The Publishers Weekly review praised its propulsive plotting and emotional depth, and readers have devoured it in single sittings.

It’s also a wonderful showcase of what happens when two of indie comics’ sharpest voices team up: Goux, best known for her acclaimed webcomic Shadoweyes and her work on The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl variant covers, brings a kinetic energy that makes every page pop. The hardcover from Abrams is a gorgeous object, perfect for YA shelves next to Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me.

Sharp, twisty, and full of heart, This Place Kills Me is the must-read mystery of the year. Order your copy today.