Dark and Shallow Lies is a beautifully dark and atmospheric mystery with elements of magic. The cover first caught my attention with how beautiful it is but then the story had me hooked from the beginning. The swamp setting was so well written that you can easily picture the town and it feels so realistic. The psychic elements of the characters made for an enjoyable and unique read. The romantic elements as well as the friendships of the kids in La Cachette make for interesting dynamics that made for a fast paced read. The elements of mystery surrounding Elora's disappearance and the secrets of everyone in town made for a suspenseful read that made it so I could not put down. I read this book in one sitting, I found it completely enthralling. I would recommend this to anyone that enjoys atmospheric thrillers even if they don't normally read YA.