she was Dead for four minutes. now her life will never be the same.
When twenty-year-old Cass Ryan is pulled out of the Hudson River, she’s officially dead for four minutes. She doesn’t know anything about the boy who pushed her in. She doesn’t know why she’s been hallucinating since coming back. What she does know is that the violent visions feel terrifyingly real, and that her life will never be the same.
Enter The Else & Bellows Institute.
It turns out that Cass’s visions aren’t visions at all—she’s a voyant, and she can see the dead. Spirits and memories are trapped between this world and the next, and because of this dark ability, Cass receives an invitation to one of the most prestigious schools in the country. To ease the burden on her family and gain control over her power, she accepts.
But nothing at the institute is what it seems. There are secrets in the hallways and whispers in the shadows. Her new classes are strange, and some of her classmates are even stranger. There’s also an unsolved mystery on campus, a decades-old crime that no one seems to care about solving. No one except the ghost of the girl who was murdered… and Cass. She quickly realizes the real challenge won’t be passing her first year as a voyant… it will be surviving it.
“This deserves to be on the screen.”
—Clace, Goodreads review
“I can count on two hands the books that made me want to pull out an all-nighter to finish, and this was one of them.”
—Sue, Goodreads review
“I’ve read [all] of K.J.’s books and this has to be my favorite so far… ten gold stars. Best read of 2024.”
—Taylor, Goodreads review
“This gripping paranormal thriller will send a fun and funky chill down your spine. K.J. Sutton keeps getting better and better.”
—Robyn, Goodreads review
“May get your heart racing and have you peeking between your fingers. If you’re looking for something with the vibes of Ninth House, the mood of Stranger Things, a dash of Silence of the Lambs, a sprinkle of Ghostbusters, and a teasing hint of Ghost, you should probably give Waysider a try.”
—Hollis, Goodreads review
“A banger.”
—Cate, Goodreads review
“Brimming with atmospheric detail… this book was a delightful surprise.”
—Fifi, Goodreads review
“This is exactly what I needed to get me through until spooky season.”
—Maegan, Goodreads review
“I loved Cass so much. I loved how she was not a weak, helpless girl who fears everything and can’t communicate, nor was she a fierce character who doesn't fear anything and never lets herself feel.”
—Kenzy, Goodreads review
“[If you’re looking for] a book written so beautifully that you imagine every single scene, a book with suspense and twists, and a book checks all the boxes when it comes to horror and thrillers… this is that book.”
—Ann, a Goodreads review
“Already craving more out of this series and these characters.”
—Lumie, a Goodreads review
“People should give this series a chance so they, too, can suffer with me until the next book.”
—Azia, a Goodreads review