Empty Smiles

Katherine Arden is the New York Times bestselling author of the Winternight trilogy and the Small Spaces quartet. In addition to writing novels, she enjoys aimless travel, growing vegetables, and running wild through the woods with her dog. She lives in Vermont.

New York Times bestselling author Katherine Arden thrills once again in the finale to the critically acclaimed, bone-chilling quartet that began with Small Spaces.

It s been three months since Ollie made a daring deal with the smiling man to save those she loved, and then vanished without a trace. The smiling man promised Coco, Brian and Phil, that they d have a chance to save her, but as time goes by, they begin to worry that the smiling man has lied to them and Ollie is gone forever. But finally, a clue surfaces. A boy who went missing at a nearby traveling carnival appears at the town swimming hole, terrified and rambling. He tells anyone who'll listen about the mysterious man who took him. How the man agreed to let him go on one condition: that he deliver a message. Play if you dare. 

Game on! The smiling man has finally made his move. Now it s Coco, Brian, and Phil s turn to make theirs. And they know just where to start. The traveling carnival is coming to Evansburg.

Meanwhile, Ollie is trapped in the world behind the mist, learning the horrifying secrets of the smiling man's carnival, trying everything to help her friends find her. Brian, Coco and Phil will risk everything to rescue Ollie but they all soon realize this game is much more dangerous than the ones before. This time the smiling man is playing for keeps.

The summer nights are short, and Ollie, Coco, Brian, and Phil have only until sunrise to beat him once and for all or it s game over for everyone.

BESTSELLING, CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED AUTHOR: Katherine Arden is the bestselling author of The Bear and the Nightingale, which has earned her an instant and passionate fandom that has helped Small Spaces and Dead Voices garner great buzz and strong sales, especially in paperback form. With the publication of Dark Waters and its thrilling cliffhanger ending, fans will be rabid for the final book in the series.STRONG SERIES SALES: This series continues to sell very well with Small Spaces selling approximately 200 copies a week and Dead Voices a 100 copies a week. Collectively the series has netted over 158,000 copies and has rights sold in 14 countries!STELLAR REVIEWS: Since publication, Dead Voices and Small Spaces have received three starred reviews each among other raves. Small Spaces has landed on 19 state award lists (and counting!).SPELLBINDING FINALE WITH CLOWNS!: Katherine is the queen of scares and her chilling adventures have only escalated with each installment. This time, Brian and Coco will have to face not only the smiling man, but sinister clowns. As Brian and Coco race to save Ollie, readers' hearts will be racing as the countdown to the climactic end nears.MORE TO COME: While this is the last book in the quartet, the paperback of Dark Waters will be publishing just one month before and will feature a teaser to this final book.