In the middle of the night, Liv Walker is kidnapped from her bedroom by two masked figures. As she's dragged into an unmarked van, she's met with an even more horrifying sight: her family are waving goodbye...
Camp Smiling Skies is a wilderness therapy camp for "troubled teens". At least, that's what it says in the brochure. In truth, it's filled with dark secrets, cruel counsellors and no chance of escape.
Things seem as bad as they can get...until, one by one, people start to die. Liv has already been betrayed by her family, but it seems like they're not the only traitors in her life.
There's a murderer in the camp, and everyone's a suspect.
“…as much a story of grit, integrity and holding your ground under pressure as it is a fight for survival…a gripping, brisk YA thriller that will have the reader guessing right up to the end.”
— School Reading List
"Misdirection and growing suspense will keep readers guessing who is at fault for any of the crimes being committed, and, delightfully, common tropes are not followed... This story will be well received by those who enjoy suspense or campy horror."
— School Library Journal
"A fast-paced gripping thriller with a level of complexity to keep the reader engaged... reminded me of the brilliant Happy Head by Josh Silver.”
- Read for Good UK
"This is a pacy, gripping thriller where no one can be trusted. Surprising and sinister and with Francis' now signature mounting tension on each page, I read this in one sitting.”
– Ravena Guron, Bestselling Author of This Book Kills
"It’s The Breakfast Club meets the Traitors, in this treacherous world—nothing is as it seems and everything is worse than you think! Be prepared to be swept away by this twisty, adrenaline fueled, thriller!"
– Keely Parrack, 10 Hours to Go, Don't Let in the Cold
Perfect for fans of The Traitors, Karen M. McManus and E. Lockhart.
It's for Your Own Good is a young adult (YA) thriller by Kate Francis about a kidnapped teen sent to a brutal wilderness therapy camp where a murder occurs, blending mystery, horror, and romance with twists and suspense. The book, set in Utah, is described as a "tough love" story with a deadly game of "Werewolf" at its core. Coming UK in July 2026 and the US January 2027.