Some say there are no new stories under the sun, and the longstanding tradition of YA reimaginings of classic stories suggests there’s some truth to this old adage. Ellie Marney’s None Shall Sleep follows this trend, taking inspiration from The Silence of the Lambs to tell a chilling story about two teens who enlist the help of one serial killer to catch another. Although Marney wears her source material on her sleeve, there is a beating heart of originality in None Shall Sleep that allows it to stand alone as an excellent read that will set your heart on edge.

Emma Lewis and Travis Bell, two teens intimately familiar with the twisted violence of serial killers, are thrust into the FBI’s hunt for a new killer and are enlisted to interview convicted teenage psychopath Simon Gutmunsson for insight into the mind of a killer. As the story unfolds, the tension never lets up, increasing as we learn more and more about its two killers and the true danger our heroes are in.

In broad strokes, the story follows the premise of The Silence of the Lambs, but Marney’s characters elevate it beyond mere homage, as Emma Lewis and Travis Bell are deeply complex and compelling heroes who complement each other brilliantly. The character of Simon Gutmunsson also does an admirable job standing in for the iconic Hannibal Lecter: equal parts alluring and terrifying in his own right.

Marney has outdone herself with this outstanding psychological thriller and I can’t help but think the book’s title is a message to all who read it. For ages 16+ (strong violence and gore).

Joe Murray works as a bookseller at Readings Kids.