After We Were Stolen is so well executed and nicely written, you'd never guess it is a debut novel. Beyfuss tells us the story of two teenagers who escape from the commune where their parents were abusing them and preparing them for the end times. Avery and Cole escape while every one else, including eight other siblings, die in a tragic fire. 

What Avery and Cole discover after running away is even more shocking than how they grew up. Avery narrates us through her trauma and finding a way to live in a world she was never prepared for. At the center is a mystery she both must solve and does not want to solve- did anyone else survive? How did the fire happen?

I think this book is great for fans of dystopia, family thrillers, and isolated mysteries. The prose was lovely, concise and full of feeling. The characters were believable and relatable, even coming from unspeakable, unimaginable trauma. I highly recommend this book, it is on my list of top mysteries this year.