Eliza Clark's sophomore novel, "Penance," deftly examines the horrors of young girlhood. 10 years ago, the brutal murder of 16-year-old Joan Wilson was all the world could talk about, despite never getting real answers about exactly why Joan's schoolmates were motivated to hurt her. Today, down-and-out journalist Alec Z. Carelli is hoping to reclaim his literary fame by writing an exposé on the night in question, seeking answers from those who knew most about the incident — Joan's mother, witnesses, and even from the killers themselves. Will Alex offer an insightful revelation about the horrors of a young woman's death, or will his investigation rehash the trauma of the community, leaving more scars than they started with?
Release date: Sept. 26