What would it be like to live inside a seemingly perfect community? That’s what bestselling author Jess Lourey explores in her latest novel, The Verdant Cage. In this departure from her thriller genre, Lourey explores the young adult space with a speculative, dystopian novel that fans of The Hunger Games and The Wilder Girls won’t be able to put down. The book will be hitting shelves April 7, 2026, but we were lucky enough to get a sneak peek in this exclusive interview with the author of your next most anticipated read.

You’re the winner of an International Thriller Award. What is it like switching genres from thriller to young adult?

Fortunately, my young adult publisher wanted me to bring all my thriller vibes over to write The Verdant Cage. This story delivers the danger and suspense of an adult thriller but through the eyes of Rose Allgood, a 17-year-old apothecary navigating not just a deadly mystery, but the emotional minefield of growing up. Her home, Noah’s Valley, has been sealed off by an impassable wall for five generations. The people have long stopped wondering what lies beyond, until they realize they’re trapped inside with a prolific killer. As Rose fights to protect the people she loves, she must also confront devastating truths about her community, her future, and herself.

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What sort of research did you do to figure out how to create a sustainable, walled society?

My research started with diving into the history of famous walled cities—Dubrovnik, Avila, Seoul, Agra—to discover the nuts and bolts of what life inside was like. What supplies did they need? What types of skills, what professions? How much arable land was required to be sustainable? That sort of thing. Then I did boots on the ground work, which included touring a walled city (San Gimignano in Italy) and small agricultural communities (mostly in Ireland) as well as hiking *at the base of* sheer cliffs that approximate the height of the wall around Noah’s Valley (El Capitan turned out to be perfect). That all gave me a feel for the sights and scope of the world I wanted to build.

Who are some of your favorite young adult authors?

I am such a fan of Sabaa Tahir, Leigh Bardugo, Suzanne Collins, and Tomi Adeyemi. Their world-building, complex characters, and pacing blow me away. Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery,” while not technically young adult, was also a big inspiration for this book. I remember freezing in shock the first time I read it back in high school. Such superb, terrifying storytelling.

You have a Master’s degree in sociology and are a former sociology professor. How’d you use that understanding of culture and community in writing this book?

All my thrillers touch on the theme that it takes a community to create a predator, and it takes a community to heal a victim. That idea of an individual always being part of a larger whole is sociology’s central premise, and one I got to lean into heavily when creating the world of Noah’s Valley. They’re a carefully designed, sustainable community, and writing about them gave me the chance to do what every sociologist dreams of: explore what an ideal society could look like, and what might go wrong. Through an incredible stroke of luck, my young adult editor, Madison Pelletier, is a certified sociological genius as well as gifted wordsmith, so we both got to nerd out on world-building.

Are there any parallels between this book and current headlines?

There are so many! The strongest parallel is also the book’s biggest twist, which makes it difficult to talk about. What I can say is that I believe humans—today more than ever—are feeling lonely and overwhelmed. We’re desperate for community. We also want to take care of each other and do the right thing—all boats rise together—but it’s hard to know where to start when a small group of people seemingly have all the power and are focused only on accumulating more wealth. The Verdant Cage shows a way out, one that carries extreme risks but equally mighty rewards.

The Verdant Cage by Jess Lourey

Teen apothecary Rose Allgood has always believed the towering Wall around Noah’s Valley was built to keep her people safe—until her mother is murdered and her twin brother is accused. As Rose searches for the real killer, she uncovers hidden messages, forbidden knowledge, and a past her community refuses to remember. The deeper she digs, the clearer it becomes: the Wall isn’t just keeping danger out—it’s trapping something far worse inside. The Verdant Cage is a chilling dystopian thriller that is both timely and familiar.

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Jess Lourey writes about secrets, fosters kittens, and travels. She’s surpassed a million readers, been twice shortlisted for the Goodreads Choice Award and the Edgar Award, and won the International Thriller, Anthony, and Minnesota Book Awards. Find out more on her magical website, and please join her over at Lourey’s Literati, her reading community on Facebook, for insider info, regular updates, and exclusive giveaways.