From Gossip Girl to “NYC Prep,” in dozens of books and television shows, young people can fantasize about the glamorous life of privileged teens --- or thank their lucky stars that their own lives aren’t as complicated. On first glance, Anna Jarzab’s debut novel might seem to be another in a long line of publications alternately titillating and scandalizing readers with the sex, drugs and designer clothes that define the lives of wealthy teens.

ALL UNQUIET THINGS, however, goes far beyond the surface --- in fact, that’s kind of the point. Although the surface trappings of prep school privilege are certainly on display here, Jarzab is far more interested in probing the complicated, troubled psyches of the three young people at the center of her novel. The result is a story as disquieting as it is suspenseful.

The focus of the novel is on the young heiress Carly, who has been dead for a year --- murdered in cold blood, supposedly by her uncle, who has squandered his own fortune and alienated his wife and daughter because of his gambling problem. When Carly’s beautiful cousin Audrey --- the daughter of the convicted murderer --- shows back up at Brighton Day School, she has a goal. Her mission? To clear her father’s name and determine who was really responsible for Carly’s murder.

Audrey enlists the help of Neily, Carly’s tortured ex-boyfriend, to help her track down the elusive clues. Neily is still in pain, not only about Carly’s death but also about her at times cruel behavior toward him while she was alive. He’s dubious that he and Audrey might be able to uncover facts that the police miss --- and annoyed that Audrey refuses to cross him off the list of suspects. However, as it becomes increasingly apparent that Carly’s death is connected to the culture of drugs, sex and general bad behavior at Brighton Day, perhaps Neily and Audrey are actually better equipped than the cops are to find out the true story of Carly’s murder.

ALL UNQUIET THINGS is a slow-building, suspenseful novel, based more on psychological profile than on action or violence. Neily and Audrey narrate separate sections of the book, focusing not only on their current investigation but also on flashbacks to when Carly was alive. The pair’s narration reveals a great deal about their own motives and misgivings, but also introduces readers to Carly, who becomes a startlingly vivid character, despite the fact that she’s dead before the novel even starts.

From the disturbing cover image to the oddly dispassionate, adult tone with which Neily narrates his sections, ALL UNQUIET THINGS balances probing psychological exploration with suspenseful, almost creepy storytelling. The result is a novel that will likely give readers more than one sleepless night.