When a Green Light Kills: A Novel

By: JW Hales

He only meant to scare him. He changed one traffic light.

Sixteen-year-old Alex Parker is invisible at school and all-powerful behind his three glowing monitors. Since his father died, code is the only thing that has ever made sense.

Then there's Casey Hudson. Bright, funny, and dating Tyler Briggs, the school's golden jock.

Alex tells himself he's just looking out for her. So he slips a hidden app onto her phone. He reads her texts. He watches through her camera. And when jealousy finally wins, he hacks the city's traffic grid to give Tyler a scare he'll never forget.

But at 10:14 p.m., two green lights meet in the same intersection. And Tyler Briggs doesn't walk away.

Now a grieving classmate is taking the blame, Alex is erasing every trace of what he did, and Detective Bob Johnson refuses to believe it was an accident. Every move Alex makes to hide leaves another fingerprint, and his father's own code is leading the detective straight to his door.

The closer Alex gets to Casey, the tighter the net becomes.

How far will he go to stay a ghost? And what's left of him when there's nowhere left to hide?

When a Green Light Kills is a gripping young adult techno-thriller about obsession, guilt, and the high price of the truth. Perfect for fans of One of Us Is Lying, A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, and Little Brother.

Content note: this book contains a fatal car crash, stalking, and a suicide attempt (off-page). Recommended for ages 14 and up.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0HLLRM29F
• ISBN13: 9798178097779
• Release Date: September 2026
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 221 Pages
• Weight: 0.67 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.6" x 6.0"