The Initial Insult is a dark, propulsive mystery book by Mindy McGinnis. The story takes place in Amontillado, Ohio, where Tress Montor, a Montor family member, lost everything when her parents disappeared seven years ago. Felicity Turnado, who was with the Montors the night they disappeared, has a secret that she's kept hidden. Tress has a plan to pry the truth from Felicity at a Halloween costume party at an abandoned house. The book draws inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe and delivers a friendship unraveling story in alternating points of view.