Author: Monica Murphy
Genre: mystery
Similar books: Little Monsters by Kara Thomas
Bad Call by Stephen Wallenfals
Rating:
 |
| a bit disappointing |
Summary (provided by publisher): Beautiful. Perfect. Dead.
In the peaceful seaside town of Cape Bonita, wicked secrets and lies are hidden just beneath the surface. But all it takes is one tragedy for them to be exposed.
The most popular girls in school are turning up dead, and Penelope Malone is terrified she's next. All the victims so far have been linked to Penelope—and to a boy from her physics class. The one she's never really noticed before, with the rumored dark past and a brooding stare that cuts right through her.
There's something he isn't telling her. But there's something she's not telling him, either.
Everyone has secrets, and theirs might get them killed.
My opinion: This is not the first time we've read tales of horrible things happening to teen characters, the main suspect being another teen. It's not the best offering in the genre. For one, the suspect is a bit inexplicable. There's a rumor that his mother killed his father. That's it. This is the whole of the initial basis for his potential guilt. No personal enmity. Even if he'd had more motivation, his presentation, as with all of the characters, was fairly simplistic. The book is meant to be a thriller. For that to work we need to care about the character, to be caught up in their stories and concerned for their safety. We should feel the tension in every moment but it's not there. I could accept these failings more easily if it were meant to be more of a commentary on culture and the genre. If done correctly, a plot can be taken to ridiculous extremes and still reach the audience with sincere messages. This book is a bit more mediocre.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.
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