Author: Karen McManus
Genre: mystery
Similar books: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Rating:
Summary (provided by publisher): Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah Story are cousins, but they barely know each another, and they've never even met their grandmother. Rich and reclusive, she disinherited their parents before they were born. So when they each receive a letter inviting them to work at her island resort for the summer, they're surprised . . . and curious.
Their parents are all clear on one point--not going is not an option. This could be the opportunity to get back into Grandmother's good graces. But when the cousins arrive on the island, it's immediately clear that she has different plans for them. And the longer they stay, the more they realize how mysterious--and dark--their family's past is.
The entire Story family has secrets. Whatever pulled them apart years ago isn't over--and this summer, the cousins will learn everything.
My opinion: Culturally, we have something of a fascination with the hyper-wealthy. It seems like even their troubles are more glamorous than ours. So books like this one pick those perceptions apart. This one has some twists. The parents were disinherited, so the titular cousin's own backgrounds are diverse and each brings their own baggage to the investigation. These elements are compelling. The actual investigation is less so. What starts with a normal secret cover-up quickly becomes far less realistic. The ending wraps up in a tidy package, again less satisfying.
More information: The Cousins releases December 1.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
No comments:
Post a Comment