Book Reviews by Genre: Mystery

After suffering a breakdown at the police station, Sam returns to the job six months later to investigate the murder of a young 14 year old girl. At the scene of the crime, a book titled “How to Get Away with Murder,” written by a man known as Denver Brady is found. The novel acts as a guide to serial killing, and further terrorizes the city of London. In order to get justice for the young girl, Sam must put herself in the mind of Denver Brady before he and Charlotte’s killer strike again.

This book was interesting. It was fun reading a book within a book, and Denver Brady’s narrative made the story much darker and more intriguing to read. While the overall concept was interesting, the climax fell pretty flat. I couldn’t tell if I was supposed to be surprised or shocked, as the book just kept dragging on. The ending felt very slow and by the end I will admit I was excited for it to be done. That being said, I was in the mood to read a murder mystery, and “How to Get Away with Murder” definitely delivered.

Want a mystery? A legal thriller? A twisted tale of violence and deceit? You've found the right book! Phillip Margolin is the master of suspense as he presents the first novel in his magnificent Robin Lockwood series, The Third Victim! Robin Lockwood, an upstart defense lawyer, has just landed her dream job under famed attorney Regina Barrister. In doing so, she is thrust into a case surrounding a string of horrifying murders, the last victim of which is the only one who has lived to tell the tale. The presumed culprit, Alex Mason, is quickly arrested and, based on the evidence, is almost certainly the perpetrator. Yet, he proclaims his innocence, hiring Regina to defend him. However, there are multiple contradicting stories, not all of which line up with the evidence. Even worse, Regina begins to act strange, and her behavior begins to threaten the success of the case. Can Robin find the truth amid the cloud of lies?
Nothing is as it seems in this perfectly twisty mystery novel. You'll be on your toes from the ominous opening to the big reveal as new evidence surfaces and new theories fill the air. The characters are dynamic and every inch of the page gleams with the perfect mix of emotion and action. Nothing about The Third Victim is predictable -- and none of it will disappoint you, guaranteed!
This is honestly one of the best books I've read this year and I hope you will enjoy every page-turning plot twist as much as I did!

My one complaint with this book, was the underwhelming synopsis. The summary included on the back of the book doesn't do it the proper justice it deserves. Remarkably Bright Creatures is not just a novel about an octopus solving a mystery, but also self-discovery, family ties, and unlikely connections. It deals with deeply emotional concepts, and the characters feel real as they struggle through their lives, each trying to achieve their individual goals that all somehow intertwine.
My favorite part of this book was the characters. I came to love Marcellus, Tova, and Cameron immensely by the end of the book. The development of these three characters was easily my favorite part. The suspense is not as high stakes as some other realistic fiction novels, but it still had me flipping page after page, yearning for more.
I would describe Remarkably Bright Creatures as a "chill" read. A book you can read to cleanse the pallet in between intense fantasy books, or a book you can read over the course of a month if you're busy and still enjoy.

After the first and second book in the Good Girl's Guide to Murder series, I couldn't wait to start the concluding novel, As Good As Dead. After her first two mysteries have ambiguous endings, Pip wants some clarity in her life. Pip wants to solve one last mystery, to fix her idea of good vs evil and prove that life isn't all a giant confusing puzzle. However, her digging puts her into even more danger than before, and Pip must fight to survive.
The stakes in As Good As Dead are greatly elevated from the first two books, which is what made the book so interesting for me. Pip is no longer just trying to solve a simple mystery, but also keep her family, friends and herself, safe. I was shocked by the plot twist in the middle of the book, and I loved watching Pip's smarts go into action as she works to solve her problems. This book had me laughing, crying, and terrified at numerous different moments. If you enjoyed the first two books, especially because of its lovable characters, I would 100% recommend As Good As Dead to you.

This is a novella that takes place in the A Good Girl's Guide to Murder world, before the first A Good Girl's Guide to Murder book. Initially I wasn't going to read this book, because I thought I wouldn't enjoy it as much. However, I found this book to be a surprisingly fun read. Not only do you delve deeper into Pip's character, but you also get to learn about her close group of friends, who I had wished I knew more about while reading the original trilogy. My favorite part of this book, though, was watching Pip fall in love with solving a mystery. It also shows why Pip decided to solve the Andy Bell Murder Case, which is another fun piece of information that wasn't explored in depth in the original books. While you do not have to read Kill Joy to enjoy the Good Girl's Guide to Murder books, it provides lots of information about Pip and her friends that expands the Good Girl's Guide to Murder world, adding depth to an already fantastic story.

“How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates” mixes rom-coms and horror into one great slasher novel. When Jamie decides to attend a speed-dating event with her best friend Laurie, the last thing she expects is to be forced into a real life slasher film. As tensions run high, she realizes she may not only be in a makeshift slasher movie, but it seems like the killer is attempting to create a romantic comedy atmosphere as well. With her wits and fellow daters, Jamie must use everything she’s learned from her years of watching and studying horror films to survive the night and hopefully find her happily ever after.

I thought this concept was so cool. While I found the plot twist to be sort of predictable, as a slasher enjoyer myself, I found the novel to be very entertaining. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time waiting to see who would survive and who would succumb to horror tropes. While I thought it was interesting, I didn’t love the rom-com aspect of the novel. I thought that part was boring and not very well developed. But, I absolutely love how the author tied it in with the ending!

Casey needed to get away; that's why she moved to a secluded cabin in the middle of nowhere New Hampshire, where her closest neighbor is miles away. Of course, Casey starts questioning her choices as a storm begins to roll in and the roof of her cabin is not looking promising. As the storm rolls in Casey's worry about her roof is momentarily disrupted when she receives an unexpected guess; a young girl covered in blood that isn't her own. Casey knows this girl is hiding something... and she's determined to figure out exactly what that is; but she has to survive the night if she wants to figure it out.

"The Intruder" is a fascinating book with a surprising plot twist. I would recommend it to anyone who likes vigilante thrillers and plot's that are far from what they seem to be.
Reviewer Grade: 12

Debbie is having a hard time, in more ways than one. Suddenly fired from her job, pushed away by her daughters, and kept in the dark by her husband about where he goes at night... Debbie can't take much more. Little does anyone know, Debbie has some secrets, and they just keep building as Debbie begins to snap.

"Dear Debbie" gives a unique perspective on how events from the past can determine the rest of someone's life. It's also a perfect book for those who love when nothing is as it seems. This is definitely a book I would recommend.
Reviewer Grade: 12

The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is the third book in The Inheritance Games series and cannot be read as a standalone.
The final installment follows the final weeks leading up to Avery Grambs’s eighteenth birthday when she will officially inherit Tobias Hawthorne’s fortune. This book introduces a visitor from outside the Hawthorne family, adding a new mystery and extra layers of conflict.
In my opinion, while I enjoy the concept of the universe and the puzzles, this book felt somewhat unnecessary. I understand that a satisfying conclusion was required, but by this point, the mystery felt forced and the love triangle drama felt like filler. Additionally, Avery’s character still felt overly adaptable and lacked distinctive growth, and the series’ signature riddles and puzzles, while clever, no longer felt as engaging or surprising. The resolution wrapped up loose ends but did so in a way that sometimes felt rushed or convenient.
I would recommend this book to those who have already read the first two books in the series and enjoy puzzle-driven mysteries, family intrigue, and romantic tension.

The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is the second book in The Inheritance Games series and it can’t be read as a standalone.
The book is about solving the mystery of how Avery Grambs is connected to Tobias Hawthorne and why she inherited his fortune. The story introduces more riddles, puzzles, and twists, while simultaneously intensifying the love triangle conflicts between Grayson Hawthorne and Jameson Hawthorne.
In my opinion, the book was engaging and kept me turning pages quickly, with clever puzzles and moments of suspense that made it fun to read. But, while the sequel expands the mystery, it lacks the tight-pacing or the satisfying puzzle-solving of the first book, often leading to repetition of structure. The novel leans heavily into the love triangle and ongoing riddles, but the central reveal doesn’t feel as impactful as the buildup suggests. Like many middle books in a trilogy, it spends more time setting up future twists than delivering a fully satisfying story on its own.
I would recommend this book to those who have already read the first book in the series and enjoy mysteries, clever puzzles, and romantic tension.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes follows Avery Grambs, a teenage girl living in her car, when she—out of the blue—becomes the youngest billionaire when she inherits billionaire Tobias Hawthorne’s money.
The catch? She has to live in the Hawthorne Mansion alongside the family Tobias Hawthorne just disinherited while solving riddles and puzzles.
In my opinion, this book was enjoyable. The short chapters led to a fast-paced book with a love-triangle subplot. Personally, I found most of the characters likable except for Jameson Hawthorne—one of Tobias’s four grandsons—and Avery, herself. Jameson had a tendency to speak in riddles and nonsense that made no sense, and his “rebellious” behavior was, at points, irritating. While Avery Kylie Grambs is positioned as a relatable and grounded protagonist, her personality often feels too adaptable and indistinct, making it difficult to form a strong emotional connection with her.
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy fast-paced mysteries, riddles and brain teasers, and love triangles.

Pip has become a local legend and internet crime solving star. Her fame grows exponentially after she publishes her podcast on Andie Bell's murder case, but she promises her family she won't seek out more cases because of the danger it put her and those she loved in. However, when her best friend Conner begs her to help find his missing brother, Pip decides to open one last case and find Jamie Reynolds.

I enjoyed this sequel to A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. In my opinion, the first was better, but the second was still very good. I finished it in less than two days. The second half of the book is especially interesting. Good Girl, Bad Blood doesn't just focus on the mystery, but also the relationships she has with her family, Ravi, Cara, Conner, and her other close friends. Holly Jackson does a wonderful job of exploring how the detective work Pip engages in affects her mental health and relationships. Personally, I found the emotional exploration more interesting than the mystery at times. Jackson makes sure to provide realistic emotions that Pip feels after being targeted while trying to solve her previous case. This book is well worth your time, especially if you enjoyed the first book in the series. It is an epic continuation of a story that started long before Pippa picked up the Andie Bell case.

I picked up this book because I wanted a quick, easy read that would keep me hooked throughout the entire adventure. I was not disappointed. Holly Jackson's novel is creatively put together to keep the reader on their toes, and it is emotionally packed, helping the characters feel real.

For her senior capstone project, Pippa-Fitz Amobi decides to reopen a missing persons case that was closed 5 years ago. And this case is especially close to home, as the victim and her murderer both went to the same high school Pippa is attending. However, suspicious points of evidence convince Pippa the story hasn't truly been told, and she sets out to gather as much information as she can. Each piece of evidence leads Pippa further down a rabbit hole to discover the truth, and as she gets closer to her goal and unknown person begins to threaten her. Pippa struggles to decide if she'd rather have guaranteed safety, or solve the case thats been nagging the back of her brain for years.

This book is 100% worth reading. Before beginning, I had promised myself I would avoid every red herring Holly Jackson planted to lead me away from the real criminal. However, it was unavoidable. Holly Jackson plants, takes away, then replants seeds of doubt about every suspect Pippa interviews. Despite this, when the mystery is solved it makes perfect sense and doesn't feel rushed, and there are little to no major plot holes. If you want a quick a read, then this is the book to pick up. I finished it in 25 hours and enjoyed every single page.

Jet Mason will be dead in 7 days. When an intruder attempts to murder her on Halloween night, miraculously, Jet survives the initial attack. However, due to other underlying medical issues, doctors are convinced a deadly aneurysm will kill her in a week. In a race against time and health Jet decides she's going to officially accomplish one last thing before the end: she's going to solve her own murder.

This was the most heartbreaking Holly Jackson book I think I've ever read. Despite the dark and depressing topics in this novel, Jackson expertly weaves the most beautiful and heartwarming lessons about life. Jet's character might go down as one of my top favorite characters of all time, as the emotions and actions she displayed were so utterly human and raw in the most terrible of circumstances. As this book is a mystery, I was absolutely on the edge of my seat the whole time! I was desperate to know who Jet's attacker was, and many other plot twists started coming to life. The concept of a woman solving her own murder is so original and far-fetched, but Holly Jackson executed the story perfectly.

When Meddelin Chan accidentally kills her blind date, the last thing she needs is to add a 2,000 guest Chinese-Indonesian wedding to the mix. Luckily, her immigrant mother and three meddling aunties are prepared to do whatever it takes to hide the body and successfully cater the wedding. With the aunties dealing with a wedding, a body, and Meddy’s unexpected college sweetheart, nothing could possibly go wrong, right?

I thought this book was really cute! I wasn’t exactly sure what premise I was expecting due to the many different conflicts, but I thought the aunties were hilarious and the plot was executed well. This book was very fast paced and not at all hard to read, and I especially liked the author’s note of how this book was a love letter to her culture and her family. I feel like it made the cultural elements of the novel much more compelling. Overall, the book was very simple and shockingly kept me in suspense the whole time just because I had no idea which way the story was going to go. “Dial A for Aunties” was definitely a fun and easy read.

"A Good Girl's Guide to Murder" by Holly Jackson is a mystery about a high schooler, Pip, who chooses to re-investigate a case on Andie Bell, who was said to be murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Singh. Pip wants to prove Sal's innocence and uncovers dark secrets from her town. This book easily became one of my favorites because it had so many mysteries and suspense. I loved the shocking twists that came throughout every part of the story, and the author really kept me engaged while reading it. Holly Jackson also described and showed Pip's character and development in such a great way. This book also made me excited to read the other books in the series. Definitely recommend this book to people who love mysteries and detective work.

Ever since he was taken in by the enigmatic, reclusive billionaire Byron Lennox-Hall, Evander has never known anything except the walls of his room in his guardian's large gothic mansion known as the Hazelthorn Estate. Physically sick, traumatized, and orphaned, he remembers next to nothing about his childhood - except that Byron's grandson, Laurie, once tried to kill him by burying him alive. For Evander's safety, Byron has given him a strict set of rules he must abide by, including that he must never leave his room or go anywhere near Laurie alone. And he cannot, for reasons unbeknownst to him, go into the ever-growing, ominous gardens of Hazelthorn.

Then one day Byron dies a gruesome death right in front of Evander. And a look in Byron's will reveals something strange: all of Hazelthorn Estates and his riches will be inherited by Evander, leaving nothing to the rest of his family, including Laurie. Horrified by the sudden turn of events, Evander is certain that his caretaker must have been murdered, leaving him to find the killer. But other threats appear as Byron's eerie relatives begin to move into the estate, clearly wanting a claim on Evander's newfound riches, and as Hazelthorn's strange garden, previously off-limits to Evander, continuously grows, threatening to swallow up the Estate - and Evander himself. As unsettling family secrets begin to reveal themselves one by one, Evander is forced to figure out the ugly truth behind Hazelthorn Estates before the garden - or Byron's supposed murderer - gets to him, and he might just have to put his trust in Laurie, the boy who tried to kill him years ago, to survive.

I must start off by stating that Drews' writing style was very immersive in my opinion - I loved the dark, psychological style of the book, although at some points it felt a little overdone and edgy. The plot was, in simplest terms, insane: there were definitely twists that I never could have predicted, and each one was more surprising than the last. The body horror elements in the novel managed to spook me a little, which is rare for me. The book is fast paced, especially the second half, and each chapter left me with so many questions that I just had to keep reading for want of finding out. Evander and Laurie's relationship was also very complex - it was a genuine lovers-to-enemies story, and both of the characters slowly letting out their traumas and vulnerabilities gave the story emotional output and catharsis. I also enjoyed Evander's journey to self-acceptance, that feeling of finally breaking free from the confines one's been put in and learning to love oneself. Overall, it was personally a good read and a nice introduction to the body horror genre for me. I also look forward to potentially reading Drews' previously published work of a similar genre, Don't Let the Forest In.

"Under the Surface" follows Ruby, who can't wait to see the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and the catacombs on her school trip to Paris - and film every moment of it to put on her YouTube channel, Ruby's Hidden Gems. So, when a mysterious French stranger offers to take Ruby, her best friend, and two other classmates to a party in the part of the catacombs that aren't available to the public, she can't refuse. But the group takes a wrong turn and never makes it to the party. Now, they are lost in the catacombs, and soon it becomes apparent that there are sinister forces under the surface of Paris with them...

I was sorely disappointed with not only the execution of "Under the Surface", but also the plot itself. Not only were there extreme typos (e.g., saying "grizzly" instead of "grisly"), but there were also plot errors that were simply impossible to ignore (e.g., hearing a fact about the Paris catacombs from one of the characters, then later in the book claiming that she read it online). None of the characters were likable and every one of them were YA cliches that had absolutely no development or emotional depth. The voice of the book was off as well, with some moments being (unrealistic) teenage bickering, jokes, and drama, others being a fact-dump about the catacombs, and still others being randomly-inserted flashbacks that occurred at awkward moments. None of these components were well-done, and none of them meshed together into a cohesive and interesting story - they merely took away from the main plot. This book also is split perspective, with some chapters following Ruby and others following her love-interest Sean, but Sean's chapters were absolutely useless, and their relationship was so undeveloped, unrealistic, and awkward that it added nothing to the story. Overall, even though the plot was supposed to be thrilling, I found myself bored from the poorly executed story-telling, which relied on telling rather than showing and did not focus on the interesting elements of the book (being trapped in the catacombs), concentrating more on the unrelated drama and backstories of the characters, which seemed to carry more emotional weight than the situation itself.

Nearly a decade ago Lane Roanoke ran away from the Roanoke residence, determined to never go back...

Lane Roanoke did not have an easy childhood, constantly wondering where she truly came from. When her mother passes, Lane is surprised when her grandparents offer to take her in. The Roanoke residence is nothing as she would have imagined, but it feels like home. Her near in age cousin, Allegra, whom her grandparents have raised, is something of an enigma, keeping Lane company and curious. However, when Lane learns the terrible secret of the Roanoke's, she can't bear staying any longer. Now she is back a decade later for one reason; Allegra has gone missing. As she tries to uncover the truth of her cousin's disappearance, Lane is reminded why she left in the first place...

"The Roanoke Girls" was a book that one wants to see what happens at the end. However, the plot twist is not very shocking, which was slightly disappointing. The book also covers difficult topics, however, emphasizes important themes. I likely would not read this again but glad I gave it a try.

Dr. Anna Fox hasn't left her house in almost a year; unable to face the outside world after a tragic incident. With so much time on her hands she spends her days drinking, counseling strangers online, and watching old movies. Anna also has one other habit... she watches her neighbors, trying to pick at and understand their lives. So, when the Russell's move in she watches carefully, surprised when the enigmatic Jane Russell comes knocking on her door. After an intriguing few hours with Jane, Anna feels better than she has in a long time. However, when she watches the Russell's house again, she sees something no one was supposed to witness. All of a sudden Anna is up against multiple strangers who will do anything to keep a secret...
"The Woman in the Window" had an interesting plot twist one wouldn't see coming. However, it took quite a long time to cover some important themes and ideas in the book, making the first half slightly harder to read. The ending did make it worth reading, though this would likely stay as a onetime read.

Nora Davis's father is a serial killer. When she was a child, he would take young women into his basement "workshop" and torture them, cutting off their hands to keep as trophies before killing them. But her father has been in jail for 26 years, and Nora is now a successful surgeon with a thriving practice, caught between her packed workload, a cute - and strangely familiar - bartender, and trying to keep her business partner, Paul, away from the new secretary. But everything changes when Nora's past patients are found dead...with their hands cut off. Now, Nora is under suspicion for the murders, and the police are determined to pin the crimes on her, forcing Nora to investigate and uncover her father's secrets once and for all.

"The Locked Door" is a thrilling mystery that will keep you guessing from beginning to end. I really liked how the perspective switched between Nora's younger self and her current life, because it was interesting to learn more about her dad and her perspective on his murders. Overall, this book is suspenseful and twisty - just an all-around good YA murder mystery. The one thing I will say is that sometimes the plot got a little bit repetitive and the ending was less exciting than it could have been. Other than that, if you are a murder mystery lover, "The Locked Door" is perfect for you!

Gordon Korman books are consistently good. However, this one has to be one of the ones I have read the most. It follows spoiled brat Jett Baranov, son of the creator of the biggest tech firm, well, ever, a corrupt 'wellness' camp, and... baby alligators? Anyway, all Jett knows is he hates Grace Atwater, the cheerleader for this place designed to make him suffer. I mean, no electronics, no meat, and the pool is set to boiling temperature, what else is supposed to do except steal his phone back and order a Dance Dance Revolution Machine? I should mention he is at this camp because of a little drone, and an army attack. Eventually Jett realizes there is something off about the camp, besides all the first impressions, and realizes he's the only one clear-headed enough (probably because of all the vegetables everyone else eats) to realizes exactly how crazy the camp is. However, he's up against Magnus, the most 'chill' guy, and Ivory, a woman built like a football player.

"The Forbidden Book" by Sacha Lamb follows Sorel, a seventeen-year-old who escapes from her father's house the night before she is to marry the Rabbi's son. Sorel disguises herself as a man and takes on the identity of Isser Jacobs, running to the city in hopes that she can blend in and avoid detection. However, little does Sorel know that the real Isser Jacobs is a revolutionary, a criminal, and a thief. Now, she is being pursued by the real Isser's enemies. Sorel soon discovers that the real Isser is dead - and that, somehow, his soul is in her body. Teaming up with a kind stranger named Sam and the real Isser's girlfriend, Adela, Sorel sets out on a quest to find the real Isser's body and uncover the mysteries surrounding the last moments of his life.

First of all, I would like to say that I really enjoyed how the author incorporated of Jewish culture into this book, because I think that this is often underrepresented in many YA novels. Additionally, even though the idea of Sorel escaping and disguising herself as a man has already been done in many books, Lamb's new take on a case of mistaken identity was really intriguing and refreshing to read. The only complaints I have are the fact that the voice of "The Forbidden Book" was a little off - at some points it would match the time period, and at others, it would feel more modern - and that the ending felt a little bit rushed, which was disappointing because the entire story led up to that reveal. Overall, though, "The Forbidden Book" is a solid YA fantasy novel that many will enjoy, and the author did a great job weaving underrepresented groups of people and ideas into an interesting plot

Millie needs a job, and quickly if she doesn't want to break the terms of her parole. So, when she's hired by Nina Winchester as a housemaid, she can't believe it. The Winchester's are an extremely wealthy family, and Millie can't help but notice that Nina's husband, Andrew, is particularly handsome. All seems to be going well until suddenly it's not. Nina's behaviors are sporadic and eccentric, and she often lashes out at Millie, going back on her word and constantly placing the blame on Millie. Millie's only comfort is Andrew, who, against her better judgement, she continues to get closer to. Except when the time finally comes for Millie to know the truth... nothing is as it seems.

"The Housemaid" is an interesting read, although the plot twist is definitely not as surprising as some of Freida McFadden's other work.

Dan has tried to move on from the traumatic event that happened in his childhood. He is now successfully working in a prison, his job revolving around treating patients and understanding why they committed crimes. So when he gets a call that his father is likely dead, Dan's life is turned upside down. Returning to his home island, Dan becomes suspicious of the circumstances of his father's disappearance. As he continues to investigate, the events from his past make their way into his life... and everything comes together.

"The Man Made of Smoke" is an interesting thriller that does a good job of showing the complexities of father son relationships. The plot twist was definitely unexpected and not in the greatest of ways and somewhat made the whole book slightly confusing. Overall, it was a good read.

Paris can't believe what's happening; it just can't be real. As she awaits trial for the murder of her husband she can't help but wonder how she got here. Despite the lengths she went to escape her past, it all seems to be coming right back after her. Drew is furious Ruby Reyes is getting out of prison. He knows exactly the type of women Ruby Reyes was and the lies she's told the media. Little does Drew know Ruby Reyes and Paris are connected in a way he never expected. Ruby knows Paris' secret, and Paris is willing to do anything to ensure that secret never gets out.

"Things We Do in the Dark" was a very interesting and twisty read. The switch between two storylines was difficult to follow at first and definitely took away from the book. Overall, however the characters were relatable, and the plot twist was amazing.

Paul Sheldon, the bestselling author of the Misery book series, crashes his car in the wilderness of Colorado just after finishing his latest book. Gravely injured and unable to walk, he is rescued by Annie Wilkes - a self-proclaimed "number one fan" of his work. She nurses him back to health in her house, all the while reading his latest Misery novel. However, when she discovers that Paul has killed off her favorite character, she reveals how unstable she truly is. Holding Paul captive, Annie forces him to write another book that will bring Misery back to life. There is no escape - and Paul soon finds that his "number one fan" will use any means necessary to force him to write his newest book...

"Misery" has to be one of my favorite Stephen King novels. The very relevant themes of obsession and addiction that he explores - along with the suspenseful and thrilling plot - made it impossible for me to put this book down! The plot is very well thought-out, and King's writing puts the reader into Paul's mind, allowing them to experience his thoughts, addiction, and pain firsthand. The idea, execution, and writing style of this book are truly amazing, creating a well-rounded and captivating story. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes psychological horror - especially those who have already watched the movie adaptation of "Misery". Although the film does a phenomenal job of telling this story, the inclusion of Paul's thoughts, the slightly different (and more terrifying!) ending, and King's writing itself makes this book a must-read for preexisting "Misery" fans!

A book about a secret school of deadly assassins? Yes please! I had not read a book by Mather before but because of this book I will definitely read again in the future. November is an intriguing character, and she was a great kick butt girl boss. The plot and book flowed nicely and the mystery was well thought out. I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes spies and assassin type books.

I typically love anything JLB puts out but this felt flat. The prospect was intriguing but the book dragged and was very dry. The romance felt rushed and had no chemistry. I honestly was so bored to death and had cringed so much I just did not finish the book. I would not recommend this book, but I would recommend the author!

I really loved the spunky main character Sawyer! Her development throughout the book and trying to be a debutante was entertaining and funny. All of the characters were well developed and at times I found myself laughing out loud at the dialogue. The story was very entertaining, and the mystery woven throughout it was amazingly well thought out! I'd recommend this to anyone who loves a Cinderella story with a mystery twist!