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horsecube's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
As a Kirsten Miller fan, I was really excited to be approved by Netgalley for this eARC.
The story starts with Bram arriving in Louth, New York after a very long journey from Manhattan. She's come to stay with her uncle at a large manor house he's remodeling. There's a blizzard outside and she doesn't she feels like she's been forgotten. Eventually, she's picked up by a man her uncle hired to pick her up, which puts her on edge even though she's armed herself with a newly bought box cutter and bear repellant. She states vaguely that she's come to Louth in search of answers, but it also is hinted at that something or someone has chased her away from New York and there's something or someone preventing her from returning.
I was hooked from the first chapter. I didn't know which characters to trust, and I didn't know how they were all tied into the mystery. I didn't know what the past and three dead girls had to do with the present. I didn't know (but had suspicions) about what had happened to Bram to make her distrust people so much, especially men. I didn't know why she was in Louth, and what had happened in NYC to force her there. I loved her resourcefulness, drive, and determination. I loved the sleepy, wintery, slightly gothic atmosphere.I loved that because it's a Kirsten Miller book I knew women would save the day (and my prediction wasn't wrong). And all of that kept me reading.
Miller did use addiction as Bram's flaw though, a reason why she couldn't be believed or trusted no matter what she said or saw. I'm lukewarm on this because I love that it's clearly a limit to what the character can do (you can't just tell everyone that your uncle killed your aunt and dad if you were once an addict APPARENTLY because everyone will think you were just high I GUESS and then your uncle will kill you once he knows you know) and I love those kinds of confines that keep characters from going to the police or trusting others, but also it feels slightly icky for some reason. At this time my mixed feelings are hard to describe, but maybe I'll be able to articulate as I read more mysteries and thrillers.
Don't Tell A Soul is one of those YA books that are YA because of the main character's age and less so because of the content: there was some dark, enraging stuff going on. I haven't read many mysteries or thrillers but this one has your typical mystery-thriller trigger warnings, detailed in the content warning section.
Female empowerment, reclaiming your life, and serving justice when assholes try to discredit you because you're "troubled" or "broken", Don't Tell A Soul is def a win for YA mystery.
The story starts with Bram arriving in Louth, New York after a very long journey from Manhattan. She's come to stay with her uncle at a large manor house he's remodeling. There's a blizzard outside and she doesn't she feels like she's been forgotten. Eventually, she's picked up by a man her uncle hired to pick her up, which puts her on edge even though she's armed herself with a newly bought box cutter and bear repellant. She states vaguely that she's come to Louth in search of answers, but it also is hinted at that something or someone has chased her away from New York and there's something or someone preventing her from returning.
I was hooked from the first chapter. I didn't know which characters to trust, and I didn't know how they were all tied into the mystery. I didn't know what the past and three dead girls had to do with the present. I didn't know (but had suspicions) about what had happened to Bram to make her distrust people so much, especially men. I didn't know why she was in Louth, and what had happened in NYC to force her there. I loved her resourcefulness, drive, and determination. I loved the sleepy, wintery, slightly gothic atmosphere.
Don't Tell A Soul is one of those YA books that are YA because of the main character's age and less so because of the content: there was some dark, enraging stuff going on. I haven't read many mysteries or thrillers but this one has your typical mystery-thriller trigger warnings, detailed in the content warning section.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse and Sexual assault
Moderate: Addiction and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Forced institutionalization
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