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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
I really like thrillers, but they are all just so bad. There are so many holes, and they just keep saying the same thing over and over without making any forward progress.
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Mystery thriller, romance with one of the suspects
This was a great mystery! Especially wonderful was a surprising mid-book twist, and how the key to solving the mystery was something that had been there the whole time but didn't at first seem significant to the main plot. I'd say more, but I don't feel like waxing poetic about why this was a great read. If you like mysteries with lots of suspense, suspects and surprises, you'll like this book.
Brilliant cover. So intriguing...until the end. Falls short for me just at the end, but still a good recommendation for teen readers new to the mystery/thriller genre. It is easy to let it slide that a teenager is an intern for a DA and is practically running the case.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i love Agatha Christie’s style plots where you are doubting every single character! 👌🏼
this started out good but got boring in the middle but the twist and the way it was revealed, chaos and all, was really good!
this started out good but got boring in the middle but the twist and the way it was revealed, chaos and all, was really good!
As a teenager from Louisiana, this author is startlingly skilled at being able to accurately and realistically depict teenagers from Louisiana. Some of the highlights:
- The high school isn't divided into unnatural, movie tropes of cliques. The cheerleader is nice and down to earth when she talks to the quiet journalist.
- The main character loops her best friend into the drama happening in her life.
- Her best friend doesn't get irrationally angry when the main character gets distracted by the shit show her life is becoming -- she understands her friend is struggling.
- The main character has a life outside of the main plot line. She actually hangs out with her friends without trying to use them for information or search the location for clues! All too often, teenage protagonists dump their friends as soon as their lives get dramatic or dangerous.
Of course, the book is great outside of that. I just really appreciated not having to suspend my belief for the "everyday" parts of the story, if that makes sense. I would definitely recommend giving it a try!
- The high school isn't divided into unnatural, movie tropes of cliques. The cheerleader is nice and down to earth when she talks to the quiet journalist.
- The main character loops her best friend into the drama happening in her life.
- Her best friend doesn't get irrationally angry when the main character gets distracted by the shit show her life is becoming -- she understands her friend is struggling.
- The main character has a life outside of the main plot line. She actually hangs out with her friends without trying to use them for information or search the location for clues! All too often, teenage protagonists dump their friends as soon as their lives get dramatic or dangerous.
Of course, the book is great outside of that. I just really appreciated not having to suspend my belief for the "everyday" parts of the story, if that makes sense. I would definitely recommend giving it a try!
RATING - 3 STARS
Was it bad? No. But was it captivating? Also no.
While I literally have no idea what is and isn’t allowed when trying a case in court, I feel like Kate fucked up too many times for anyone to take this b seriously.
Was it bad? No. But was it captivating? Also no.
While I literally have no idea what is and isn’t allowed when trying a case in court, I feel like Kate fucked up too many times for anyone to take this b seriously.
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
One morning five boys walk into the woods to go hunting. They had all been drinking and some of them had been taking drugs. When only four boys walk out alive, everyone wants to know what really happened in those woods. Camera footage reveals nothing and the boys’ powerful fathers want nothing more than to sweep this tragedy under the rug. Enter Kate Marino, a senior who is interning at the district attorney’s office.
What I Liked —
What I Liked —
- This was an incredibly engaging story. I was immediately drawn into the mystery of who killed Grant. I loved how the story was told through Kate’s perspective as she worked her job. I also liked the inclusion of one of the River Point Boys interjecting and sharing what needed to happen to keep the mystery around Grant’s murder in tact. I had a hard time stopping the audiobook once I got started.
What Didn’t Work For Me —
- I was obviously able to figure out the personalities of Grant and Shep as the book went on. However, I kind of grasped there was just one culprit responsible for the murder of Grant. But the River Point Boys were painted as this one character who took the form of multiple boys. I had no idea who was responsible for killing Grant and when the truth was revealed I was left scratching my head as to how I was supposed to figure that out. Isn’t the point of a mystery? Leave enough bread crumbs the reader could figure out the mystery?
- I’m not sure why the added element of inappropriate pictures was added to this story other than to paint a larger picture about how icky the River Point Boys were or to help Kate figure out camera angles? I mean, it served its purpose, but it also felt icky to include in this story primarily about murder.
- Kate. My sweet high schooler. You may like this guy but when he’s a suspect in a murder trial, you have to have some boundaries. Yikes.
Overall, I’m glad I read this backlist book. I also think mystery books for young adult readers have come a long ways in the past eight years. In this case, both are true.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Violence, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol