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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
I'm a big KMM fan and will read everything she writes. This book did not disappoint with the YA thriller/mystery that KMM does so well. Teenagers getting in over their heads because they know everything is so frustrating. This book made me consider doing juvenile law because those kids needed a good lawyer from the start.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
I really liked the set up of this one. But in the end it was just too similar to all of McManus' other books. They're entertaining, but they're all sort of the same - just moving around the details. I'd really like to see something off brand from the author. But it was a decent mystery and I didn't guess the outcome. The ending was a little open, like maybe we'll get a sequel. But I honestly don't care if we do. I think this will go down like her other books - I really liked reading them but I hardly remember anything that happened.
I had to restart this audiobook a few times because it was pretty boring at the beginning and I kept getting distracted. But it picked up after awhile and I enjoyed it. The ending was weird.
i really enjoyed the latest mcmanus mystery!! i was captivated by the story and would truly consider it a page-turner!! the characters were really interesting and well-developed if a bit confusing at times, but overall a great start to my 2022 reading list!
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
medium-paced
You’ll be the death of me is a first for me from this author. It wasn’t a great introduction. Judging by other reviews her fans are seeing a certain repetitiveness in the characters. All I saw was stereotypes. It’s told from three points of view from three middle school friends who have drifted apart in high school as one does. Ivy is the overachieving one who just lost her coveted class president role to the class clown Boney Mahoney and doesn’t want to be in school to hear his speech. Cal has just been dumped again by another girlfriend, his two dads are of no help and he’s wanting a little friendship. Mateo is working himself to death now that his mother’s bowling alley was sued out of existence and her arthritis is too much to work anymore. He just needs a break.
They decide on a whim to recreate the ‘greatest day ever’ when they had skipped on a school field trip years ago in Boston. They drive into town, all terrified of their parents if they get caught. Cal has ulterior motives for their first destination the illicit art studio in an abandoned building used by Cal’s friend (he hopes to be her boyfriend). Within seconds of getting their Ivy’s adversary shows up, goes in and they stumble on him potentially dead. Ivy faints at the sight of a syringe and Mateo carries her to the bar he works as conveniently close so no one sees him lugging an unconscious white girl through the streets.
I was ready to bail shortly after when the news report talks of the murder saying there was no CCTV in the area but they knew a blonde girl injected the victim and left. Um how? The rest of the mystery is pretty paint by numbers and the twist at the end was just plain bad. Even the trio’s voices weren’t well drawn. I had to keep referring back to the chapter title page to remember who’s pov I was in (especially the guys). I just wasn’t impressed.
They decide on a whim to recreate the ‘greatest day ever’ when they had skipped on a school field trip years ago in Boston. They drive into town, all terrified of their parents if they get caught. Cal has ulterior motives for their first destination the illicit art studio in an abandoned building used by Cal’s friend (he hopes to be her boyfriend). Within seconds of getting their Ivy’s adversary shows up, goes in and they stumble on him potentially dead. Ivy faints at the sight of a syringe and Mateo carries her to the bar he works as conveniently close so no one sees him lugging an unconscious white girl through the streets.
I was ready to bail shortly after when the news report talks of the murder saying there was no CCTV in the area but they knew a blonde girl injected the victim and left. Um how? The rest of the mystery is pretty paint by numbers and the twist at the end was just plain bad. Even the trio’s voices weren’t well drawn. I had to keep referring back to the chapter title page to remember who’s pov I was in (especially the guys). I just wasn’t impressed.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
4 stars.
[Content warnings: murder; mentions of drug/opioid addictions; brief mentions of death of parents. Nothing in this review].
Rather good! McManus just doing her thing, again.
On the positive front, I don't have much to say about this book that I haven't already said about Karen McManus's work. I was once again really engaged in the mystery, falling for red herrings left and right, and loving the characters.
I suppose I was particularly impressed in this instance by the pace of this mystery, given that it largely takes place over the course of one day. Things moved swiftly enough that I actually forgot that it was all a one day fiasco, which I think was a good thing.
I can't pinpoint any major reasons why this didn't bag a full 5 stars for me, but I do fear that in general I won't be able to distinguish this mystery from the others in a few weeks' time. I also would have liked to see or hear a bit more from Ivy's parents, especially given her mum's connection to research on opioids.
[Content warnings: murder; mentions of drug/opioid addictions; brief mentions of death of parents. Nothing in this review].
Rather good! McManus just doing her thing, again.
On the positive front, I don't have much to say about this book that I haven't already said about Karen McManus's work. I was once again really engaged in the mystery, falling for red herrings left and right, and loving the characters.
I suppose I was particularly impressed in this instance by the pace of this mystery, given that it largely takes place over the course of one day. Things moved swiftly enough that I actually forgot that it was all a one day fiasco, which I think was a good thing.
I can't pinpoint any major reasons why this didn't bag a full 5 stars for me, but I do fear that in general I won't be able to distinguish this mystery from the others in a few weeks' time. I also would have liked to see or hear a bit more from Ivy's parents, especially given her mum's connection to research on opioids.