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A review by ruthsic
Scream Site by Justina Ireland
3.0
Scream Site is a thriller novel about a young aspiring journalist working to uncover the mystery behind disappearances of girls connected to a horror site. Sabrina is a high school freshman, and she is determined enough to apply for an internship program at a news outlet - but first she needs a really good article to show her skills with. On the suggestion of her friend, Evelyn, she starts looking into the rumors surrounding Scream Site, that there are girls who use it and disappear. With the cases close to home, and because the police (which includes her uncle) not taking the disappearances seriously because they think them to be adult runaways, she feels she needs to see the investigation through, even if it seems like her life is also being threatened.
For a novel that is supposed to be a thriller, and with a name like that, the writing doesn't lend to much dramatic tension or evoking a sense of dread, except for maybe like one scene in the start of the book (when there wasn't even a real threat, just her nerves!). For the most part, it circles around Sabrina wondering if she should go forward with an increasingly dangerous investigation (she is only 14 so this is valid), and lying to the people worried about her looking into such a thing and endangering herself (also valid, because she is 14!) which means there is some sneaking around, a couple of library trips (which is weird because she has an internet connection and laptop at home), and a risky trip to an abandoned amusement park. Sabrina is convinced the videos posted on the horror site are real, while others are trying to convince her that it is only fake, as it should be. And so it goes over and over with her friend, her English teacher (who I had my eye on), her suspect Asher (thankfully there isn't a romantic arc with him) and her uncle (who learns a lesson in never dismissing evidence just because it came from a teenager).
Additionally, I felt this book lacked any sort of characterization or character development. It is pretty short, so it makes for a fast read, but it loses any meaningful characterization in lieu of making a high-stakes thrilling plot (which, I feel, it failed at). The story itself is good, which is a saving grace, but combined with the non-existent characterization and the lack of an atmosphere where you would feel worried about your protagonist, it doesn't make for an entertaining read. The twist at the ending was good, but also felt rushed when it involved Faith, as it felt like a way to give a personal level of involvement to Sabrina (that she was trying to create throughout the book).
Verdict: good story, but no thrills. Doesn't deliver on the promise of a good mystery novel.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Capstone, via Netgalley.
For a novel that is supposed to be a thriller, and with a name like that, the writing doesn't lend to much dramatic tension or evoking a sense of dread, except for maybe like one scene in the start of the book (when there wasn't even a real threat, just her nerves!). For the most part, it circles around Sabrina wondering if she should go forward with an increasingly dangerous investigation (she is only 14 so this is valid), and lying to the people worried about her looking into such a thing and endangering herself (also valid, because she is 14!) which means there is some sneaking around, a couple of library trips (which is weird because she has an internet connection and laptop at home), and a risky trip to an abandoned amusement park. Sabrina is convinced the videos posted on the horror site are real, while others are trying to convince her that it is only fake, as it should be. And so it goes over and over with her friend, her English teacher (who I had my eye on), her suspect Asher (thankfully there isn't a romantic arc with him) and her uncle (who learns a lesson in never dismissing evidence just because it came from a teenager).
Additionally, I felt this book lacked any sort of characterization or character development. It is pretty short, so it makes for a fast read, but it loses any meaningful characterization in lieu of making a high-stakes thrilling plot (which, I feel, it failed at). The story itself is good, which is a saving grace, but combined with the non-existent characterization and the lack of an atmosphere where you would feel worried about your protagonist, it doesn't make for an entertaining read. The twist at the ending was good, but also felt rushed when it involved Faith, as it felt like a way to give a personal level of involvement to Sabrina (that she was trying to create throughout the book).
Verdict: good story, but no thrills. Doesn't deliver on the promise of a good mystery novel.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Capstone, via Netgalley.