Author: Emily Hainsworth
Series: Stand Alone
Published By: Balzer & Bray (February 16, 2016)
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: YA Mystery
My Rating: 3 Stars
Book Description:
WHO KILLED GRETCHEN MEYER?
Fear grips the residents of Hidden Falls the night Sonia Feldman and her best friend, Gretchen Meyer, are attacked in the woods. Sonia was lucky to escape with her life, but Gretchen’s body is discovered at the bottom of a waterfall. Beautiful, popular, and seemingly untouchable, Gretchen can’t be gone. Even as Sonia struggles with guilt and confusion over having survived, the whole town is looking to her for information…could she have seen something that will lead the police to the killer?
At the top of the list of suspects is Gretchen’s ex-boyfriend—and Sonia’s longtime enemy—Marcus Perez. So when Marcus comes to Sonia for help clearing his name, she agrees, hoping to find evidence the police need to prove he’s the killer. But as Gretchen’s many secrets emerge and the suspects add up, Sonia feels less sure of Marcus’s involvement, and more afraid for herself. Could Marcus, the artist, the screwup, the boy she might be falling for have attacked her? Killed her best friend? And if it wasn’t him in the woods that night…who could it have been?
Who doesn't love a good heart pounding, pulse racing thriller?
We are immediately thrown right into the very heart of the story as the novel opens with Sonia frantically fleeing the woods for her life after being attacked and nearly killed.
Right off you know this will be a mystery that is gong to mess with your head and while I did have most of it figured out way early on in the story, the author managed to put twists and new turns into the story that more than once, had me questioning whether or not I really did have it all right and whether or not I really did know who attacked Sonia and killed Gretchen.
But even though I ended up being right in the end, this story still managed to hold my attention and keep me interested with the suspense, the mystery of why, and of course the slight love interest that was completely forbidden for so many reasons.
All in all this was an engaging read that kept me turning the pages right up until the end.
*All thought and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*
it's always a bit sad when you figure everything early but it sounds like an interesting thriller too!
ReplyDeleteIt was still really good despite that. ;)
DeleteAhh that's one of my issues with YA mystery novels. It's easy for me to figure out what's going on early on. But I still enjoy reading them depending on how they are written.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you liked this one overall, Ali! I have this on my TBR so I'm hoping to read it soon.
Lovely review!
Exactly Nick. They are still fun even if you can figure them out. ;)
DeleteYay for thrillers - especially if they're well written and get your heart pumping! :) It's too bad about the predictability factor, but overall, it sounds like great escapism. Fabulous review, Ali!
ReplyDeleteIt was a good escape read. ;) Thanks for stopping by Ramona and have a read weekend!
DeleteOMG I love these hair raising thrillers Kindlemom. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThey are fun. ;)
DeleteI am all for engaging. Maybe this one will work for me. Thanks for sharing your review!
ReplyDeleteI really hope it does!
DeleteI'm usually a little bummed when I think I figured it out, but then I'm thrilled I was right, or shocked I was wrong. I have a complicated relationship with mysteries. :)
ReplyDeleteI hear ya. ;) Have a great weekend Tyler!!
DeleteOoh, this sounds interesting! I'll toss it on my TBR. Thanks for putting this on my radar!
ReplyDeleteOf course, thanks for stopping by and checking it out!
DeleteThere are so many freaking thrillers coming out this year in YA! I guess this is the year then. I may not read them all, but I'm gonna try. Great review!
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to see them all for sure. ;)
DeleteOh I like you are thrown right into it! Plus I stink at figuring out the who's and why's so maybe this will work for me. Great review!
ReplyDeleteI bet it does. ;)
DeleteI do like this kind of story. I don't think this one ended up on my review pile so I'm not sure if I'll ever read it, but I'll definitely consider it if it lands in my lap!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that!
DeleteA forbidden love story, in a book that messes with your head? Sign me up! lol. This sounds good, I'm glad it held your attention right the way through.
ReplyDeleteThanks, that was the really nice part about it, even though I had it figured out, I still wanted to read it and finish. ;)
DeleteThis is my problem with YA mysteries, it's usually super easy to figure it out which kind of takes out the fun...
ReplyDeleteGlad you still liked it Ali!
I do agree with that. ;) Happy Friday!
DeleteWith an opening like that, I'd be biting my nails throughout this read. Sounds suspenseful!
ReplyDeleteIt was in some parts. ;)
DeleteIt is but if there are surprises along the way then it isn't too bad and this did have some.
ReplyDeleteSorry you had parts figured out but it still sounds worth checking out! Plus, I tend to not guess things right. .haha
ReplyDeleteI bet you would like this. :)
DeleteI do love it when you have it all figured out but the author puts twists in that make you second guess. If you have to know early, that is the way to go. Sounds like a good thriller. I've been enjoying those lately.
ReplyDeleteThat was the fun part, not quite knowing if I was right or not until the end. ;)
DeleteI do love a good mystery thriller, but don't particuarly enjoy the ones that are too predictable. Mystery trhiller's have to keep me guessing.
ReplyDeleteThat is always best but it wasn't until the very end when I knew I had it right if that helps or not. ;)
DeleteI really don't mind figuring it out early as long as there's great delivery.
ReplyDeleteMe too.
DeleteSounds like a nice thriller. Glad you liked it despite figuring out the culprit.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteThere is really only a handful of books that can grab my attention in a mystery. I always find that they really spoil it by knowing who dunnit already. But I'm glad it added some twists and turns for you. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, I really was too, it kept it interesting.
DeleteI'm glad you still enjoyed it, even though you guessed the twists. I hate when that happens! :)
ReplyDeleteIt was nice that it still kept me reading. :D
DeleteIt's kinda fun to have it figured out and then them to get you questioning yourself. Glad you enjoyed!
ReplyDeleteIt was a little bit. ;)
DeleteI love when a book starts off with a bang like that. I might pick this one up.
ReplyDeleteI hope you like it if you decide to.
DeleteI always tell myself I should read more mysteries. They really do intrigue me, I just haven't gotten hold of one in well, quite a long time. Even though you guessed the end of this one, I will still look into it, especially if it had good twists!
ReplyDeleteI hope you end up liking it! Mysteries really can be fun. ;)
DeleteSorry this was a bit predictable for you, Ali. But I'm glad the mystery kept you glued, anyway.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I am too. :D
DeleteDespite figuring things out, this does sound like a suspenseful mystery.
ReplyDeleteIt was fun despite it. ;)
DeleteSometimes even when you figure things out, you still can enjoy parts of the story-if it is told right, that is. Sorry it wasn't a better read for you though. It sounds a bit like the other review you posted recently. :)
ReplyDeleteIt kind of was to be honest, good but nothing mind blowing. ;)
DeleteI'm pretty pitiful when it comes to figuring out whodunit but, as long as the story's good, I'm in!
ReplyDeleteIt was still good. ;)
Delete