Author:
Megan Miranda
Publication
Date: February 5, 2013
Publisher:
Walker Children’s Books
Mallory
killed her boyfriend, Brian. She can't remember the details of that night but
everyone knows it was self-defense, so she isn't charged. But Mallory still
feels Brian's presence in her life. Is it all in her head? Or is it something
more? In desperate need of a fresh start, Mallory is sent to Monroe, a fancy
prep school where no one knows her . . . or anything about her past. But the
feeling follows her, as do her secrets. Then, one of her new classmates turns
up dead. As suspicion falls on Mallory, she must find a way to remember the
details of both deadly nights so she can prove her innocence-to herself and
others.
In another riveting tale of life and death, Megan Miranda's masterful
storytelling brings readers along for a ride to the edge of sanity and back
again.
And
there was this feeling now. A presence. Not quite a ghost. But something.
Brian’s
blood had stained the kitchen tiles a fire-engine red. And as I watched him
slide to the floor, the color I felt inside was a deep, deep burgundy.
“The
circumstances?” I asked, but he didn’t respond. Must’ve been an interesting
conversation. We have a bit of a situation,
being that my daughter killed a boy –
specifically, her boyfriend – in our kitchen, and people are really none too
pleased about that here, you see.
Dead
is dead is dead.
For
the majority of this book I was confused, but in a very good way. In a way that
I didn’t mind at all! This was my first read by Megan Miranda, and I can see
why you either love her writing, or it drives you mad. I had to accept from the
beginning that not every piece or detail of Mallory’s story was going to be
given to me. Mallory was somewhat of an unreliable narrator, and lucky for me
those are my favorite kind. Mallory killed her boyfriend Brian, and this is the
story that follows that murder and the madness that Mallory is driven into.
This is an intense read that could be easily finished in one day.
Mallory
was an outstanding character. What I loved best about her story is that we
learn the secrets and twists of her relationship with Brian and his murder
right alongside her. She is a character that transforms drastically after her
boyfriend’s death, and she goes from being a girl with all her ducks in a row
to a girl that is so flawed and mistaken that she doesn’t know up from down.
The flaws in her character and narration are intense, suspenseful, and so different
from anything I have read this year. I also loved the secondary characters surrounding
her, including her best friend. Everyone needs a best friend like Mallory’s,
who helps her hold things together when her entire world is falling apart.
Just
when you think you have this story figured out, something dramatic happens and
puts a wrench in all your plans! It was like something more dramatic and
suspenseful was happening with the turn of each page. I was on the edge of my
seat, and had this book finished weeks ago. I planned to pace it out and try to
really savor each page, but I just could not stop reading. Not that I didn’t
savor each page, I just did it all at one time!
***A
copy of this book was generously provided to me by the publishers at Walker
Children’s Books in exchange for an honest review and participation in the blog
tour***
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