A WILDERNESS OF STARS By Shea Ernshaw

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

A WILDERNESS OF STARS By Shea ErnshawA Wilderness of Stars by Shea Ernshaw
Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers on 11/29/22
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 397
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
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When all is lost, look to the stars.

Vega has lived in the valley her whole life—forbidden by her mother to leave the safety of its borders because of the unknown threats waiting for her in the wilds beyond. But when Vega sees an omen in the sky—one she cannot ignore—she is forced to leave the protective boundaries of the valley. Yet the outside world is much more terrifying than Vega could have ever imagined. People are gravely sick—they lose their eyesight and their hearing, just before they lose their lives.

But Vega has a secret: she is the Last Astronomer—a title carried from generation to generation—and she is the only one who understands the knowledge of the stars. Knowledge that could hold the key to a cure. So when locals spot the tattoo on Vega’s neck in the shape of a constellation—the mark of an astronomer—chaos erupts. Fearing for her life, Vega is rescued by a girl named Cricket who leads her to Noah, a boy marked by his own mysterious tattoos.

On the run from the men hunting her, Vega sets out across the plains with Cricket and Noah, in search of a fabled cure kept secret by the astronomers. But as the line between friends and protectors begins to blur, Vega must decide whether to safeguard the sacred knowledge of the astronomers…or if she will risk everything to try to save them all.

Short and Sweet Review

When Vega sees the twin stars she knows its a sign for her to leave the valley she’s grown up in and look for the last architect. The world outside of the valley is more dangerous than Vega ever thought, people are sick and dying and will do anything to find a cure. Vega is in danger because after her mom died she became the last astronomer the only one who can read the stars. Vega also has a tattoo of a constellation on her neck that people believe is the answer to where the cure is and these people will do anything to get to Vega. While trying to find the last architect Vega meets Cricket and Noah who travel across the plains to help her find what the twin stars were hinting at. 

This book started off slow but it starts to pick up once Vega leaves the valley and goes in search of the architect. There’s a group of men hunting Vega once they realize who she is and then it becomes a game of cat and mouse. It was crazy seeing how determined these men were to get her and they were only like a few steps behind her each time. Vega was a good character she was ready to follow the path that’s been set for her. Her one flaw to me was that she would always go against better judgement and each time she did that she put the group in more danger.

This was an interesting book and after we get past the first part and things really start to pick up, everything comes together and starts making sense. This book was so different the fact that Vega was the last one left who was able to read the stars, the sickness that has affected almost everyone, and the final destination that Vega has to reach to basically fulfill her quest. This book was captivating and will have you invested in Vega’s journey from the beginning to the end!

IN THE STUDY WITH THE WRENCH By Diana Peterfreund

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

IN THE STUDY WITH THE WRENCH By Diana PeterfreundIn the Study with the Wrench by Diana Peterfreund
Series: Clue Mystery #2
Published by Amulet Books on 10/13/20
Genres: Contemporary, Mystery & Detective, Romance, Thrillers, Young Adult
Pages: 335
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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New semester. New secrets. New murder.

In the aftermath of their headmaster’s brutal murder, Blackbrook Academy has been thrown into chaos. Half the student body hasn’t bothered to return to campus—but those who have include Orchid McKee, Vaughn Green, Scarlett Mistry, Beth “Peacock” Picach, Phineas Plum, and Sam “Mustard” Maestor, now warily referred to by the other students as the Murder Crew.

When another staff member is found dead, each teen’s reasons for sticking around come to light. Orchid and Vaughn grow ever closer to having their secrets exposed, Peacock and Scarlett struggle to change their stripes, and Plum and Mustard question everything. As everything comes to a boiling point at Tudor House, nobody’s life will ever be the same.

Short and Sweet Review

We’re back at Blackbrook Academy and after headmaster boddy’s murder the group of kids that were in the Tudor house are being called the murder crew. Our six main characters are back and this time when another body is found more secrets are unveiled about our main characters and their reasons for wanting to stay at the academy instead of going home.

Again we get all six characters POVs but I feel like some of these characters really had nothing to offer and their POV was just filler. Peacock still has the shortest chapters and all we read from her are emails she’s sending to her life coach which are recaps on what’s happening on campus or how she’s feeling, the emails are important in the end but it’s just a little weird she’s not more important. I think this book revolved around Orchid and Vaughn and a bit of Peacock more than the other characters. Scarlett likes to make things about herself, Finn is looking for his invention, and Mustard not really sure what his deal is besides the fact that he can’t really afford to get kicked out of another school. Vaughn has some weird twin thing going on and they’re looking for some invention and weird things are happening to Orchid and she thinks her past is catching up to her. The murder was glossed over mainly because their was other strange things going down at Tudor house.

The ending was good and also a bit of a cliffhanger so I’m interested in seeing how the last book will wrap everything up! 

SPELLS FOR LOST THINGS By Jenna Evans Welch

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

SPELLS FOR LOST THINGS By Jenna Evans WelchSpells for Lost Things by Jenna Evans Welch
Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers on 9/27/22
Genres: Contemporary, Fantasy & Magic, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 368
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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Willow has never felt like she belonged anywhere and is convinced that the only way to find a true home is to travel the world. But her plans to act on her dream are put on hold when her aloof and often absent mother drags Willow to Salem, Massachusetts, to wrap up the affairs of an aunt Willow didn’t even know she had. An aunt who may or may not have been a witch.

There, she meets Mason, a loner who’s always felt out of place and has been in and out of foster homes his entire life. He’s been classified as one of the runaways, constantly searching for ways to make it back to his mom; even if she can’t take care of him, it’s his job to try and take care of her. Isn’t it?

Naturally pulled to one another, Willow and Mason set out across Salem to discover the secret past of Willow’s mother, her aunt, and the ambiguous history of her family. During all of this, the two can’t help but act on their natural connection. But with the amount of baggage between them—and Willow’s growing conviction her family might be cursed—can they manage to hold onto each other?

Short and Sweet Review

Willow doesn’t feel like she belongs and she feels like the only way to find her place in the world is to travel. But things are put on hold when her mother takes her to Salem Massachusetts to settle her aunts estate, an aunt that Willow didn’t even know existed. Mason on the other hand has been in and out of foster homes and his main goal is to find his mom, Mason knows she can’t take care of him but he’s okay with the idea of taking care of her.

Willow’s mom is there but she’s not really there, so when they arrive in Salem Willow has a lot of questions about her moms past life which her mom just avoids answering most of the time. Willow discovers that she has aunts and family in Salem and she reconnects with her great aunts and learns that there’s a curse on her family and she has to find the letters her aunt Sage left behind to break it. Which is how she meets Mason he’s supposed to be the helper and help her find the other letters. Together these two learn a lot about themselves. Willow learns that she has family and that she doesn’t need to leave the states to find a place where she belongs because what she truly wanted was family and Mason learns that even if he doesn’t have his mom he can accept his foster family.

This was a cute book and I liked seeing how the characters realized how important family is whether or not its by blood. The witchy elements were also cute. I liked the ending and I appreciated Mason and Willows stories.

THE FIRST TO DIE AT THE END By Adam Silvera

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

THE FIRST TO DIE AT THE END By Adam SilveraThe First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera
Series: Death-Cast #0
Published by Quill Tree Books on 10/4/22
Genres: Contemporary, LGBT, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 549
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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It’s the night before Death-Cast goes live, and there’s one question on everyone’s mind: Can Death-Cast actually predict when someone will die, or is it just an elaborate hoax?

Orion Pagan has waited years for someone to tell him that he’s going to die. He has a serious heart condition, and he signed up for Death-Cast so he could know what’s coming.

Valentino Prince is restarting his life in New York. He has a long and promising future ahead and he only registered for Death-Cast after his twin sister nearly died in a car accident.

Orion and Valentino cross paths in Times Square and immediately feel a deep connection. But when the first round of End Day calls goes out, their lives are changed forever—one of them receives a call, and the other doesn’t. Though neither boy is certain how the day will end, they know they want to spend it together…even if that means their goodbye will be heartbreaking.

Short and Sweet Review

Death-Cast is about to go live and everyone is wondering if Death-Cast can actually predict when someone is going to die. Orion has a heart condition and he signs up for death cast just so if somethings going to happen to him it won’t be unexpected. Valentino has just moved to New York and is ready to live his best life and on a whim he signs up for Death-Cast and he gets the first call. S

Orion and Valentino cross paths in Times Square and they hit it off immediately. Valentino gets the call and from there him and Orion decide that Valentino needs to live his end day to the fullest but also carefully.

I loved this book maybe even more than They Both Die at the End. I just liked seeing how it all started and how Death-Cast wasn’t necessarily trusted. We get to see some hard decisions being made about Valentino’s end day and I liked that he was so kind hearted and knew what he wanted. Orion was like the comedy relief and he was like the greatest friend for Valentino on his last day and basically gave Valentino the feeling of being accepted. My favorite thing about this book is probably seeing how all of the characters are intertwined in some way and we even get to see a younger Rufus and Mateo.

This was such a book and I won’t forget about it anytime soon. It was so heartfelt and just like They Both Die at the End this book makes you want to live everyday like your last because you never know when you’ll get a call from Death-Cast.

SALT AND SUGAR By Rebecca Carvalho

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

SALT AND SUGAR By Rebecca CarvalhoSalt and Sugar by Rebecca Carvalho
Published by Inkyard Press on 11/1/22
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 353
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
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Trust neither thin-bottomed frying pans nor Molinas.

Lari Ramires has always known this to be true. In Olinda, Brazil, her family’s bakery, Salt, has been at war with the Molinas’ bakery across the street, Sugar, for generations. But Lari’s world turns upside down when her beloved grandmother passes away. On top of that, a big supermarket chain has moved to town, forcing many of the small businesses to close.

Determined to protect her home, Lari does the unthinkable—she works together with Pedro Molina to save both of their bakeries. Lari realizes she might not know Pedro as well as she thought—and she maybe even likes what she learns—but the question remains: Can a Ramires and a Molina truly trust one another?

Short and Sweet Review

Lari and Pedro’s families have bakeries across the street from each other, Lari’s family owns Salt and Pedro’s family owns Sugar. Their families have been feuding for a long time and even Lari and Pedro are “enemies.” There’s a big supermarket that has moved into town and is forcing small businesses to close and Salt and Sugar are in jeopardy and Lari thinks the best way to save the bakeries is to team up with Pedro.

If I were going to describe this book I would say its a hot mess. We only have Lari’s POV but I found her to be such an annoying and insufferable character and not only her but the supporting characters as well. This is a Romeo and Juliet retelling and I didn’t really feel the chemistry between Lari and Pedro and the way things build up and the pacing wasn’t great. The characters are always yelling at each other the drama was over the top it was like reading the script to a very bad soap opera. Honestly Lari’s mother and Pedro’s family would have screaming matches in the street and it was too much like almost every other chapter they had something to yell at each other about.

Lari basically calls Pedro her enemy and ends up having to join his cooking club. Lari is so like defensive, she doesn’t know how to cook or bake and if anyone even suspects that she doesn’t know what she’s doing in the kitchen she’ll go off on them and I just couldn’t understand why she wouldn’t admit that she needed to learn how to cook. Anyway I’m guessing the more time that Pedro and Lari spend time together the more they start to develop feelings for each other and even call a truce. Like I said earlier the pacing in this book is off way off. It isn’t until 90% through the book that they realize that they like each other and when they come up with a solution to try to save their bakeries and everything is resolved so quickly it seemed unrealistic especially with how much bad blood was between the families.

I just didn’t enjoy this book and really had to push myself to finish it. I didn’t like the characters, the plot sounded good but the pacing just ruined it for me. Probably not a book that I would recommend.

JACKABY By William Ritter

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

JACKABY By William RitterJackaby by William Ritter
Series: Jackaby #1
Published by Algonquin Young Readers on 9/16/14
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Historical, Mystery & Detective, Paranormal, Young Adult
Pages: 321
Format: Hardcover
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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Newly arrived in New Fiddleham, New England, 1892, and in need of a job, Abigail Rook meets R. F. Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplained with a keen eye for the extraordinary--including the ability to see supernatural beings. Abigail has a gift for noticing ordinary but important details, which makes her perfect for the position of Jackaby’s assistant. On her first day, Abigail finds herself in the midst of a thrilling case: A serial killer is on the loose. The police are convinced it’s an ordinary villain, but Jackaby is certain the foul deeds are the work of the kind of creature whose very existence the local authorities--with the exception of a handsome young detective named Charlie Cane--seem adamant to deny.

Short and Sweet Review

Abigail Rook has just arrived in New Fiddleham and is in need of a job which is how she meets detective R.F. Jackaby. Jackaby isn’t a regular detective he specializes in the supernatural and the things that normal people can’t see. Jackaby isn’t sure that Abigail is the assistant that he’s looking for but her ability to point out the ordinary things that Jackaby misses is what makes this a dream team. There’s been a series of unexplained murders going on in the city and this is the first case that Jackaby and Abigail tackle together.

I loved that Jackaby isn’t a normal detective, her has a Sherlock Holmes thing going on and his ability to see the extraordinary is what makes him special. Abigail was a great character and she didn’t shy away from the challenge of being Jackaby’s assistant she took it all in stride. The mystery was great the supernatural aspect of it will have you trying to figure out what’s behind all of the mayhem being caused. The characters are what really make this book come to life, the interactions between them will have you engrossed in the world of New Fiddleham. This is the second time I’ve read Jackaby and I love it as much as I did the first time around and I can’t wait to read the next three books!

GALLANT By V.E. Schwab

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

GALLANT By V.E. SchwabGallant by V.E. Schwab
Published by Greenwillow Books on 3/1/22
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Gothic, Horror & Ghost Stories, Young Adult
Pages: 330
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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Olivia Prior has grown up in Merilance School for Girls, and all she has of her past is her mother’s journal—which seems to unravel into madness. Then, a letter invites Olivia to come home to Gallant. Yet when Olivia arrives, no one is expecting her. But Olivia is not about to leave the first place that feels like home; it doesn’t matter if her cousin Matthew is hostile, or if she sees half-formed ghouls haunting the hallways.

Olivia knows that Gallant is hiding secrets, and she is determined to uncover them. When she crosses a ruined wall at just the right moment, Olivia finds herself in a place that is Gallant—but not. The manor is crumbling, the ghouls are solid, and a mysterious figure rules over all. Now Olivia sees what has unraveled generations of her family, and where her father may have come from.

Olivia has always wanted to belong somewhere, but will she take her place as a Prior, protecting our world against the Master of the House? Or will she take her place beside him?

Short and Sweet Review

Olivia lives at the Merilance School for Girls and the only thing she has from her past is her mothers journal. When a letter arrives at the school for Olivia from her Uncle inviting her to come home to Gallant, but when Olivia arrives there no one is expecting her to be there and her cousin Matthew wants nothing to do with her. Gallant has ghost wandering the hallways and there are a lot of secrets waiting to be uncovered. There’s also a place like Gallant but different where the ghost are solid and there who rules the place. Olivia just wants somewhere to fit in and she’s hoping it’s at Gallant.

This was such a weird book I don’t even know what to say in this review. Olivia is mute so she has to sign. The three people residing at Gallant weren’t expecting her and only two of them are welcoming. There’s ghost and then there’s other ghost in like a different dimension? Olivia wants to be apart of a family but there was no build up to a relationship between her, Edgar, Hannah, or Matthew. The strange figure who is the villain doesn’t appear until 60% through and I’m still not sure what his purpose was but to be evil in a different dimension.

I’m just not sure what I read at all. It was an okay book I just wish there was more to it. I feel like nothing really happened. I thought this book would be a good read especially because Halloween is right around the corner but there was nothing spooky or chilling about this book. I wish I liked this book more than I did but it just felt like it was missing a lot of substance.

THE RESTLESS DARK By Erica Waters

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

THE RESTLESS DARK By Erica WatersThe Restless Dark by Erica Waters
Published by HarperTeen on 10/4/22
Genres: Horror & Ghost Stories, LGBT, Mystery & Detective, Young Adult
Pages: 400
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
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The Cloudkiss Killer is dead. Now a true-crime podcast is hosting a contest to find his bones.

Lucy was almost the serial killer’s final victim. Carolina is a true-crime fan who fears her own rage. Maggie is a psychology student with a little too much to hide.

All of them are looking for answers, for a new identity, for a place to bury their secrets.

But there are more than bones hiding in the shadows…sometimes the darkness inside is more frightening than anything the dead leave behind.

Short and Sweet Review

The Cloudkiss Killer died two years ago but no one found his body after he jumped off of a cliff, now a crime podcast Human Beasties is hosting a competition to see who can find his bones and win a prize.

Lucy, Carolina, and Maggie are our main characters but we only get the POVs of Lucy and Carolina. Lucy was the last victim of the cloudkiss killer but she was fortunate enough to get away, she thinks being the one to find his bones will help her finally move on from the trauma. Carolina is there because she thinks she relates to serial killers or something strange like that mainly because her parents ingrained it into her head that she’s some kind of awful person, I will admit she is quick to flip the switch and try to get violent. Maggie is a psychology student and she’s at the competition to try and get into the heads of people who listen to crime podcast.

Weird things start happening at the camp grounds so the host decide for everyone’s safety there needs to be groups and Lucy, Maggie, and Carolina form a group. Here’s where things start going downhill. Maggie and Lucy develop feelings for each other and they basically like to gang up on Carolina and snap at her. Carolina would question them and basically be the voice of reason and those two were so awful to her it was hard to read. Lucy was weak she was easily manipulated, she wanted to prove how bad that nothing affected her that it clouded her judgement. My biggest gripe with this book was the characters, it wasn’t easy to connect with them and I really feel like their treatment of Carolina was unwarranted.

I really wanted to like this book, but it wasn’t what I was expecting. I thought we’d see more of them searching for this serial killer and maybe read what the podcast is like but I got none of that. What I read was people losing their minds because of the fog, a lot of gaslighting, and mean girl behavior. The ending just made me mad it didn’t redeem anything, Lucy was so wishy washy it was ridiculous, Carolina was probably my favorite but she was a little crazy in the head too, Maggie was straight up off of her rocker but she was able to charm her way into making people think that she was just using psychology on them. Anyway this book was hard to get through and it was not what I was expecting at all and I mean that in a bad way.

ALMOST THERE By Farrah Rochon

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

ALMOST THERE By Farrah RochonAlmost There by Farrah Rochon
Series: A Twisted Tale #13
Published by Disney-Hyperion on 9/6/22
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Historical, Retellings, Young Adult
Pages: 464
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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Sometimes life in the Big Easy is tough. No one knows that better than Tiana, though she also believes that hard work can go a long way. But when the notorious Dr. Facilier backs her into a corner, she has no choice but to accept an offer that will alter the course of her life in an instant.

Soon Tiana finds herself in a new reality where all her deepest desires are realized: she finally gets her restaurant, her friends are safe and sound, and most miraculous of all, her beloved father is still alive. She's got everything she's ever wanted. . . .

But after a while, her hometown grows increasingly eerie, with new threats cropping up in unlikely places. Navigating through this strange new New Orleans, Tiana must work alongside Naveen and Charlotte to set things right―or risk losing everything she holds dear.

Short and Sweet Review

Almost There takes place where Tiana has the choice to make a deal with Dr. Facilier, where in the movie she didn’t. Now Tiana has her father back, has a restaurant, and Louis is human. The deal Tiana made has obviously ruined the balance of the universe and some its coming to collect to make things right.

Tiana is one of my favorite Disney princesses, but she was just off-putting in this book, I really didn’t like her which made me sad. Tiana makes the deal and we see her basically a year later living her dreams of owning her restaurant and having her dad by her side, but now that its been a year Dr. Facilier and his friends on the other side want Tiana to pay up, weird things start happening down in the Big Easy and only Tiana can fix it. Tiana has always been a hard worker she was like that in the movie too but now she really doesn’t take breaks and she was rude to Charlotte and Naveen, she even went as far as ducking them while they were dining in her restaurant. Charlotte, Naveen, and Louis just wanted to help Tiana but she just wanted to do everything on her own and she would snap at them. One part that annoyed me the most was when Tiana found someone that could help her but then she wanted to dismiss that person and say they couldn’t be trusted. Like Tiana is the last person who should be deciding who is trustworthy after making a deal with the shadow man. Another thing that upset me was the deal Tiana made not only did it bring her what she wanted but she affect other peoples lives without a second to consider what they wanted. The ending was okay I guess, I felt bad for some of the characters who were still affected by the choice Tiana made.

I think this book was just okay it wasn’t great and it wasn’t bad but it made me think about how much I really appreciated the movie and how Tiana was portrayed there.

GOOD GIRL, BAD BLOOD By Holly Jackson

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

GOOD GIRL, BAD BLOOD By Holly JacksonGood Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson
Series: A Good Girl's Guide to Murder #2
Published by Delacorte Press on 3/2/21
Genres: Mystery & Detective, Thrillers, Young Adult
Pages: 388
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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Pip is not a detective anymore.

With the help of Ravi Singh, she released a true-crime podcast about the murder case they solved together last year. The podcast has gone viral, yet Pip insists her investigating days are behind her.

But she will have to break that promise when someone she knows goes missing. Jamie Reynolds has disappeared, on the very same night the town hosted a memorial for the sixth-year anniversary of the deaths of Andie Bell and Sal Singh.

The police won't do anything about it. And if they won't look for Jamie then Pip will, uncovering more of her town's dark secrets along the way... and this time everyone is listening. But will she find him before it's too late?

Short and Sweet Review

After solving her last case Pip has decided to do away with all the mystery and detective work. When Jamie Reynolds goes missing his brother asks Pip to investigate. Even though Pip is hesitant she takes on the case to help out the Reynolds family. The more Pip investigates she learns some of the towns dark secrets along with Jamies.

Pip is back! I love Pip and she starts off this book trying to avoid getting caught up in another mystery because of all of the danger she was put in when she was solving the Andie Bell case. We follow Pip as she follows clues and tries to piece together the clues to figure out where Jamie went. We see Ravi and I love him, he’s so supportive of Pip and is willing to help her out but also keep her centered. Connor was somewhat helpful but I think he shouldn’t have been as involved as he was, whenever Pip had someone to interview he just made them uncomfortable. Connor had good intentions but I think his worrying made it hard for him to take a step back and let Pip do her thing. Pip is still in a lot of danger, the culprit was creepy and willing to do things that put the other characters in danger. There was one scene involving a catfish that definitely sent chills down my spine and made me want to make sure I had all of my doors locked. I did appreciate seeing all of Pip’s case notes and the pictures and interviews she did, it just adds something special.

I loved this book! The culprit was a piece of work and needs a lot of help I was kind of sad about something that happened at the end, it was kind of bittersweet. I’m excited to see what the last book has in store!