May 1, 2024
Grades 8-11 A year has gone by since the passing of Addie's beloved older sister, Fiona. Refusing to believe Fiona's death was accidental, Addie trusts the intuition that says her sibling's ex, Thatcher (a member of the affluent Montgomery family and cousin to her old flame, Seth), is the murderer. But when Thatcher's body is discovered, Addie teams up with Seth to find the killer. They come to believe the deaths are related either to Addie's promiscuous mother, who abandoned the family, or to someone after the Montgomery money. Suspicious of whom to trust, Addie must piece the clues together to prevent another demise. Pagano makes her debut in this thrilling YA whodunit. Scenes of law enforcement and chauvinistic men abusing their power will be a reminder for young adults to pause and question corrupt systems. Readers will happily enjoy the balance of the story as it gradually escalates in intensity while allowing time for the overburdened protagonist to develop a well-deserved romance. A cozy read for young fans of a good and quick mystery.
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June 15, 2024
Young adult enemies-to-lovers sleuth and smooch in this debut. Eighteen-year-old Addie Blackwood is preparing to head to Rutgers University in the fall, although she's still reeling from the death of her sister, Fiona, last summer. Gifted ballerina Fiona's death was ruled an accident, but Addie believes Fiona was murdered by wealthy, privileged Thatcher Montgomery. When the family gathers at their estate in Bier's End, New Jersey, for their matriarch's funeral, Addie comes face to face with Seth Montgomery, the boy she has unresolved feelings for, and his cousin Thatcher. When Thatcher is found dead at the bottom of the same ravine where Fiona's body was discovered, Addie realizes that the murderer is still out there. As she and Seth deal with the push and pull of their love-hate relationship and the simmering emotional and physical bonds they share, Addie continues her search for answers in the shadow of lurking danger. Pagano offers readers an engaging mystery with suspects galore. Mystery fans will enjoy sleuthing alongside Addie as she considers the possible guilt of nearly everyone in her orbit, and the characters likewise cast suspicion on one another. Addie's relationship with Seth runs hot and cold, and Addie's emotional arc as she tries to trust in his feelings for her are relatable and understandable. Main characters are cued white. An absorbing, twisty whodunit complete with a swoony romance. (Mystery. 12-18)
COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
August 1, 2024
Gr 9 Up-Over the past few years, Addie has experienced profound loss. Her mother left her family when she was a preteen, and now, the summer before her senior year, her sister is found dead at the bottom of a ravine. Addie is convinced her sister's death wasn't an accident or suicide: she was murdered, and she's certain she knows who did it-until that person turns up dead at the bottom of the ravine as well. Addie finds an unlikely ally in Seth, her childhood rival turned on-again, off-again flame, whose cousin is the latest victim. Addie was in his arms the night her sister died, so her feelings about him are even more complicated than usual. Seth also belongs to another world-his family is well-off and well connected, and Addie's suspicions about his and his family's involvement in the murders grow alongside her attraction to him. This mystery is barbed with shocking reveals and ruminations on the privileges and protections that come with wealth. Fans of the enemies-to-lovers tropes will be satisfied, though Addie's relationship with her friends and family are nearly just as central to the story. Pagano offers a level approach to Addie's process of untangling her grief and her feelings towards the people who are gone from her life, and those who have stayed. VERDICT A tantalizing summer thriller, recommended for romance fans looking to try something new.-Joanna Harris
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