I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
What Lies Within by James Morris
Genres: Mystery (YA)
Pages: 218
Goodreads
“You’re going to die”
Shelley Marano is an ordinary, unexceptional high school senior…until the day she receives a cryptic text message, and her world tilts sideways. Now she’s in real danger, although she doesn’t know who would want her dead, or why. As she starts to unravel the mystery, the truth about who she really is proves to be more frightening than she ever imagined. With the lives of her and her friends hanging in the balance, one thing is certain:
Nothing will ever be the same.
Packed with suspense, What Lies Within is a page-turning, plot-driven rollercoaster ride that fans of Stephen King, James Patterson and Rick Yancey will be sure to enjoy.
I don’t read a lot of mysteries or thrillers, but I gave this one a chance. This book had me addicted from the beginning. The epilogue hooks you in with such an unexpected twist that you just have to continue reading! This book is short, only about 200 pages, making it a very quick read. Even with it being short, the writing is so good and the pace is perfect so you still get consumed into the story.
The overall plot wasn’t entirely unpredictable, I figured most of it out fairly quickly. However, that didn’t change the entertainment factor of the story – there were some scenes that were very unexpected to me, so that’s what kept the element of surprise. However, sometimes I wished the book wasn’t so short because some moments/twists felt rushed, making me wish there was more information!
A major point in the story that left me unsatisfied was the ending. It was very unrealistic to me. I mean, the whole story is unlikely, it is fiction, but the ending just felt like it was unfinished or was a means to an end. However, because it was left open ended it leaves room for a sequel, and if there is a sequel…I will be reading it!
The characters were well written for the most part. Due to the length of the book it doesn’t get too in depth with character development, which is perfect because any more would have made this book a little dull. The characters themselves were pretty relatable. However, I personally thought that Shelley’s actions were a bit questionable. How she reacted to situations wouldn’t be how I would react. That said, I still enjoyed the character development that the author provided in such a short book.
The writing is really gripping. It draws you in and keeps you there. Now, I’m no expert, but the author used to work on screenplays for television shows and I feel like this book read like an episode to a show. There’s always something happening, it’s fast-paced, action-packed and to the point. That style works. Like I said, it hooks you and keeps you there.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable read. It’s fast-paced with lots of twists, suspense and excitement and a very tiny bit of young romance. If you are looking for a quick read and like YA thrillers, I definitely recommend this book!
Also, the plot had some similarities to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer – just minus the paranormal aspects. It sort of followed a similar plot line, so if you liked that trilogy, you should check this book out.
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| Overall: | 4 / 5 |
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