Archive for March, 2023

Two Truths and a Lie by April Henry

Published March 8, 2023 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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This suspenseful story begins with a group of theater students heading to a competition out of town. They are surprised by a blizzard and soon get off course and are forced to stop at a run down motel. The motel is pretty good size, but only has a handful of people who also got caught in the storm. The owner, Stuart, seems both defensive of his family’s motel as well as a little embarrassed by it. Nell, the main character is quickly drawn to Knox, a boy from another group of teens who seek refuge in this motel for the night. The two groups all agree to meet in the common room to play games and wait out the storm. They each write down two truths and a lie and throw it in a basket and as they draw them out they have to figure out not only who wrote it but which one is the lie. When it’s Nell’s turn she draws an unsettling entry that states this person has killed before and they all get spooked, especially when it’s revealed that 20 years ago there was a double homicide in this very hotel that lead to its decline. Will they all survive this storm or will they be picked off one by one? Who can they trust among this random group of strangers all stuck together in this storm?

Fans of April Henry will really enjoy this title because there are many plot twists that add to the suspense of being stuck in a remote hotel during a blizzard where it is impossible to seek help if needed. The characters include two groups of teenagers, their supervisors, and a handful of random male motorists who all claim not to know one another. Yet, they know that whoever is at the very least trying to scare them is among the few people at this hotel. Reluctant readers will especially enjoy this fast paced thriller that dives into the action very quickly in the story.

Secrets So Deep by Ginny Myers Sain

Published March 1, 2023 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Mystery

Avril makes the bold decision to return to a summer theater camp that her mother drowned at 12 years prior. After her mother’s death, her father changed her name from April to Avril so no one initially knew who she was when she applied. It’s a very exclusive camp that only a small number of applicants get to go to. After arriving she makes some friends pretty quickly, but she also learns about the legends that the camp is haunted and calls people to the water. The story goes that at night a deep fog surrounds the camp and makes it difficult to navigate around and sometimes people lose hours where they don’t remember where they were. There’s also a rumor that in the fog you can hear voices calling to you that can lead you astray if you’re not careful. Avril doesn’t believe in ghosts, but does want to learn the truth about what happened to her mother that fateful night. The owner of the theater camp is famous for a play she wrote many years ago and that is the play they will be performing at the end of camp. Avril is thrilled when she gets the lead part and desperately wants to do it justice. She’s playing opposite the owner’s son, who seems to be keeping her at a distance. Those who knew her mother want to try and help her remember, but each story and artifact only brings up more questions in Avril’s mind about what she was like and what happened to her. Is this theater camp really haunted? Will she ever learn the truth about what happened to her mother? Who can she trust around her?

This slightly creepy mystery story was truly unique and the ending in particular will excite mystery fans who feel they have seen it all. The characters are well developed and there are enough suspicious happenings and characters that it is difficult to figure out the truth of what happened 12 years ago. The play is an interesting backdrop as it helps to piece together the mystery as well as to bring out a lot of emotions from the characters. Recommended for anyone looking for a good suspenseful mystery.

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