About The Book
Sixteen-year-old Niamh hopes for adventure during her London summer, not fear. But her thrill soon becomes worry as young, dark-haired women are found assaulted all over town…and they’re all eerily similar to her. As danger closes in, Niamh needs to question everything, especially who she can trust.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/4563Gqp
My Rating
This YA mystery thriller follows sixteen-year-old Niamh’s summer in London at a prestigious theater program. During her first night there, a dorm resident is murdered. Soon afterward, Niamh feels a strange sense that she might be the next victim. The synopsis hooked me, plus it was under 300 pages. Despite being a quick read, the story’s mystery and main character were weak.
Niamh was somewhat likable, though very naïve, considering all the strange things happening to her. The mystery just didn’t do it for me. Although it’s marketed toward fans of Scream and One of Us Is Lying, it’s quite different—just a heads up, there are no slasher vibes.
Niamh and her friend were really judgy in the story, which I didn’t like. The “mean girl” made Niamh feel singled out in the theater program, but Niamh did the same thing, judging a character by how they looked and acted. Honestly, the characters were pretty immature sometimes, even for teenagers. It was giving early 2000s.
“Horror movie tip number one: never drop your weapon.”
Despite being an easy read, the book wasn’t suspenseful or intriguing enough to hold my attention. To be honest, the book didn’t really stand out to me. This isn’t a story that will leave a lasting impression on me. I could have passed on reading it and been fine. Interpret that however you want.
What really held my attention was the supernatural aspect. This is more than just a mystery or horror story. In my opinion, adding the paranormal element made the plot more engaging, and the ending, while predictable, was executed really well.
Overall, this book is a great choice if you’re new to horror or a bit of a scaredy-cat. If you’re curious about Simone St. James’ books but find adult horror intimidating, this is a great place to start. I’d definitely pick up more of this author’s work when I’m in the mood for a lighter horror read.
Have you ever read anything by this author? Do you like supernatural horror stories? If that’s the case, please share recommendations in the comments. Like and share this post, and sign up for my mailing list to be alerted about new content!
Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny