by Christopher Pike

YA Mystery/Thriller, 1986 by Scholastic Press, 240 Pages 

What I Didn’t Like:

• Over the top dramatization of teens behaving badly. Funny how this used to be the norm and yet now it feels so fake. 
• Obsession with sex. Again, it feels over the top. Strangely, I’ve noticed this a lot on Pike rereads yet I never remember noticing it when I read Pike the first time around. 
• One of the big reveals felt like it got bowled over by the others and never really dealt with, that bothered me a bit. 

What I Did Like:

• Solid mystery. I wondered who did it. I wondered how it connected and how deep it went.
• Fast moving. It doesn’t drag or lag, just moves. 
• The ending works. Without spoiling anything I’ll just say it came together well and worked.

Who Should Read This One:

• Fans of the slasher style movies may like this one, but it has a twist. The vibes remind me of Urban Legends.
• YA fans who want something a little creepy and dark that feels a bit older than most YA today.

My Rating: 3 Stars