Bestselling author of the Wicked Lovely books Melissa Marr’s first contemporary YA novel is a twisted southern gothic tale of obsession, romance, and murder. A killer is obsessed with Eva Tilling. Can she stop him, or will he claim her?
When Eva Tilling wakes up in the hospital, she’s confused—who in her sleepy little North Carolina town could have hit her with their car? And why? But before she can consider the question, she finds that she’s awoken with a strange new skill: the ability to foresee people’s deaths when they touch her. While she is recovering from the hit-and-run, Nate, an old flame, reappears, and the two must traverse their rocky past as they figure out how to use Eva’s power to keep her friends—and themselves—alive. But while Eva and Nate grow closer, the killer grows increasingly frantic in his attempt to get to Eva.
For the first time, New York Times bestselling author Melissa Marr has applied her extraordinary talent to contemporary realism. Chilling twists, unrequited obsession, and high-stakes romance drive this Gothic, racy thriller—a story of small-town oppression and salvation. Melissa’s fans, and every YA reader, will find its wild ride enthralling.
I was already familiar with this author, having read the majority of the “Wicked Lovely” books, but I have to say I enjoyed this stand alone book even more. Eva is a likeable character and her best friend Grace… well; everyone needs a Grace in their life.
Eva is hit by a car, survives, and is scarred and broken. Her boyfriend, Robert, masquerades as well-bred gentleman but it pretty much an ahole. While in the hospital, long lost best friend and love of her live, Nate, shows up. In between trying to recover and dealing with a new gift/curse that shows her how someone dies, bodies of those close to Eva start piling up. Back home she is in a race to figure out who is the killer obsessed with her, killing for her attention and love.
I wouldn’t call this a southern gothic. It’s an excellent suspense thriller with a bit of paranormal tied in. The book does not have any slumps in action and I was able to guess the killer fairly early on, but the twists kept me wondering. The characters are interesting, the setting is a familiar small town/small social hierarchy (having lived in a small Texas town), and mystery, suspense, and horror are right on par. The viewpoint of the book also goes between Eva, The Judge (what our lovely murderer calls himself), and best friend Grace. I didn’t find it difficult to switch between characters; I found it welcoming and only added to the creepy factor.
Awesome read… would highly recommend it for multiple genre lovers.
Hmm, I’m never good at the bio bit. I used to teach college & bartend, now I write novels. I love to meet new people, to hear their stories, to walk through new streets and see new vistas. I enjoy art in all its guises–graffiti, surrealist paintings, classic sculptures, tattoos, interesting buildings, Renoir, photography . . . Art & nature, they feed my soul & thus my muse.