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Betrayal (Empty Coffin #2)

by Gregg Olsen (Goodreads Author)

3.88 of 5 stars 3.88 · rating details · 262 ratings · 82 reviews

When foreign exchange student Olivia Grant is stabbed to death at a party, the accusations fly through Port Gamble faster than Twitter trending. Fingers point at party host Brianna, who found the body, and her dim-witted boyfriend, Drew. But there had also been a monster blowout between Olivia and her roommate earlier that night. Someone certainly had an ax to grind. Was i...more

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Published September 4th 2012 by Brilliance Corporation

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Jul 06, 2012 Laura rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-mt-bookpile

A DNF - while the plot was interesting, the writing was getting to me and I gave up after the "banana bread loaf-sized muffin top" jiggling in the "skinny jeans [that] only work if you're actually skinny". The author needs to cut back the adjectives and extraneous descriptive phrases by about 2/3 and beef up the rest of the plot.

Which, as I said, did look interesting: a British exchange student, Olivia, is violently murdered at a Hallowe'en party. The hostess, Bree, is rich, self-involved and ov...more

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Oct 06, 2012 Beth rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads, ya, young-adult, paranormal, fiction, murder, mystery

Hayley and Taylor Ryan are twins that share a special supernatural bond. They can tell when an unnatural (murder) or unexpected death has occurred.

An exchange student, Olivia Grant, is stabbed to death at a Halloween Party in the town of Port Gamble. Suspicion toward Drew, Olivia’s boy friend, and Beth, best friend to Hayley and Taylor, immediately grows and to save their friend Hayley and Taylor must discover the murdered before the wrong person is accused.

The story is based loosely on the Aman...more

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Sep 16, 2012 Annie Brewer rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review, arc, books-on-my-shelf, favorite-authors

Review to come!! Loved it!

So I was given an ARC of this book from the author for this blog tour. When I first read Envy, the first book in the Empty Coffin series, I had no idea what to expect. But to say I loved Envy would be an understatement. However, we are not talking about Envy at this time. So Betrayal is the sequel to Envy. I was so excited to get this ARC because I loved Envy and needed to know what happened in the next captivating installment! I was not disappointed! The sequel was jus...more Review to come!! Loved it!

So I was given an ARC of this book from the author for this blog tour. When I first read Envy, the first book in the Empty Coffin series, I had no idea what to expect. But to say I loved Envy would be an understatement. However, we are not talking about Envy at this time. So Betrayal is the sequel to Envy. I was so excited to get this ARC because I loved Envy and needed to know what happened in the next captivating installment! I was not disappointed! The sequel was just as wonderfully written and descriptive as the first one was.

The thing I love most about Gregg's stories is how they are based on factual events. He takes those real life cases and makes his own story out of them. This book was based on the Amanda Knox case, which I vaguely remember hearing about years ago. If you don't know about it, it's about an exchange student who comes to America and is accused of killing her roommate(Like I said, I don't remember the details so I may have gotten it wrong, but that was my understanding). Anyway, I loved Gregg's story better!

So from the beginning of the book I am literally glued to my book; heart stopping, pulse racing, sweat covering my forehead....I am on the edge of my seat in fear as this story unfolds. Its amazing how descriptive Gregg is. His writing is so alluring and you feel like you're in the scene with the characters. I loved the fact that this book is set in Port Gamble, Washington-just like Envy was. I loved that we got to see most of the same characters, with a few new ones added in. I loved it, this book was amazingly executed and really fufilled my expectations.

I loved the twins, they were my favorite characters in both books so far. I love getting to see them again and getting to know them more and their strange abilities. I like Colton as well. All in all, this book was awesome! The tension was perfect, the writing-flowed easily and kept my attention...the pace was just right. Another awesome book from Gregg! Congrats! I can't wait for Guilty now...need to know more!

So as I was reading both Envy and Betrayal, I pictured Taylor and Haley Ryan as.....Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. I think it's mostly because you don't hear often about 2 twin girls their age, so I automatically had them in my head.(less)

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Jul 04, 2012 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Amy by: First-reads

Shelves: first-reads, 2012, young-adult

I was happily introduced to the Empty Coffin series through the Goodreads First-reads giveaway of Betrayal and now I must go back and read Envy. I do however believe after reading Betrayal, it can function as a stand-alone but I would like to continue on with the series as it is delivered. What most attracted me to the book was the intrigue surrounding the twins wrapped in with the “Amanda Knox” style murder mystery making for a great read. Greg Olsen’s style is accessible, fun and current geare...more

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May 12, 2013 Bryanna rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Betrayal is the second book in the spellbinding young-adult series, Empty Coffin. True crime novelist, Gregg Olsen, presents an intriguing read that will not only captivate, but also capture the hearts of readers.

In a town unlike any other, paranormal activity and supernatural bonds aren’t that out of the ordinary. Set “Port Gamble”, this book follows a chain of events that all begin with a party, almost clichéd in setting. However, Olsen uses this scene to create an aftermath of horror, terror...more

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Feb 20, 2013 Eric Townsend rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Betrayal was everything I had hoped for after reading Envy. I knew that the characters were already compelling, the storytelling talents of Olsen were excellent and so this was Envy minus the few flaws of the first book.

The story of Betrayal is wonderful in its execution. The intertwining arcs between the murder of Olivia Grant and that of the twins works beautifully, and with the foundation having already been set there didn’t have to be such a major focus on the powers that the twins have. I c...more Betrayal was everything I had hoped for after reading Envy. I knew that the characters were already compelling, the storytelling talents of Olsen were excellent and so this was Envy minus the few flaws of the first book.

The story of Betrayal is wonderful in its execution. The intertwining arcs between the murder of Olivia Grant and that of the twins works beautifully, and with the foundation having already been set there didn’t have to be such a major focus on the powers that the twins have. I can’t overstate enough how much of a difference that made. Gone is the cheesy factor, the repetition and the sillyness. In its place is a thrilling murder mystery that seems to be linked to just about everyone in Port Gamble in some way. The different points of view that were used in Envy no longer drove me crazy, but were executed so well and so seamlessly that the flow of the story was never interrupted and the story just received the enriching side affect of having more details to go on. We knew more about what the supporting characters were thinking, and it was fantastic.

Speaking of the characters, talk about refined! I said in Envy that because of the massive amount of character points of view there were a lot of info dumps to compensate. In Betrayal we know about the vast majority of the characters that are used and are given just slight reminders as to what role they play. Again this helps the flow of the story while keeping the characters both interesting and fresh. The twins don’t seem as cartoonish in quality, Beth actually (in a stunning turn of events) becomes human, or at least close, and a plethora of other characters are defined further in a more natural way. Even with characters that were unpleasant (Brianna anyone?) I found that I enjoyed reading about them, something that isn’t easily done.

The murder mystery in Betrayal will leave you breathless until the end. The book as a whole left me pining for a third book and while I don’t know for certain if there is one I have heard about a possible title Guilty. I can’t wait to read it if and when it comes out. I definitely enjoyed Betrayal and I think any reader, especially YA fans would too.

Rating: 5/5(less)

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Feb 11, 2013 Paula Phillips rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Gone are the joys of a quiet community where nothing happens as it seems that Death is upon this small community. Back are the Ryan twins - Hayley and Taylor and with them comes their gifts and knack at solving incidents. Moving closer to the truth of what they can do and all about it, it leads them to a shoebox in their mothers wardrobe - a box filled with newpaper clippings from the Bus Crash - which will be revealed if the crash was an accident or something more sinister ? In the box , they a...more

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Sep 12, 2012 Carla rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Betrayal is the contiuation in the Empty Coffin Series and just like Envy, you will not be let down.

A murder has occurred in Port Gamble. During a Halloween party an exchange student, Olivia has been stabbed multiple times. Every one in the small community is on high alert, afterall it had to be one of them. Hayley and Taylor Ryan sense the disturbance and try as only they can to put the pieces together.

The inspiration of the story stands through the book, the Amanda Knox case. Brianna Connors,...more

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May 08, 2013 Alia Jacinta Coleen Del Rosario rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Olivia Grant, a sixteen year old exchange student from London, was murdered during Brianna’s Halloween Party. The same night, Taylor and Hayley Ryan woke up to the same familiar feeling that tells them when something bad happened, and the last time that it had come over was the night Katelyn Berkley died. With the killer of Olivia Grant still on loose, the Ryan twins decided that they need to figure out who and why the killer killed Olivia before someone else got hurt.

I really love the way Greg...more

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Dec 17, 2012 Sarah Rosenberger rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, teen-fiction, older-teen, audiobook

3.5

When foreign exchange student Olivia is murdered during a Halloween party, everyone from psychic twins Haley and Taylor Ryan to Police Chief Annie Garnett tries to find out who the killer is.

I thought it was pretty apparent that this author usually writes for adults. Teen pop-culture references and slang were somewhat shoehorned into the story, and there was a creepy preoccupation with thongs. I found myself wondering why the author used mostly female POVs, as many of them seemed a bit 'off,...more

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May 14, 2013 Michele rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads

This was a book I won from goodreads.. I have never really been interested in murder mystery stories, until now. Gregg Olsen does an excellent job of giving the details needed and building the characters in the story. I think that if I read anymore murder mysteries, they will have to be books by Gregg Olsen.

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Jul 05, 2012 Meghan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I won an advance reader’s copy of Betrayal by Gregg Olsen through Goodreads First Reads. Betrayal is the second book in the Empty Coffin series and is geared toward the YA audience.

Fast-paced and interesting, I would have found this novel very hard to put down if I was still in junior high. But I do want to be fair in this review because this is a young adult novel. It is filled with pop culture references that may not be easily recognizable in a few years. Another downside is that if the reade...more

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Jul 05, 2012 Michelle rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A great second book in the series.It could stand on its own if it needed to also. The insights into all of the characters lives are very complex and make an excellent read. The next one comes out when?

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May 08, 2013 Rodaw rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Po přečtení prvního dílu jsem se na Zradu neskutečně moc těšila. Dlouho jsem na ni čekala a musím říct, že se čekání vyplatilo. Zrada je skvělá knížka, ve které Gregg Olsen opět zpracovává zajímavý námět (mimochodem to, že je to založeno na skutečných událostech rozhodně knize přidává na mrazivosti!!).
Musím se přiznat, že ze začátku čtení jsem byla trošku zmatená a pořádně jsem ani nevěděla, zda se mi kniha líbí a nebo ne. Ovšem po přečtení cca prvních 80 stránek mi došlo, že se mi kniha moc lí...more

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Sep 08, 2012 Chapter by Chapter rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Since I loved Envy by author Gregg Olsen, I knew that I would absolutely love Betrayal, the sequel in the Empty Coffin series. If you are a fan of Envy (and just reading the murder mystery is destined to make you are a fan) then you have been dying to read Betrayal. The synopsis probably caught your attention and the creepy cover is what had you hooked. As with the first novel in the series, Betrayal does a lot more than deliver. The first chapter, that holds that murder of Olivia Grant is beyon...more Since I loved Envy by author Gregg Olsen, I knew that I would absolutely love Betrayal, the sequel in the Empty Coffin series. If you are a fan of Envy (and just reading the murder mystery is destined to make you are a fan) then you have been dying to read Betrayal. The synopsis probably caught your attention and the creepy cover is what had you hooked. As with the first novel in the series, Betrayal does a lot more than deliver. The first chapter, that holds that murder of Olivia Grant is beyond terrifying. It’s thrilling, dark, and intense. Not in a way that has you scared out of your mind, but in a way that has you cringing (in a good way) at the details of a knife slicing through skin and of a murder.

Betrayal is a lot different than Envy. Whereas Envy was a story that focused on bullying and a not-so suicide, Betrayal focuses on an actual homicide. That’s right. Homicide. Murder. Somebody killing another somebody. The novel (which has parts that are based on real events) revolves around the murder of foreign exchange student Olivia Grant. Characters from Envy are possible suspects in the murder. The story doesn’t center around the Ryan twins Hayley and Taylor as much as it did in the past novel, and instead takes place mostly through the POV (point of view) of other characters. Including Brianna, Drew and the Chief of Police.

I found myself comparing Betrayal to CSI more than anything, which is something that I didn’t find myself doing while I read the past novel. Betrayal holds more chapters that show the police trying to figure out the murders, which includes lots of interrogations, evidence gathering, and discovering cadavers. The one thing that I enjoyed most in Betrayal were the few chapters in the killer’s POV, not because he killed somebody (duh), but because they gave the story more hype. It had me taking in every detail in an attempt to figure out who the serial killer might be.

When chapters were seen through the Ryan twins eyes, the two girls begin to gather more words via their psychic abilities and begin to uncover more clues that lead to Olivia Grant’s killer. The girls are terrorized a lot more in this novel and begin to receive texts from the “Text Creeper”. Who he is, I’m not allowed to say. All I know is that you can expect the Ryan twins to try and discover more about their abilities.

All in all, I found the ending of the novel very unexpected. Mainly because the motives behind the killer’s actions were ones that I didn’t imagine. Like the story before it, Betrayal will have readers sitting on the edge of their seats. I would recommend this series to readers who want a series that is just amazing. Like I said in the review of Envy, if you like murder mysteries and thrillers, then the Empty Coffin series is definitely for you.(less)

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Jun 06, 2013 Levian rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

the story picked up from after Katelyn's death in Envy (2011), where the new transfer student from England was found dead in her new best friend's bedroom during a Halloween party. the moment Drew and Brianna, the hostess of the party, were labeled prime suspects, they disappeared. soon after, Brianna was found dead as well, buried in the woods. caught in the heat, telepathic twins Hayley and Taylor decided to trust their guts instinct and try to solve the case themselves again.

the twins' parent...more

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Oct 26, 2012 Nikka rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My expectations for this book was high because the previous Empty Coffin got me turning from page to page. I can say that this book didn't disappoint. Just like Envy, the book was inspired by a real crime. It still got the twists in every chapter got me hooked and left me not wanting to put down my iPad. I love that the characters were still the same and the twins stayed true to themselves by helping solve the murder of Olivia Grant, the English exchange student who's staying with Beth Lee. I al...more

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Oct 03, 2012 Maggie61 rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: maggie-s-100-for-2012

This is the second of Gregg olsens young adult series. His stories are very loosely based on actual true crime and has been fictional ex. While each story has a separate crime, they feature the same teenage kids, the focus being the twins Hayley and Taylor Ryan, twins that have a gift that no one knows about but sets them apart from the rest of their friends.
This story bounced back and forth from the murder of an exchange student from Britain to history of their mother in a basement prison as a...more

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Nov 19, 2012 Marissa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

*I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads*

I was just thrilled to have received an ARC copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads. This was a very intriguing story that had me reading very quickly from beginning to end. As this is inspired by a true story, it made me more interested in this, and the events were just thrilling and mysterious. The characters were new to me, as I have not read the first book, but they were described really well; there was good character devel...more

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Sep 06, 2012 Candace rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I wasn't the biggest fan of the first book, Envy. I didn't dislike it, but I didn't have a connection with it. The writing style wasn't really for me and it felt slow and confusing. So I was shocked at how much I loved this book! This time around I had a better idea of what to expect and I actually really enjoyed the writing style. I also was never bored with this one. I desperately needed to know 'who did it' and could hardly stand putting the book down. And since I now 'know' the twins, Taylor...more
I wasn't the biggest fan of the first book, Envy. I didn't dislike it, but I didn't have a connection with it. The writing style wasn't really for me and it felt slow and confusing. So I was shocked at how much I loved this book! This time around I had a better idea of what to expect and I actually really enjoyed the writing style. I also was never bored with this one. I desperately needed to know 'who did it' and could hardly stand putting the book down. And since I now 'know' the twins, Taylor and Haley, I was able to get into their bits of the story and never felt confused about anything.

This book has it's own murder mystery in it separate from the one in Envy. This murder mystery comes to it's full conclusion in this book. But we also have some continuing story line regarding the twins Taylor and Haley. This portion of the book is something that will continue on. A mystery that we get pieces of in each book. And while there's not a major cliffhanger it leaves off with some new information that definitely has us curious for more of the story. It's this part with Taylor and Haley that has paranormal-like elements. Realistic paranormal, in my opinion.

Gregg Olsen is a true crime writer (other then this series). And I think if you go in knowing that his style is different then we're use to seeing in YA you will enjoy the first book more. I think maybe I was just caught off guard or something with the first book. I'm not sure if it was just me and my mood or if the book just really didn't work so well for me, but after reading this book I'm inclined to think that it's just me.

The murder mystery worked well for me. For one, I loved how crazy these people were. From absent parents (or downright BAD parents) to teens who really are more concerned about themselves and their own comfort rather then the dead girl, this book really left me guessing who was a murderer because there were just so many that weren't very good people. I didn't really guess who it was, though I did figure out parts, there was so much more to it.

I loved how emotionally invested I was in this book and the characters. I felt furious at people for their callousness, for their ridiculous accusations at the completely wrong people and for their completely inappropriate behavior. It worked fantastically well in this book.

I recently visited Port Gamble and I don't think it had a big impact on my overall feel of the book, but I did enjoy being able to picture the homes and places where everyone went. I had even toured the home that Haley and Taylor live in so being able to picture everything so well was just an added bonus.

You can find this review and others like it on my blog at http://www.candacesbookblog.com (less)

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Mar 24, 2013 Mcquilzniaks rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audible

Is story based near my home town always gets my attention. This is the second in the series and is coming off the bench a bit stiff. There are 2 different plot lines. One about a murder and the other about the twins magic powers. The murder plot chugs along nicely and has great details about the Olympic peninsula and some quirky town folk. And then wham there's this side bar about the twins from left field. Huh? It didn't have anything to do with it. Then it happened again. Just odd. Entertainin...more

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Jan 15, 2013 Corene rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-read, 2013-young-adult

Only the, (for me,) local setting kept me reading this one. Something about the plotting seemed off, including a glaringly obvious clue as to why the first murder occurs. Although each book in the series has a plot that resolves, along with the continuing mystery of Hay-Tay's paranormal gifts and their mother's secrets, the execution of these two storylines felt a little muddled throughout. There was an exciting, scary climax that did elevate the story. Not sure, though, if I'll bother with the...more

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Dec 03, 2012 Marcie Taylor rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I just finished reading Betrayal and I must say it was pretty satisfying. There's nothing corny or gimmicky about Gregg Olsen's ripped from the headlines YA murder-mystery novel. It introduces us to the teen characters, their lives, and the mystery at hand, in a quick pace. He manages to integrate nuances of pop culture and current teen concerns and preoccupations in a natural way. It was a fun read that makes me go back and read his first book in the series, Envy,about another contemporary topi...more

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May 02, 2013 Petra Sýkorová rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, rc-review, czech

Gregg Olsen se v zahraničí stal oblíbeným díky své schopnosti vyprávění příběhů v detailech, které čtenářům nabízí fascinující pohled do života lidí nacházejících se uprostřed podivných okolností, co jim dokážou pořádně zamávat životem. Má za sebou už 8 knih literatury faktu, 8 románů, novelu a povídku do autorské povídkové sbírky, kterou editoval Lee Child. Jeho první detektivní kniha s příměsem paranormála pro dospívající, Závist, byla vybrána, aby zastupovala stát Washington na národním knižn...more

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Mar 26, 2013 Beth Kemp rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-crime, review-books

Fab YA supernaturally-enhanced crime thriller

I greatly enjoyed Envy, the first in the Empty Coffin series, and found this to be a brilliant follow up. If you haven't read the first one, you may want to check my review of that one instead. I won't have spoilers for Betrayal here, but can't guarantee to avoid them for Envy.

Again, the novel opens with a crime: this time, the brutal stabbing of an exchange student at a Halloween party. We see all the details except the killer's identity, and are th...more Fab YA supernaturally-enhanced crime thriller

I greatly enjoyed Envy, the first in the Empty Coffin series, and found this to be a brilliant follow up. If you haven't read the first one, you may want to check my review of that one instead. I won't have spoilers for Betrayal here, but can't guarantee to avoid them for Envy.

Again, the novel opens with a crime: this time, the brutal stabbing of an exchange student at a Halloween party. We see all the details except the killer's identity, and are then party to the investigation carried out by the Ryan twins, Hayley and Taylor, who share secret psychic/intuitive skills. The writing is detached and very cinematic in feel, as it's descriptive and moves seamlessly between scenes and different characters' perspectives. There are traces of an omniscient narrator, commenting on the personalities of the characters, but this feels interesting and relevant rather than intrusive.

I particularly appreciated the additional insights into the twins' abilities and their history. In Envy, we had learnt about the weird feelings the girls have, and the information they can get access to. We also learnt (along with them) that there were others who knew about their gifts, and this novel develops their backstory further. This information is drip-fed in a natural way through the story and provides an interesting sub-plot which I hope will be taken further with future instalments in the series.

As well as learning more about the supernatural angle, this novel also gives us more insight into the twins' characters, their relationship and other characters in the town of Port Gamble, aka Empty Coffin. I was happy to see more of the girls' friend Beth Lee, and to gain more insight into the twins' family. It's great to read a series book that feels like revisiting a set of friends, and this definitely achieves that for me.

This is still a crime thriller first and foremost and the plotting doesn't disappoint. There are plenty of red herrings and clues to pick through and it wasn't clear to me exactly what had happened and why until the big reveal. As with Envy, I also appreciated the 'true crime' info at the end (some aspects of the story came from the Amanda Knox case).

Overall, this is another hit for YA crime readers, and for those who enjoy stories with a supernatural flavour.(less)

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Nov 03, 2012 Sharon Goodwin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Betrayal begins with 16 year old Olivia travelling, in late summer, to Port Gamble, Washington. She’s been expecting an idealised version of America … the reality is disappointing!

At the Halloween party held at best friend Brianna’s house, Olivia tries the home brew and feeling unwell takes herself off to bed. She wakes briefly to defend herself but …

Straight away we’re into the action – not only with the murder but also in the early hours of the morning, we find out that there is far more to tw...more Betrayal begins with 16 year old Olivia travelling, in late summer, to Port Gamble, Washington. She’s been expecting an idealised version of America … the reality is disappointing!

At the Halloween party held at best friend Brianna’s house, Olivia tries the home brew and feeling unwell takes herself off to bed. She wakes briefly to defend herself but …

Straight away we’re into the action – not only with the murder but also in the early hours of the morning, we find out that there is far more to twins Hayley and Taylor than shows on the surface. Intriguing!

There is no prelude or background to Olivia’s murder and so I was alert trying to pick up clues as I read. The author cleverly drops hints about motive (Oliva’s YouTube videos come to mind and a photograph) … at a couple of points I was so sure I knew who the perpetrator was but no, I was wrong.

As we follow the investigation into Olivia’s death, we get to know the key characters including their flaws. The reader becomes a part of this community, not only at home but also at Kingston High. I was fascinated with these affluent people and their history with each other.

After a second murder, the plot focuses on the twins. This is just as tense and intriguing as everything that has happened so far. There are a couple of edge-of-the-seat scenes, which got my heart racing. Eventually their mother tells them the truth … or does she! After I had finished reading there was something nudging me, and I realised that although a truth was told, there is something else we didn’t get the answer to. Maybe it will be left this way or maybe it is something the author has brought in as a thread for the next novel in the series.

I enjoyed Olsen’s writing style. The pace of the plot was perfect, keeping me engaged and leading me on. There are characters with their own agendas, which adds to the suspense. The author uses modern language and social media pitched at the right level for the targeted audience (although I would also recommend for adults too!) Texting, tweeting, Facebook and YouTube are all a part of the story. The media are also involved and their ‘interference’ is a reflection of the part they play in real life.

Betrayal is more than a window into the baser nature of humans, there is also a paranormal element … this is a thriller with a difference!

Having received Betrayal unsolicited in the post, at the time it was just a book that went on the reading schedule. I had no idea the affect it would have on me (don’t you just love that!) I absolutely loved this story. I found it hard to put down and read it in 24 hours … and I’m still thinking about it now.

I would like to thank Andrea Reece for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.(less)

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Jan 26, 2013 Caroline Victoria Murphy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

4.5 stars

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Aug 30, 2012 Pam rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012, ya-read-in-2012

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher for an honest review. I loved the first book in this series and couldn't wait to read the next one. From the moment you start reading this book the action starts. Olivia an exchange student is murdered at a Halloween party. The police begin to investigate this murder and have several people they believe did it including her best friend Bree, the girl she lives with Beth and a few more. The best friend doesn't help matters when she does yoga at th...more I received an ARC of this book from the publisher for an honest review. I loved the first book in this series and couldn't wait to read the next one. From the moment you start reading this book the action starts. Olivia an exchange student is murdered at a Halloween party. The police begin to investigate this murder and have several people they believe did it including her best friend Bree, the girl she lives with Beth and a few more. The best friend doesn't help matters when she does yoga at the police station while being questioned, make out with her boyfriend the next day plus lots more. The twins Taylor and Hayley they get that feeling that someone has died that night. The same feeling they have had before. They start to get those signs that they receive pointing them in the direction of the killer through visions and signs. In the midst of all that the twins also get text from creepy text guy that makes them look deeper into their own past at what secrets may be there.

I love the twins and all they get into following their feelings and the signs they receive. You really get a better look at what them different from each other and you also get to see more of that special bond they have. Beth is a good character as well you get to see her break down her tough girl exterior at one point and get a good look at who she is under that. Bree is a rich, snobby spoiled, liar and I didn't like this girl at all. She reminded me of mean girls in school who would rip your to shreds all the while laugh about. She doesn't care what is going on she just cares about herself. The other characters you get to read about in this book each have their own impact on the plot.

I really liked how the action starts right away and doesn't let up the whole book. You never know what is going to happen or who the killer is. You can guess you know but trust me you don't. The twins finding out more about their past is like a side store you just know is leading up to a bigger story hopefully coming soon. All the twitter reference and other things the author adds makes a nice touch I think and will help draw in new readers to a great series. I can't say what part because of a spoiler but one had me almost ready to cry. It is such an emotional scene and Gregg Olsen did a great job writing it. When the killer is revealed I was shocked who it was and why they did it. I look forward to the next book in this series as I need to know more where Hay-Tay get their spidey sense I guess you could say. If you want a young adult murder mystery with some great characters pick this one up.(less)

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Aug 30, 2012 Sandra rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Like its predecessor Envy, Betrayal was such an interesting murder mystery and I absolutely loved every minute. Gregg Olsen has a way to weave a mystery that makes it almost impossible to guess the truth. Sure when you read a mystery, you know it's probably not who you think it is, but when the end comes and you learn the truth, the Empty Coffin series will leave you surprised. I know I was!

The twins Hayley and Taylor really are the stars of this novel. Their special abilities to see the future...more Like its predecessor Envy, Betrayal was such an interesting murder mystery and I absolutely loved every minute. Gregg Olsen has a way to weave a mystery that makes it almost impossible to guess the truth. Sure when you read a mystery, you know it's probably not who you think it is, but when the end comes and you learn the truth, the Empty Coffin series will leave you surprised. I know I was!

The twins Hayley and Taylor really are the stars of this novel. Their special abilities to see the future and past are such an asset to solving crimes and when the victims are classmates, it's understandable they would want to use their ability to help. But that's not the start and end of their plot; their family makes for an interesting mystery itself. Their mother is obviously hiding something about her past and the twins are also itching to know what happened to her. Their father writes mysteries and I can't help but wonder if Olsen put a little of himself in that character. We did finally learn more about the twins' mother in Betrayal, but I have a feeling there's a lot more this family that we'll learn about in subsequent novels.

As strange as it sounds, I found the afterword of the novel to be extremely interesting. Olsen seems to be basing the crimes in his Empty Coffin series off real events. In Envy, the plot was loosely based off a real case of bullying. In Betrayal, the plot is loosely based off the story of Amanda Knox. She accused of murdering her roommate while studying-aborad in Italy. I didn't follow that news piece at all, so when Olsen explained the parallels I was quite surprised and intrigued. The fact that the Empty Coffin novels are based off real events makes the books that much more exciting to read. I'm eagerly anticipating the third novel, Guilty, to see what real-life drama will show up in its pages.

The only thing I didn't like in Betrayal was the product placement. For example, instead of simply saying the character sipped from a cup of coffee, it was Starbucks coffee. If a character changed her outfit, we learned she changed out of something from Macy's and into something from L.L.Bean. I could go on and on, but really the brand-name name-dropping got a bit annoying after awhile. Still, I think the plot and action itself made up for it.

Four stars! I loved the mystery in this novel and I think this is a great fall read as Halloween approaches. While you could potentially read Betrayal as a stand-alone, I highly recommend you read the first book in the series, Envy, first since it will give a lot of the background information on the twin's ability and family life. References to Envy are pretty frequent throughout Betrayal. I think it's a little unfortunate these books haven't made more of a splash in the YA world, when I think they're definitely worth reading.

...more YA reviews at pandareads.com(less)

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Sep 27, 2012 Stephanie Ward rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: owned, for-review, will-trade

'Betrayal' is the second book in a young adult mystery series that is centered in Port Gamble, a small town in the Pacific Northwest. Twins Taylor and Hayley Ryan find themselves in the middle of the murder investigation of a fellow classmate - British exchange student Olivia Grant. Will Taylor and Hayley be able to figure out who killed Olivia and why before someone else gets hurt?

Just like the first book in the series, the second installment is an incredibly well written and fast paced mystery...more

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About Gregg Olsen

Throughout his career, Gregg Olsen has demonstrated an ability to create a detailed narrative that offers readers fascinating insights into the lives of people caught in extraordinary circumstances.

A New York Times bestselling author, Olsen has written seven nonfiction books, three novels, and contributed a short story to a collection edited by Lee Child.

The award-winning author has been a guest o...more

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Books by Gregg Olsen

Starvation Heights: A True Story of Murder and Malice in the Woods of the Pacific Northwest

Abandoned Prayers: The Incredible True Story of Murder, Obsession and Amish Secrets

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Betrayal (Empty Coffin #2)

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