Not that that's a bad thing. I actually like it when the author makes the "whodunnit" a hard one to solve- it makes me more interested in the book. I picked up the 2nd volume of PLL after devouring the first one literally overnight, and ended up doing the same with this book.

This volume finds the fab four dealing with the aftermath of Ali's funeral and the follow-up with their own personal problems. Emily has found a new suitor to try to take her mind off of Maya, a new suitor who happens to be none other than Toby- the brother of Jenna... as in the person they used as a scapegoat for "The Jenna Thing". Spencer is still trying to regain her family's trust, even as she tries to continue her secret relationship with Wren. But is she really into him for the right reasons or is she merely trying to one-up her sister? Aria is also trying to regain someone's trust as she tries to get back into her forbidden crush's good graces. And then there's Hanna, who tries so hard to stay on the good side of popularity. Poor Hanna, who finds herself falling back into her old habits and insecurities. That's enough to drive any group insane, however the malevolent force known only as "A" won't rest until their twisted revenge is complete!

I still love this series with a passion. The second volume followed much of the same formula as the first book did, but was still entertaining. My only complaint was that the families of each girl seemed a little bit too evil & unforgiving. Hanna still has problems with her dad & evil soon to be step-sister. Spencer's sister & family refuses to give her the time of day unless it is to hurt her. Emily's mom doesn't want her to see Maya or give up on swimming. Aria's family is relatively normal by comparison, and her's is almost just as twisted in their own ways. At some point I kind of got tired of seeing *every* family being so dysfunctional & I really wished for some sort of normalcy to occur in order to balance everything out. The mystery of A does a lot to keep me interested, but I have to admit that if it wasn't for that I probably wouldn't have read the book so quickly. (Only so much mean people I can take at one time!)