Krista Wagner's Blog, page 8

Deadly Phone Calls

The one and only book by a mysterious A. Bates.This book was just as mysterious as the author's identity. The whole idea of a party line is dated now, but actually online gaming echoes it in many ways. How well do you know the people you are talking to as you game? That same idea is expressed here when Mark starts talking to girls through a party line.Soon after Mark starts getting comfortable talking to girls through these phone conversations, girls go missing.SPOILERBecause Mark becomes so selfish and cocky (dating two girls at once and thinking it's okay), I really suspected him all along. Turns out I was wrong. But the real suspect seems so random and implausible that I was let down.The writer has a great compelling style. Just wished the ending had been more satisfying.

I Know. . .

This book (as is usually the case) is so much better than the movie. I do enjoy watching the film, but it took a lot of liberties. Duncan herself didn't recognize her own story once she viewed the film. Not only did the studio keep her in the dark, refusing any of her input, the movie so disturbed her that she was unable to consume her popcorn. Imagine seeing a man with a hook, a character that does not exist in her book. And then seeing bloodletting, another element that doesn't exist in her book.The movie became more horror-filled than Duncan cared for, seeing as her novels are thriller-focused. But on a more personal note, her daughter was killed in an unexplained shooting and the killer was never found. Watching violence that echoed this event was too much for her to take.The characters in the book are, on the other hand, quite similar to what you see in the film, but Duncan's are far more complex whereas the film espouses more superficial characters. Her book is one of the smarter young adult stories, full of complex intrigue and mystery. You get to explore the angst of each character's psyche as they wrestle with the guilt of having killed a little boy (another difference from the film).Though there are a few key moments it shares with the silver screen version, the book gives us so much more, rendering it a far more interesting take of this tale of overcoming a dark secret.

Supernatural mystery

A very different YA book from the 90s. A teen girl discovers a dead girl's diary that contains experiences that soon come to feel like her own. Like she was once this girl. . . I don't buy into the whole reincarnation thing, so I wouldn't endorse that aspect of the premise. But the way Smith executes the mystery is interesting, and in many ways its themes resonate more maturely than other YA mysteries. The transition of Delia to the dead girl is so smooth and effective that you hardly notice it's happening, sort of like the transition you see with Cady in Mean Girls. The writing style was a bit rough around the edges, but entertaining for the most part. It's strange that you can't find anything about this author. . . But the ending, well, two things: 1) Way too sudden, like the writing starts to propel you toward something and then cuts off. 2) Totally shocking.

The Accident

A thriller that chills you all the way through the plot and into your bones! A car accident injured Megan's friends. And then there was the boating accident that occurred in the very same town decades ago. Somehow, the two incidents are connected, but how? And then a spirit from the long-ago past entices high school Megan to switch places with her. It will only be for a week. What could possibly go wrong? Well, everything, it turns out. And boy, does Hoh know how to keep you clinging to the edges of her book! The car accident wasn't an accident, and Megan's close circle of friends and family are soon put in danger. In this fast-paced thriller, we are taken through a strange and uncertain world that is quickly shaping into one that is dangerous and certain.Megan is a worthy protagonist who is smart and skeptical, the perfect combination for uncovering this mystery and enduring the tightening coil of suspense. A breath-taking rush of a ride!

Nightmare Hall

This is an adrenaline-laced thrill fest with tons of exciting events and a deepening mystery.Shortly after Maxie pledges her sorority, strange things start to happen. Valuables are stolen from her sisters. . .and then returned. But the occurrences grow steadily more unnerving as the days go by until, like Maxie, you are checking over your shoulder at everyone around you. Because whoever is behind these bizarre and scary ploys could be anyone.At first, there seemed to be too many characters to keep track of; thankfully, that becomes more manageable as the story moves along as Hoh focuses on a select group of people. Another issue I ran across were a lot of time and place jumps, right in the middle of a chapter, without any alerts.But all that aside, the story is well written with enticing moments that keep you suspended, anxious to turn the next page, and impatient to get to the reveal.

Overdue

Ahhh, what a satisfying YA mystery thriller! I had so much fun reading this one that I despised having to put it down at all.Something's amiss when Kathleen takes over Ms. Finchs's librarian spot while she goes off to a seminar. The library cannot stay quiet, and it's not due to a noisy bunch of patrons. Someone is stalking the library, stalking Kathleen. . .but whoever it is doesn't stay within the building's confines.It starts with the weird clues left everywhere Kathleen goes--books. very specific books left at each crime scene.Cusick does a clever job of using the library and books in creative ways to draw us into this tangled web of suspense. I thought I knew who the villain was, I was so sure, but I was so wrong. Never have I read such a GREAT TWIST!If you like deepening mysteries with tightening suspense around every corner and down every aisle, pick this one up!

Starstruck

This one was a confusing read.It is touted as a thriller but it only reflects that in sprinkles and then fully at the very end.A girl wins a exclusive trip to meet with a superstar. but instead of suspense, we get a lot of dialogue from a huge cast of characters, most of who are unnecessary.It was difficult to feel connected to the characters, even the main character, Miranda, as Cusick doesn't give us a good feel for them. There seemed to be a lot more telling than showing.I found it odd that a pivotal moment was explained off-screen. Miranda's character seems confused the whole time too, jumping to erratic conclusions.A couple of scary moments take place, but then are quickly forgotten. The story is pretty scattered. At times, we find ourselves suddenly in another location in the next paragraph. While I have enjoyed Cusick's earlier books, this plot felt so staggered, like she wasn't sure what to do with the story.The end was very confusing. Cusick went back and forth trying to rationalize the causes behind the few strange moments throughout the story, but a clear explanation of the culprit is never made. It's just a tangled mess in the end.

April Fools!

A similar take to Lois Duncan's I Know What You Did Last Summer, April Fools brings even more chills!Belinda can't get past the April Fools joke that her friends Frank and Hildy pulled when they play a sort of 'cast-and-bait' game with another car, causing the occupants to veer off the road and die in the fire.But did they actually die? And who was the man at the top of the hill staring down at Belinda?Belinda's friends are annoyed with her worries and don't take her feeling that someone survived and that someone is stalking them seriously.The suspense blends well with this dark mystery that has you reading into the night.

Trick or Treat

Spooky, spooky fun!Cusick's fun YA mystery is the perfect way to celebrate Fall. Strange sounds in Martha's new house. An eerie scarecrow. Unexplained shadows.The tension is so tight that the story contains you all the way to the end. And what a shocking ending it is! A seriously surprising twist that will leave you mesmerized!

The Lifeguard

I first read this in high school. I remember how much the story stuck with me. But high school was a long time ago. Would I be just as drawn into the story as I was back then?YES.Cusick is a simple but compelling writer. We are thrown into the midst of a family's loss when Beth, the younger sister of two teenage brothers, goes missing on the beach. What makes the circumstances even more concerning is that a handful of girls have washed up on the shore in the past few years, murdered.Kelsey, our MC, is thrust into the mystery of what happened to Beth. It isn't long until she begins to experience strange things, like finding seaweed in her room, a set of wet footprints, a scary old man in the lighthouse who begins to threaten her.And then we wonder who we can trust when the three lifeguards, the two brothers and their friend, act suspiciously. Someone is listening to every conversation Kelsey is having, someone is watching her every move. And the unfolding of the mystery turns darker and more confounding with each corner we turn.An excellent YA read that will have you breathless and reading non-stop into the night.