Wednesday 21 December 2011

Review of Envy by Gregg Olsen

** What it’s about **

The night Katelyn died was the beginning of something that would change everything.  Everything.  Every.  Single.  Thing.

One minute Katelyn’s a depressed teen with a loser life.  The next, she’s lying on a stainless steel slab, eyes glassy, skin frosted over, and very, very dead.  Was it suicide? Murder? Who’s to blame? Twins Hayley and Taylor Ryan stumble upon the dark truth.  Inspired by a ripped-from-the-headlines, cyber-bullying crime, Envy is the gritty first volume in Empty Coffin, a new bone-chilling series that takes you to the edge – and pushes you right over.

With thirteen books and sales of over one million copies to his credit, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author GREGG OLSEN makes his young adult fiction debut in Empty Coffin and expertly explores the dark underbelly of society, masterfully bringing to light each scandalous true crime story.




** What I thought **

This is Gregg Olsen’s debut in the YA market, and what a fabulous start.  Envy is the first in the Empty Coffin Series; books set in Port Gamble (aka Empty Coffin).  These thrillers have a paranormal edge to them, which refreshingly doesn’t see a vampire, werewolf or angel in sight! 

Olsen has a fantastic writing style; he tells the story mainly in the present with a series of flashbacks interwoven in.  When described this may sound a little confusing but actually works wonderfully. 

The storyline certainly is disturbing, but whilst poignant, it is so relevant today and this realism makes it stand out from other YA series that are around at the moment.  There isn’t even a hint of predictability about this book, it twists and turns and keeps you guessing until the very end.  I certainly didn’t suspect the ‘killer’ at all!

The story is satisfyingly concluded in terms of Katelyn but there are things that are left unanswered in terms of twins, Hayley and Taylor.  The sneak peak at the next book in the series, Betrayal, indicates that we will indeed follow the story of the psychic twins.  I, for one, look forward to discovering more about their past, present and future!

Whilst this book and all the characters in it are fictional, Envy is based around the famous case of Megan Meier who committed suicide on October 17th 2006 following a disturbing case of cyber-bullying.  For more information about the nonfiction behind the fiction (and a host of other things), visit www.emptycoffinseries.com

2 comments:

  1. I hadn't heard of this book before, but it sounds excellent! I've just added to it my ever-growing list of books TBR :)

    Brilliant review :)

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  2. I loved this one, when I finished it I was definitely left begging for more, cant wait for the next in the series!

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