I’m sharing another instalment of my Mini Review Mondays, the most recent of which was last week. In case you haven’t seen any of my previous posts, I do ‘mini’ reviews of books that I’ve previously read and am now ready to share my full thoughts about.
First up, I’d like to talk about Cuckoo by Callie Kazemi. Thank you to Cornerstone for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
When Claire surprises her fiancé, Noah, at work for their anniversary, she’s the one who ends up being shocked to her core…
Because Noah left the company nine months ago, and she had no idea. How can she not have known?
Now he isn’t answering her calls. He won’t respond to her messages. He’s disappeared.
As Claire desperately tries to find her fiancé, her world begins to shatter as the truth about who Noah really is starts to emerge.
And things are about to spiral dangerously out of control . . .
CW: death, murder, infidelity, gaslighting, manipulation, stalking, racism, child abuse, verbal, physical, and psychological violence
My Thoughts:
Cuckoo was a twisted but highly entertaining read that I thoroughly enjoyed unpicking the layers of.
This is an impressive debut. The premise itself is wonderful and Kazumi has a great story in store that builds upon it tantalisingly. It is compulsively readable with enticing writing that pulls you into the story. Kazumi has a great sense of pacing and feeds the reveals into the narrative so well, skillfully setting them up. The twists are excellent and multi-faceted, upending the story each time. I enjoy books where the impact is felt immediately and it is wide-spread. Here, each twist has genuine stakes behind it. They feel earned in the course of the plot, rather than just big surprises. All of that being said, I would recommend going in knowing as little as possible and allowing Kazumi to bring you on this wild ride.
Within this tangled web of a plot, you have Claire at the centre. You become endeared to her hopelessly romantic voice pretty quickly. She is somewhat naive and trusting but loses a little of that as she starts to unpick the threads of her life with Noah. Kazumi does a great job at making her three-dimensional and lovable – the interspersions from a child narrating are heart-breaking and add a different perspective to the events unfolding. It is a great balance of character and plot with both elements making the pages fly by for the reader. I also really liked Claire’s coworker turned new friend Sukhi who is a welcome ray of sunshine at times. She’s pulled into this increasingly bizarre story but stays defensive and loyal. There is an innate kindness that is wonderful to see.
Cuckoo is a treacherous and twisty debut thriller from a compelling voice to watch.
Next up, I’d like to talk about Everyone in the Group Chat Dies by L. M. Chilton. Thank you to Aries Fiction for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Kirby Cornell needs a break from everything:
– Her crumbling flat in the sleepy town of Crowhurst (famous for its award-winning sausage rolls and a second-rate serial killer from the 90s).
– Her dead-end job.
– Her sleazy landlord.
– Her slobbish housemates.
– And, most of all, the terrible thing they all did.
Luckily, that hasn’t caught up with her just yet. Until a new message on their old group chat pops up:
Everyone in the group chat will die.
It’s the first text her ex-flatmate and social-media sleuth Esme has sent for ages, but that’s not the really weird thing.
The really weird thing is, Esme died twelve months ago…
CW: death, murder, violence, injury, gore
My Thoughts:
Everyone in the Group Chat Dies is a wickedly snarky and sensational thriller that riffs on the true crime industry and classic slasher narratives.
I highly enjoyed this darkly comedic murder mystery that moved into slasher-esque territory at times and had a gripping plot. Some of these scenes will make you hide behind a cushion. They are gruesome and yet strangely creative, like some of the best kill scenes in Scream. There is a level of camp ridiculousness to affairs that Chilton plays with so well. I really enjoyed the dark humour that is threaded throughout the narrative. It can add a welcome relief to the tension of these scenes, which is a pretty intense narrative, but sometimes it can also feel like the final twist of a knife.
Chilton plays with your expectations and the standard plot beats of a thriller and a mystery, as we try to work out whodunnit and why. The dual timeline adds to this as you begin to explore what exactly happened previously and why it is rearing its head once more. There is plenty for readers to sink their teeth into. It certainly made me want to read more of Chilton’s work. If the others are as well-constructed as this, I am certainly in for a good read.
Its exploration of the true crime industry was fascinating and layered as well. Esme is obsessed with her image and craving the fame that can come from cracking a cold case. She chooses this particular place to exploit the violence that took place there, disregarding the impact it had on the community and the ongoing ramifications. In contrast, Kirby is hyper-aware of just how much it can wreck your life. Her investigation is more cemented in the community she has tried to flee.
Everyone in the Group Chat Dies is a fast-paced, fantastic thriller that brings in some slasher elements.
Finally, I’d like to delve into Watch Your Back by Sue Wallman. Thank you to Kiran Khanom at Scholastic for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Kara has started a new school year without her best friend by her side. Eden has a new boyfriend and doesn’t have time for her. Instead, Kara finds herself drawn to a friendship with Romilly, a girl from her year with no friends.
The trouble is, the more Kara hangs around with Romilly, the more unsettling things start to happen. There’s the break in to her locker… the silent cold calls… and more. But can Kara be sure it’s Romilly who is derailing her life?
One thing is for sure. Someone is targeting Kara, and if she doesn’t work out why, who knows what they will do next …
CW: violence, injury, blackmail, animal death, gaslighting, manipulation, stalking
My Thoughts:
Watch Your Back is another excellent YA mystery from a defining voice in the genre.
Sue Wallman is a stalwart cornerstone of UKYA mysteries and thrillers. Every time, she delivers and this is no exception. Right from the opening page, I was hooked into Kara’s story. This is a riveting story of obsession and secrets, with escalating stakes. You think you know where it might end, but Wallman has a habit of tripping you up just when you least expect it. The mystery is gripping and flows well with increasing tension as new events unfold. I really enjoyed the twists and the themes they brought up for discussion, as they’re relevant and important for teenagers. Wallman adds layers to this, making it thought-provoking long after the final page.
Kara is a character I felt myself connecting with quickly. She is smart and driven, even though part of this comes from familial pressure rather than what she may really want. However she is isolated and lonely after her closest friend has abandoned her. I think many readers will be able to relate to that desperation for connection and the feeling of pressure stacking up on them. There is an expectation to have your life all planned out from such a young age, having a clear path to follow. Life is often not that easy or simplistic though as Kara discovers. Her unlikely friendship with Romilly comes from this desperation but can she really trust this fledgling friendship?
Watch Your Back is an entertaining read with a simmering sense of dread and suspense that boils up into a great final third.
A Short Book Lover 
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