Thursday, 8 November 2012

Betrayal by Gregg Olsen


Series: Empty Coffin, Book Two
Publisher: Splinter
Format: Paperback
Published: 22nd September 2011

Number of Pages: 352
Book: For Review*
Genre: Murder Mystery, Paranormal, Thriller, Suspense, Crime Fiction, Action-Adventure, Supernatural, YA
Recommended Age: 12+
Contains: Violence, Murder, Alcohol References
No Drug References
Author's Blog: Gregg Olsen
Series Site: Empty Coffin Series

It happened so fast, the way awful things almost always do.  The mattress sagged under the weight of another person kneeling on the bed.  The first cut wasn’t the deepest.  It was tentative, a slight jab. 
Her manicured fingertips found her abdomen.  She barely had time to process the fact that her hand was wet.
The blade of a knife flew at her, burying itself in her throat.  It came with speed and fury.  Only her killer knew the irony of her last words.  That bloody hurts.

                                                                   Review:
“’I'm not going to die here, am I?’ she thought, though the answer seemed all too clear.  ‘Am I?’”
Olivia Grant didn't come to America for this.  She didn't leave England to die.
But that's what happens.  Olivia is drugged and stabbed to death in her friend's bed at a Halloween party. 
Twins Hayley and Taylor Ryan are pulled into investigating another death - both by their unique supernatural abilities and by the fact their best friend Beth Lee is the prime suspect in Olivia's murder...
But as they dig into the circumstances around her death, long hidden secrets about the bus accident that left the girls comatose twelve years ago and the mysteries surrounding their family and their abilities...
Could one of those closest to them be the worst betrayer of all?
And can they catch the killer - before they strike again...? 
I absolutely adored Envy, so when Betrayal landed on my doorstep, I actually did a happy dance.  And from that first utterly and amazingly terrifying chapter, I just knew Betrayal would exceed all my expectations.  And it did.  Because, oh, it just got so much better from there!   Suspenseful, mysterious, thrilling and so totally addictive, Betrayal was everything I hoped it would be and more
The characters in this book are always so real.  The teens are totally teen and the adults totally believable.  Again, I've gotta say how much I love the twins - I loved them even more in this one actually.  Taylor and her snark really made me giggle and I loved it when she stood up for her herself.  I loved it even more when she got Hayley to do what she didn't want to by saying "You're older".  Yes, even among twins this is an argument.  She's the more creative, social loving twin, I think.  Hayley, the precision-loving twin, was awesome - I loved learning all her quirks and OCD tendencies.  She's definitely the stronger, harder twin - she's not afraid to stand up for herself or shy from confrontations like Taylor.  I think Hayley is my favourite twin - maybe because she's the quirkier twin.  Or maybe because sometimes she kind of reminded me of me.  So yes, I adore Hay-Tay and I loved watching them grow in Betrayal.  I love their dad too.  And I loved that lots of this book was through other characters POVs.  We revisited some from Envy and got to know new characters - I loved getting to know them, even if I didn't really love the characters themselves.  I also loved seeing how my favourites grew ad changed - the twins especially. 
I fell in love with Gregg's writing in Envy - in Betrayal, I fell even more in love.  While the twins are definitely the main characters we also have lots more POVs in this one - something I adored.  And there were these chapters written by the killer.  And my God were they terrifying!  I was literally shuddering at them!  An man do I love Gregg's plot lines!  They are so addictive it's untrue, so twisty and suspenseful.  And I never know who did it!  I must have had a million suspects.  What is it with Gregg and getting me to suspect freaking everyone?!  He really rocks at making me so totally paranoid.  And then there was all the family stuff - all the secrets surrounding the twins.  And that was just as, maybe even more, intriguing as the murder.  It was also not completely resolved - which makes me quite frankly DESPERATE for the next in the series - the LAST in the series...  I'm going to go off and have a minor breakdown now...
I do love the twins but I also loved that so much of the book was about the crime, police stuff.  I love police dramas and what not so I was over the moon at the CSI feel to the book.  And I loved the totally real, authentic feel about the whole crime side of the book.  I don't really remember the Amanda Knox case - before my time maybe? - but from what Gregg said and a quick Google showed me was enough to turn my stomach.  And all that negative media, twisting of words stuff totally came through in Betrayal.  But this is its own story, not a copycat of the case. 
The Empty Coffins Series is without a doubt one of my favourite series ever.  It's scary, gritty, suspenseful, exciting, intriguing, amazing, thrilling, dark, emotional, stunning.... and about a million more adjectives - and all very, very positive.  I honestly can't think of a single thing I don't like about this series.  I could read about the twins forever and a day, though with all the suspense, I'm not sure if my nerves would enjoy that as much as my heart and brain would!  And even though I know it will be the last about the twins, I seriously need the next book as soon as possible!  I may not want the series to end, but I need all the answers - desperately!  Anyway, if you haven't read this series yet - what are you waiting for?!  It's beyond amazing, something all YA readers simply have to read!  So what are you waiting for?!  Check it out yourself and be hooked - just like me!  You'll love it to pieces too - trust me!

Star Rating:
4½ Out of 5



Read this book if you liked:
Knock Down by Chris Ould
Virals by Kathy Reichs
The Medusa Project by Sophie McKenzie


Challenges It's Taking Part In:
Happy Reading
Megan
* This book was received from Splinter in exchange for an honest review

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