J. T. EllisonReviews
Author of The Final Cut
Reviews
I received this digital arc from NetGalley and publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
This is a wild, twisted psychological mystery novel. It is captivating from beginning to end. The story is narrated from a first person point of view but it is never quite clear who that might be. Once you start to follow the story and feel you understand the narrators, an odd unexpected one seems to interject.
The story begins with a murder at the prestigious Goode School in Marchburg, VA where honor and tradition are paramount. Ford Julianne Westhaven has led the school for the past 10 years after her mother faced a scandal regarding the manner in which she handled a murder years ago at the school. At 35 years old, Ford desperately wants a career as a writer but feels a responsibility to step in after her mother was dismissed. The women in her family have proudly served as head of the all girls school for generations.
It seems that the rumors and traditions of the past continue to endure at the elite boarding school. It seems that everyone has their own secrets and family history which they will do anything to protect. Ironically, the school has a strict Honor Code which prohibits lies and dishonorable behavior. Of course, there always seem to be exceptions to most rules.
Such is the case of Ash Carlisle who transfers to the school from Oxford, England after the traumatic deaths of both her parents. Her father, Sir Damien Carr is an investment banker with a quick temper usually expressing his rage at Ashlyn. Lady Sylvia Carr, her mother, does little to intervene so it is a relief when they decide to send her overseas her sophomore year to finish high school.
This is where the secrets seem to spill as Dean Westhaven agrees to allow admission for Ashlyn under the alias Ash Carlisle to protect her from the gossip regarding her parents unexpected deaths. As Ash tries to fit in with her dorm mate and other suite mates, she realizes it won’t be easy. Once she begins to settle into a routine, her private life is gradually revealed as well as she decides to shun her new friends. Becca Curtis, a senior and head girl at the school, initially bullies Ash and then welcomes her into the senior class inner circle.
Her disgruntled and jealous dorm mates go to extreme measures to make life difficult for her. When a student dies from an apparent suicide, the chaos at the school just begins. Everyone’s life is examined and scrutinized. It seems there are many exceptions to the Honor Code at Goode School.
This story pulls you into the mysteries and indiscretions of the characters who struggle to maintain the demure façade expected of children of elite parents.
I have read several books by this author and in my opinion, this is her best book yet. It's full of secrets that are slowly revealed. The suspense level is very high and the story is a real roller coaster ride. It's full of clues that are often pointed at the wrong person and you have no idea of who the murderer is until the very end. The characters are very well written. My favorite character was Riley. She was a newspaper reporter who was always looking for the next big story but also was kind and empathetic towards other people. This is a book that you don't want to miss.
Ellison also introduces us to sixteen-year-old Scarlett Flynn. She is the daughter of a single mother who used donor sperm to conceive a son and daughter. Scarlett took a DNA test to investigate her ancestry and has been corresponding with other "halves"— boys and girls whose mothers conceived via sperm donation—on social media. Scarlett informs her mother, Darby, that she longs to meet her biological father someday. Shockingly, one of the "halves" turns out to be a ruthless killer who is targeting additional victims.
This tale of betrayal, secrets, and unfulfilled desires veers off in too many directions. The author uses alternating viewpoints to little purpose, since the characters' angst-ridden lives are more disturbing than engrossing. The novel concludes with a gratuitous twist that is thrown in for shock value. On the other hand, in the afterword, Ellison movingly discusses her own struggles with infertility. Among the most compelling passages in "It's One of Us" are those that describe Olivia's longing to carry a baby to term and her frustration at being unable to do so. These scenes ring true and are genuinely heartbreaking.
That meant I gave it my best attempt at finishing it.
But after 3 weeks, and one car trip and 2 flights, it's still just 40% read. It's just... missing something.
There's a spark that Coulter normally has. This book lists a co-author. The plotting is just as tight as normal, but there's some spark of likeability that is missing.
I am finding myself just not CARING about these characters, and I don't want to spend the time to finish it.
So sad.
This book served up plenty of twists and a good side-dish of creepiness in the short chapters told by the twisted character I could NOT guess!
I had about a dozen guesses of how the story would end and I was wrong on all of them.
I looked forward to reading this book every night and thought it was very cleverly written.
I received an advance copy of this title through the First To Read program from Penguin. http://www.firsttoread.com
I'd give this more like 3.5 Stars but I'll round up on this occasion.
I've always loved Coulter's FBI Thriller Series. I enjoyed the mixing it up by adding a "Brit" to the FBI. While the book was on the long side, it was a quick read. It doesn't have quite the same feel as the other FBI thrillers by Coulter. Nicholas has his own special gifts. He is a spy turned Chief Inspector for the Scotland Yard. Michaela works for the New York Office of the FBI. Nicholas and Michaela "Mike" work well together trying to solve the death of dear friend, Elaine York, and the theft of the rare diamond from Queen Mother's Crown that was on loan to the MET. The search for the elusive FOX, an international thief, draws Nicholas and Mike closer together during all this exciting and intense action.
I will "read" this again when it is available as an audiobook. Can't wait to hear what Nicholas and Mike sound like.
This was such an exciting story. It's told by several alternating pov's, and also past and present narrative, which I liked. I was eager to know what the secret was, so I kept turning pages late into the night. There were several good twists and the ending was quite unexpected. At 446 pages the book felt a little too long and there was some unnecessary repetition, but all in all I really enjoyed it.
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a copy of this book.