Twisted. Hannah Jayne. 2016. 320 pages. Sourcebooks Fire. [Source: ARC provided courtesy of NetGalley.]
Life’s a bit challenging when you’re the daughter of an alleged serial killer. Bex Andrews, neé Beth Anne Reimer, knows this all to well. When she was 7, her father was dubbed the “the Wife Collector,” after a series of mysterious kidnappings and murders in North Carolina. Now 17, Bex has an opportunity to escape her traumatizing past, with a fresh start 200 miles away. She’s made new friends, has doting foster parents, and even has a caring boyfriend. The best part is that none of them know her troubled lineage. So why does it feel like she’s still in her father’s shadow?
Twisted pulled me in from the start, so much so that I neglected all of my responsibilities to finish it. The premise itself was enough to get me to start, but Jayne’s story kept me enthralled. I appreciate that Bex is a relatable and realistic character. She responds (however frustratingly) how I would expect a teenage girl whose serial killer (?) father abandoned her in the middle of the night. She’s fearful, yet determined to make a new story for herself. Yet in the midst of that, she’s brave enough to face her demons head on, with or without the support of her friends and family. Although I sometimes found her to be incredibly foolish, I could very easily see her reactions as authentic.
The book’s plot has solid pacing. I felt the relationships and bonds Bex formed with other characters were a bit strong out of the gate, especially given her family history. However, considering that this is a YA book, it’s not too far fetched to expect them to become BFF and soul maters with a quick turnaround. Some of the character development was also lacking. The focus is clearly on Bex, and while I agree that she was a more complex, albeit troubled, character, this story would have benefited from depth for her parents and close friends.
The suspense factor throughout Twisted is strong, though. Sometimes when you read suspense, you can pick up on foreshadowing or red herrings almost subconsciously. Those were present here, but in subtle ways. Certain characters and their actions seem to be the obvious picks for the villain, while others were dropped in later as questionable. I thought I had it all figured out with regard to who the Wife Collector was, and was pleasantly surprised to see how Jayne pulled it all together. There were enough plot twists to keep it interesting, but not so many that it was confusing to keep track of what was going on. My only gripe is that the resolution was too quick and left me with more questions than I would have liked. It seemed as if the resolution took only a few pages, while the first 315 built up to it.
Overall, this is a solid book. The content is age-appropriate, given the theme. It’s also a quick and engaging read. I definitely recommend this one.
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