e-Audio, 10:24:39
Narrated by: Kevin R. Free & Nile Bullock
Release Date: January 30, 2024
Published by: Books on Tape (Delacorte Press)
Read from: December 27-28, 2023
Stand-alone
Source: PRH Audio (I received a copy of this audiobook from the Publisher in exchange for a just and honest review. This did nothing to influence my review.)
TW: Gaslighting, Racism, Racial Slurs, Murder
For Readers Interested In: Thrillers, Mysteries, Dual POV, Multiple Narrators, Realistic Fiction, 2SLGBTQ+, Own Voices, YAIn this new pulse-pounding thriller from the author of The Black Queen, two brothers must come together to solve the murder of the most popular girl in school after one of them is caught fleeing the scene of her death.
Amir Trudeau has his fair share of problems. He hates his new school, and his estranged half-brother Marcel is continuously trying to repair a relationship that Amir wants no part of. Both the sons of local celebrity chef Martin Trudeau, Marcel is part of the ‘new’ family Amir’s dad left him and his mom to start—a betrayal Amir has never forgotten.
But when Amir wakes up in the middle of the night and finds Chloe Danvers, a pretty and popular white girl who attends the same elite private school as him, stabbed to death, he suddenly finds himself with much bigger things to worry about.
After cameras catch him fleeing the scene of Chloe’s murder, Amir becomes embroiled in an investigation that has all of New Orleans talking. And now, in order to clear his name, he’ll have to rely on the one person his trusts least—Marcel, who sees helping Amir crack the case as way to repair their relationship. But as the brothers dig deeper into the mystery of Chloe’s death, they’ll have to face the twisted secrets festering within the hallowed halls of their own school.
*MY THOUGHTS*
When I saw this was available on the app, I immediately put everything else aside and started it. After reading Black Queen last year, I knew this would also be good. And actually it was even better. It went places I wasn’t expecting and I was not ready for it lol So basically, go read this!
Ok so boom, this book was so good. I couldn’t stop listening. I think I listened to the first chapter the night before and then the next day I binged the entire thing while I was working. I usually get nervous when there’s more than one POV because there’s usually something that doesn’t gel, whether its one POV isn’t fully fleshed out or the POVs are too similar or whatever. But this one didn’t have that problem. Both the characters had me fully enthralled and I just had to figure out what was going on. The best thing about this being dual POV tho is seeing the two of them solving this in their own way. Because they are very different. And the way Emill did the character arc between the two of them? It just felt authentic and I loved that.
The mystery part of this was crazy af tho. I was not expecting this book to take the turn it did. That game was absolutely disgusting. I was hooked. I wanted to see them burn it down to the ground. I did think that the way this went was so much better than the Emill’s last. I hate when the teens can get clues or info too easily. And that was one of the things I complained about last time. This time there were no easily obtained clues. They just basically used logic and all the things they were given.
The writing style was ok again. I can’t lie, I got a bit worried about having another yte girl in the book. But this time it’s not even close to what happened in his last book. I was I know there was a bit of controversy about it when it was released last time. But this one is completely different. Don’t let it put you off when you first start reading it in the beginning. Trust me, it has a twist.
I hate writing reviews for thrillers because I don’t want to say too much due to spoilers. But if you want to know about specifics or want to know more about it later, drop a comment and let me know. I can tell you a more in-depth explanation of what happened. What I can say for now tho? It’s very good!
Overall, I give this
