I enjoyed this unique fast paced story, however, I caution younger YA readers/sensitive readers. It got quite bloody and the characters started using foul language about 1/2 through the story. ( )

2.5 Stars

CW: Father dies in apparent murder but was actually an unfortunate accident, down syndrome girl treated badly by grandmother

Well that was a quick and simple YA mystery.

It jumped straight into the action as Katelyn and her mother flee their home with pursuers hot on their heels. I liked the premise and it was a fast-paced action centered around a dark family secret. Most people know I dislike 'out of place' romances and this book had quite a significant one but that is just a matter of taste. However, to be sure it was me and not the book I consulted with my kids. My daughter felt that including a romance definitely made a book more interesting to her and my son didn't care as long as it's not "cringe-inducing". The story was a bit formulaic and for that reason I think it would be good for NZ Year 9 students looking for a light mystery with just enough tension and action to hold their interest. ( )

A girl very suddenly finds out that the life she’s lived for almost 18 years isn’t the complete truth. Her mom doesn’t explain much even as she’s telling her daughter to stay hidden in the hotel room and not to look out the window. ( )

Engaging thriller that will be great for reluctant readers ( )

This was an excellent thriller that I just had to read in one sitting. It was too exciting to put down!

Katelyn is almost used to the idea that her mom is paranoid and absolutely convinced that something bad will happen to her daughter. She is also very strict about knowing where Katelyn is all the time and also keeping her off social media. Her mom has moved her frequently throughout her life. Anytime something particularly worries her, they pack up and move.

Katelyn is hoping that this time they'll be able to stay in one place long enough for her to graduate from high school. But, when Katelyn sets up an online dating profile for her mother, her mother panics and forces them to leave in a hurry.

Good thing they do because someone is after them. They steal cars and wind up in an isolated motel. Her mom tells Katelyn to stay there while she goes on some mysterious errand but, while she's gone, someone breaks into the motel room and Katelyn barely escapes through the bathroom window.

Circling back around, she discovers a young man in the trunk of the car the room invader arrived in and the two of them go on the run together. Malcolm Pike is a college junior and computer hacker who was hired to find Katelyn's mother which he did almost as soon as the picture with the online profile was posted.

Katelyn is surprised to learn that her mother has been on the run after being accused of killing a rich young man. The man's mother has hired detectives and bounty hunters to track her down. Katelyn can't believe that her mother would ever do something like that and convinces Malcolm that they need to investigate more.

The investigation leads to all sorts of secrets about her life and all sorts of danger as the bounty hunter gets close to catching them many times.

This is action-packed and would be sure to grab the attention of any YA reader. ( )