I loved it!
hen I first started hearing about this book I knew it sounded interesting! A camp with a dark history and what seemed to me as an urban legend witch shooting people with a bow and arrow and then dark family secrets??!! I mean sign me up! Olivia was born during the Infamous Camp Lost Lake Murders and she grew up in a loving family. However, her life is turned upside down when she runs a DNA test and she doesn't see the DNA origins that she knew she should have had so she then runs a paternity test on her father and finds out her dad is not her dad. Finding out that information she immediately wanted to find out the truth and where is the best place. Camp Lost Lake. Reagan has been hiding and moving most of her life, her mother was the one the public opinion was she was the one responsible for the Infamous Camp Lost Lake Murders. Reagan knows that her mother wouldn't commit those murders like everyone thought that she did so she wants to find proof her mother was not involved with the murders. Naturally, she returns to the site of the murders Camp Lost Lake. Finally reopening Olivia and Reagan have the opportunity to return to Camp Lost Lake to try to find the information both of them are seeking. However, once they try to start looking for the information a big secret arises, and then when that secret is revealed there is one person who is dead set on that secret staying buried and will do anything including murder to keep it from coming out. This was an intriguing story and was full of surprises!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Compulsively readable twisty YA horror
Two Sides to Every Murder is set at the reopening of Camp Lost Lake, a summer camp which had been shut down years ago after a night of brutal murders occurred there. We follow two teenage girls, Olivia, who was born at the camp on the night of the murders, and Reagan, whose mother was accused of the crimes and who has been on the run with her mother most of her life. Both girls return to the camp and start digging into the mystery of that fateful night. It becomes evident that a killer is on the loose and danger lurks around every turn. Two Sides to Every Murder is a fast-paced, action-packed horror YA novel with an 80s/90s slasher vibe. The setting of the old camp during a storm is creepy and atmospheric. The tension was unrelenting as twist after twist unraveled, as secret after secret was revealed. It was highly entertaining and compulsively readable, easy to devour in one sitting. Perfect as a Summerween or spooky fall read.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
consuming thriller
TWO SIDES TO EVERY MURDER is a fast-paced YA thriller. The story follows two teens, Olivia and Reagan, who are each heading to Lost Lake, a camp which has been closed for about sixteen years, since three people were murdered in one night. The killer used a mask from the local legend of the Witch of Lost Lake, who supposedly uses a bow and arrow. Olivia has recently found out from a DNA test that the man she thought was her father was not - so was her mother having an affair? She is hoping the camp office where her mother worked until the night of the murders might give her some clues as to who her father is. At the same time, Reagan is heading to the camp for a different reason. Her mother has been on the run since she was born, as she was accused of the murders. Reagan knows her mother couldn't have been the killer, and she is determined to investigate this true crime case and clear her mother's name. However, once they are all on the mountain, the killer reappears, eager to get rid of all the evidence once and for all. What I loved: This was a really consuming story, and I was hooked on figuring out whodunnit. At the same time, the teens are trying to solve the case - while also trying not to end up victims. The Witch of Lost Lake is there with them, and some of the kids are winding up dead. The present is tied up in the past true crime case, which makes solving it paramount to understanding who might be after them now. There are plenty of red herrings and twists in the past case that make it absolutely unputdownable. The main characters are each of Reagan and Olivia and their BFFs, Jack and Hazel. Each of them was really interesting and infused with personality that made them stand-out and added to the story with a bit of thriller-related romance. I would have loved to see more of one potential couple but appreciated what we got with the other. Although the matches seemed a bit too easy, the story also explains how the heightened adrenaline and the like adds to their attraction. There were some great themes that came up during the story about the weight of caregiving, the complicated nature of family, the burden of unexpected pregnancy, the power of legends, and the guilt that carries from past actions. These would be interesting to discuss and dissect with a book club as many of them contributed to the murders in past and present. As a heads up for readers who care, the story ends with a bit of an unknown, so not everything gets wrapped up in a bow. Final verdict: Overall, TWO SIDES TO EVERY MURDER was a fast and consuming YA thriller/mystery that I would recommend for fans of TRULY DEVIOUS, MISSING CLARISSA, or THE COUSINS. Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Great New Thriller!
Three lives were ended at Camp Lost Lake in 2008 and frighteningly, the suspected killer, Lori Knight, was never caught. That same night, Olivia was born at Camp Lost Lake when her mother went into labor suddenly from the shock of what she had witnessed. Seventeen years later, the camp is being re-opened as a retreat by Olivia’s sister, Andie. Olivia plans to help Andie get the camp ready over the summer but on the day they are set to begin their work, Olivia gets the shocking news that the man she calls her father is not her biological father after all. Returning to the place that she was born, Olivia is determined to find answers about who her real father is. Reagan is on the run with her beloved mom, Lori, the primary suspect of the Camp Lost Lake killings. When a true crime podcast about the Camp Lost Lake murders goes virial, Reagan begins to learn more about the case and decides that she must clear her mother’s name. Despite her mom’s wishes, Reagan heads to Camp Lost Lake to uncover who the real killer is. When new and crucial evidence is discovered, Olivia and Reagan realize they may have started a dangerous chain of events that they are powerless to stop. With the killer hiding in the woods armed with their signature bow and arrow, can anyone escape alive? This was an entertaining and easy read. I was obsessed with Danielle Valentine’s “Delicate Condition” (so good!) and wanted to give this book a try despite the fact that I do not usually read YA. The story kept me interested throughout and while I had my suspicions of who the murderer was, I did not know for sure until shortly before the big reveal. The story is told in dual points-of-view and dual timelines which allows you a chance to get to know many of the characters on a deeper level. I really enjoyed each POV but did find myself getting a bit confused about who was who and especially, who was related to who. But I am absolutely terrible with names, so this is no fault of the author. I enjoyed that the author allowed for diversity in the love interests of the main characters. That made me so happy, and I think it is very important to have examples of all types of relationships in YA books. Really great ending! I had unanswered questions which were wrapped up in an interesting and unexpected way. I can’t wait to read what Danielle come up with next :) Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Love this one!!
I loved the characters, I thought the plot was unique, and I loved all it all connected! I actually felt connected to the characters and invested in how their stories would turn out. I love when books have a little twist in the epilogue so that drew me in as well. The writing style and short chapters had me turning the pages as fast as I could to find out what would happen next. The story seemed plausible yet not completely predictable which I enjoyed as well. I also loved that I had some love interests to root for, but that they weren't incredibly overdone or stressed considering that wasn't the main plot of the story. I wanted to see how their lives unfolded after their story ended. I haven't read Danielle Valentine's other novel that was recommended yet, but now I am definitely adding it to my TBR. Well done and I can't wait to see what comes next from her!!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Cool cover!
I didn't go into this expecting much because I've never heard of or read from this author before but holy cow! That was actually so good! The writing was engaging, the setting (Camp Lost Lake) was cool and it's told in dual perspectives, which is something I've really grown to like in the last couple of years. It's a short, easy read that is targeted towards young adults, but I feel like anyone could read this and enjoy it. The dialogue was a little juvenile at times, but overall, it was fine. Another negative: the big plot twist was a tad predictable, but the journey getting there was fun, so I don't really care ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I feel like this would be a great movie. It's super entertaining and fun. I also have to acknowledge the cover because it looks so cool! It's what initially drew me in to the book. The white and red contrast so well together, and it gives off that eery vibe that thriller covers are meant to give off.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Engaging read
I found this to be a fun, engaging YA thriller. I’m a big fan of the summer camp slasher plot line. I was sucked in right from the start. The chapters are short and the pacing is fast. The story is told through multiple POVs and flashbacks. It was a little difficult in the beginning to keep the two MFCs straight, but after a while I was able to remember who was who. The middle third of the book started to feel a bit repetitive, but I did manage to stay engaged. A lot of cat and mouse, ie: running through the woods over and over again. Most of the twists in the book are fairly easy to guess, but the author did manage to include a couple I didn’t expect. The ending was a bit over the top and requires from suspension of disbelief to enjoy. There’s also a bit of a cliffhanger, that I’m still a bit confused about. Overall, this is a fun, quick, and twisty read. If you enjoy YA thrillers, then I recommend giving this one a try.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Twisty
This book was unique. The plot and twists were truly something else. I read a lot of psychological thrillers but I didn’t see all the twists and turns that this book took. However, the twists and turns fit the story. Nothing felt too out there in this world. And, despite all of that, the ending fit.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com