Item: The Only Survivors
Rating: 4.00
Author: quirkycat

by Megan Miranda

From the New York Times bestselling author of All the Missing Girls and “master of suspense, Megan Miranda” (Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author of The Good Girl), a thrilling mystery about a group of former classmates who reunite to mark the tenth anniversary of a tragic accident—only to have one of the survivors disappear, casting fear and suspicion on the original tragedy.

Seven hours in the past. Seven days in the present. Seven survivors remaining. Who would you save?

A decade ago, two vans filled with high school seniors on a school service trip crashed into a Tennessee ravine—a tragedy that claimed the lives of multiple classmates and teachers. The nine students who managed to escape the river that night were irrevocably changed. A year later, after one of the survivors dies by suicide on the anniversary of the crash, the rest of them make a pact: to come together each year to commemorate that terrible night.

To keep one another safe.
To hold one another accountable.
Or both.

Their annual meeting place, a house on the Outer Banks, has long been a refuge. But by the tenth anniversary, Cassidy Bent has worked to distance herself from the tragedy, and from the other survivors. She’s changed her mobile number. She’s blocked the others’ email addresses. This year, she is determined to finally break ties once and for all. But on the day of the reunion, she receives a text with an obituary attached: another survivor is gone. Now they are seven—and Cassidy finds herself hurling back toward the group, wild with grief—and suspicion.

Almost immediately, something feels off this year. Cassidy is the first to notice when Amaya, annual organizer, slips away, overwhelmed. This wouldn’t raise alarm except for the impending storm. Suddenly, they’re facing the threat of closed roads and surging waters…again. Then Amaya stops responding to her phone. After all they’ve been through, she wouldn’t willfully make them worry. Would she?

And—as they promised long ago—each survivor will do whatever he or she can do to save one another. Won’t they?

A propulsive and chilling locked-box mystery filled with the dazzling hairpin twists that are the author’s signature, The Only Survivors is New York Times-bestselling author Megan Miranda’s best novel yet.

Book Summary:

Cassidy is one of seven. Seven survivors. She walked away, along with six others, from a tragedy that should have taken all their lives. Now, each year, they come together on the anniversary of that unspeakable event. For safety? For comfort?

Unfortunately, this year is different. Something feels off. Cassidy would have happily skipped out on the involuntary reunion if not for some horrible and last-minute news. News that will change her life forever.

My Review:

I sincerely think that, in many ways, The Only Survivors was one of the more compelling thrillers I've read this month (maybe year?). Oddly, I can't say it was one of my favorites – but it was exceptionally good!

Right from the beginning, I was getting I Know What You Did Last Summer vibes, as it felt like there was much to the story that Cassidy (and the other survivors) was leaving out of her story. It sent me down a rabbit hole, to say the least.

Ironically, I almost feel as if this novel would have been more potent without the last two twists. I'm not saying they were terrible, but they may have been superfluous. Though I'll confess that at least one of them successfully hit me right in my emotional core, maybe I should take that statement back.

Long story short, The Only Survivors is worth the read. Check it out!

Highlights:
Mystery/Thriller
“I Know What You Did Last Summer” Vibes
Survival Story

Trigger Warnings:
Child/teenage death
Suicide/Drug Addiction
Drowning
Stalking

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The Only Survivors

by Megan Miranda

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on Apr 21, 2023

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