A People Best Book of Summer 2020
A Parade Best Book of Summer 2020 “The YA thriller of the summer.” —Bustle
For fans of Sadie and Serial, this gripping thriller follows two teens whose lives become inextricably linked when one confesses to murder and the other becomes determined to uncover the real truth no matter the cost.
What happened to Zoe won’t stay buried…
When Anna Cicconi arrives to the small Hamptons village of Herron Mills for a summer nanny gig, she has high hopes for a fresh start. What she finds instead is a community on edge after the disappearance of Zoe Spanos, a local girl who has been missing since New Year’s Eve. Anna bears an eerie resemblance to Zoe, and her mere presence in town stirs up still-raw feelings about the unsolved case. As Anna delves deeper into the mystery, stepping further and further into Zoe’s life, she becomes increasingly convinced that she and Zoe are connected—and that she knows what happened to her.
Two months later, Zoe’s body is found in a nearby lake, and Anna is charged with manslaughter. But Anna’s confession is riddled with holes, and Martina Green, teen host of the Missing Zoe podcast, isn’t satisfied. Did Anna really kill Zoe? And if not, can Martina’s podcast uncover the truth?
Inspired by Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, Kit Frick weaves a thrilling story of psychological suspense that twists and turns until the final page.
I’ve not read anything by Kit Frick before, but from having read I Killed Zoe Spanos I can tell that she’s going to be a thriller author for me! I Killed Zoe Spanos was a fast paced thriller (love), with Rich People Drama (double love), that was set during the summer in the Hamptons. There was a lot going on for such a short book, and I was truly engaged the entire time.
I really enjoyed the way that podcasts were incorporated within this story. After reading Sadie last year, I’ve realised that I tend to love this format, especially in thrillers when the podcasts are to do with true crime.
Anna, the main character, wasn’t the most likeable or interesting character. I didn’t really connect with her at all, and she kept doing strange things. As sin, her choices weren’t just questionable, they were questionable. I realise she’s a teenager, and teenagers do stupid things, but it got to the point where I was like you MUST realise what you’re doing…
As usual, I didn’t care for the romance in this book. I never do in YA unless it’s particularly great, so don’t worry too much about that aspect.
Overall, I Killed Zoe Spanos has an interesting mystery that leaves you wondering about the reliability of the narrator. That mixed with the podcast element and the Rich People Drama made for a really entertaining ride!
