Truly, Madly, Deadly

by Hannah Schwartz

[Leah]

As soon as I saw the pitch-black cover of Truly, Madly, Deadly I knew I wanted to read it, even before seeing the synopsis. I loved the spookiness of the cover, loved the title and as soon as I read the synopsis I was hooked and I was desperate to read it, so I was chuffed to be accepted to read it on Netgalley and I dived in right away, excited to get myself lost in a thriller novel, because it’s been a while and I adore a good thriller! Let me tell you, this novel did not disappoint and I raced through it in two nights flat, that’s how utterly captivated I was by the novel, how on edge it kept me.

When Sawyer Dodd’s boyfriend Kevin dies, she’s devastated, but a bit of her feels free; after everything he did to her, it’s something of a relief to know he’ll never be able to hurt her again. But when she receives a note which says “You’re welcome,” her life is thrown into disarray when it seems to be that Kevin’s death was no drink-driving accident and when people start dying, people Sawyer know, and the police begin to suspect Sawyer herself, she finds herself in a race against time to find out who’s really behind all of these murders, before she finds herself to be the next victim. Now I thought the plot of the novel was stunning. The tension is there in the novel as soon as Sawyer receives that first note and it doesn’t let up at all, as Sawyer feels her life slowly slipping away from her as her stalker takes control.

I actually was massively surprised by who it was, I had my suspicions about who I thought it might be (and who I hoped it really, really wasn’t) but it surprised me because I only figured it out pretty much when Sawyer did, and it was unexpected. I just thought the entire novel was so well done. I really liked Sawyer as a character, and I felt sad for her that her life had changed so dramatically, not only with Kevin’s death but with her mom and dad splitting and her dad shacking up with someone else and getting her pregnant, and them moving to a housing estate with no other tenants, that’s rough stuff! I liked Sawyer’s friends, Chloe, Cooper, but mostly I really liked Logan. I was sooooo rooting for Logan and Sawyer, I just thought he was so sweet!

I really enjoyed Truly Madly Deadly, it’s a brilliant ride, full of twists and turns and it’ll keep you on the edge of your seat; in hindsight I think it was a bit of a mistake to read it at nighttime – I’m generally not one to be terrified by books or horror movies, but this one did get my heart racing and my pulse going. It’s a thriller of the highest degree and Jayne’s a very skilled writer! I can’t wait for her next novel, because this one was amazing and one I definitely recommend if you’re a fan of Young/New Adult novels and if, in particular, you like a bit of a thriller novel because this one will get your heart racing, let me tell you!