Title: The Last to Die
Author: Kelly Garrett
Publication: November 5, 2019
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Genre: Teens, YA Fiction
Pages: 205
SYNOPSIS: (From Goodreads)
Sixteen-year-old Harper Jacobs and her bored friends make a pact to engage in a series of not-quite illegal break-ins. They steal from each other’s homes, sharing their keys and alarm codes. But they don’t take anything that can’t be replaced by some retail therapy, so it’s okay. It’s thrilling. It’s bad. And for Harper, it’s payback for something she can’t put into words-something to help her deal with her alcoholic mother, her delusional father, and to forget the lies she told that got her druggie brother arrested. It’s not like Daniel wasn’t rehab bound anyway.
So everything is okay-until the bold but aggravating Alex, looking to up the ante, suggests they break into the home of a classmate. It’s crossing a line, but Harper no longer cares. She’s proud of it. Until one of the group turns up dead, and Harper comes face-to-face with the moral dilemma that will make or break her-and, if she makes the wrong choice, will get her killed.
REVIEW:
**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
Everything about The Last to Die by Kelly Garrett intrigued me. The cover was catching at first glance and the description of the book sounded great. So I knew I had to read it.
The story follows Harper and her group of friends, high schoolers from well off families. They have decided to burglarize each others houses when the families are out of town. Then things start to escalate and when people start dying, all bets are off. This book read quickly and easily. The flow was smooth and never left you hanging with downtime. I felt every detail was pertinent to the story. I also loved the plot line. It was a new and refreshing idea that I haven’t seen done before. The characters, while all from similar walks of life, had very different personalities and influences in their lives that made them the way they are. Each character was like an onion and we pealed back the layers.
I also loved how we saw personal growth in these characters as time passed. Harper really grew up in front of my eyes while I read this book. The mystery of who was guilty of all the bad things happening was intriguing. I was convinced I knew who it was, but I was absolutely wrong. I liked that Garrett could keep me in the dark until the end. The only thing I didn’t love was the bluntness of the ending. I wished there had been a little more explanation as to where people ended up and where the “bad guy” ended up. Other than that I had no complaints.
This book is perfect for anyone who loves a good mystery/thriller with a YA Fiction base. I’ll definitely be checking out more from author Kelly Garrett.
STAR RATING: 4/5
The Last to Die by Kelly Garrett will be available November 5th on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and also check your local bookstore. Also make sure to add it to your To Reads list on Goodreads and leave feedback for the author when you are finished.
