Book Review | The Girl in Question

This is a sequel I was so excited for because I loved the first book.

The Girl in Question
Tess Sharpe

High school is over, but Nora O’Malley’s life isn’t, which is weird now that her murderous stepdad Raymond is free.

Determined to enjoy summer before her (possibly) imminent demise, Nora plans a ten day backpacking trip with Iris and Wes. Her plans hit a snag when Wes’s girlfriend tags along. Amanda is nice, so it’s not a huge issue—until she gets taken. Or rather, mistaken…for Nora. All because of a borrowed flannel.

Now Raymond has a hostage. Nora has no leverage. Iris has a spear and Wes is building boobytraps. It’ll take all of their skills to make it out of the forest alive.

There are three problems: Someone is lying. Someone is keeping secrets.

And someone has to die.

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I wish I had read the first book in the series again before picking up this one, firstly because I loved it but also so that the details could be a little clearer before heading into this new book.

It felt like the story took a minute to click into place for me, as I tried to recall some of the details from the last book. It didn’t take me long though before I was captivated once again by Nora, Iris and Wes and the situation they find themselves in.

This time it is a forest, with Raymond released from prison and coming after Nora. I loved the setting, the unknown terrain and the danger present from more than just the bad guys that are after them made for a taut atmosphere and a lot of creativity.

Nora, Iris and Wes are still magnificent characters, it is wonderful to see how their relationships have evolved and how they have each had positive and slightly scary influences on each other. Nora is more willing to stay and fight for her life and slightly less self-sacrificing, Iris is a lot stronger and more devious and Wes is still loving and protective but continues to surprise by being a little ruthless too.

I enjoyed that we got to hear from the perspectives of all three of them as it helped build the tension and let us explore the relationships a little further. I also liked that we still got to dip in and out of Nora’s past to add some further context to the story.

What I loved about the first book, as well as the characters, was the author’s ability to keep me on my toes and this story is no different. There are quite a few surprises in this book which kept me gripped and the pace at a fever pitch, it is a thrilling rollercoaster ride and I didn’t want it to end.

I’m glad that I know I can pick up a book from this author and thoroughly enjoy it and I am very much looking forward to what will come next.

Born in a mountain cabin to a punk-rocker mother, Tess Sharpe grew up in rural northern California. She lives deep in the backwoods with a pack of dogs and a growing colony of formerly feral cats. She is the author of Barbed Wire Heart, the critically acclaimed YA novel Far From You and the upcoming Jurassic World prequel, The Evolution of Claire.

She is also the co-editor of Toil & Trouble, a feminist anthology about witches. Her short fiction has been featured in All Out, an anthology edited by Saundra Mitchell.

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Reviews of other books by Tess Sharpe
The Girls I’ve Been | 6 Times We Almost Kissed (And One Time We Did)