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The Sorority
In a chilling, masterfully twisting new novel of suspense, the New York Times bestselling author of The Camp explores the dark side of friendship . . .
“I pledge my own life and soul to The Sorority.”
Every school has its cool girls, and at River Glen High, they’re known as The Sorority. The name began as a joke, but it holds a grain of truth. Because they’ve made a pledge to protect one another . . . no matter what the cost may be.
The pledge to kill Ethan Stanhope—that was a joke too. But then Ethan died in a car crash on the night of graduation, along with his little sister. A tragic accident, they said.
Private investigator Mackenzie Laughlin remembers the girls of The Sorority, though as a cop’s daughter, she was an outsider. Now, nearly ten years later, one of them is missing, and Mac is hired to find her. The accidents have started again too—if that’s what they are. Because Mac is beginning to realize just how much the Sorority sisters have to hide—and how far they’ll go to keep their secrets . . .
“I pledge my own life and soul to The Sorority.”
Every school has its cool girls, and at River Glen High, they’re known as The Sorority. The name began as a joke, but it holds a grain of truth. Because they’ve made a pledge to protect one another . . . no matter what the cost may be.
The pledge to kill Ethan Stanhope—that was a joke too. But then Ethan died in a car crash on the night of graduation, along with his little sister. A tragic accident, they said.
Private investigator Mackenzie Laughlin remembers the girls of The Sorority, though as a cop’s daughter, she was an outsider. Now, nearly ten years later, one of them is missing, and Mac is hired to find her. The accidents have started again too—if that’s what they are. Because Mac is beginning to realize just how much the Sorority sisters have to hide—and how far they’ll go to keep their secrets . . .
384 pages, Paperback
First published July 23, 2024
171 people are currently reading
24143 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Bush
87 books1,103 followersNancy Bush is a New York Times bestselling author of over forty novels, including the River Glen Series, Nowhere Series, and numerous stand alone novels. She also is the co-author of Last Breath, Last Girl Standing, and the Wicked Series, written with her sister and bestselling author Lisa Jackson, as well as the collaborative novels Sinister and Ominous, written with Lisa Jackson and Rosalind Noonan.
Nancy has called Oregon her home all of her life. She grew up in a small logging community and after graduating from high school, attended Oregon State University where she met her husband, Ken and graduated with a degree in nutrition. They married a few years after graduation and together they have one daughter. After working in banking and the travel business, with her daughter still in diapers, Nancy read an article in Time Magazine about young mothers who, once the last diaper was changed and the final bottle was washed, pulled out their typewriters and wrote romance novels for the then expanding market. Nancy convinced her sister, Lisa Jackson, that they should try their hand at writing.
After writing several successful romance novels such as Lady Sundown, Miracle Jones, Jesse’s Renegade and Scandal’s Darling and a stint writing for one of ABC’s top-rated daytime shows: All My Children, she turned her attention to writing thrillers for Kensington Publishing. Today, her books appear on The New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.
In her free time Nancy enjoys walking, working on jigsaw and crossword puzzles and hanging out with family and friends. When she and Ken aren’t visiting their daughter and grandchildren in Southern California, Nancy is busy working on her next book!
Visit https://www.NancyBush.net where you can find a Media Kit with photos and more information.
Nancy has called Oregon her home all of her life. She grew up in a small logging community and after graduating from high school, attended Oregon State University where she met her husband, Ken and graduated with a degree in nutrition. They married a few years after graduation and together they have one daughter. After working in banking and the travel business, with her daughter still in diapers, Nancy read an article in Time Magazine about young mothers who, once the last diaper was changed and the final bottle was washed, pulled out their typewriters and wrote romance novels for the then expanding market. Nancy convinced her sister, Lisa Jackson, that they should try their hand at writing.
After writing several successful romance novels such as Lady Sundown, Miracle Jones, Jesse’s Renegade and Scandal’s Darling and a stint writing for one of ABC’s top-rated daytime shows: All My Children, she turned her attention to writing thrillers for Kensington Publishing. Today, her books appear on The New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.
In her free time Nancy enjoys walking, working on jigsaw and crossword puzzles and hanging out with family and friends. When she and Ken aren’t visiting their daughter and grandchildren in Southern California, Nancy is busy working on her next book!
Visit https://www.NancyBush.net where you can find a Media Kit with photos and more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
September 19, 2024
From the very first page, The Sorority had me intrigued. With an intrepid, well-developed female main character and a complex friend group dynamic, the storyline pulled me right in. As it progressed, an exploration of this circle of friends’ truly toxic history revealed despicable individuals and suspects galore. Once the puzzle pieces started to come together, however, the explosive climax and unguessable twists were what kept my eyes firmly glued to the pages.
There were some aspects that didn’t quite work for me, though. With a hugely long list of characters and tons of hints at largely unexplained subplots, it was a shock to learn that this was part of a series. So instead of simply sitting back and enjoying its many winning features, I felt as though I had to play catch up for much of the novel. Needless to say, I wouldn’t recommend trying to approach this as a standalone, all things considered.
That wasn’t the only issue, though. Narrated via omniscient perspective, there were almost too many POVs to keep straight. As for the bulk of the novel, there could have been some editing down. After all, I didn’t need to know many of the unnecessary details provided. My last issue was the cliffhanger conclusion. IYKYK, but I’m generally not a fan and, sadly, this ending fit into that category no ifs, ands, or buts.
Despite all of the above, however, I eagerly inhaled all 370+ pages of this slow burn crime thriller. With a touch of romance and an intricate web of multiple plot lines, I was seriously impressed with how they were all eventually interwoven. At the same time, I did find myself confused more times than I care to admit. Whether that was down to my ignorance about what happened in prior books or not, I couldn’t say. All in all, though, I did enjoy it enough that I’m planning to read the rest of the series. So the ball’s in your court. Read it or not, but I suggest starting at the beginning like I plan to do soon. Rating of 3.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Every school has its cool girls, and at River Glen High, they’re known as The Sorority. The name began as a joke, but it holds a grain of truth. Because they’ve made a pledge to protect one another…no matter what the cost may be.
The pledge to kill Ethan Stanhope—that was a joke too. But then Ethan died in a car crash on the night of graduation, along with his little sister. A tragic accident, they said.
Private investigator Mackenzie Laughlin remembers the girls of The Sorority, though as a cop’s daughter, she was an outsider. Now, nearly ten years later, one of them is missing, and Mac is hired to find her. The accidents have started again too—if that’s what they are. Because Mac is beginning to realize just how much the Sorority sisters have to hide—and how far they’ll go to keep their secrets…
Thank you to Nancy Bush and Kensington Publishing for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: August 20, 2024
Trigger warning: stalking, hit-and-run car accident, controlling relationship, drug overdose
There were some aspects that didn’t quite work for me, though. With a hugely long list of characters and tons of hints at largely unexplained subplots, it was a shock to learn that this was part of a series. So instead of simply sitting back and enjoying its many winning features, I felt as though I had to play catch up for much of the novel. Needless to say, I wouldn’t recommend trying to approach this as a standalone, all things considered.
That wasn’t the only issue, though. Narrated via omniscient perspective, there were almost too many POVs to keep straight. As for the bulk of the novel, there could have been some editing down. After all, I didn’t need to know many of the unnecessary details provided. My last issue was the cliffhanger conclusion. IYKYK, but I’m generally not a fan and, sadly, this ending fit into that category no ifs, ands, or buts.
Despite all of the above, however, I eagerly inhaled all 370+ pages of this slow burn crime thriller. With a touch of romance and an intricate web of multiple plot lines, I was seriously impressed with how they were all eventually interwoven. At the same time, I did find myself confused more times than I care to admit. Whether that was down to my ignorance about what happened in prior books or not, I couldn’t say. All in all, though, I did enjoy it enough that I’m planning to read the rest of the series. So the ball’s in your court. Read it or not, but I suggest starting at the beginning like I plan to do soon. Rating of 3.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Every school has its cool girls, and at River Glen High, they’re known as The Sorority. The name began as a joke, but it holds a grain of truth. Because they’ve made a pledge to protect one another…no matter what the cost may be.
The pledge to kill Ethan Stanhope—that was a joke too. But then Ethan died in a car crash on the night of graduation, along with his little sister. A tragic accident, they said.
Private investigator Mackenzie Laughlin remembers the girls of The Sorority, though as a cop’s daughter, she was an outsider. Now, nearly ten years later, one of them is missing, and Mac is hired to find her. The accidents have started again too—if that’s what they are. Because Mac is beginning to realize just how much the Sorority sisters have to hide—and how far they’ll go to keep their secrets…
Thank you to Nancy Bush and Kensington Publishing for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: August 20, 2024
Trigger warning: stalking, hit-and-run car accident, controlling relationship, drug overdose
July 1, 2024
This was an interesting book with some good ideas at its core. I felt like the pacing was odd at times and it could have been smoother and perhaps a little bit shorter. I liked Mac, but the rest of the characters didn’t seem to get developed enough for me. I wanted to like Mac’s boss, but I didn’t. The relationship tension was fine, but how he reacted to it at the end was awful. Mac was a strong, smart, capable woman and being a private investigator is a good match for her skills. I’d been wavering between 3 and 4 stars for this book and when that conversation happened it went to a solid 3 for me. I’m good with romance in my thrillers/mysteries, but alpha man I have to protect you no matter how you’re doing on your own doesn’t work for me (this is just me, you might have liked this more than me). Actually every relationship in this book was awful but most of them were meant to be awful. The night of high school graduation Ethan gets into a car accident that kills him and his younger sister. 10 years later after another death a classmate asks Mac to investigate what really happened to Ethan because he believes a group of girls called the sorority were at fault and it hadn’t been a true accident. Mac is also approached to find one of the girls from the sorority, Mia, who has recently gone missing. As Mac investigates it becomes clear that someone doesn’t want her to be digging into the past. This book was suspenseful and fun and a good read.
August 24, 2024
I'm so shocked by the ratings on Goodreads for this because I just finished it, and I was COMPLETELY hooked. The first bit took time to get through as it's a lot of backstory but sprinkled in shocking moments. After the first few chapters, I was so reeled in that I had to read this in one sitting. The main character was amazing, I truly enjoyed watching Mac dig deep. I was SHOCKED by the twists, all of them. And there are so many side stories and characters, so it truly keeps you interested, shocked, and turning the page! Loved everything about it. The ending left me wondering 🤔 I'm hoping there is another to explain the last bit of it.
I received this ARC from a Goodreads Giveaway. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
I received this ARC from a Goodreads Giveaway. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
October 23, 2024
The Sorority by Nancy Bush, The sorority is a group of high school girls who consist of Mya, Roxy, Lee, Aaron, Crystal and Natalie and that times the group has grown and shortened, but on the night we get to know them they make a pledge to kill Myers ex-boyfriend Eathan. So everyone is shocked when on graduation night Eathan and his sister are killed in a tragic car crash. The next time we’re in River Glen it is 10 years later and McKenzie is attending the funeral of a fallen River Glenn police officer who happens to be the brother of one of her classmates Gavin. Seeing some of the sorority girls there is no surprise but what is surprising is win Gavin approaches McKenzie Wanting to hire her private investigation services. Unfortunately for McKenzie this will not be the only or the strangest thing that will happen to her that day because another classmate wants to also hire her to find one of the missing sorority girls and she’ll have to do it on a sprained ankle which causes her mentor, boss, best friend and her crush Jesse to spend an exorbitant amount of time tending to her which only causes max feelings for him to grow. There is way too much in this book for me to give a good summary just know Jesse goes to the reading of his ex employers will only to learn he was left the majority of the guys assets despite his angry lethal wife being there and thinking it was going to be hers. There’s so much in this book and it all kept me glued to the pages not to mention the lives of the sorority girls are not going the way they believed it would after high school and one of them may even be a killer and has no qualms about killing again. I do want to say this book although part of the series isn’t promoted as one and had I known it was an on-going story I would’ve read the other books prior to this one. It can still definitely be read as a standalone in one I absolutely and totally enjoyed. I requested this book because I read another reviewers review and it said if Nancy Bush writes it then the reviewer will read it and I now understand why I do believe I’m going to be a huge Nancy Bush fan. #NetGalley,#Kensington books, #NancyBush, #TheSororityGirls,
June 13, 2024
Received a copy from Between The Pages
This was a fun, quick read! I received this book in a Goodreads drawing but wish I would have know it contained characters from previous books that I haven't read. That might have made some of the characters and subplots easier to understand. If you are considering this book, I would suggest looking at other books in the River Glen series first.
All in all though, I really enjoyed it. I loved the antagonist, Mackenzie (Mac) and her constant pursuit of the truth. I also enjoyed the possibility of romance for her.
I really enjoyed the author's writing style and would definitely read another of her books.
This was a fun, quick read! I received this book in a Goodreads drawing but wish I would have know it contained characters from previous books that I haven't read. That might have made some of the characters and subplots easier to understand. If you are considering this book, I would suggest looking at other books in the River Glen series first.
All in all though, I really enjoyed it. I loved the antagonist, Mackenzie (Mac) and her constant pursuit of the truth. I also enjoyed the possibility of romance for her.
I really enjoyed the author's writing style and would definitely read another of her books.
June 26, 2024
The Sorority is the first Nancy Bush book I've read, so I was unfamiliar with the history of the recurring characters. It was a fast read and kept me interested to the surprising conclusion. I had a hard time believing that the girls in the sorority stayed friends ten years after high school, since they didn't really seem to like each other in the first place. A little more development of their teen friendship would have been helpful, but I was able to look past that and get into the story. Mac is a great character and her partnership/sexual tension with Taft was a fun subplot.
I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway and am happy to be introduced to this author.
I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway and am happy to be introduced to this author.
August 11, 2024
This is one of those 'love the idea, hate the execution' books. It's a pretty straight forward concept: a group of high school girls pledge to kill a guy and then he actually dies. Ten years later, one of the girls is missing and people are dying again.
Somehow, this simple idea became so chaotic. There were so many characters: the "sorority", the cops, the families of the victims, etc; I couldn't keep any of them straight. To add onto that, there's this weird side plot that comes out of nowhere about Mac's boss and money he inherited? It was super confusing to me and I had a really hard time following it. It added nothing to the actual story and I think it was just a way to make things more dramatic.
The ending felt rushed and I really wasn't a fan of the epilogue. Without spoilers, one of the characters did something that put a gross taste in my mouth, and I didn't care for the set up for a sequel.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Somehow, this simple idea became so chaotic. There were so many characters: the "sorority", the cops, the families of the victims, etc; I couldn't keep any of them straight. To add onto that, there's this weird side plot that comes out of nowhere about Mac's boss and money he inherited? It was super confusing to me and I had a really hard time following it. It added nothing to the actual story and I think it was just a way to make things more dramatic.
The ending felt rushed and I really wasn't a fan of the epilogue. Without spoilers, one of the characters did something that put a gross taste in my mouth, and I didn't care for the set up for a sequel.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
November 10, 2024
Thank you #partner @bibliolifestyle @kensingtonbooks for having me on this tour.
This was an entertaining read, just be aware this book is part of a series, and one that is probably best to have read the prior books in order to have the history with the characters. I did eventually get up to speed and liked the multiple POVs, and enjoyed this one overall, especially the mean girl vibe, toxic friendships included.
This was an entertaining read, just be aware this book is part of a series, and one that is probably best to have read the prior books in order to have the history with the characters. I did eventually get up to speed and liked the multiple POVs, and enjoyed this one overall, especially the mean girl vibe, toxic friendships included.
May 13, 2024
Received a copy from NetGalley
A group of high school girls call their little clique "The Sorority"
They make a pack and that pack comes to fruition and they are all shocked. Not Ethan!!! They all hated him and loved him, and used him. He liked it, and hated it, at least that's what it felt like to me. He did however want one, just one of them. After a little tiff things went south, very south.
Years later, when another high school friend is shot and killed. Ethan's name comes up. Gavin believes Ethan's death wasn't an accident. Someone or more than one person killed him and his little sister was an innocent bystander.
Mac who we have seen in a previous book is now working with Taft. She knows this group of girls, they aren't really her friends because let's face it. These girls thought Mac didn't fit in with them and they were just snobs!
Mac is wrangled into this web by Gavin and a girl from the Sorority. She isn't sure who did what and why.
The story unfolds as some truths are set free. Also her life is in danger because of Anna and Prudence. We seen them in previous books as well. That is if you have read The Gossip. That is where we first met Mac.
I thought I might have known who had pushed Gavin off the road, and who might have had a hand in killing Ethan. However, she walked in the door towards the end. The other person became a casualty herself. I was stumped, then boom. Hit you like a ton of bricks it did!! WOW wasn't who I thought it was at all. They did really well at playing the part.
Great read, it was nice seeing Jamie, Emma, Harley and of course the "cat"
A group of high school girls call their little clique "The Sorority"
They make a pack and that pack comes to fruition and they are all shocked. Not Ethan!!! They all hated him and loved him, and used him. He liked it, and hated it, at least that's what it felt like to me. He did however want one, just one of them. After a little tiff things went south, very south.
Years later, when another high school friend is shot and killed. Ethan's name comes up. Gavin believes Ethan's death wasn't an accident. Someone or more than one person killed him and his little sister was an innocent bystander.
Mac who we have seen in a previous book is now working with Taft. She knows this group of girls, they aren't really her friends because let's face it. These girls thought Mac didn't fit in with them and they were just snobs!
Mac is wrangled into this web by Gavin and a girl from the Sorority. She isn't sure who did what and why.
The story unfolds as some truths are set free. Also her life is in danger because of Anna and Prudence. We seen them in previous books as well. That is if you have read The Gossip. That is where we first met Mac.
I thought I might have known who had pushed Gavin off the road, and who might have had a hand in killing Ethan. However, she walked in the door towards the end. The other person became a casualty herself. I was stumped, then boom. Hit you like a ton of bricks it did!! WOW wasn't who I thought it was at all. They did really well at playing the part.
Great read, it was nice seeing Jamie, Emma, Harley and of course the "cat"
May 2, 2024
This is a fun one.
I have no clue why all the girls wanted this one boy – I mean he really wasn’t all that and even when I was a teen, I would have been a bit icked out by him. I also absolutely knew the who of everything very early.
However – the book is entertaining, moves quickly, is suspenseful, and I loved our main character. There’s a wee bit of romance in the suspense that was really quite sweet and I found myself quite sad about one particular character.
Definitely a popcorn read and perfect as an escape from your own reality.
• ARC via Publisher
I have no clue why all the girls wanted this one boy – I mean he really wasn’t all that and even when I was a teen, I would have been a bit icked out by him. I also absolutely knew the who of everything very early.
However – the book is entertaining, moves quickly, is suspenseful, and I loved our main character. There’s a wee bit of romance in the suspense that was really quite sweet and I found myself quite sad about one particular character.
Definitely a popcorn read and perfect as an escape from your own reality.
• ARC via Publisher
May 12, 2024
I loved reading this one. I really like Taft and Mackenzie and enjoyed getting a little more personal with this one.
I can not wait to read the next one to see how Jamie and Emma and the rest are coming along.
The Sorority had a couple different story lines all woven into one. A wonderful read.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Kensington for the chance to read and review this one.
August 27, 2025
Thanks to Kensington Books Publishing & Between the Chapters for this book through Goodreads giveaways.
Listen. From the very first page; no the first sentence in the prologue, I got roped in. Hooked. Think catty, cliquey, senior teenage girls who called themselves the Sorority sisters. They were supposedly the most popular girls in their school. They all somehow, some way got caught up with a very athletic, very handsome young man named Ethan. They were ALL (secretly) spiteful of him. So much so they decided to pledge an oath on killing this boy. Even though it ended up as a joke. Ethan actually died. In the same manner they joked about. Of course people were going to start pointing fingers. At them. But nobody but the girls were there when they made the oath. So who spilled the beans?
Well Mia has gone M.I.A and Roxie hasn’t been seen since the last day of graduation. It’s been 10 years since Ethan’s death, graduation day and circumstances about his death are being unearthed. And the girls are freaking out.
Okay. Hear me out. The premise sounded soooo good and it started off with a bang. Then the story just kept going, and I’m waiting, for something to happen. Don’t get me wrong accidents and certain conversations were happening. I think the P.I.’s just weren’t enough for me. I felt like there was not enough action on their end. They kept getting information (little by little I might add) but no clear picture was coming about from it. Just more questions!!
Romantic suspense? Ehhh nothing was romantic about this story. There was a lot of sexual tension yes but romance was far far away
I’m giving it a solid 4 because even though it was a slow build it kept me wanting to know more. It was a page turner. I felt like I was missing something though like there may have been a book or two prior to this one. Even though I don’t see it as one in a series. Until I seen that there is a River Glen series and now I feel like I need to start it. I didn’t mind the authors writing. She did what she had to do. Roped me in, told a story that had me wanting more, and tied it all up in the end. Even though everything came rushing out in the end it was an exhilarating ride.
The epilogue though?! I’m hoping there’s another book after this!
Listen. From the very first page; no the first sentence in the prologue, I got roped in. Hooked. Think catty, cliquey, senior teenage girls who called themselves the Sorority sisters. They were supposedly the most popular girls in their school. They all somehow, some way got caught up with a very athletic, very handsome young man named Ethan. They were ALL (secretly) spiteful of him. So much so they decided to pledge an oath on killing this boy. Even though it ended up as a joke. Ethan actually died. In the same manner they joked about. Of course people were going to start pointing fingers. At them. But nobody but the girls were there when they made the oath. So who spilled the beans?
Well Mia has gone M.I.A and Roxie hasn’t been seen since the last day of graduation. It’s been 10 years since Ethan’s death, graduation day and circumstances about his death are being unearthed. And the girls are freaking out.
Okay. Hear me out. The premise sounded soooo good and it started off with a bang. Then the story just kept going, and I’m waiting, for something to happen. Don’t get me wrong accidents and certain conversations were happening. I think the P.I.’s just weren’t enough for me. I felt like there was not enough action on their end. They kept getting information (little by little I might add) but no clear picture was coming about from it. Just more questions!!
Romantic suspense? Ehhh nothing was romantic about this story. There was a lot of sexual tension yes but romance was far far away
I’m giving it a solid 4 because even though it was a slow build it kept me wanting to know more. It was a page turner. I felt like I was missing something though like there may have been a book or two prior to this one. Even though I don’t see it as one in a series. Until I seen that there is a River Glen series and now I feel like I need to start it. I didn’t mind the authors writing. She did what she had to do. Roped me in, told a story that had me wanting more, and tied it all up in the end. Even though everything came rushing out in the end it was an exhilarating ride.
The epilogue though?! I’m hoping there’s another book after this!
June 2, 2024
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars for this one.
I have enjoyed Nancy Bush when she writes with Lisa Jackson so I was excited to read a stand alone book by her.
The book was kind of all over the place with so many POV’s to keep track of. But it mostly comes together in the end. The only one which really threw me off was the Cooper and Jamie storyline. That one I’m still confused about.
A story about a bunch of “Mean Girls“ who all want the same guy. Who joke around about wanting him dead until it happens. But it is deemed an accident so the girls go untouched. That is until a classmate asks another one to look into the death.
An easy read with a bit of romance, a bit of thriller/mystery.
If you enjoy a good mystery this is a book to give a try.
I will definitely look for more of her books in the future
I have enjoyed Nancy Bush when she writes with Lisa Jackson so I was excited to read a stand alone book by her.
The book was kind of all over the place with so many POV’s to keep track of. But it mostly comes together in the end. The only one which really threw me off was the Cooper and Jamie storyline. That one I’m still confused about.
A story about a bunch of “Mean Girls“ who all want the same guy. Who joke around about wanting him dead until it happens. But it is deemed an accident so the girls go untouched. That is until a classmate asks another one to look into the death.
An easy read with a bit of romance, a bit of thriller/mystery.
If you enjoy a good mystery this is a book to give a try.
I will definitely look for more of her books in the future
August 19, 2024
This is my second read by Nancy Bush and I absolutely intend to check out more of her work. This story features a recurring character, Mackenzie Laughlin (Mac). Former River Glen police and now a private Investigator, with her partner/mentor Jesse James Taft. In the precious story I read, I really liked Mac and that hasn't changed.
Mac is at the funeral of a young police officer, who was killed in the line of duty. She is approached by two separate, former high-school classmates, to investigate serperate issues. Gavin, brother of the killed cop, wants Mac to look into the "accidental" death of another classmate, on their graduation night. He has never believed it was purely accidental. Leigh wants Mac to track down a missing friend, also classmate, named Mia.
It is quick to see that there are many secrets in the small town of River Glen and someone doesn't want Mac digging into them. This is an exciting and twisty mystery/thriller. The main mysteries of the story are solved, with the killer not being any one on my radar, I wasn't even close. The book ends with a tantalizing cliffhanger/lead-in for another potential story.
Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing | Zebra for the opportunity to enjoy this exciting e-ARC.
Mac is at the funeral of a young police officer, who was killed in the line of duty. She is approached by two separate, former high-school classmates, to investigate serperate issues. Gavin, brother of the killed cop, wants Mac to look into the "accidental" death of another classmate, on their graduation night. He has never believed it was purely accidental. Leigh wants Mac to track down a missing friend, also classmate, named Mia.
It is quick to see that there are many secrets in the small town of River Glen and someone doesn't want Mac digging into them. This is an exciting and twisty mystery/thriller. The main mysteries of the story are solved, with the killer not being any one on my radar, I wasn't even close. The book ends with a tantalizing cliffhanger/lead-in for another potential story.
Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing | Zebra for the opportunity to enjoy this exciting e-ARC.
August 20, 2024
A bunch of high school girls, who called themselves The Sorority, pledge to kill a classmate, Ethan. On graduation night, Ethan is in a fatal accident that kills him and his little sister.
Ten years later, Mackenzie or Mac, was a cop but now works as a private investigator. One of her classmates, Gavin, asks her to look into Ethan’s accident. Days later he calls her in a panic, saying they are after him. Mac hears a loud crash and rushes to where Gavin was calling from. He dies a couple of days later. Mac is also hired to find one of the “Sorority” sisters for another classmate. But she soon realizes they all have secrets and it could cost them their lives.
Honestly I was confused half the time. Too many point of views for me. Secrets. Backstabbing. Murder. I liked Mac. She just wanted to find the truth.
* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for Netgalley *
Ten years later, Mackenzie or Mac, was a cop but now works as a private investigator. One of her classmates, Gavin, asks her to look into Ethan’s accident. Days later he calls her in a panic, saying they are after him. Mac hears a loud crash and rushes to where Gavin was calling from. He dies a couple of days later. Mac is also hired to find one of the “Sorority” sisters for another classmate. But she soon realizes they all have secrets and it could cost them their lives.
Honestly I was confused half the time. Too many point of views for me. Secrets. Backstabbing. Murder. I liked Mac. She just wanted to find the truth.
* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for Netgalley *
December 29, 2024
A group of mean girls who apparently liked to cheat with the same guy (no girl code here) and call themselves The Sorority vow to kill said guy on night. They’re joking of course but then the guy actually dies (along with his little sister). Ten years later, more people disappear and one classmate of the group begins to investigate.
This book is the perfect example of great idea, terrible execution. Too much is happening, I still have no idea what’s going on with that one character and his pregnant wife, very little makes sense in the end (when we find out who the killer is I really questioned some of the things they did in the book) and the epilogue is plain bad.
This book is the perfect example of great idea, terrible execution. Too much is happening, I still have no idea what’s going on with that one character and his pregnant wife, very little makes sense in the end (when we find out who the killer is I really questioned some of the things they did in the book) and the epilogue is plain bad.
August 23, 2024
This crime thriller has a strong concept at its core and I was immediately intrigued by the “mean girls” vibe and the cliques toxic friendships.
With the story being told from multiple points of view, I found it challenging to keep track of and keep up with the large cast of characters. Unfortunately, I never realized this was part of a series as it wasn’t advertised anywhere, which likely contributed to my confusion and difficulty in connecting with the story.
On the bright side, Mac was a fantastic and compelling protagonist!
3.5 stars rounded to 4 for Goodreads
With the story being told from multiple points of view, I found it challenging to keep track of and keep up with the large cast of characters. Unfortunately, I never realized this was part of a series as it wasn’t advertised anywhere, which likely contributed to my confusion and difficulty in connecting with the story.
On the bright side, Mac was a fantastic and compelling protagonist!
3.5 stars rounded to 4 for Goodreads
September 16, 2024
The Sorority mystery/thriller is the 4th book in a series. The Gossip 1, The Neighbor 2, and The Camp 3. Can be read alone or with the series. Easy read. Has new and old characters. You can pick right back up. I didn’t like the ending epilogue. Cannot wait for book 5. It leaves a little cliff hanger.
January 3, 2025
This is my first time reading a Nancy Bush novel. I was intrigued by the premise. I do tend to gravitate towards books that focus on female friendships and their dynamics.
Every school has a popular crowd. At River Glen, they were called “The Sorority,” consisting of Natalie (the leader), Leigh, Erin, Mia, Kristl, and Roxy. They were so close that they made a pledge to protect each other no matter what. This proves to be true when a joke leads to a deadly car crash. After Ethan (one of the popular guys) cheats on Mia, the girls band together and pledge to kill him. Thing is, it was meant to be a joke amongst them to laugh and vent over. They didn’t expect that he would end up dying, along with his younger sister. For years, people have suspected the Sorority of misconduct, but there’s never been enough proof. That is, until Gavin (Ethan’s best friend) starts asking questions. Along with pressure from him, Mia has gone missing and nobody has been able to get in contact with her. Is this connected to the events of the past or an entirely separate matter altogether? Mackenzie Laughlin has been hired to look into both cases. She was once a member of the River Glen police force, but is now working as a private investigator. As she continues to dig, she learns that there’s much more secrets behind the scenes than she ever knew, back when she went to school with these women. Will she find out who killed Ethan? Will she find Mia? Or will she be silenced before finding out the truth?
I found this to be a fascinating tale. Plenty of twists and turns that were unexpected. There’s a wide range of characters and plot lines. You almost need to make a pie chart to keep track of it all. Despite this, I generally could figure out what was happening. Some plot lines interested me more than others. The POV shifted between many of the characters so it wasn’t told from one side. I think it could’ve been edited to focus on a few characters instead of the entire cast. I liked MacKenzie (Mac)’s character. I found her to be a strong and resourceful person. I liked the relationship she had with her fellow private eye, Jesse Taft. The Sorority girls weren’t the nicest bunch, but not anywhere near as nasty as other cliques I’ve read about. I found the storyline with Cooper Haynes (the cop) and his family to not be as exciting for the most part. I didn’t realize that this book is part of a series and I read the last one. It mostly didn’t interfere, although I do want to read the other three because I’m curious how they are in comparison. The ending was a bit of a surprise, but now knowing that there’s another novel coming out, at least there will be some resolution. The world of River Glen was engrossing and a nice reading escape for me. That, along with the main plot, makes it a 4 star reading experience for me. I look forward to delving more into this world.
Every school has a popular crowd. At River Glen, they were called “The Sorority,” consisting of Natalie (the leader), Leigh, Erin, Mia, Kristl, and Roxy. They were so close that they made a pledge to protect each other no matter what. This proves to be true when a joke leads to a deadly car crash. After Ethan (one of the popular guys) cheats on Mia, the girls band together and pledge to kill him. Thing is, it was meant to be a joke amongst them to laugh and vent over. They didn’t expect that he would end up dying, along with his younger sister. For years, people have suspected the Sorority of misconduct, but there’s never been enough proof. That is, until Gavin (Ethan’s best friend) starts asking questions. Along with pressure from him, Mia has gone missing and nobody has been able to get in contact with her. Is this connected to the events of the past or an entirely separate matter altogether? Mackenzie Laughlin has been hired to look into both cases. She was once a member of the River Glen police force, but is now working as a private investigator. As she continues to dig, she learns that there’s much more secrets behind the scenes than she ever knew, back when she went to school with these women. Will she find out who killed Ethan? Will she find Mia? Or will she be silenced before finding out the truth?
I found this to be a fascinating tale. Plenty of twists and turns that were unexpected. There’s a wide range of characters and plot lines. You almost need to make a pie chart to keep track of it all. Despite this, I generally could figure out what was happening. Some plot lines interested me more than others. The POV shifted between many of the characters so it wasn’t told from one side. I think it could’ve been edited to focus on a few characters instead of the entire cast. I liked MacKenzie (Mac)’s character. I found her to be a strong and resourceful person. I liked the relationship she had with her fellow private eye, Jesse Taft. The Sorority girls weren’t the nicest bunch, but not anywhere near as nasty as other cliques I’ve read about. I found the storyline with Cooper Haynes (the cop) and his family to not be as exciting for the most part. I didn’t realize that this book is part of a series and I read the last one. It mostly didn’t interfere, although I do want to read the other three because I’m curious how they are in comparison. The ending was a bit of a surprise, but now knowing that there’s another novel coming out, at least there will be some resolution. The world of River Glen was engrossing and a nice reading escape for me. That, along with the main plot, makes it a 4 star reading experience for me. I look forward to delving more into this world.
July 27, 2024
I received this book as a giveaway win from Goodreads. I have never read any of this author’s prior books and I wish I had known this was part of a series. I’m definitely going to go back and read them because I would like to know more about the characters and their history. I found the book to be missing information but once I figured out there were prior books it made sense why that was. I liked the idea of the story but it didn’t flow as easily and I’m assume it’s because I need to read prior books. I liked the main character and I love a main female character who is strong. I would’ve liked her to not feel the need to have a man help her cause she could’ve done it on her own.
August 22, 2024
The Sorority by Nancy Bush pulls you into a web of dark secrets and dangerous loyalty. The story revolves around a group of high school girls bound by a pact that takes a deadly turn, and the chilling consequences that follow them into adulthood.
Bush masterfully blends suspense and mystery as private investigator Mackenzie Laughlin uncovers the twisted truths behind the seemingly accidental deaths. The tension builds steadily, keeping you hooked. While some character development could have been deeper, the plot's intensity makes this a compelling read that fans of suspense will thoroughly enjoy.
Thank you Nancy Bush, Brilliance Publishing, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!
Bush masterfully blends suspense and mystery as private investigator Mackenzie Laughlin uncovers the twisted truths behind the seemingly accidental deaths. The tension builds steadily, keeping you hooked. While some character development could have been deeper, the plot's intensity makes this a compelling read that fans of suspense will thoroughly enjoy.
Thank you Nancy Bush, Brilliance Publishing, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!
August 19, 2024
This book started out really strong but then kind of lost its way. There were so many characters to keep track of and the storyline kind of veered, so much so that at multiple times I had no idea what was going on. It is a shame because the synopsis had a lot of promise. The audiobook was well narrated. I did find for a thriller that the chapters were quite long though.
August 1, 2025
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Goodreads for the book. Interesting story, little confusing at times. 4 Stars Stacey Bankey
June 15, 2024
This was an ARC from NetGallery. The book was a challenge to get through as the storyline dragged, had too many unimportant characters and twists, and was a bit of a mess. The story revolves around a group of friends that called themselves "The Sorority", which would lead you to believe this was a college setting, surprise they were high schoolers. The flashbacks to high school interactions were the most interesting aspects and few, and far between. They did little to connect you to the characters as we revisit them in the present. This book ended setting itself up as a series. I don't think this is one that I would continue to follow.
July 8, 2024
I really am not a fan of leaving negative reviews, but I was kind of looking forward to this one.
I typically think of myself as a very open-minded reader-- there isn't much I particularly dislike reading, although suspense is quickly becoming one of my favorite genres. I always thought there wasn't a suspense novel I wouldn't like. I even don't mind a solid YA suspense. The Sorority, however, I did mind. I minded a lot.
This book reads like a YA novel, but it isn't! (and TBH, that reads like YA novels are subpar.. they are not.. just this novel is..) The plot had too many holes; the story too many characters; and the epilogue was absolute trash. Apparently this will be a series?! IDK but I won't be reading it. I'm considering not reading another Nancy Bush book.
I know this sounds harsh; it feels harsh to put into words, but HOLY F***! The only reason I finished this is because I am trying to reach a reading goal and I am already behind (also not finishing a book doesn't make me feel good). It felt like I was clocking in to do a job I hated every time I picked this book up.
I'm trying to find positives but I don't think there are any.
Sorry Nancy, I guess I am not your target reader.
I typically think of myself as a very open-minded reader-- there isn't much I particularly dislike reading, although suspense is quickly becoming one of my favorite genres. I always thought there wasn't a suspense novel I wouldn't like. I even don't mind a solid YA suspense. The Sorority, however, I did mind. I minded a lot.
This book reads like a YA novel, but it isn't! (and TBH, that reads like YA novels are subpar.. they are not.. just this novel is..) The plot had too many holes; the story too many characters; and the epilogue was absolute trash. Apparently this will be a series?! IDK but I won't be reading it. I'm considering not reading another Nancy Bush book.
I know this sounds harsh; it feels harsh to put into words, but HOLY F***! The only reason I finished this is because I am trying to reach a reading goal and I am already behind (also not finishing a book doesn't make me feel good). It felt like I was clocking in to do a job I hated every time I picked this book up.
I'm trying to find positives but I don't think there are any.
Sorry Nancy, I guess I am not your target reader.
August 16, 2024
While I really enjoyed the actual plot of the story, this one took me a really long time to get into. I am used to much fast paced thrillers and this one was more of a slow burn. I enjoyed the overall drama and Mac (the main female lead) but I felt like some things I should have known going into this that I didn't. It seems from other reviews there are reoccuring characters and some things mentioned didn't make sense to me - had I know this I probably wouldn't have started with this one
September 8, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing/Brilliance Audio for an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.
A group of high school friends, calling themselves "The Sorority," pledge to kill one of their boyfriends after he had repeatedly cheated on the scorned girl. When he and his younger sister die in a car accident graduation night the pack of girls swear themselves to secrecy. Ten years later the group returns home for a funeral but one of them has gone missing. They employee another high school alum now working as a private detective to find the missing woman. But as more bodies and victims start to fall their might be more behind this "sorority" then anyone could imagine.
I really liked the premise of this book and was excited to get a copy but the execution was terrible. For starters there are way too many superfluous characters with too many details that they all become one muddy mess. Since, it is told via multi POVs, it quickly gets confusing. The amount of inane details are distracting with subplots veering off in all directions, most useless to the actual story. There is no real character development, just a lot of ineffectual facts about the person or surroundings. I never thought a character's sprained ankle could bug me so much but Mac complained about the damn thing the entire book; what a horrible choice for the main character. Touted as a thriller there is little to no action. Mostly, we have the inner thought ramblings of the characters and spotty whiny memories from high school. Here's a tip ladies, grow up! Everyone is unnecessarily hyper sexualized which lent nothing to the storyline other than filler. It was already too long and could have used some heavy editing. The only reason I reached the end was because it was a review copy. The whole thing is bad. PASS
I had the audio version read by Lexi Mae who I also did not enjoy. All of the characters, but one with a horrific accent, sounded the same so I struggled to know who was talking. There are no alerts to let you know a new characters POV is starting. It immediately flows from one character to the next with no waring and it takes a minute to figure out who's now telling the story since they sound exactly the same. I blame some of this on the editing/audio production. Her continual mispronouncing of words drove me to the brink. I will not be listening to any more of her work.
A group of high school friends, calling themselves "The Sorority," pledge to kill one of their boyfriends after he had repeatedly cheated on the scorned girl. When he and his younger sister die in a car accident graduation night the pack of girls swear themselves to secrecy. Ten years later the group returns home for a funeral but one of them has gone missing. They employee another high school alum now working as a private detective to find the missing woman. But as more bodies and victims start to fall their might be more behind this "sorority" then anyone could imagine.
I really liked the premise of this book and was excited to get a copy but the execution was terrible. For starters there are way too many superfluous characters with too many details that they all become one muddy mess. Since, it is told via multi POVs, it quickly gets confusing. The amount of inane details are distracting with subplots veering off in all directions, most useless to the actual story. There is no real character development, just a lot of ineffectual facts about the person or surroundings. I never thought a character's sprained ankle could bug me so much but Mac complained about the damn thing the entire book; what a horrible choice for the main character. Touted as a thriller there is little to no action. Mostly, we have the inner thought ramblings of the characters and spotty whiny memories from high school. Here's a tip ladies, grow up! Everyone is unnecessarily hyper sexualized which lent nothing to the storyline other than filler. It was already too long and could have used some heavy editing. The only reason I reached the end was because it was a review copy. The whole thing is bad. PASS
I had the audio version read by Lexi Mae who I also did not enjoy. All of the characters, but one with a horrific accent, sounded the same so I struggled to know who was talking. There are no alerts to let you know a new characters POV is starting. It immediately flows from one character to the next with no waring and it takes a minute to figure out who's now telling the story since they sound exactly the same. I blame some of this on the editing/audio production. Her continual mispronouncing of words drove me to the brink. I will not be listening to any more of her work.
August 24, 2024
An interesting read in a genre I don't necessarily frequent, myself. The story revolves around a handful of women ten years after high school. Most of them belonged to this popular-girl's clique that all seemed to get hung up on Mr. Water Polo Varsity Superstar, who (spoiler warning) tragically died the night of graduation. All these years after the death was done and over with, everybody's moved on (or so it seemed), having jobs and relationships that took up their time as adults. You know, as adults do. UNTIL. Someone else dies under not-really-suspicious-circumstances, and his surviving brother in a fit of grief enlists our hero Miss Protagonist Apprentice-Private-Detective to look into... not his brother's death but the death from ten years prior.
What follows is essentially snapshot after snapshot into the days and lives of each of these characters: The titular "Sorority" of girls who, let's be honest, peaked in high school, as well as a cast of surviving family members of the deceased, and our inspector heroin and her mentor, who also has some drama-case-danger of his own to deal with on the side. The "Sorority" girls are all definitely coming from places of trauma and betrayal revolving around their old High School Superstar crush, while the surviving families of his demise are torn between keeping the status quo of keeping everything quiet for various reasons and wanting to see some kind of real justice done for this case. Then our heroin at the head of the case, while trying to uncover and piece together the details, actually appears to be the only person who HAS moved on and been living her own adult life without the burden of teen-drama-trauma, trying to sort out and make sense of it all in the process. So please, do not be fooled into thinking that I'm writing off the whole cast as "bunch of women who never grew out of teenage B.S." because that is not the case at all! It's a strong matter of a very few people trying to insert logic and understanding into something that is rooted in illogical girlhood crushes, flings, betrayals and nonsense.
As it comes to the end, the writing does feel a little like a fuster-cluck, but I don't necessarily see that as a bad thing. In a way, it seems to emphasize the spiraling mental states of the "Sorority" girls, and the burden of secrets they've held in for ten years while the world around them continued to use them or burden them with outside of the "is-it-murder-or-accident" case at hand. Maybe after the dust settles and the secrets are out, we could be treated to a bittersweet resolution for those who can get over the teenage drama and get on with their lives.
What follows is essentially snapshot after snapshot into the days and lives of each of these characters: The titular "Sorority" of girls who, let's be honest, peaked in high school, as well as a cast of surviving family members of the deceased, and our inspector heroin and her mentor, who also has some drama-case-danger of his own to deal with on the side. The "Sorority" girls are all definitely coming from places of trauma and betrayal revolving around their old High School Superstar crush, while the surviving families of his demise are torn between keeping the status quo of keeping everything quiet for various reasons and wanting to see some kind of real justice done for this case. Then our heroin at the head of the case, while trying to uncover and piece together the details, actually appears to be the only person who HAS moved on and been living her own adult life without the burden of teen-drama-trauma, trying to sort out and make sense of it all in the process. So please, do not be fooled into thinking that I'm writing off the whole cast as "bunch of women who never grew out of teenage B.S." because that is not the case at all! It's a strong matter of a very few people trying to insert logic and understanding into something that is rooted in illogical girlhood crushes, flings, betrayals and nonsense.
As it comes to the end, the writing does feel a little like a fuster-cluck, but I don't necessarily see that as a bad thing. In a way, it seems to emphasize the spiraling mental states of the "Sorority" girls, and the burden of secrets they've held in for ten years while the world around them continued to use them or burden them with outside of the "is-it-murder-or-accident" case at hand. Maybe after the dust settles and the secrets are out, we could be treated to a bittersweet resolution for those who can get over the teenage drama and get on with their lives.
June 11, 2024
Title: The Sorority by Nancy Bush
Release date: August, 20th, 2024
3.5 Stars
In "The Sorority," Nancy Bush, the New York Times bestselling author, takes us on a thrilling ride through the dark and twisted world of high school cliques, where the bonds of friendship are as strong as they are dangerous.
The novel, delves into the lives of a group of girls known as The Sorority, whose pledge to stand by each other turns into a pact with deadly consequences.
The story kicks off with a chilling premise: a pledge to kill Ethan Stanhope, which, though initially dismissed as a joke, becomes eerily real when Ethan and his sister die in a car crash. Fast forward nearly a decade, and the members of The Sorority are haunted by their past, as one of their own goes missing and a series of accidents begin to resemble something more sinister.
Enter Mackenzie Laughlin, a private investigator with a personal connection to the girls. As the daughter of a cop, she was always on the fringes of The Sorority, making her the perfect outsider to unravel the mysteries surrounding them. Mac, as she's known, is a compelling protagonist, driven by a mix of professional duty and personal curiosity. Her determination to find the missing girl and uncover the truth behind the accidents is palpable, making her a character you can't help but root for.
Bush's narrative is a tightrope walk between suspense and intrigue, with enough twists and turns to keep even the most seasoned thriller readers guessing.
The pacing is great, with each chapter ending on a note that compelled me to keep reading, eager to uncover the next piece of the puzzle.
Amidst the suspense, Bush sprinkles in a touch of romance, adding depth to Mac's character and providing a brief respite from the tension. It's a reminder that even in the darkest of stories, there's room for light and connection.
"The Sorority" is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
Thank you to The Publisher Kensington Publishing | Zebra ,The Author Nancy Bush & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.
Release date: August, 20th, 2024
3.5 Stars
In "The Sorority," Nancy Bush, the New York Times bestselling author, takes us on a thrilling ride through the dark and twisted world of high school cliques, where the bonds of friendship are as strong as they are dangerous.
The novel, delves into the lives of a group of girls known as The Sorority, whose pledge to stand by each other turns into a pact with deadly consequences.
The story kicks off with a chilling premise: a pledge to kill Ethan Stanhope, which, though initially dismissed as a joke, becomes eerily real when Ethan and his sister die in a car crash. Fast forward nearly a decade, and the members of The Sorority are haunted by their past, as one of their own goes missing and a series of accidents begin to resemble something more sinister.
Enter Mackenzie Laughlin, a private investigator with a personal connection to the girls. As the daughter of a cop, she was always on the fringes of The Sorority, making her the perfect outsider to unravel the mysteries surrounding them. Mac, as she's known, is a compelling protagonist, driven by a mix of professional duty and personal curiosity. Her determination to find the missing girl and uncover the truth behind the accidents is palpable, making her a character you can't help but root for.
Bush's narrative is a tightrope walk between suspense and intrigue, with enough twists and turns to keep even the most seasoned thriller readers guessing.
The pacing is great, with each chapter ending on a note that compelled me to keep reading, eager to uncover the next piece of the puzzle.
Amidst the suspense, Bush sprinkles in a touch of romance, adding depth to Mac's character and providing a brief respite from the tension. It's a reminder that even in the darkest of stories, there's room for light and connection.
"The Sorority" is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
Thank you to The Publisher Kensington Publishing | Zebra ,The Author Nancy Bush & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.
August 13, 2024
Thank you to Nancy Bush, Brilliance Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I've seen Bush's name around for a long time but never got around to trying her work, so when I saw this galley I thought it was time to give her a try. And she's not for me. I got to 60% and paid progressively less and less attention, so I'm calling it quits because I'm bored and I have other things to listen to.
The narration was fine, but I just couldn't find any shits to give to the narrative. The biggest problems were POV and character. There's so much head hopping, which I hate in general, that I was struggling to get to know the supposed protagonist, Mac. On top of that, Mac was given the conflict of a sprained ankle and the status of a wannabe PI, which lent her an overall bumbling, incompetent quality, which only encouraged me to not pay attention to her. So little time spent with her plus a vibe that no one takes her seriously equals a reader who doesn't care about the main character. Not good.
Next, too many characters! Too many names to keep straight! If I were reading a print version, my photographic memory would help me remember who was who, but audio goes straight to my adhd brain, so any unnecessary exposition just muddies the waters. Entering each of their POVs and experiencing their memories and home lives and work lives---too much to keep straight. On top of that, they were all unsympathetic dinglefritzes, so I didn't care enough about them to try to remember.
The victims weren't all that sympathetic either, except the sister, so I didn't care that they were murdered. And the writing style was dry, and---there was just nothing to care about. Don't start a book from the POV of an arrogant teenage jackass who views females as sexual playthings and expect me to care about how he died. Don't immediately lame the protagonist, give her no occupational power to accomplish anything, throw in a player boyfriend, and expect me to take her seriously. Don't pad your word count by hopping from unsympathetic POV to unsympathetic POV and expect me to keep up.
This is how not to write a novel.
I've seen Bush's name around for a long time but never got around to trying her work, so when I saw this galley I thought it was time to give her a try. And she's not for me. I got to 60% and paid progressively less and less attention, so I'm calling it quits because I'm bored and I have other things to listen to.
The narration was fine, but I just couldn't find any shits to give to the narrative. The biggest problems were POV and character. There's so much head hopping, which I hate in general, that I was struggling to get to know the supposed protagonist, Mac. On top of that, Mac was given the conflict of a sprained ankle and the status of a wannabe PI, which lent her an overall bumbling, incompetent quality, which only encouraged me to not pay attention to her. So little time spent with her plus a vibe that no one takes her seriously equals a reader who doesn't care about the main character. Not good.
Next, too many characters! Too many names to keep straight! If I were reading a print version, my photographic memory would help me remember who was who, but audio goes straight to my adhd brain, so any unnecessary exposition just muddies the waters. Entering each of their POVs and experiencing their memories and home lives and work lives---too much to keep straight. On top of that, they were all unsympathetic dinglefritzes, so I didn't care enough about them to try to remember.
The victims weren't all that sympathetic either, except the sister, so I didn't care that they were murdered. And the writing style was dry, and---there was just nothing to care about. Don't start a book from the POV of an arrogant teenage jackass who views females as sexual playthings and expect me to care about how he died. Don't immediately lame the protagonist, give her no occupational power to accomplish anything, throw in a player boyfriend, and expect me to take her seriously. Don't pad your word count by hopping from unsympathetic POV to unsympathetic POV and expect me to keep up.
This is how not to write a novel.
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