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No Such Person
From the author of the multimillion-copy bestseller The Face on the Milk Carton, this riveting new thriller, set against the backdrop of a bucolic summer town on the Connecticut River, will have readers guessing until the very last page, as a seemingly innocent sibling rivalry and newfound young love turn into something much more devastating than anyone could ever have imagined.
Miranda and Lander Allerdon are sisters. Miranda is younger, a dreamer, and floating her way through life. Lander is older, focused, and determined to succeed. As the girls and their parents begin another summer at their cottage on the Connecticut River, Miranda and Lander’s sibling rivalry is in high gear. Lander plans to start medical school in the fall, and Miranda feels cast in her shadow.
When the Allerdons become entangled in an unimaginable tragedy, the playing field is suddenly leveled. As facts are revealed, the significance of what has happened weighs heavily on all. How can the family prepare for what the future may hold?
Miranda and Lander Allerdon are sisters. Miranda is younger, a dreamer, and floating her way through life. Lander is older, focused, and determined to succeed. As the girls and their parents begin another summer at their cottage on the Connecticut River, Miranda and Lander’s sibling rivalry is in high gear. Lander plans to start medical school in the fall, and Miranda feels cast in her shadow.
When the Allerdons become entangled in an unimaginable tragedy, the playing field is suddenly leveled. As facts are revealed, the significance of what has happened weighs heavily on all. How can the family prepare for what the future may hold?
237 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 14, 2015
68 people are currently reading
2066 people want to read
About the author
Caroline B. Cooney
129 books1,769 followersCaroline Cooney knew in sixth grade that she wanted to be a writer when "the best teacher I ever had in my life" made writing her main focus. "He used to rip off covers from The New Yorker and pass them around and make us write a short story on whichever cover we got. I started writing then and never stopped!"
When her children were young, Caroline started writing books for young people -- with remarkable results. She began to sell stories to Seventeen magazine and soon after began writing books. Suspense novels are her favorites to read and write. "In a suspense novel, you can count on action."
To keep her stories realistic, Caroline visits many schools outside of her area, learning more about teenagers all the time. She often organizes what she calls a "plotting game," in which students work together to create plots for stories. Caroline lives in Westbrook, Connecticut and when she's not writing she volunteers at a hospital, plays piano for the school musicals and daydreams!
- Scholastic.com
When her children were young, Caroline started writing books for young people -- with remarkable results. She began to sell stories to Seventeen magazine and soon after began writing books. Suspense novels are her favorites to read and write. "In a suspense novel, you can count on action."
To keep her stories realistic, Caroline visits many schools outside of her area, learning more about teenagers all the time. She often organizes what she calls a "plotting game," in which students work together to create plots for stories. Caroline lives in Westbrook, Connecticut and when she's not writing she volunteers at a hospital, plays piano for the school musicals and daydreams!
- Scholastic.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 245 reviews
October 15, 2016
Let's make something clear to the negative reviewers: this is a YA novel, not James Joyce or Kurt Vonnegut. Get off your high horse and lighten up. No one is impressed by your pseudo-intellect.
I'm a 7th grade English teacher and it is really frustrating to see all these negative reviews criticising the writing style and crucifying the author for not catering to their specific brand of book snob.
Cooney has a target audience. I teach that target audience. The reviewers need to think outside of themselves and realize that this particular target audience isn't going to be "sophisticated" and works better with more simplistic novels. Books like this is what helps them become a better reader. They have a place. You can't just go from Cat in the Hat to Charles Dickens without an in-between.
. Just like the Janie series and the Time Travel series by the same author, this was a fun book that couldn't be put down. It had more plot to it than the average princess or popular girl book. It had twists and actual emotions.
I know the target demographic for this book...and they will love it!
The story was original, and more interesting than most YA books. It also didn't have anything particularly inappropriate. I thought the characters were slightly flat, but the book was otherwise well written. Cooney once again used 3rd person omniscient narration, which is unusual but works very well for her writing style.
The main character was very likable. Her sister, not so much.
The story centers around two sisters: the uptight and oh so perfect Lander, and the likable-but-forgotten Miranda. Lander is accused of murder, and spends all of the book moping in jail, feeling entitled, and thinking only of herself. She sits and thinks of herself as the real victim. Meanwhile, Miranda, the *other* daughter, is proactive and looks to find out what really happened. Miranda, more than anyone, is the one who bears the brunt of the whole situation. No one in her family can be bothered to care about her, but all her neighbors rally around her because she is actually likable. I honestly spent the whole book feeling like Lander had it coming, and the only reason I wanted Lander to be released was so Miranda didn't have to lose the beloved cottage. Their parents and Lander deserve each other. They are also selfish and self-indulgent. Miranda needs to find a new family.
This book definitely has more substance than the average YA novel. It isn't a game-changing novel that withstands the test of time, but it's fun. Fans of the Janie Series will love it.
I'm a 7th grade English teacher and it is really frustrating to see all these negative reviews criticising the writing style and crucifying the author for not catering to their specific brand of book snob.
Cooney has a target audience. I teach that target audience. The reviewers need to think outside of themselves and realize that this particular target audience isn't going to be "sophisticated" and works better with more simplistic novels. Books like this is what helps them become a better reader. They have a place. You can't just go from Cat in the Hat to Charles Dickens without an in-between.
. Just like the Janie series and the Time Travel series by the same author, this was a fun book that couldn't be put down. It had more plot to it than the average princess or popular girl book. It had twists and actual emotions.
I know the target demographic for this book...and they will love it!
The story was original, and more interesting than most YA books. It also didn't have anything particularly inappropriate. I thought the characters were slightly flat, but the book was otherwise well written. Cooney once again used 3rd person omniscient narration, which is unusual but works very well for her writing style.
The main character was very likable. Her sister, not so much.
The story centers around two sisters: the uptight and oh so perfect Lander, and the likable-but-forgotten Miranda. Lander is accused of murder, and spends all of the book moping in jail, feeling entitled, and thinking only of herself. She sits and thinks of herself as the real victim. Meanwhile, Miranda, the *other* daughter, is proactive and looks to find out what really happened. Miranda, more than anyone, is the one who bears the brunt of the whole situation. No one in her family can be bothered to care about her, but all her neighbors rally around her because she is actually likable. I honestly spent the whole book feeling like Lander had it coming, and the only reason I wanted Lander to be released was so Miranda didn't have to lose the beloved cottage. Their parents and Lander deserve each other. They are also selfish and self-indulgent. Miranda needs to find a new family.
This book definitely has more substance than the average YA novel. It isn't a game-changing novel that withstands the test of time, but it's fun. Fans of the Janie Series will love it.
August 17, 2015
If you really, really don't understand how social media works today, it's okay to set books pre-twitter.
April 28, 2019
This was a surprisingly good murder mystery! It kept me on the edge of my seat and I didn't figure out the mystery until the time when the book revealed it. I seriously read this book so fast! I'm impressed!
I would highly recommend if you want a quick, dark read! Just be prepared for some heavier topics!
I would highly recommend if you want a quick, dark read! Just be prepared for some heavier topics!
June 25, 2017
میراندا آلردون 15 ساله و خواهر بزرگترش لَندون کاملا باهمدیگه متفاوت اند. میراندا توی رویا های بزرگ به سر میبره و خواهرش روی هدف های قابل دست یابی تمرکز داره. در تعطیلات تابستونی لندون، سوار ماشین یه مرد، نزدیک رودخانه تصادف میکنه. بازداشتش میکنن و بهش اتهام قتل میزنن و دوست پسرش هم ناپدید میشه. خواهرش این وسط سعی میکنه مشکل رو حل کنه و قضیه رو بفهمه در حالی که این فکر اذیتش میکنه که خواهرش ممکنه واقعا قاتل باشه. داستان از زاویه دید دو خواهر تعریف میشه. تقریبا آخرای داستان میشد پایانش رو حدس زد اما همچنان خوب نوشته شده بود. نثر ساده و خوبی داره و داستان هم با سرعت مناسب جلو میره.
July 30, 2015
This was absolutely awful. Interesting premise, Fun twist halfway through, But THE WRITING STYLE!!!!!!!!!!! OMG i cannot handle short sentences. And the fact that she used the characters names in at least every other sentence if not more. It was really hard to read. I felt like i was reading a beginner reader book. Repetitious and short digestible sentences. Won't ever read another one of her books. Ever.
January 8, 2021
4.25⭐️
Such a great YA thriller!!!
Such a great YA thriller!!!
October 19, 2015
Terrible ending. I won't give it away but the parents need a reality check--sell everything and get out of debt. Maybe Miranda and Lander will become great adults not by going to college but by working hard at a real job and learning to live within their means.
The whole jail experience wasn't handled well. It just made me hate Lander. I couldn't understand why Miranda wanted to save her sister. I wouldn't if my sister was wunderkind and I was second best.
Young people all over the country are falsely accused and sent to jail and can't afford a lawyer. The author doesn't look at this as a societal problem especially since Lander is a pretty white girl that 'doesn't belong there'. Not everyone has a grandma that can pay a defense lawyer. It doesn't make sense that Lander turns into a sniveling wimp who can't speak up in her own defense when everything we are told about her makes her sound like a queenly get-what-I-want kind of gal. The falling in love and being naive was plausible since I've known a few charming rascals myself. The reality check should have happened before she ever got out of jail though.
The plot is confusing with a great many characters that aren't fleshed out. The little neighbor boys are the most interesting. They steal the show in my opinion. The dangerous drug trafficking situation never made me fearful even though the parents left their 15 year old daughter on her own. Eek! Helicopter parents just don't do that. There could have been so much more suspense. I think if the story was told from only Miranda's point of view and not in 3rd person I might have enjoyed it much more. The chapters of Lander's experience in jail were not essential to the story and just seemed weird to me.
There are a lot of lessons that can be learned by teenagers when they read this book but the author totally blows it. Should Lander go to medical school? No!
The whole jail experience wasn't handled well. It just made me hate Lander. I couldn't understand why Miranda wanted to save her sister. I wouldn't if my sister was wunderkind and I was second best.
Young people all over the country are falsely accused and sent to jail and can't afford a lawyer. The author doesn't look at this as a societal problem especially since Lander is a pretty white girl that 'doesn't belong there'. Not everyone has a grandma that can pay a defense lawyer. It doesn't make sense that Lander turns into a sniveling wimp who can't speak up in her own defense when everything we are told about her makes her sound like a queenly get-what-I-want kind of gal. The falling in love and being naive was plausible since I've known a few charming rascals myself. The reality check should have happened before she ever got out of jail though.
The plot is confusing with a great many characters that aren't fleshed out. The little neighbor boys are the most interesting. They steal the show in my opinion. The dangerous drug trafficking situation never made me fearful even though the parents left their 15 year old daughter on her own. Eek! Helicopter parents just don't do that. There could have been so much more suspense. I think if the story was told from only Miranda's point of view and not in 3rd person I might have enjoyed it much more. The chapters of Lander's experience in jail were not essential to the story and just seemed weird to me.
There are a lot of lessons that can be learned by teenagers when they read this book but the author totally blows it. Should Lander go to medical school? No!
December 9, 2015
If the book had ended three quarters of the way through I might have given it three stars, but as it continued I became more and more annoyed with the characters.
The book is about two sisters, the beginning was promising but then it just went downhill after a few chapters
The main character is a 15 year old girl and her older sister is about to enter medical school. I know a lot of 15 year old girls and I agree they have an unnatural attachment to their cell phones, I think their addiction could have been shown better (or at all) rather than the author not only saying the girls needed their phones but also pointing out that they valued them more than ppl, that may be true but I don't believe they were self aware enough to actually think that!
Also, I know the world has changed but I knew what "being high" meant by the time I was 15 and yet it is explained to our main character. THEN later she seems to know an awful lot about drugs (names, way they are transported, sizes they are moved in but not what "being high" is?) The characters were stupid and I don't mean that in a childish name calling way, I mean they lacked intelligence. I was supposed to believe the oldest was about to go to medical school and that she gained admission based on some hint of intelligence but I didn't get the feeling she had any at all, certainly not enough to become a doctor.
I spent the second half of this book tired of the sisters and how little common sense they have. I have a headache from rolling my eyes at them. The heroine was anything but and the "character development" was nonexistent though there's a last minute effort to show they've changed and have been affected by events but I don't it.
The book is about two sisters, the beginning was promising but then it just went downhill after a few chapters
The main character is a 15 year old girl and her older sister is about to enter medical school. I know a lot of 15 year old girls and I agree they have an unnatural attachment to their cell phones, I think their addiction could have been shown better (or at all) rather than the author not only saying the girls needed their phones but also pointing out that they valued them more than ppl, that may be true but I don't believe they were self aware enough to actually think that!
Also, I know the world has changed but I knew what "being high" meant by the time I was 15 and yet it is explained to our main character. THEN later she seems to know an awful lot about drugs (names, way they are transported, sizes they are moved in but not what "being high" is?) The characters were stupid and I don't mean that in a childish name calling way, I mean they lacked intelligence. I was supposed to believe the oldest was about to go to medical school and that she gained admission based on some hint of intelligence but I didn't get the feeling she had any at all, certainly not enough to become a doctor.
I spent the second half of this book tired of the sisters and how little common sense they have. I have a headache from rolling my eyes at them. The heroine was anything but and the "character development" was nonexistent though there's a last minute effort to show they've changed and have been affected by events but I don't it.
March 28, 2015
See my review in VOYA.
Though Miranda and Lander Allerdon are sisters, they couldn’t be more different from one another. Miranda likes to daydream and never sticks with the same extracurricular activity for more than a season. Lander is the practical, older sister, who is driven by her desire to practice medicine. Another summer begins and the family is spending it in their usual place - their cottage on the Connecticut River. To an outsider, nothing has changed, the local kids still come over to use the Allerdon’s dock and Miranda spends the majority of each day babysitting. But, as Lander focuses harder on her studies for acceptance to medical school, Miranda feels cast aside even more. Lander then meets a boy, Jason, and though there is mystery and suspicion wrapped around him, Lander completely changes and becomes carefree and neglects her responsibilities. When Lander is then arrested for murder, Miranda steps up and resolves to solve the case and get her sister released from jail. After all, Lander couldn’t possibly be in love enough with Jason to kill for him, right?
If you love young adult mystery, Cooney has hit it out of the ballpark yet again. I enjoyed the setup of the novel - the backstory of the relationship between the two sisters, the information about the cottage and the neighbors who constantly visit, and the way Cooney leads you into the tragedy. Each chapter alternates between the voices of Miranda and Lander and the difference in each voice is very striking. No Such Person is definitely a must read for all the Cooney fans out there, but also for fans of mystery as well. This book will be hard to keep on the shelves!
Though Miranda and Lander Allerdon are sisters, they couldn’t be more different from one another. Miranda likes to daydream and never sticks with the same extracurricular activity for more than a season. Lander is the practical, older sister, who is driven by her desire to practice medicine. Another summer begins and the family is spending it in their usual place - their cottage on the Connecticut River. To an outsider, nothing has changed, the local kids still come over to use the Allerdon’s dock and Miranda spends the majority of each day babysitting. But, as Lander focuses harder on her studies for acceptance to medical school, Miranda feels cast aside even more. Lander then meets a boy, Jason, and though there is mystery and suspicion wrapped around him, Lander completely changes and becomes carefree and neglects her responsibilities. When Lander is then arrested for murder, Miranda steps up and resolves to solve the case and get her sister released from jail. After all, Lander couldn’t possibly be in love enough with Jason to kill for him, right?
If you love young adult mystery, Cooney has hit it out of the ballpark yet again. I enjoyed the setup of the novel - the backstory of the relationship between the two sisters, the information about the cottage and the neighbors who constantly visit, and the way Cooney leads you into the tragedy. Each chapter alternates between the voices of Miranda and Lander and the difference in each voice is very striking. No Such Person is definitely a must read for all the Cooney fans out there, but also for fans of mystery as well. This book will be hard to keep on the shelves!
September 20, 2019
This book was hard to read for the first three or four chapters, it was simply uninteresting, then, before you even know what's happening, and so subtle, you don't even realize it, this story has caught you.
Miranda's sister, Lander, is dismissive of her. Lander still looks at Miranda with distaste, and treats as if she is a little girl, then Lander is falling in love. Before she knows it, she is caught in a web of lies, and is charged with a murder. And she isn't sure if she's innocent or not. Miranda tries to prove that Lander had no part in this horrid affair. But all the evidence points towards her.
Miranda's has some type of relationship with all the boys that live around her, there are Henry and Hayden, twins who she babysit's, Jack, a twelve year child who likes to fish, Geoffrey, a fifteen year old who swims, and Stu, a tech nerd. After Lander is charged with murder, Miranda thinks that it was Lander's boyfriend of six days, Jason, (I KNOW WHAT???) and seeks him out. Turns out, he lies about his name, and is no where to be found.
Lander is taken to a prison, and charged with homicide, and illegal drug dealing. There are clues hinting at the killer. but no solid evidence. Her family turns out to be practically broke, and can't afford to pay an attorney. Miranda's parents ask their relatives for help, and there grandma agrees to it. After three days, Lander will have her hearing. Miranda opts to stay home, and goes to return a dish that some casserole dish, from Stu's mother.
She walks up to there house, and looks through the screen door. And a horrible sight awaits her, she screams, and throws the casserole dish at the door, and runs away. There on the floor was Jason, dead as a door nail. The person in the kitchen gives chase, and the twins, Henry and Hayden notice her running, and thinking it's a game they follow her. The culprit, catches up to her, it's Stu, she tells him she'll call 911. (thinking he is innocent) Stu offers to do it for her since she is shaking so bad. Miranda agrees and gives up the phone. Stu slips it into his pocket, and that's when she notices his knife.
Stu is caught. But it really makes ya think right? And Lander was innocent the whole time. It was a good book, 4/5 stars.
Miranda's sister, Lander, is dismissive of her. Lander still looks at Miranda with distaste, and treats as if she is a little girl, then Lander is falling in love. Before she knows it, she is caught in a web of lies, and is charged with a murder. And she isn't sure if she's innocent or not. Miranda tries to prove that Lander had no part in this horrid affair. But all the evidence points towards her.
Miranda's has some type of relationship with all the boys that live around her, there are Henry and Hayden, twins who she babysit's, Jack, a twelve year child who likes to fish, Geoffrey, a fifteen year old who swims, and Stu, a tech nerd. After Lander is charged with murder, Miranda thinks that it was Lander's boyfriend of six days, Jason, (I KNOW WHAT???) and seeks him out. Turns out, he lies about his name, and is no where to be found.
Lander is taken to a prison, and charged with homicide, and illegal drug dealing. There are clues hinting at the killer. but no solid evidence. Her family turns out to be practically broke, and can't afford to pay an attorney. Miranda's parents ask their relatives for help, and there grandma agrees to it. After three days, Lander will have her hearing. Miranda opts to stay home, and goes to return a dish that some casserole dish, from Stu's mother.
She walks up to there house, and looks through the screen door. And a horrible sight awaits her, she screams, and throws the casserole dish at the door, and runs away. There on the floor was Jason, dead as a door nail. The person in the kitchen gives chase, and the twins, Henry and Hayden notice her running, and thinking it's a game they follow her. The culprit, catches up to her, it's Stu, she tells him she'll call 911. (thinking he is innocent) Stu offers to do it for her since she is shaking so bad. Miranda agrees and gives up the phone. Stu slips it into his pocket, and that's when she notices his knife.
Stu is caught. But it really makes ya think right? And Lander was innocent the whole time. It was a good book, 4/5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2015
I spent nearly 2 hours on this book and I will be spending another 20 minutes writing about how bad it is.
Simple and blunt writing style can come off as either a hit or miss. A hit would be weaving common words in such a way that it builds intrigue and life towards story and characters without having having that feeling of being overwhelmed by glittery, word vomit (ex. F Scott Fitzgerald's writing on steroids).
This miss on the other hand is just a synonym for "bad writing." This consists of lack of description and vital details, unclear objective, poor characterization, and words put together in a way that makes your eyes fly all over the page without any sort of intake.
In this story you follow two sisters. Lander been wrongly accused (or so we think) of murder and Miranda is determined to prove her elder sister's innocence. The plot itself attempts to implement social media =as a means of moving the story (the words "facebook" and "ipad" come up at least over ten times). With such a heavy emphasis on these elements you would expect the end game or conclusion to be draw on the significance or impact of technology but nooooooo it ends in some anti-climatic encounter where the killer conveniently ends up giving his victim every piece of information (take note: poor characterization).
This would be a great book if you were in elementary school. If you're looking for a serious "mystery novel" then this book is way off from the bulls eye target.
Simple and blunt writing style can come off as either a hit or miss. A hit would be weaving common words in such a way that it builds intrigue and life towards story and characters without having having that feeling of being overwhelmed by glittery, word vomit (ex. F Scott Fitzgerald's writing on steroids).
This miss on the other hand is just a synonym for "bad writing." This consists of lack of description and vital details, unclear objective, poor characterization, and words put together in a way that makes your eyes fly all over the page without any sort of intake.
In this story you follow two sisters. Lander been wrongly accused (or so we think) of murder and Miranda is determined to prove her elder sister's innocence. The plot itself attempts to implement social media =as a means of moving the story (the words "facebook" and "ipad" come up at least over ten times). With such a heavy emphasis on these elements you would expect the end game or conclusion to be draw on the significance or impact of technology but nooooooo it ends in some anti-climatic encounter where the killer conveniently ends up giving his victim every piece of information (take note: poor characterization).
This would be a great book if you were in elementary school. If you're looking for a serious "mystery novel" then this book is way off from the bulls eye target.
July 10, 2015
Fifteen-year-old Miranda Allerdon and her older sister Landon couldn't be more different. Miranda is given to flights of fancy and exaggeration while Landon is level-headed and goal-oriented. While on summer vacation, Landon gets involved with a man involved in a near-disastrous accident on the river near the family's summer cottage. Suddenly, she finds herself arrested and accused of murder, and her boyfriend has disappeared. Meanwhile, Miranda tries to figure out what went wrong, torn between thinking that her sister might be guilty of a crime and her certainty that there must be some explanation for what's happening. Because the author tells the story from the two sisters' perspectives, alternating from one to the other, readers are treated to their thought processes and insight into family dynamics. I enjoyed every word of this well-written mystery novel, even the hints about drug trafficking that is making its way into less-populated areas. While I saw the ending coming, I still enjoyed going along for the ride. I appreciated how the author skillfully revealed the true state of the family's fortunes once the crime unfolded, something to which neither sister was privy. Late middle graders will devour this one and relate to the exchanges between the sisters who remain a mystery to one another.
October 8, 2019
So..... the only reason I picked up the audiobook on this one is because the audiobook on the Libby app and I was in the mood for another book that weren't any of my current reads and I don't know why but that was the case today. And since I had nothing else better to do all day I decided to listen to a 6 hour something book which took me longer than that with distractions and breaks and I really thought I'd have finished this tomorrow. BUT that wasn't the case so miraculously for me this was record reading and listening for me *laughing*
So onto the review:
I know a lot had a mix of 3 and 4 stars on here, I personally felt like it was a 2 star read for me but not enough for a DNF and 1 star. I felt it was too rushed, wasn't or didn't have enough character development, kinda boring for me which is the overall of it. It lacked a ton of things for me, I wasn't at the edge of my seat or anything and the dialogue wasn't the greatest to me once in a while.
Now, as I always try to say in my reviews of books I'm not a fan of personally, PLEASE DO NOT read this book based on my review. Read it for yourself and to see if you like it because many forget that all books speak differently to people. I could see some liked this book and rated it 3 or 4 stars but I personally didn't like it and it wasn't for me. *shrugging shoulders*
So onto the review:
I know a lot had a mix of 3 and 4 stars on here, I personally felt like it was a 2 star read for me but not enough for a DNF and 1 star. I felt it was too rushed, wasn't or didn't have enough character development, kinda boring for me which is the overall of it. It lacked a ton of things for me, I wasn't at the edge of my seat or anything and the dialogue wasn't the greatest to me once in a while.
Now, as I always try to say in my reviews of books I'm not a fan of personally, PLEASE DO NOT read this book based on my review. Read it for yourself and to see if you like it because many forget that all books speak differently to people. I could see some liked this book and rated it 3 or 4 stars but I personally didn't like it and it wasn't for me. *shrugging shoulders*
April 26, 2020
This was an okay book, not my favorite, but not my least either. This was my first book from this author and might be my last. It had a good plot promise and sounded good, but I found it was not as good as it could have been. I sort of felt like there was something missing. The ending was very predictable I found and I knew all along who it was. Some parts were quite interesting though, like I quite liked how the author made it clear that although they seemed like a perfect family, they do have their issues. I did find it a bit boring at times though.
July 10, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. It takes place in a small town where this family owns a summer cottage and happens over a weekend; and what a weekend it turns out to be. The first page immediately gets you into full swing and the action never stops. It's a whirlwind of events and holds your interest from one page to the next with a great twist at the end.
March 8, 2016
(2.5 STARS)
This book just bored me to pieces. I did not care for Lander at all and the story was dragged out, in my opinion. I skimmed through the last quarter of the book because I was just over it.
This book just bored me to pieces. I did not care for Lander at all and the story was dragged out, in my opinion. I skimmed through the last quarter of the book because I was just over it.
July 23, 2015
Pretty awful = DNF
May 18, 2018
the girl Mariana is hopeful that that her sister isn't a murderer
March 6, 2020
This review was originally posted on The Moonlight Library
While I enjoyed this book, with all the drama and angst, and the setting was beautiful, the atmosphere was heavy with dread, and it did seem suspenseful, I do not really consider it a mystery.
I mean sure, someone was murdered, and someone was framed for that murder, but the book didn't go into investigating this at all.
Like, literally nothing happened until
There was some low-key half-hearted attempt at trying to figure out who some guy with a fake name really was, using social media, but there was no plan on how this could help solve the framing. There was very little motivation from any of the characters on how to save the older sister. They just all kind of stood around saying how terrible this was, and trying to raise money for lawyers and stuff, and realising that although they had nice things, they had no money for important stuff.
The book was mostly about how beautiful and hot and slow the summer days were out at this riverside cottage, and Miranda thinking about how Lander couldn't have done this, and flashbacks of Lander's summer infatuation, and how horrible it was to be in jail for suspected murder. There was some self-aware realisations from Miranda that her parents were in terrible debt because they spent all their money on their elder daughter now accused of murder, but there wasn't any sibling rivalry - Miranda very clearly loved and adored Lander, and Lander very obviously was so self-absorbed she barely noticed her younger sister.
The side characters were, I don't know, present? There was one character Miranda couldn't stand but by the end may have been developing feelings for.
I just… nothing happened.
I did still enjoy it. It wasn't boring, because the writing style and the descriptions drew me in. I listened to this on audio, and the narrator, Erin Spencer, was fine. Not brilliant, but certainly not deficient in any way.
However, I never really cared about the so called mystery, and I hoped Miranda would actually do something to help her sister rather than mope around the cottage feeling sorry for herself.
While I enjoyed this book, with all the drama and angst, and the setting was beautiful, the atmosphere was heavy with dread, and it did seem suspenseful, I do not really consider it a mystery.
I mean sure, someone was murdered, and someone was framed for that murder, but the book didn't go into investigating this at all.
Like, literally nothing happened until
There was some low-key half-hearted attempt at trying to figure out who some guy with a fake name really was, using social media, but there was no plan on how this could help solve the framing. There was very little motivation from any of the characters on how to save the older sister. They just all kind of stood around saying how terrible this was, and trying to raise money for lawyers and stuff, and realising that although they had nice things, they had no money for important stuff.
The book was mostly about how beautiful and hot and slow the summer days were out at this riverside cottage, and Miranda thinking about how Lander couldn't have done this, and flashbacks of Lander's summer infatuation, and how horrible it was to be in jail for suspected murder. There was some self-aware realisations from Miranda that her parents were in terrible debt because they spent all their money on their elder daughter now accused of murder, but there wasn't any sibling rivalry - Miranda very clearly loved and adored Lander, and Lander very obviously was so self-absorbed she barely noticed her younger sister.
The side characters were, I don't know, present? There was one character Miranda couldn't stand but by the end may have been developing feelings for.
I just… nothing happened.
I did still enjoy it. It wasn't boring, because the writing style and the descriptions drew me in. I listened to this on audio, and the narrator, Erin Spencer, was fine. Not brilliant, but certainly not deficient in any way.
However, I never really cared about the so called mystery, and I hoped Miranda would actually do something to help her sister rather than mope around the cottage feeling sorry for herself.
April 12, 2018
This book was.... fine. Because I actually have the sad experience of being a close friend of a family that has a child who unexpectedly commits murder (don’t ask), I know the process of sitting around and waiting to see what will happen next is a very boring one, and involves a lot of disbelief and yes, casseroles from neighbors. I think to write a good, edge of the seat story about this time in a family‘s life, you would need to embellish the truth and add some things that make it seem much more exciting than it actually is, otherwise the reader would be quite bored if it really mirrored reality. The trouble with this book is it did mirror reality, and there just wasn’t enough happening to hold my interest.
February 6, 2025
this book was genuinely horrible!! i got to page 176 and still NOTHING HAPPENED!! that left 70 pages for the author to tell the story we already knew was going to happen! if you are in middle school you’d probably love this book, but if you are an advanced reader AT ALL and read because you love to read, you will HATE this book! i genuinely am so upset with the book but i’ve said it before i’ll say it again: if you want to read good books you’re going to read some bad books!!
February 27, 2022
This book is often overlooked because of the style in which it is written, but you must take into consideration that this is a YA novel and is intended for a younger audience. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this 'shorter' novel and was pleasantly surprised in the direction it went. I believe this is an excellent choice for someone who wants to dip their toes into a mystery-esque piece!
March 27, 2025
3.5/5. Short book. Easy read. Figured it out about halfway through.
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December 3, 2025I really enjoyed this book. Its a small town crime book and its really good, that you just want to keep on reading it until your down. Its in a small town in Connecticut which makes more suspence.
October 24, 2020
Not bad. Had to remind myself this is for YA's. It drove me a little crazy how dumb the sister heading to medical school could be. Otherwise, it was okay and a quick listen.
November 20, 2020
Take a shot every time the word "river" appears in the first 50 pages. I'm sure it would be a fun time.
December 3, 2024
Geoffrey, my baby💗
May 27, 2017
*Book Received in Exchange for Honest Opinion/Review*
I honestly closed this book and sat here and said, "What the f*ck did I just read?!". While the storyline itself had so much potential, their were too many fatal flaws in this book. First off, the tense of the story is all wrong, it does not read smoothly or flow smoothly. The entire story is told in third person and it just...well its weird and I wasn't a fan at all. I felt like I was reading facts instead of a story. Lander is superior, Miranda likes people, it doesn't exactly make the story personable and actually makes it hard to connect to the characters.
Next is the progression of the story. As it mentions in the synopsis, there is a sort of sibling rivalry going on, except not really. Lander thinks she is far superior to the majority of human beings in existence and Miranda just accepts that this is her life and doesn't really care. There is no sibling relationship except Lander turning her nose down to everyone and thinking she knows best. The sad thing is, that even though the end of the book was supposed to be Lander having a change of heart, she is probably going to go back to being her selfish, rotten self.
It's not just Miranda and Lander's relationship that is awkward, its the all the characters in the book. Their interactions are all uncomfortable and I don't know if it is because of the third person writing style or because this author just doesn't know how to write character interactions. I think the greatest issue is that the author doesn't seem to truly capture the essence or mindfulness of teenagers, either that or it was completely lost in translation.
I honestly closed this book and sat here and said, "What the f*ck did I just read?!". While the storyline itself had so much potential, their were too many fatal flaws in this book. First off, the tense of the story is all wrong, it does not read smoothly or flow smoothly. The entire story is told in third person and it just...well its weird and I wasn't a fan at all. I felt like I was reading facts instead of a story. Lander is superior, Miranda likes people, it doesn't exactly make the story personable and actually makes it hard to connect to the characters.
Next is the progression of the story. As it mentions in the synopsis, there is a sort of sibling rivalry going on, except not really. Lander thinks she is far superior to the majority of human beings in existence and Miranda just accepts that this is her life and doesn't really care. There is no sibling relationship except Lander turning her nose down to everyone and thinking she knows best. The sad thing is, that even though the end of the book was supposed to be Lander having a change of heart, she is probably going to go back to being her selfish, rotten self.
It's not just Miranda and Lander's relationship that is awkward, its the all the characters in the book. Their interactions are all uncomfortable and I don't know if it is because of the third person writing style or because this author just doesn't know how to write character interactions. I think the greatest issue is that the author doesn't seem to truly capture the essence or mindfulness of teenagers, either that or it was completely lost in translation.
February 20, 2017
Interesting and intriguing YA tale. No sex, profanity-some lite gore. Well narrated and recommended.
January 20, 2016
The Allerdon family is spending the summer at their cottage on the Connecticut River, and although it starts off just like any other summer, it soon becomes clear that it will be the most memorable summer of their lives. Miranda, 15, spends her days babysitting the neighbor boys and playing with the neighbor dog. Her sister Lander, 22, is obsessed with medical school and can’t be bothered with Miranda’s overactive imagination and flights of fancy. When they witness a waterskiing accident, Lander dismisses Miranda’s belief that the driver purposely slowed down so that the skier would be run over by a barge. Lander develops a crush on the driver, Jason, and begins spending a lot of time with him in spite of Miranda’s warnings that he may be dangerous. When Lander is arrested for murder, Miranda realizes that it’s up to her to try to find the real murderer in order to free her innocent sister.
Each chapter begins with Lander narrating her jail experience and letting readers in on her doubts and insecurities about what actually happened; then the narration switches to Miranda and her quest to prove her sister’s innocence. It’s a real contrast to see strong, driven Lander reduced to doubting her own character and actions while Miranda slides easily into the role of the glue that is holding the family together. It is only due to Miranda’s persistence that the true killer is actually discovered, but not until Geoffrey, Miranda’s overlooked friend-turned-love-interest, gets to play a bit of a heroic role as well. Recommended for gr. 7-12.
Each chapter begins with Lander narrating her jail experience and letting readers in on her doubts and insecurities about what actually happened; then the narration switches to Miranda and her quest to prove her sister’s innocence. It’s a real contrast to see strong, driven Lander reduced to doubting her own character and actions while Miranda slides easily into the role of the glue that is holding the family together. It is only due to Miranda’s persistence that the true killer is actually discovered, but not until Geoffrey, Miranda’s overlooked friend-turned-love-interest, gets to play a bit of a heroic role as well. Recommended for gr. 7-12.
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