Thornbird: Edizione Italiana

by E. Kennedy

Starling, Tennessee. Una cittadina circondata da montagne spettacolari dove la natura incontaminata nasconde segreti innominabili. È qui che Ryan Shipley spera di ricominciare da zero, mimetizzandosi tra gli studenti della Crockett High e fingendo di essere una ragazza qualunque. Ma Ryan non è affatto normale: il suo vero nome è Gabrielle Thorn, ed è la figlia di un famigerato serial killer che dieci anni prima ha sconvolto l'America. Mantenere la copertura sembra un'impresa possibile, almeno finché Ryan non incrocia gli occhi di Everett James, il carismatico quarterback della scuola che porta ancora le cicatrici del passaggio di Thorn, e non si scontra con Chase Hedlund, il misterioso e ribelle apprendista meccanico che sembra leggerle dentro. Ma quando una ricompensa da un milione di dollari scatena finti detective e community online alla ricerca dei corpi delle vittime di suo padre, l'oscurità minaccia di tornare a galla. Soprattutto quando sul telefono di Ryan iniziano ad arrivare messaggi anonimi e inquietanti. Tra bugie sussurrate, strane coincidenze e un'attrazione tanto irresistibile quanto proibita, Ryan si ritroverà intrappolata in un labirinto di passioni e pericoli. Mentre la verità si dipana, una sola cosa diventa chiara: in una città piena di segreti, lei potrebbe essere il mistero più grande di tutti.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Young Adult, Mystery Thriller, Romance, Audiobook, Fiction

400 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 30, 2026

About the author

E. Kennedy is a true crime enthusiast and devoted bookworm. When she’s not plotting twisty thrillers, you’ll find her deep in a true crime doc rabbit hole. She lives in Toronto.

(Source: Amazon)

Reviews

[Grace Quan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this for the author—I stayed for the creeping, unsettling mystery.

I’m always equal parts excited and nervous when a beloved author branches into a new genre. I’ve followed Elle Kennedy for years, so I was especially intrigued when I learned she was stepping into the world of YA true crime thrillers.

In terms of characters and atmosphere, this book absolutely delivers. We’re introduced to the seemingly wholesome small town of Starling—only to quickly realize it harbors a chilling obsession with the convicted serial killer known as the “Starling Slayer.” Our main character, Ryan, at first, doesn’t want any part of the obsession, but soon, joins others in the town on a mission to uncover the locations of the killer’s missing victims.

The characters are engaging, easy to root for, and carry that signature charm Kennedy writes so well. That charm is ultimately what sustains the first half of the novel—because, unfortunately, the pacing is where things begin to falter. The story takes its time building, and while the premise is compelling, it doesn’t fully capitalize on its tension early on. Much of the first half feels like setup, with limited plot progression.

That said, I didn’t entirely mind the slower pace because of the character dynamics—especially the romance subplot. Kennedy’s strength in writing relationships and romance definitely shines here. There’s even a slight love triangle, which felt somewhat unnecessary at times, but it still managed to enhance the emotional stakes rather than detract from them.

Once the story does pick up, though, it truly finds its footing. The final portion of the book is unsettling, intense, and completely gripping. Without giving anything away, the ending delivers that eerie, lingering feeling that every good thriller should leave behind—and that was easily one of the biggest highlights for me.

Verdict:
I would definitely recommend this to both YA and adult readers, especially those who enjoy character-driven thrillers. While the slow start may be a drawback for some, the strong character work and chilling payoff make it well worth the read.

4 stars ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Books for giving me this arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

For years, I have devoured Elle Kennedy’s romance novels. Her Off-Campus college romance series is a comfort favorite, and her fantasy romance Royals series (written under the pseudonym Erin Watt) completely swept me away. So when I heard she was releasing a YA thriller, I didn’t even hesitate—I jumped in without reading the blurb.

At first, when I realized the story revolved around the daughter of a serial killer, I thought, Okay… we’ve seen this concept before. But then I reminded myself—this is Elle Kennedy. With her imagination and emotional storytelling, I knew she would bring something fresh. And while the story didn’t completely blow me away, it was far more entertaining and gripping than I expected.

The novel blends high school drama, romance, and mystery with a dark, haunting backstory. Our main character, Gabriel Thorn, is an outsider who has lost her mother and is forced to rebuild her life under a false identity. She moves into her estranged aunt’s house in the same town where her father once lived—and where he buried his victims in unknown locations. To protect her cousins and avoid bullying, she changes her name to Ryan Shipley and pretends she is a niece who attended boarding school in Switzerland.

Is the cover story a little unbelievable? Yes—but her cousins are only sixteen, and they buy it. Once Ryan starts school, she instantly attracts attention—especially from the charming golden boy Everett, her cousin Jasmine’s best friend’s brother. But Ryan seems more drawn to the mysterious biker boy Chase, who quickly becomes her knight in shining armor. These moments definitely echo classic Elle Kennedy romance vibes, even inside a darker thriller setting.

The mystery deepens with the town’s obsession over the serial killer case and a disturbing trophy reward for anyone who can locate the victims’ remains. Jasmine’s desire to profit from the tragedy is unsettling, and I found her ambition both disturbing and irritating. Nikki, the mean-girl antagonist, also felt a bit cliché, immediately targeting Ryan and making her life miserable.

Ryan begins receiving threatening anonymous messages, which at first felt a little mild—but as the story unfolds, the twists surrounding their origin are surprisingly effective. The “Free the Sparrows” forum adds another chilling layer, and the final act truly accelerates the pacing. By the end, the mystery and romance finally find their balance, delivering a satisfying and tense conclusion.

While I struggled to fully connect with some of the characters, the storytelling, pacing, and twists made this a compelling read. As Elle Kennedy’s first step into YA mystery, this is a very promising start. Because of the strong final quarter, I happily rounded my rating from 3.5 to 4 stars.
What can I say? A great writer can truly shine in any genre she chooses.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Books / Delacorte Press for sharing this fast-paced YA thriller with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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[nadine · Rating 3 out of 5]

as her first mystery book, it was okay-ish. the mystery was predictable and unrealistic at the same time because what do you mean the detectives never found that bunker under his property after a decade? 🤨.

as for the romance, it was kind of bland and felt like an afterthought. the ending rushed it along so much that I didn't really see the point of including it, but I didn't hate it either. it was okay I guess.

💌 • thank you to Elle Kennedy and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Taskin⋆彡⭒ (s-ia) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
⋆.˚𓅆࿐𓅪
Went in expecting a lot from a romance author trying something new, and honestly, I was hooked from the first page. The mystery kept layering on more secrets, and every person in this creepy little town felt a suspect. I was constantly changing my mind about who was hiding what, and the twists kept coming without feeling random. The atmosphere is unsettling in the best way, like something is always slightly off.

The main character is a serial killer's daughter, and I felt for her from the start. She's trying to uncover her family's dark past while people look at her like she's inherited it. Her scenes with her cousins were the ones that stuck with me most, because you can see her slowly letting herself feel like she belongs somewhere. That softer side gives the book more emotional weight than I expected from a thriller.

The romance was the weakest part. The love triangle felt a bit bland, and it's not the author's best work in that department. But the plot moved fast enough that I didn't mind much, and I finished it in one sitting.

[Eloise Blaise | Bibliophel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dare I say I need to take this as a sign to read more YA thrillers? I couldn’t put this down and read it in one day. I guessed one out of the three guesses and the two I didn’t guessed had me GAGGED

[Aisvarya · Rating 3 out of 5]

✨"You think I don’t have darkness too?” he murmurs. “That’s part of life, Ryan. The dark just makes the light feel worthwhile. And you…you make it worthwhile."✨

If you're someone who's transitioning from romance into the thriller genre, I think you'd definitely enjoy this more. But if you're like me and have already read a lot of thrillers, you might be left a little disappointed. That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the ride, it just means some things were a bit too predictable for me.

What to expect -
🐦 Small-town YA thriller
🐦 Daughter of a serial killer (FMC)
🐦 High school drama
🐦 Family secrets
🐦 Blackmailer who knows her true identity
🐦 Love triangle (flirty popular guy x resident bad boy)
🐦 Mixed media (true crime forums, cryptic letters from her dad, journal entries)
🐦 Found family

We follow Ryan Shirley, who moves back to her hometown with her maternal aunt after her grandmother's death. She's forced to live under a new identity and leave behind her old name, Gabrielle Thorn, because her father is the infamous serial killer who terrorized the streets of Starling, Tennessee, ten years ago. Even though he was arrested, the victims' bodies were never found, and the anniversary of his arrest is fast approaching, making the victims' families more anxious than ever. Will Ryan, formerly Gabrielle, discover what the police couldn't all these years ago, or will her own secret be exposed before she gets the chance?

While I enjoyed this for the most part, I do think it could've benefited from being a little shorter because many of the events felt repetitive. It often seemed like the story kept circling back to the same points instead of moving things forward. I also felt like there was more telling than showing at times😫 I just wish some of those sections had been trimmed down.

That being said, I can definitely see the author's potential as a thriller writer, and I'd absolutely pick up anything else she writes in this genre. She really has a way with words. The descriptions of the setting, the eerie atmosphere, and the way she made us feel anxious, nauseous, and traumatized right alongside Ryan were all incredibly well done.

A lot of time is spent on the exposition, which I didn't necessarily mind, apart from the repetition I mentioned earlier. For example, Ryan's cousin decides to investigate the case and locate the missing bodies, but for quite a while all she really does is read a few online articles, bring up the investigation again a few chapters later, and repeat the same process. It stayed in that cycle for a long time before the story finally picked up around the halfway mark.

From that point onward, I was genuinely invested and had a really good time. Even though I managed to predict some of the twists, one reveal absolutely shocked me, and that's exactly why I believe this author has the potential to write some fantastic thrillers.

I also really empathized with Ryan as our FMC. Imagine having to return to the very town that despises your father and is eagerly awaiting his execution, all while hiding your true identity. Every whisper around her makes her anxious. Old memories resurface. The nightmares return. And despite believing the same things everyone else believes, a small part of her still hopes her father wasn't actually the killer, that maybe he took the blame for someone else. She's determined to uncover the truth, no matter how devastating it may be. On top of all that, she's also grieving the loss of her grandmother. It's no wonder she struggles to connect with the people around her or build the fresh start she's always wanted. Deep down, she knows that if anyone discovers who she really is, they'll never truly accept her.

Thankfully, by the end, she finds her own people in her aunt, her cousins, and a few others, and I absolutely loved that. Even though I wasn't particularly invested in the romance, I did like who she ended up with.

Overall, this was a good, atmospheric read that focused much more on Ryan's personal journey and character growth than on the mystery itself. So if you don't mind a character-driven YA thriller with a love triangle, this one might be for you.

[ᨳଓ clementine · Rating 3.25 out of 5]

꒰ঌ thornbird ໒꒱
🐦‍⬛ a little mystery, a little mess, a lot of secrets ♡

ꕤ world

the atmosphere was probably my favourite part of this entire book. there’s something so inherently creepy about returning to the town where your father became infamous, especially when everyone around you knows his name but has absolutely no idea that you’re his daughter. the small-town setting, the family secrets, the serial killer history and the constant feeling that someone might uncover ryan’s identity gave the story a really uneasy undertone. 🐦‍⬛

i also really liked the way the past kept bleeding into the present. ryan isn’t just dealing with a mystery - she’s dealing with the weight of a name she’s been forced to leave behind, the memories attached to it and the fear of what will happen if anyone discovers who she actually is. there’s something so interesting about having your entire life shaped by something you didn’t do, yet still being treated as though you carry some responsibility for it.

the mixed-media elements were another fun addition, too. the messages, journal entries, online discussions and little pieces of information about the original investigation helped break up the story and made it feel like there was always another piece of the puzzle waiting somewhere. i just wish the actual mystery had kept that same momentum throughout the whole book.

because unfortunately, the beginning was much slower than i wanted it to be. 😭 there was quite a lot of exposition and repetition, and i found myself thinking okay… but when are we actually going to start uncovering something? there were moments where the investigation seemed to go around in circles rather than actually progressing, which made the first half feel longer than it needed to.

once everything finally started moving, though, i was much more invested. the atmosphere got darker, the tension picked up and i actually started needing to know what was going to happen next. i still managed to predict quite a few things, but there was one reveal that genuinely caught me off guard, and that was probably the moment where i finally saw the potential this author has for writing thrillers.

❦ plot

the premise is honestly what pulled me in because daughter of a serial killer who has to return to the town where her father committed his crimes while hiding her identity??? yes please. 😭 i am absolutely weak for characters who are haunted by their past, and ryan has possibly one of the worst versions of that imaginable. she’s walking around surrounded by people who hate her father without being able to tell anyone that she is connected to him.

i liked that the mystery wasn’t just about finding out who committed the murders. there was also the question of whether ryan’s father really was responsible for everything, what happened to the missing victims and whether there was something much bigger hiding underneath the story everyone thought they already knew. that gave ryan a personal reason to keep digging, rather than her simply investigating because the plot needed someone to.

the anonymous messages were probably one of my favourite plot devices because they gave the story a constant little who knows? who is watching her? how do they know? feeling. every time ryan received another message, i was trying to work out who could possibly be behind it, and even when i thought i had an answer, there were still enough moving pieces to keep me reading.

my biggest problem was definitely the pacing. i don’t necessarily think this needed more plot - if anything, i think it needed less. there were sections that felt like the same information was being repeated or revisited without giving us anything particularly new, and i think trimming some of that would have made the thriller aspect considerably stronger. 😫

because once the story reached the point where things actually started happening, i flew through it. i wasn’t bored, and i definitely wanted to know how everything would unravel. i just wish we’d reached that point sooner because the buildup sometimes felt like it was promising a huge explosive mystery that the book never quite delivered.

i also think this is more of a character journey than a traditional mystery, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. ryan is trying to figure out who she is outside of her father’s legacy, where she belongs and whether she can actually have a normal life when her past is always sitting directly behind her. that emotional side of the story ended up being more interesting to me than solving the actual mystery.

there were definitely twists, but i think seasoned thriller readers will probably spot some of them coming. i found myself predicting quite a few things fairly early, which did take away some of the suspense for me. however, i wouldn’t say that completely ruined the reading experience because there was still enough happening to keep me turning the pages.

overall, i think the plot had a really strong foundation but wasn’t executed quite as tightly as it could have been. there are some genuinely great ideas here, and i can absolutely see what the author was trying to do. i just wanted the mystery to feel a little sharper, the reveals to hit harder and the middle section to stop circling the same information quite so much.

❁ characters & romance

ryan was definitely the character i connected with most, and i think that’s largely because her situation is so emotionally horrible. imagine being forced to return to the town where everyone knows your father as a monster while secretly carrying the knowledge that you’re his daughter. 😭 every conversation has another layer because she can never fully relax and tell people who she really is.

i really felt for her grief, too. she’s not only dealing with the secret surrounding her father but also losing her grandmother and being thrown into a completely different life at the same time. she wants a fresh start, but she can never really have one because the past keeps following her around. there’s a constant fear that if people find out the truth, they’ll never see ryan - they’ll only see her father.

i did, however, struggle with some aspects of her characterisation. there were moments where she gave me slightly pick-me vibes, particularly when it came to the way other girls were portrayed around her. i wanted more complexity there because not every other teenage girl needs to be dramatic, bitchy or obsessed with being girly for the main character to stand out. i think ryan could have been allowed to be confident and different without everyone around her being positioned as the opposite.

the romance was probably my biggest meh element. 😭 i didn’t dislike it, and i actually ended up liking who ryan chose, but i never felt completely invested in the love triangle itself. everett and chase sometimes felt more like roles than fully developed characters - the happy, popular golden boy versus the mysterious bad boy with the motorcycle.

and honestly, i wanted MORE from them. more conversations, more genuine connection, more moments where i could understand why ryan was drawn to each of them. sometimes the romance felt like it was there because the book needed a love triangle rather than because the relationships naturally developed from the story.

that being said, i did really enjoy ryan’s eventual relationship. there were moments of genuine support there that i appreciated, especially the feeling that she was finally being accepted for who she actually was rather than being judged by her father’s actions. that unconditional support worked much better for me than the actual love-triangle drama.

i also really loved the found-family aspect. her aunt, cousins and the people she eventually allows herself to become close to gave the story a warmth that balanced out the darker parts. after spending so much of the book terrified that people would reject her if they knew the truth, seeing her slowly find people who genuinely cared about her was really lovely. 🥹

ultimately, though, the characters needed a little more depth for me. i think there was a lot of potential in ryan, the family dynamics and the romances, but some of them were left feeling slightly surface-level. with a little more development and more meaningful interactions, i think i would have been much more emotionally attached to everyone involved.

❋ overall thoughts

i’m genuinely not sure what to think of this one because i did have fun. 😭 it was entertaining, i wasn’t bored enough to want to DNF it and once the story picked up, i was properly invested. but at the same time, i can see quite a few things that stopped it from becoming a favourite.

the writing itself was perfectly readable, but it didn’t completely wow me. there were sections that felt more like telling than showing, and the pacing sometimes made the story feel longer than it actually needed to be. i think a tighter edit could have done wonders here because there was a really good thriller hiding underneath all the repetition.

i also think this is probably going to work better for readers who are newer to the thriller genre. if you’ve read a lot of thrillers, you may find some of the twists easier to predict, and i definitely did. but if you’re coming into this for the combination of small-town secrets, romance, family drama, serial-killer mystery and a creepy atmosphere, i can absolutely see the appeal.

despite all of my complaints, i actually think the biggest compliment i can give this book is that it made me curious about what this author writes next. there were moments where the atmosphere was so well done, and that one reveal genuinely surprised me. i think there’s a lot of potential here, and i’d definitely be willing to pick up another thriller from her to see what she does with a more polished plot.

soooo… a very solid 3.25 stars from me. ⭐️ it wasn’t bad, it wasn’t boring and i definitely had fun, but i also don’t think it’s going to stick with me for very long. there were too many moments where i was thinking this could have been SO much better, especially with the pacing, character development and mystery. still, a fun, atmospheric YA thriller with an interesting premise, a messy romance and just enough twists to keep me turning the pages. 🐦‍⬛🖤


ꕤ pre-read ❦

this is the same author who wrote the off-campus series, which i haven’t actually read but of course i’ve watched the adaptation 👀 apparently this is her first thriller too, so i genuinely have no idea what to expect going into this one! i’m hoping for a fast-paced thriller that keeps me hooked and constantly wanting to know what happens next, especially because it says it’s for fans of holly jackson, and i’ve really enjoyed some of her books. definitely going into this one with an open mind and hoping it manages to surprise me in the best way 🫣🔍

[Mira · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I found out that Elle Kennedy would be releasing a YA thriller, I immediately wanted to read it—and this book did not disappoint!

The main character is the daughter of a serial killer. After her grandmother’s death, she returns to her hometown to live with her aunt and uncle—but under a fake name. Reporters, detectives, and the townspeople are still actively discussing a decade-old case, as the bodies of the women were never found.

Is Gabrielle Thorn really the killer everyone thinks he is? Readers try to answer this and other questions throughout the book, and it was so thrilling! In the first half, I didn’t even have any theories; I was just enjoying the story. Towards the end, some ideas started to form, but the ending surprised me more than once!

This book is atmospheric, tense, and captivating! The romance, while not the main focus, is also well done, which I really appreciated.

I enjoyed it so much! I really hope we get more thrillers from E. Kennedy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books (Delacorte Press) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[RootsfortheVillain · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the daughter of a serial killer, Ryan wants to finish her senior year unnoticed. No one in Starling knows her secret, but with her father's execution looming and his victim’s bodies still missing, Ryan must hide her identity, even from her cousins. When the reward for the missing victims increases, Ryan helps her cousin search for clues—until someone threatens to expose her if she doesn't stop looking.

I was curious to see how this book would play out. As an author who mainly focuses on the romance genre, a YA thriller/mystery is completely surprising. However, I was amazed by how much I enjoyed this book. There were so many mysteries to solve while reading Thornbird that it became a very fast-paced read. Although I had figured out some of the mystery, I was completely shocked at the conclusion. This was a fantastic debut into the YA mystery/thriller genre, and I believe fans of Maureen Johnson and Holly Jackson would enjoy this YA novel.

Thornbird releases June 30th.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Books for the opportunity to review Thornbird. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[jess.manora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kneift mich wer? Ich habe einen Thriller gelesen und auch noch gemocht? 😮‍💨🤌🏼

[Bo Verhoef · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Dit boek was echt pure crack 😮. Ik kon niet stoppen met lezen. Ik wilde gewoon door. Elle Kennedy mag van mij echt veel meer YA thrillers schrijven. Dit boek gaf me echt hetzelfde gevoel als wat AGGGTM mij gaf en past echt bij Holly Jackson liefhebbers. Ik heb zo genoten van dit verhaal en dit boek. Had het tempo hier en daar iets beter gekund? Ja. Had het einde iets meer shocking en ietsjes beter uitgewerkt gekund (ook al was het wel heftig)? Ook ja. Maar dit boek hield me in z'n greep en ik zou het echt iedereen aanraden die zin heeft in een lekkere verslavende thriller voor tussendoor.

[RijaReads · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ll start by saying- reading is subjective I know that but this book is proof that some people will hand out five stars just because they recognize the author’s name.

This is the second book I’ve read by this author, and once again, it felt like too many words on paper with absolutely nothing to say. More than twenty chapters of nothing happening, the same thoughts being repeated, and the same recycled sentences dressed up like they were moving the plot forward. They were not.

And calling this a mystery? Generous. Very generous.

Nothing happens for the majority of this book. We know the father is a murderer. We know there are bodies. We spend the entire book waiting to understand why, where, and how, and somehow even the answers manage to be boring. The way everything finally comes together should have been shocking, tense, or at least interesting. Instead, it was a complete bore.

Then there is the weird love triangle, which added nothing except more pages.

At this point, I think I’m done with this author. The hype is not making sense to me. This felt overwritten, repetitive, and painfully dull. Sometimes it feels like authors do not even have to tell a good story anymore as long as their name is big enough on the cover.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

ELLE KENNEDY, YOU CAN WRITE ANYTHING AND I'LL READ IT.🖤

I will literally read anything Elle Kennedy writes. I personally swoon over her contemporary romances and haven't dabbled much in thrillers, so Thornbird was a little different for me. But let me tell you, this book had me flipping pages and staying up FAR too late!

We follow Ryan, the daughter of a notorious serial killer, who returns to her hometown under a new name after her grandmother's death. With only her aunt and uncle knowing her true identity, she's trying to navigate her senior year while flashbacks and memories slowly reveal pieces of her past.

And Gabrielle Thorn? I genuinely found myself questioning whether he was the killer everyone believed him to be. I loved the twists and turns throughout the story, and there were several outcomes that genuinely surprised me!

The characters were well-developed, unique, and fun to get to know. I also enjoyed the sprinkle of romance woven throughout the suspense, especially watching Ryan find her voice and discover who she wants to be.

“Yes, it is. I don’t give a s-- what your father did. That doesn’t make you him. You’re strong, you’ve been through hell—and you’re still here. So don’t tell me what you don’t deserve, because you deserve so much f-- more than you think.”

My only critique was that the story felt repetitive at times, and Ryan could occasionally become a little tiresome. However, that didn't stop me from wanting to know what would happen next.

Overall, Thornbird was a refreshing change from my usual contemporary romance reads. It kept me guessing, surprised me along the way, and reminded me that Elle Kennedy has officially earned my trust across genres. 🖤

[Chertzo Ember · Rating 5 out of 5]

꒰🐦꒱ 𝓟𝓸𝓼𝓽-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓡𝓮𝓯𝓵𝓮𝓬𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼:
Dawn: June 30, 2026 | Dusk: July 01, 2026

—5☆ !
_______________________________...

╔══════════════════════════════╗

📁 CASE FILE #070126

The People vs. Chertzo's Emotional Stability

╚══════════════════════════════╝

STATUS: Closed.
VERDICT: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

꒰🕷️꒱ CASE INTAKE: BEFORE THE INVESTIGATION

Date Opened: June 30, 2026

Reason for Opening Case:
If you've known the subject for approximately five minutes, you'll know she is physically incapable of resisting:
☑ YA mysteries
☑ Serial killers
☑ Even the tiniest romantic subplot

At this point, it's less of a preference and more of a pre-existing condition.

Evidence Collected:
• Murder. • Romance. • Elle Kennedy.
• Subject waiting an entire month.

Need we continue?

Risk Assessment:
Subject's expectations are currently measured at approximately 1,247,983 feet above sea level.

Potential outcomes include:
⤷ Obsession
⤷ Disappointment
⤷ Sleep deprivation
⤷ Immediate recommendation to everyone with internet access

Subject's Initial Notes:

This is my first Elle Kennedy novel. No pressure.
Just my entire personality hanging in the balance.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

꒰🐦꒱ TRANSCRIPT OBTAINED FROM INTERVIEW ROOM B

Interview Conducted: July 1, 2026

Detective: State your name.

Me: Chertzo Ember.

Detective: You finished this book in roughly twenty-four hours.

Me: Allegedly.

Detective: Was the mystery fast-paced?

Me: No.

Detective: Yet you still gave it five stars.

Me: Correct.

Detective: Explain.

Me: It didn't need to sprint. It simply built anticipation until I couldn't think about anything else. I'd call it medium-paced. There were a couple of repetitive moments...

Detective: And?

Me: I didn't care.
I was too busy following Ryan... Gabrielle... Ryan Mayfair... Ryan Shipley... At one point I stopped taking notes and started wondering if she'd eventually introduce herself as my tax consultant.

Detective: Your opinion of Ryan?

Me: I LOVE HER.... She's my Kryptonite. Somebody please let this girl experience one peaceful Tuesday for once.
Preferably without her brain trying to sabotage her.

Detective: Would you describe yourself as emotionally compromised?

Me: I'd like my lawyer. Unfortunately, she's fictional too.
I've started noticing a pattern.
Whenever I become emotionally attached to the characters... IT'S OVER.
The book owns me. Every. Single. Time.

Detective: Which relationship impressed you the most?

Me: Yes.

Detective: Can you elaborate?

Me: The romance. The friendships. The family dynamics. Ryan's internal monologue. The way she processes everything. I ATE. IT. UP.

Detective: You highlighted several passages.

Me: I can explain.

Detective: There are forty-seven.

Me: I can explain less.

Detective: This is YA. Were you disappointed by the lack of graphic violence?

Me: Not even remotely. The atmosphere deserves its own arrest warrant. Every hallway felt suspicious. Every text message felt threatening. Every chapter whispered, "...something bad is about to happen."

Detective: Let's discuss the romance.

Me: Finally. It never hijacked the mystery. It politely waited its turn. Like a well-behaved subplot. It gave me just enough to squeal, kick my feet, and become emotionally invested in fictional teenagers instead of addressing my own responsibilities.

Detective: Did she end up with the person you wanted?

Me: She did. Nature is healing.

Detective: Was the book perfect?

Me: No.

Detective: It was a little superficial at times?

Me: Sure.

Detective: Did you care?

Me:

ABSOLUTELY NOT. The vibes connected. The characters connected. The mystery connected.
Everything just CLICKED.

Detective: Did you solve the mystery?

Me: I had three suspects. Two convictions. I also figured out who stole the necklace.
The reason behind it? No. I'll take those odds.

Detective: And the anonymous messenger?

Me: I invoke my right to remain speechless.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
OFFICIAL FINDINGS:

Evidence confirms the subject suffered from:
➜ Emotional attachment
➜ Excessive theorizing
➜ Sleep deprivation
➜ Repeated use of the phrase "HELLO????"

No treatment is recommended.

Subject has already announced intentions to read Kennedy's next thriller at dangerous speeds.

___________________________
FINAL VERDICT

After reviewing all available evidence...

The Court finds the following:

Count I: Keeping the subject awake far past my bedtime.

GUILTY.

Count II: Emotional manipulation.

GUILTY.

Count III: Making the subject care far too much about fictional teenagers.

EXTREMELY GUILTY.

__________
Sentence:
Five stars. No possibility of parole.

[Wal.li · Rating 4 out of 5]

Die kleinen Spatzen

Nach dem Tod ihrer Großmutter muss Ryan Shipley, die vorher anders hieß, zu der Familie ihrer Tante Maggie nach Starling, Tennessee ziehen. Dort soll nicht bekannt werden, dass Ryan die Tochter von Gabriel Thorn ist, der vor zehn Jahren den Mord an mehreren Frauen gestanden hat. Da bald der Jahrestag der Ereignisse herannaht, ist das Thema sowieso wieder auf der Tagesordnung. Und würde bekannt, wer Ryan wirklich ist, wäre das wohl ein gefundenes Fressen für alle, die nach Neuigkeiten zu dem Fall gieren. Lieber wäre Ryan irgendwo sonst auf der Welt, jedoch ist sie noch nicht volljährig und sie hat auch noch ein Jahr bis zu Schulabschluss.

Es ist ganz schön schwierig für die siebzehnjährige Ryan, ihre Geheimnisse zu wahren. Am liebsten möchte sie sich von allen fern halten. So einfach ist das allerdings nicht. Ihre Cousins Jasmine und Connor bringen sie halt mit anderen Schülern in Kontakt. Und natürlich hat sie auch Klassenkameraden, denen sie sich nicht entziehen kann oder manchmal auch nicht entziehen will. Wegen des unschönen Jubiläums kocht in der Stadt alles wieder hoch. Und da die Leichen nie gefunden wurden, gibt es auch unter den Schülern viele Spekulationen. So wird Ryan häufiger mit der Vergangenheit konfrontiert als ihr lieb ist.

Das Szenario ist schon krass. Eine junge Frau ist durch die Umstände gezwungen an ihren früheren Wohnort zurückzukehren. Und sie muss damit leben, dass ihr Vater ein Mörder ist, der auf die Vollstreckung des Todesurteils wartet. Niemand soll das wissen, denn Ryan und die Familie Shipley wollen ein halbwegs normales Leben führen. Und doch könnte die Jagd nach Neuigkeiten auch zu einer Jagd auf Ryan ausarten. Sehr fesselnd ist der Jugend-Thriller geschrieben. Lediglich einer der Erzählstränge, die ansonsten schlüssig sind, wirkt anders als man erwarten würde. Ansonsten jedoch - dieser Druck unter dem Ryan steht, ihr Wunsch nach Ruhe und wie sie doch langsam in das Leben im Ort hineingezogen wird, das wirkt mitreißend und packend. Der Roman entwickelt einen Sog, dem man sich nicht entziehen kann.

[charisse ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

˗ˏˋ 4 stars ⟡ ݁₊ .

loved the vibes and setting! everything was lwk creepy and got me very invested? like daughter of a serial killer,, umm hiii?

also the plot twist was also kinda crazy? didn't see it coming at all.. i don't wanna say much cuz i know i'm going to spoil it but just know my jaw was dislocated for .2 sec

and omggg ryan & chase?? i def didn't see it coming.. lwk didn't even think there was going to be a romance subplot lol (but that's on me)

⤷ thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶˗ˋ୨♡୧ˊ˗︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶

omggg that plot twist?? full rtc!! gonna go spam text joni for emotional support

︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶˗ˋ୨♡୧ˊ˗︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶

₊˚⊹♡ pre-read ♡⊹˚₊ ↴
totally forgot i have the arc until i saw joni posting it on her story.. anyways i got her to read it with me :))

[Revie Schulz · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolute page turner. Loved it!!

[Katie Beasley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The slow build in this one reminded me a lot of what I enjoyed about A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. I liked our main character (Ryan/Gabrielle). She had been through so much and was trying her best to lay low while her father was on death row for his crimes. I enjoyed the eerieness of this town she had found herself in. There was the small town aspect where everyone knew each other, and she was the new girl on campus. There was the underbelly too where a LOT of people were obsessed with finding out where her dad hid his victim's bodies. I enjoyed watching Gabrielle try to navigate all of this - especially since no one knew her connection to the killer. I appreciated her trying to lay low but then how curiosity got the better of her, and she found herself right in the middle of the hunt. I really liked the romance aspect in this one and watching Gabrielle get roped in by the town golden boy only to end up with the town bad boy. While this was a bit of a slow burn, I enjoyed the twists and turns that Elle took us on to not only find the bodies but also more hidden secrets in this small town.

Gabrielle has found herself in the one place she has been trying to avoid for YEARS now. The place where her father revealed himself as the monster he is now known as. The place he killed her mother. The place she lost everything. And yet here she is under the name Ryan Shipley now. She is here for her senior year with the intent of keeping her head down and then getting out of dodge. Of course the universe has other plans for her when she runs into Everett on day one. Football star extraordinaire. The boy who won't take no for an answer. The one who she finds herself hanging out with more and more. Until she realizes the connection her dad has with him. The tragedy he inflicted on their family. Gabrielle pumps the brakes. She tries to regroup and lay low, but her cousins are insistent they try to solve the mystery of where her dad hid the bodies. Gabrielle can't say no without being suspicious. Which is how she finds herself learning more about the lore that is her dad. Learning more about how this town is obsessed with all things her dad. Meeting Chase, Everett's best friend, who makes her feel wanted. But when plans change for her dad's execution at his hand, the FBI shows up at Gabrielle's door wanting answers. Answers she doesn't think she has. Or does she? Has her dad somehow given her these answers that she has hidden unintentionally this whole time? When answers come to light, Gabrielle can't believe she has been able to bring closure to these families. But some things still aren't lining up. Things that the authority has brushed off as her dad being a little unhinged. When Gabrielle realizes the truth, she knows more than she ever did before she needs to leave this town and all of the darkness that it holds.

While this is showing it took me a while to read it, I had to be in the mind set for a mystery to dive back in. The second time I picked this up, I read the whole thing in one sitting. Again it is set at a slower pace but that fits perfectly with how the story unfolds. Gabrielle grew a lot in this book. She was so strong and had been through so much and yet there was more she learned about her dad. That he was even more of a monster than she thought. The only thing I would have wanted were more scenes with Chase ;) Looking forward to more mysteries from Elle hopefully in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Cecily - MillennialBookGal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I completely went into this blind and wow I was so pleasently surprised. This book was so up my alley.

To be the daughter of a Serial killer in the town in which he committed his crimes and while on death row, Ryan needs to find out where the bodies are. During this part of the book there were parts that dragged on a bit longer than it needed too but at the same time it added the despair felt by Ryan to both figure things out but blend in the community.

The ending I was really not expecting, quite a good twist and honestly I think I will think of this book for a long time to come.

Great read.

[joni ౨ৎ]

𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── pre-read
in the mood for a thriller and what better than one that follows a girl returning to her small town for the first time in 10 years.... 10 years ago in which her mom was killed and her dad was arrested for being a serial killer! except now she's living under a fake name, not even her freaking cousins know who she is! very intrigued and as the 10 year anniversary and his execution comes up a lot of secrets make their way to the top.


and i was roped into this buddy read with char 💘 can't wait to yap!!

thank you get underlined for the gifted copy & penguin teen canada for the e-ARC

[da͟r͟i͟a͟ · Rating 5 out of 5]

ohhh, i was convinced right up until the very end that i wouldn't be giving this a high rating – i absolutely hated the romance subplot. honestly, it felt completely unnecessary; i was way more invested in the friendship and family dynamics! and that so-called love triangle? it wasn't even a triangle at all... i feel cheated, haha. BUT !! the last few chapters had me sitting there like – 🤨😯😳😰
i'll be honest, i didn't see a single twist coming, because i was having way too much fun to even try guessing.
the ending genuinely shocked me, so i'm forgetting every flaw and throwing 5 stars at it.
i really hope we get even more thrillers from elle in the future !!

[Stacey Markle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this story!
Ryan Shipley isn't who she is pretending to be. The daughter of a serial killer, one of those victims being her own mother, Ryan is trying to forget and just be a teenager. She has a new family and heads to Starling to go to school and make friends. The past often doesn't stay the past though and somehow, someone has found out Ryan's secret. They begin to terrorize her and the town, the infamous killer's case won't stay closed.
While this is a YA story, the writing is rich and the characters feel like the are mature for the most part. There is a bit of romance happening which felt realistic and enhanced the dynamics of the cast of characters.
I do LOVE a twist and there are several in the chapters as we get closer to the great ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books for the opportunity to read and review this title. My thoughts are my own.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ας γράφει μόνο τέτοια αντί για τα άλλα παρακαλώ

[jo ❣︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

huge thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

🕊️out now (june 30th)
i actually requested this book without realizing this is elle kennedy and as a girl who doesn't like spicy romance i was a slightly skeptical but let me tell you, i was highly blown away by elle kennedy's writing. it was very lyrical and the humor was top tier!

as a certified thriller and mystery girlie, i will say that nothing really surprises me at all in mysteries, i can usually plot the plot from a mile away and even with good writing, it can dock down a star. instead i did sniff out the entire plot save for one tiny thing that connected at the end (i love a slightly elusive ending btw) but that's mainly because NOTHING surprises me anymore. truly a saddening thing.

ryan (aka gabrielle)
oh to be the fmc where two guys like you 😭 anyways, for the fmc of a ya thriller she ate down. oftentimes fmc's of books like this are genuinely the MOST INSUFFERABLE PEOPLE but instead i was like "yes queen!!!!" like idk she just felt real? trust me im not even glazing i just really liked her. she was true to herself and due to her unfortunate family situation (hi my name is ryan and my dad's a serial killer) that vibe? she handled things so REAL

chase
guys i fear im a sucker for a bad boy trope in books, genuinely sue me for this. 😭 i just really like the mystery part of that trope DONE WELL, i repeat, you cannot be saying the character is a bad boy and they have the genuine like output of a butterfly. thats like me going "im a bad girl, earlier, i forgot to use my blinker when i turned" like...sweetie you just suck!!!
anyways, i love chase and how he like accepted and loved ryan was like yes. thank you. they were such a perfect match that it was sooo obvious.

everett (aka everest)
i also didn't hate him i fear. he was honestly such a cinnamon role in unfortaunte circumstances and he also really liked ryan and i tried to find something to dislike and i didn't sadly. he deserves better fr fr 😭

...
i really enjoyed the plot! i thought it was well thought out and everything tied together as nicely as it could but we still left things hanging on purpose because real life doesn't have everything with a cutesy little pink bow (unless ur a nepo baby. "they hate meee cuz my daddy is rich" anyways! i also liked the romance subplot (though a note for the girlies who dont like any sexual content at all, there is two semi descriptive fade to black scenes in the book (maybe 3? idk) so just noting that for u guys!)

all in all, loved this more than i thought i would!

[Bruno Britos · Rating 0.25 out of 5]

DNF @21%

The author didnt know if it wanted to do a romance or a mystery thriller so we have either.
The ONLY thing we have about the mystery is "the bodies were never found"

The romance is misoginy, stupid stuff and rules that came from the 90's and is not ironic.

Coments while reading:
My god this is really YA. Third chapter and we have a love interest and our FMC acting like never saw a hot guy.

i'm really hating this writing good lord.

20% nothing happens and if i hear one more time "they didnt found the bodies" i'm gonna crash. It was said around 10 times, WE GET IT.

"oh he likes you but careful with his evil ex" SHUT UP

"oh i cant ask you out because my quarterback already staked his claim" "its the code, she can only date Eve now"
"I stifle a sigh while also trying to ignore the way my pulse speeds up"

No im out, that was the end for me, good luck for who stays. Jesus Christ this is really terrible writen, was this proofread?

[Lia Carstairs · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun read! This is the 2nd YA mystery I've read this year that has immediately hooked me and it's really telling me that I need to read more thrillers/mysteries ASAP.

The premise caught my attention right away. Like the FMC is the daughter of a serial killer??? And the mystery surrounding what happened to all those dead bodies that her father hid away??? It was so interesting seeing how the story would go. And though I do wish we got some more spookiness (which is wild coming from me considering i stay away from horror loll), I was thoroughly engaged and could not stop reading!!

I don't really have any strong opinions on Ryan honestly. She was fine. I did love some of the side characters like Connor, and her aunt and uncle. The romance tbh I didn't really care for and wouldn't have minded if there was no romance subplot at all. Chase was just there for me.

Though they weren't mind blowing, I definitely didn't expect some of those twists at the end! Especially that last one. Overall this was a great young adult thriller from Elle Kennedy.

Thank you Penguin Teen Canada for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Angela | nerdslovebooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ryan Shipley a.k.a. Gabrielle Thorn, is the daughter of serial killer Gabriel Thorn. She just moved back to her hometown of Starling to finish out her senior year after the death of her grandmother. Upon the 10-year anniversary of her father's arrest, come a renewed interest in the case of the missing bodies. How many secrets will be unveiled along the way?

Overall, I'd give this book 4 stars. It was easy to get sucked in right away. Ryan was a likeable character, and I couldn't help but root for her. No child should live in shadow of a monster or pay for their crimes. The characters were easy to like, and Elle did a good job writing in a diverse group of friends. She plucked a person from each clique and blended them together (artist, bad boy, football star, cheerleader, the mean girl, the rebel, etc). I enjoyed that she blended some romance into this story. I wasn't sure where the story was going, but I was very pleasantly surprised with how it ended!

*YA mystery/thriller
*Romance
*Hidden identity
*Family
*Trauma

Format: ebook

Thank you NetGalley, Elle Kennedy, and Random House Children's Books for the ARC!

[Jessi ❤️ H. Vojsk [if villain, why hot?] · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not sure what to think of this book.
Was it entertaining? Yes, it was fast paced and I wasn’t bored while reading.
But (and it’s a big but) it definitely had some flaws.

Ryan, our main character, is a pick me girl (in my opinion), she’s one of the cool girls and of course that’s the case when every other girl is bitchy, dramatic or just way too girly for Ryan.

Her two love interest - Everett and Chase - didn’t feel like real characters. They felt a little bit flat.
Everett was the football captain and all grin happy golden boy, while Chase was the bad boy with a motorcycle.

While reading it I again realized that there is definitely quality difference in some writing. I felt like the writing in this book was mediocre/okay, while the drama was rushed or forced.

But, like I said, it was enjoyable. I did have fun.

[cyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. This book was a fun ya book nothing outstanding but super interesting. The romance was super bland in my opinion and definitely not Elle Kennedys best work. The mystery itself was predictable but enjoyable. I will say the ending was super rushed and anticlimactic. A fine first thriller from mrs. kennedy and i would definitely check out any more she decides to write.

[Jade Odoms · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited when I saw Elle Kennedy’s name on a thriller!! This hooked me from the start and held my interest. I was expecting a little more from the ending but I still think worth the read.