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The Bakersville Dozen
You have four days to locate five treasured trophies. Break the rules and you all die. Happy hunting!
Back in September, the town of Bakersville, Ohio made national news when a video went viral featuring thirteen of the high school’s elite in compromising positions. Now it’s May, and every month since the “Bakersville Dozen” made their infamous appearance on the national stage, one girl has gone missing. Officials are no closer to identifying the criminal.
Bailey “Like a Virgin” Holzman is getting really fed up with the scrutiny. She just wants to enjoy the rest of her senior year and have an epic summer before heading off to college. So when she discovers a note in her locker on the last day of school inviting her on a scavenger hunt, she thinks it’s just a sweet surprise from her boyfriend trying to cheer her up.
But following the clue leads her, instead, to the first official casualty. And another sinister envelope. The killer is close, and it could be anyone. Even the people Bailey’s always trusted most—her best friend, her perfect boyfriend, or the boy-next-door she’s always pined for.
With the clock ticking, she faces a terrifying choice: play the game by the killer’s rules—follow the clues, tell no one, and no cops—for a chance to save the rest of the missing girls, or risk becoming the next grisly victim.
Back in September, the town of Bakersville, Ohio made national news when a video went viral featuring thirteen of the high school’s elite in compromising positions. Now it’s May, and every month since the “Bakersville Dozen” made their infamous appearance on the national stage, one girl has gone missing. Officials are no closer to identifying the criminal.
Bailey “Like a Virgin” Holzman is getting really fed up with the scrutiny. She just wants to enjoy the rest of her senior year and have an epic summer before heading off to college. So when she discovers a note in her locker on the last day of school inviting her on a scavenger hunt, she thinks it’s just a sweet surprise from her boyfriend trying to cheer her up.
But following the clue leads her, instead, to the first official casualty. And another sinister envelope. The killer is close, and it could be anyone. Even the people Bailey’s always trusted most—her best friend, her perfect boyfriend, or the boy-next-door she’s always pined for.
With the clock ticking, she faces a terrifying choice: play the game by the killer’s rules—follow the clues, tell no one, and no cops—for a chance to save the rest of the missing girls, or risk becoming the next grisly victim.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published August 8, 2017
22 people are currently reading
1054 people want to read
About the author
Kristina McBride
4 books315 followersKristina McBride has published four novels for young adults - THE TENSION OF OPPOSITES, ONE MOMENT, A MILLION TIMES GOODNIGHT, and THE BAKERSVILLE DOZEN. Kristina is a former high school English teacher and yearbook advisor, as well as an adjunct professor at Antioch University Midwest and Wright State University. Kristina has a thing for music, trees, purses, and chocolate. You might be surprised to learn that Kristina was almost kidnapped when she was a child. She also bookstalks people on a regular basis. Kristina lives in Ohio with her husband and two young children. You can learn more at www.kristinamcbride.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
September 14, 2017
Mysterious, unpredictable, and sinister!
The Bakersville Dozen is a young adult novel that takes us to the small town of Bakersville, Ohio where five popular, senior girls have one-by-one gone missing after being featured in a libelous video with eight of their peers.
The characters are nervous, bold, and at times impetuous. The writing is edgy and taut. And the plot is filled with an abundance of teenage drama, secrets, danger, jealousy, murder, red herrings, tension, and romance.
Overall, The Bakersville Dozen is a well-paced, suspenseful YA whodunit that reminds me of those classic 90s teen thrillers like Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer that had you thinking "why would you do that?" while you simultaneously gripped the edge of your seat. It's captivating, entertaining and has an ending you definitely won't see coming.
Thank you to Sky Pony Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at http://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
The Bakersville Dozen is a young adult novel that takes us to the small town of Bakersville, Ohio where five popular, senior girls have one-by-one gone missing after being featured in a libelous video with eight of their peers.
The characters are nervous, bold, and at times impetuous. The writing is edgy and taut. And the plot is filled with an abundance of teenage drama, secrets, danger, jealousy, murder, red herrings, tension, and romance.
Overall, The Bakersville Dozen is a well-paced, suspenseful YA whodunit that reminds me of those classic 90s teen thrillers like Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer that had you thinking "why would you do that?" while you simultaneously gripped the edge of your seat. It's captivating, entertaining and has an ending you definitely won't see coming.
Thank you to Sky Pony Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at http://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
July 12, 2017
LOVED!!! It's not perfect, but it's perfectly twisty and exciting-- which is just how I like my YA Mystery/Thrillers!
I was a BIG fan of Kristina's previous book, One Moment. It had me staying up until the wee hours of the morning to find out what happened-- and I must say The Bakersville Dozen basically had the same effect. I opened it up one night, only planning on reading the first few chapters, but suddenly I was HOOKED. Next thing I knew, I was almost halfway through the book and it was WAY later than I intended to stay up. So yeah, Kristina McBride is good at getting me NEEDING to know and not being able to put her books down.
The Bakersville Dozen wasn't perfect. It felt a little like there was something missing between the video incident and the girls going missing. I wasn't feeling the sense of urgency from a town that should have had a media frenzy going on. I mean, you've got a viral video and girls from the video kidnapped possibly dead? The media would have taken over this town.
Also, I couldn't help but screaming inside my head COPS!!! CALL THE DAMN COPS!!
The thing is: it was a wild ride. And that helped me move past some of my rational thinking. I read a lot of mystery and I feel like I'm good at figuring things like this out-- but I did NOT figure this out. And I was fooled big-time along the way. I loved the twists that this book took, and I loved being completely tricked into thinking something that turned out to be wrong.
So, was this book the most realistic mystery/thriller to ever grace the shelves?? No. As a reader, you'll need to just go with it-- there are things that make no sense, times when it's so obvious the police should be involved, and the ending/"big reveal" is a tad rushed. BUT this book is entertaining and plain fun if you can let yourself go and just enjoy.
OVERALL: LOVED!! It took me back to my youth when I was ALL about the thriller/mysteries (think Point Horror, Fear Street-type stuff). I loved going along with Bailey and following these random "clues". I loved that I was WRONG about a lot of stuff and there was a twist that totally got me in the end. I definitely recommend this to fans of teen horror/thrillers. It totally had a I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER vibe.
My Blog:
I was a BIG fan of Kristina's previous book, One Moment. It had me staying up until the wee hours of the morning to find out what happened-- and I must say The Bakersville Dozen basically had the same effect. I opened it up one night, only planning on reading the first few chapters, but suddenly I was HOOKED. Next thing I knew, I was almost halfway through the book and it was WAY later than I intended to stay up. So yeah, Kristina McBride is good at getting me NEEDING to know and not being able to put her books down.
The Bakersville Dozen wasn't perfect. It felt a little like there was something missing between the video incident and the girls going missing. I wasn't feeling the sense of urgency from a town that should have had a media frenzy going on. I mean, you've got a viral video and girls from the video kidnapped possibly dead? The media would have taken over this town.
Also, I couldn't help but screaming inside my head COPS!!! CALL THE DAMN COPS!!
The thing is: it was a wild ride. And that helped me move past some of my rational thinking. I read a lot of mystery and I feel like I'm good at figuring things like this out-- but I did NOT figure this out. And I was fooled big-time along the way. I loved the twists that this book took, and I loved being completely tricked into thinking something that turned out to be wrong.
So, was this book the most realistic mystery/thriller to ever grace the shelves?? No. As a reader, you'll need to just go with it-- there are things that make no sense, times when it's so obvious the police should be involved, and the ending/"big reveal" is a tad rushed. BUT this book is entertaining and plain fun if you can let yourself go and just enjoy.
OVERALL: LOVED!! It took me back to my youth when I was ALL about the thriller/mysteries (think Point Horror, Fear Street-type stuff). I loved going along with Bailey and following these random "clues". I loved that I was WRONG about a lot of stuff and there was a twist that totally got me in the end. I definitely recommend this to fans of teen horror/thrillers. It totally had a I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER vibe.
My Blog:
June 4, 2017
3.5 stars for this advance copy of an upcoming YA thriller.
Reading this book had the adrenaline-rush of watching a movie like "Friday the 13th" or "I Know What You Did Last Summer". There is real danger and an increasing body count while a group of teenagers decides they can't trust the cops and decide to deal with a trail of clues from a killer(s) on their own. Ultimately they begin to even doubt each other.
I was totally blindsided by some of the players behind the problems with the video and the missing girls in Bakersville. An entertaining read that could keep you up at night if you hang around ponds, trails, etc. during the summer.
Reading this book had the adrenaline-rush of watching a movie like "Friday the 13th" or "I Know What You Did Last Summer". There is real danger and an increasing body count while a group of teenagers decides they can't trust the cops and decide to deal with a trail of clues from a killer(s) on their own. Ultimately they begin to even doubt each other.
I was totally blindsided by some of the players behind the problems with the video and the missing girls in Bakersville. An entertaining read that could keep you up at night if you hang around ponds, trails, etc. during the summer.
August 31, 2017
I want to give thanks to Skyhorse Publishing for sending me 'The Bakersville Dozen' for free for an honest review. I'm giving this book 3 stars.
I have to admit, this book only took me 10 days to read, but it put me in a reading slump . The book is 304 pages. Which normally I could read in a day. This book however was so teen drama 'Scream' thriller, I just couldn't handle reading more than a few chapters a day.
I'm going to start off with the review, then I'll talk pros and cons.
The Bakersville Dozen is about 13 girls that were featured in a crude video. Each girl was filmed in their element. Doing what they loved. As each girl is introduced to the viewers, a nickname is assigned to each of them. Given to them by the person behind the camera. There's Leena "I Like it Hard" Grabman and Carrie "Pants on Fire" Hixon. A nickname is given to all 13 girls. Then one day, one of the thirteen goes missing. Then another, then another. Soon 5 girls are missing. Our main character Bailey "Like a Virgin" Holzman, is given a red envelope. This envelope will start a chain reaction. A scavenger hunt to find her missing friends. Will she reach them in time? Who can she trust?
I'm going to start off with cons first so we can end this review on a happy note.
First this mystery thriller is beyond been there, done that. I've seen these scenarios before. Follow the clues. Don't tell the cops or so and so is dead! The protagonist always, ALWAYS, falls for this lie. This also happens in other situations when the bad guy is blackmailing or threatening the victim. You do this and bad things will happen.
Friends or people close to the victim are always the bad guys! You trust those that are close to you. That is a given until they take advantage.
Jealousy is the root of all evil. Well hell I've never heard that before either. I'm the biggest idiot when it comes to mystery and I was pretty close with my predictions.
Woulda, coulda, shoulda! I hate when books surround miscommunication or lies.
As for the pros, the twist I didn't see coming. That usually happens with me. The pace was well done. I could understand Bailey's confusion, frustration and need to do something to help. The writing was good. There is nothing wrong with the story. There is a great mystery here. I have just seen it too many times to be impressed.
If you like teen school drama with a little bit of murder, think "Scream" or " I know what you did last summer" than you might like this book.
I have to admit, this book only took me 10 days to read, but it put me in a reading slump . The book is 304 pages. Which normally I could read in a day. This book however was so teen drama 'Scream' thriller, I just couldn't handle reading more than a few chapters a day.
I'm going to start off with the review, then I'll talk pros and cons.
The Bakersville Dozen is about 13 girls that were featured in a crude video. Each girl was filmed in their element. Doing what they loved. As each girl is introduced to the viewers, a nickname is assigned to each of them. Given to them by the person behind the camera. There's Leena "I Like it Hard" Grabman and Carrie "Pants on Fire" Hixon. A nickname is given to all 13 girls. Then one day, one of the thirteen goes missing. Then another, then another. Soon 5 girls are missing. Our main character Bailey "Like a Virgin" Holzman, is given a red envelope. This envelope will start a chain reaction. A scavenger hunt to find her missing friends. Will she reach them in time? Who can she trust?
I'm going to start off with cons first so we can end this review on a happy note.
First this mystery thriller is beyond been there, done that. I've seen these scenarios before. Follow the clues. Don't tell the cops or so and so is dead! The protagonist always, ALWAYS, falls for this lie. This also happens in other situations when the bad guy is blackmailing or threatening the victim. You do this and bad things will happen.
Friends or people close to the victim are always the bad guys! You trust those that are close to you. That is a given until they take advantage.
Jealousy is the root of all evil. Well hell I've never heard that before either. I'm the biggest idiot when it comes to mystery and I was pretty close with my predictions.
Woulda, coulda, shoulda! I hate when books surround miscommunication or lies.
As for the pros, the twist I didn't see coming. That usually happens with me. The pace was well done. I could understand Bailey's confusion, frustration and need to do something to help. The writing was good. There is nothing wrong with the story. There is a great mystery here. I have just seen it too many times to be impressed.
If you like teen school drama with a little bit of murder, think "Scream" or " I know what you did last summer" than you might like this book.
Read
June 26, 2017Some positives (very twisty with good red herrings) and a few negatives (triangle-y, not much character development given the fast pace). I did guess one part of the solution
Highly recommended for PLL fans.
Full review to come!
Read more of my reviews on YA Romantics, follow me on Bloglovin, or check out my Bookstagram!
The FTC would like you to know that the publisher provided me a free advance copy of this book, that the fact the book was provided to me does not shape my opinion of it, and that other readers may disagree with my opinion.
Highly recommended for PLL fans.
Full review to come!
Read more of my reviews on YA Romantics, follow me on Bloglovin, or check out my Bookstagram!
The FTC would like you to know that the publisher provided me a free advance copy of this book, that the fact the book was provided to me does not shape my opinion of it, and that other readers may disagree with my opinion.
February 5, 2019
Я не особо много ожидала от книги с таким невысоким рейтингом и малым количеством читателей. Но она оказалась, на удивление, очень, на мой взгляд, интересной. Мне понравилась детективная линия. Может быть, она немного наивная (например то, что героиня ничего не рассказывала полиции), но все же она достаточно логичная и неожиданная.
Я вообще люблю детективы, но по-настоящему интересных и достойных детективов о и для подростков не так уж много. Это, как мне кажется, один из них.
Я вообще люблю детективы, но по-настоящему интересных и достойных детективов о и для подростков не так уж много. Это, как мне кажется, один из них.
August 11, 2017
GRADE: C
2.5 STARS
Bailey and 11 other girls, THE BAKERSVILLE DOZEN are secretly taped in compromising positions and the video goes viral. Then each month, another one of the twelve goes missing. Then Bailey receives an invitation to a scavenger hunt, and a warning she'll be next unless she participates.
Bailey was a strange character, in love with her boyfriend and her ex. Nothing says romance and let's talk about our relationship more than a few dead bodies, right? She lacks common sense and a backbone. I can't picture a group of recent high school graduates finding a dead body and leaving it be, while they tried to solve the mystery. Before playing detective, they did a LOT of discussing of the merits of involving the police often mentioning the WTF questions swimming in my head. It felt a lot like telling and not showing.
I wish Kristina McBride had explored the slut shaming/misogyny angle of the story. I was very interested in the mystery and guessed part of the resolution early on, though I didn't like the way the ending unfolded with a few ridiculous twists.
THE BAKERSVILLE DOZEN didn't live up to the blurb.
2.5 STARS
Bailey and 11 other girls, THE BAKERSVILLE DOZEN are secretly taped in compromising positions and the video goes viral. Then each month, another one of the twelve goes missing. Then Bailey receives an invitation to a scavenger hunt, and a warning she'll be next unless she participates.
Bailey was a strange character, in love with her boyfriend and her ex. Nothing says romance and let's talk about our relationship more than a few dead bodies, right? She lacks common sense and a backbone. I can't picture a group of recent high school graduates finding a dead body and leaving it be, while they tried to solve the mystery. Before playing detective, they did a LOT of discussing of the merits of involving the police often mentioning the WTF questions swimming in my head. It felt a lot like telling and not showing.
I wish Kristina McBride had explored the slut shaming/misogyny angle of the story. I was very interested in the mystery and guessed part of the resolution early on, though I didn't like the way the ending unfolded with a few ridiculous twists.
THE BAKERSVILLE DOZEN didn't live up to the blurb.
July 13, 2017
Months after the disappearances of several of the "Bakersville Dozen", Bailey receives a note, which sets her on a psychotic scavenger hunt. The prize? She may be able to save the missing girls' lives.
I really enjoyed The Bakersville Dozen. McBride crafted a captivating story that seemed "ripped from the headlines", built a great backstory, and filled it with lots of mystery. The thing I always love about mysteries is looking for the pieces of the puzzle, and assembling them in an attempt to solve the crime. McBride was very sly in the way she planted and revealed the clues, which only added to the fun. There were twists, turns, and even some red herrings. I was deceived several times. Just when I thought I knew "whodunit", a piece of information would be uncovered and prove me wrong. I did up being partially right, but I would have never guessed the mastermind behind this nefarious plot.
This book was more than a mystery though. It had all the makings of a great suspense-thriller. There were many times when my heart rate increased, and I found myself biting mynas. There was a spooky quality that permeated most of this tale, and this constant tension that kept me wondering what was next. It all just added to the thrill ride McBride took me on.
This wouldn't be a review by me, if I omitted my thoughts on the romance. I didn't expect it, but it was there, and I really liked it. McBride admirably integrated the romance into the story. It did not seem forced to me, and although it took a looooong time, we finally got some answers and resolutions regarding said romance. I was quite pleased with the way McBride tied up this storyline, as well as all the other loose ends in the book.
This book toyed with my emotions and pulled on my heartstrings. It took me on quite a wild ride, and I was throughly entertained by this fast-paced mystery/thriller.
**I would like to thank the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. Quotes are from an ARC and may change upon publication.
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I really enjoyed The Bakersville Dozen. McBride crafted a captivating story that seemed "ripped from the headlines", built a great backstory, and filled it with lots of mystery. The thing I always love about mysteries is looking for the pieces of the puzzle, and assembling them in an attempt to solve the crime. McBride was very sly in the way she planted and revealed the clues, which only added to the fun. There were twists, turns, and even some red herrings. I was deceived several times. Just when I thought I knew "whodunit", a piece of information would be uncovered and prove me wrong. I did up being partially right, but I would have never guessed the mastermind behind this nefarious plot.
This book was more than a mystery though. It had all the makings of a great suspense-thriller. There were many times when my heart rate increased, and I found myself biting mynas. There was a spooky quality that permeated most of this tale, and this constant tension that kept me wondering what was next. It all just added to the thrill ride McBride took me on.
This wouldn't be a review by me, if I omitted my thoughts on the romance. I didn't expect it, but it was there, and I really liked it. McBride admirably integrated the romance into the story. It did not seem forced to me, and although it took a looooong time, we finally got some answers and resolutions regarding said romance. I was quite pleased with the way McBride tied up this storyline, as well as all the other loose ends in the book.
This book toyed with my emotions and pulled on my heartstrings. It took me on quite a wild ride, and I was throughly entertained by this fast-paced mystery/thriller.
**I would like to thank the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. Quotes are from an ARC and may change upon publication.
BLOG|INSTAGRAM|BLOGLOVIN| FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
November 19, 2017
2.75 Stars. It was a little bit like stepping into a teenage horror/melodrama tv show halfway through the season. For the purposes of the story it made sense but at the same time you’re wondering why everyone is making such stupid choices... just like most dramatic teen shows. It was entertaining for sure and had its moments but it was also obvious and unsurprising.
June 30, 2017
**4.5 Stars**
Bailey is just so glad that her senior year of high school is ending so she can escape the notoriety of being one of the Bakersville Dozen, the 12 girls singled out in a video discussing their sexual prowess which led to five of the girls going missing with no evidence pointing who took them. When Bailey finds a letter left in her locker leading her on a scavenger hunt, she follows the clue thinking it is a romantic gesture from her boyfriend. But Bailey finds something much worse, and another clue telling her where to go next. Bailey, her brother Tripp, best friend Hannah, and Wes who she has a complicated past with follow the clues but they have no idea what is waiting for them.
This is exactly how I love my mystery books- full of twists, tons of likely suspects, suspense and realistic character. I had read the synopsis for the book before I ever saw the cover image and I was intrigued by what I found. But then I saw they cover and I will admit to being a little off-put, thinking maybe the book was not what I was expecting because I am guilty of judging a book by it's cover. So fast-forward to a week or so ago when I picked up my ereader to read a chapter or so of the book before bed and without even realizing it, I found myself half way through the book and it was 2am (keep in mind I had to get up in a few hours for work- but it was totally worth it). This was such a fast engaging read, with enough character development to make me care and root for Bailey, as well as a fast paced plot that kept me going, a touch of sweet romance and feels, and last but not least some terrifyingly scary surprises. Honestly, I could not be happier with how this surprising mystery played out.
I loved how creepy everything was about the scavenger hunt, which I did not anticipate. Read this book in a well lit place with maybe some friends or a cuddly animal nearby, because it brought the tension and the horror. Be it the ambiguous notes left behind, the completely macabre scenes Bailey was sent to, to the increasing levels of paranoia where everyone is a possible suspect. I had like 5 serious suspects, but the author did such a good job of casting reasonable suspicion on EVERY character introduced. I honestly had no idea who Bailey should trust, which I thought was well done. I liked that the chapters were split into times, showing how little time passed between terrible events and it helped to keep up the fast pace of the plot. As a side note, this story is definitely for the older teen or adult reader due to the dark content of murder, death as well as the casual mentions of sex and sex acts thrown around.
There was honestly only one complaint I had with the book and that was the actual bad guy reveal. I don't want to give anything away and ruin the surprise of the mystery, so I will be terribly vague here. The guilty party was a huge surprise which I appreciated, but I was really confused as to the motive. I did not actually understand the motive (it was a little convoluted for my brain) as well as the reasoning for the escalation. I wanted to get more details or maybe interrogate the villain myself because I was left a little miffed as to fully understanding they why. The build up and the scavenger hunt were so well executed and suspenseful, I think maybe I just wanted the ending drawn out more than what it was. Keep in mind that everything wrapped up nicely and the story ended, I just think I just might be a little nit-picky.
This is the second book I have read by this author and it was even better than the first (which I really enjoyed) so I look forward to what else Kristina will write in the future. She has a way of creating great characters that I want to know more about and who feel so real, as well as relationship dynamics that keep me guessing. This is the perfect book for someone looking for an engaging mystery.
I received this title in return for my honest review. Visit the tour on my blog at http://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/
Bailey is just so glad that her senior year of high school is ending so she can escape the notoriety of being one of the Bakersville Dozen, the 12 girls singled out in a video discussing their sexual prowess which led to five of the girls going missing with no evidence pointing who took them. When Bailey finds a letter left in her locker leading her on a scavenger hunt, she follows the clue thinking it is a romantic gesture from her boyfriend. But Bailey finds something much worse, and another clue telling her where to go next. Bailey, her brother Tripp, best friend Hannah, and Wes who she has a complicated past with follow the clues but they have no idea what is waiting for them.
This is exactly how I love my mystery books- full of twists, tons of likely suspects, suspense and realistic character. I had read the synopsis for the book before I ever saw the cover image and I was intrigued by what I found. But then I saw they cover and I will admit to being a little off-put, thinking maybe the book was not what I was expecting because I am guilty of judging a book by it's cover. So fast-forward to a week or so ago when I picked up my ereader to read a chapter or so of the book before bed and without even realizing it, I found myself half way through the book and it was 2am (keep in mind I had to get up in a few hours for work- but it was totally worth it). This was such a fast engaging read, with enough character development to make me care and root for Bailey, as well as a fast paced plot that kept me going, a touch of sweet romance and feels, and last but not least some terrifyingly scary surprises. Honestly, I could not be happier with how this surprising mystery played out.
I loved how creepy everything was about the scavenger hunt, which I did not anticipate. Read this book in a well lit place with maybe some friends or a cuddly animal nearby, because it brought the tension and the horror. Be it the ambiguous notes left behind, the completely macabre scenes Bailey was sent to, to the increasing levels of paranoia where everyone is a possible suspect. I had like 5 serious suspects, but the author did such a good job of casting reasonable suspicion on EVERY character introduced. I honestly had no idea who Bailey should trust, which I thought was well done. I liked that the chapters were split into times, showing how little time passed between terrible events and it helped to keep up the fast pace of the plot. As a side note, this story is definitely for the older teen or adult reader due to the dark content of murder, death as well as the casual mentions of sex and sex acts thrown around.
There was honestly only one complaint I had with the book and that was the actual bad guy reveal. I don't want to give anything away and ruin the surprise of the mystery, so I will be terribly vague here. The guilty party was a huge surprise which I appreciated, but I was really confused as to the motive. I did not actually understand the motive (it was a little convoluted for my brain) as well as the reasoning for the escalation. I wanted to get more details or maybe interrogate the villain myself because I was left a little miffed as to fully understanding they why. The build up and the scavenger hunt were so well executed and suspenseful, I think maybe I just wanted the ending drawn out more than what it was. Keep in mind that everything wrapped up nicely and the story ended, I just think I just might be a little nit-picky.
This is the second book I have read by this author and it was even better than the first (which I really enjoyed) so I look forward to what else Kristina will write in the future. She has a way of creating great characters that I want to know more about and who feel so real, as well as relationship dynamics that keep me guessing. This is the perfect book for someone looking for an engaging mystery.
I received this title in return for my honest review. Visit the tour on my blog at http://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/
October 10, 2017
The Bakersville Dozen jumps right into the action of the story within just the first few pages of the book. We have a news article explaining what happened to the girls to get the name of the book and now we have missing girls in the group.
I loved how we sort of jumped right into the action and got a lot of details up front, it did still leave a lot of questions, but the outline of the story was there. My one compliant was there are a lot of girls introduced up front and on my kindle i would go back to the sheet but if I had the book I could easily flip to the page.
Bailey is one of the girls in the Bakersville Dozen. She has gone through so much after the tape was released although she was listed as the virgin, she believes her life was destroyed. She bonds with the other girls in the group to a certain extent, but still wishes for her own individual life. Bailey was the virgin of the group but does have boy drama of her own, that the book gets into.
The story is setup with a basic outline and then the real story begins when the clues begin coming to Bailey. I ended up not really being able to put the book down I wanted to know what was going to happen to Bailey and the missing girls.
While I was reading I felt like I could narrow down some of the suspects, but the author does a great job keeping you on your toes. I felt like I never knew who I could trust while I was reading the book.
The author does a great job with the relationships in the book. Bailey has different relationships with her family and friends and the author does a great job exploring these. I loved that Bailey was able to question everything and her one goal was getting out alive.
I would suggest reading this over the weekend I got totally sucked in and wanted to know what was going to happen. If you like suspense and thriller books this is a great read. The book is very fast paced and is shorter in length.
I received a copy of this book from The Fantastic Flying book club to provide an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of this book.
I loved how we sort of jumped right into the action and got a lot of details up front, it did still leave a lot of questions, but the outline of the story was there. My one compliant was there are a lot of girls introduced up front and on my kindle i would go back to the sheet but if I had the book I could easily flip to the page.
Bailey is one of the girls in the Bakersville Dozen. She has gone through so much after the tape was released although she was listed as the virgin, she believes her life was destroyed. She bonds with the other girls in the group to a certain extent, but still wishes for her own individual life. Bailey was the virgin of the group but does have boy drama of her own, that the book gets into.
The story is setup with a basic outline and then the real story begins when the clues begin coming to Bailey. I ended up not really being able to put the book down I wanted to know what was going to happen to Bailey and the missing girls.
While I was reading I felt like I could narrow down some of the suspects, but the author does a great job keeping you on your toes. I felt like I never knew who I could trust while I was reading the book.
The author does a great job with the relationships in the book. Bailey has different relationships with her family and friends and the author does a great job exploring these. I loved that Bailey was able to question everything and her one goal was getting out alive.
I would suggest reading this over the weekend I got totally sucked in and wanted to know what was going to happen. If you like suspense and thriller books this is a great read. The book is very fast paced and is shorter in length.
I received a copy of this book from The Fantastic Flying book club to provide an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of this book.
June 24, 2017
Finding a good mystery in YA is tough. Many adult mysteries are focused around something criminal, and often murder. Harder to put a teen in those circumstances. It's not a shock to me that Sky Pony's The Bakersville Dozen hits the spot for mystery for me (because I adore everything they put out).
Our senior year would have been so much different without this stupid video.
We live in a digital age, where bullying takes place in cyberspace and no one really shuts off. So when twelve girls at Bakersville are secretly taped and given slanderous nicknames, you think it can't get much worse. Until they start going missing. And here begins our version of Clue - but instead of "Who killed Mary in the dining room with the candlestick?" it's "Who made this tape and how is it connected to girls who are going missing...and then some."
“She has to be breathing.” Tripp leaned down, his cheek inches from Becca’s puffy mouth. “I don’t think so.” We’d failed. On every level.
Mystery is one of my favorite genres but so often the mystery isn't a mystery at all, it's just sensationalism. What I loved the most about The Bakersville Dozen is at some point, I suspected every single person. I was just chuckling to myself while looking at my notes. "It's totally x" "Well, it can't be x, can it?" EVERYONE is a suspect and I honestly did not figure it out along the way.
I was pretty sure their thoughts were an exact echo of my own—It could have been me. It could have been me. Holy fucking shit, it could have been me . I felt it then, my responsibility to keep them safe weighing heavier than ever.
Tension is high when everyone is under the microscope. I'm talking edge of your seat, one sitting kind of tension. Surviving your senior year is tough enough without the extra possibility that you could be kidnapped and it could be your brother/boyfriend/best friend/the police.
Trust no one.
Our senior year would have been so much different without this stupid video.
We live in a digital age, where bullying takes place in cyberspace and no one really shuts off. So when twelve girls at Bakersville are secretly taped and given slanderous nicknames, you think it can't get much worse. Until they start going missing. And here begins our version of Clue - but instead of "Who killed Mary in the dining room with the candlestick?" it's "Who made this tape and how is it connected to girls who are going missing...and then some."
“She has to be breathing.” Tripp leaned down, his cheek inches from Becca’s puffy mouth. “I don’t think so.” We’d failed. On every level.
Mystery is one of my favorite genres but so often the mystery isn't a mystery at all, it's just sensationalism. What I loved the most about The Bakersville Dozen is at some point, I suspected every single person. I was just chuckling to myself while looking at my notes. "It's totally x" "Well, it can't be x, can it?" EVERYONE is a suspect and I honestly did not figure it out along the way.
I was pretty sure their thoughts were an exact echo of my own—It could have been me. It could have been me. Holy fucking shit, it could have been me . I felt it then, my responsibility to keep them safe weighing heavier than ever.
Tension is high when everyone is under the microscope. I'm talking edge of your seat, one sitting kind of tension. Surviving your senior year is tough enough without the extra possibility that you could be kidnapped and it could be your brother/boyfriend/best friend/the police.
Trust no one.
December 27, 2017
I just finished this and I'm reeling!!! Definitely up there with one of my favorite books of the year. I am a huge fan of thriller, so when I read the synopsis of the book, I knew I would most likely love it. What I didn't realize is how much more I would love it than other thrillers that I've read.
It had so many characters that contributed to the main plot of the story, that is honestly made it so difficult to figure out who was doing what and exactly what was going down. The plot twist at the end totally threw me for a loop when normally I'm pretty good at guessing who the killer is. And I feel like what the situation was at the end was totally genius and different from many stories I read.
The storyline kept me sucked in through the entire thing and never really had any lagging moments. I think the fact that the book took place over a span of a few days really helped it to keep a good pace. I also loved that while we have a love interest, it isn't at all the focus of the book. Overall, I think McBride did an awesome job with this story, and I definitely can't wait to pick up other books by her!
It had so many characters that contributed to the main plot of the story, that is honestly made it so difficult to figure out who was doing what and exactly what was going down. The plot twist at the end totally threw me for a loop when normally I'm pretty good at guessing who the killer is. And I feel like what the situation was at the end was totally genius and different from many stories I read.
The storyline kept me sucked in through the entire thing and never really had any lagging moments. I think the fact that the book took place over a span of a few days really helped it to keep a good pace. I also loved that while we have a love interest, it isn't at all the focus of the book. Overall, I think McBride did an awesome job with this story, and I definitely can't wait to pick up other books by her!
July 7, 2021
This one was okay.. it was fast paced and there were a lot of potential suspects which usually makes for a good read. I will admit that the use of the nicknames for every one of the girls was painful. You have a chart in the front of the book for a reason! Just stick with that... I don't need to know Emily 'Teaser Not a Pleaser' Simms' nickname every time... and that's just for one character! The whole conversation between the remaining girls at Sylvie 'Easy' Warner's party was near impossible to get through.
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November 7, 2017DNF on page 27. The writing it too stilted and juvenile for me. That may seem harsh, but it's the truth. So I thought I would peek to the end and see who the killer was, and the motive, and ohmigod. So glad I quit. EYEROLLLLLL.
Do not recommend. There are much better thrillers out there. See me for recs.
Do not recommend. There are much better thrillers out there. See me for recs.
August 17, 2017
Oooo I loved it !
Plot twists and drama rolled up into one edge of your seat page turner.
Plot twists and drama rolled up into one edge of your seat page turner.
September 30, 2022
That ending was SO GOOD! So satisfying.
July 6, 2017
See this review and more at www.lilbooklovers.wordpress.com!
Disclaimer: I received a free physical ARC of this book in a giveaway and am reviewing this book as part of The Bakersville Dozen blog tour. This will not affect my review.
Overall Thoughts: I’m pretty neutral about the book. I really liked the premise and thought it had so much potential. I know because I read this all in two to three days when I had an overnight trip in Nashville. Did I couldn’t stop reading at times? Yes. But I’m having the same experience with books like Ballad of the Beanstalk: I didn’t enjoy it like a 4-star book. I’m just very neutral on it. It’s not really amazing to me, but it’s not bad. It’s in between, average.
Gripping and Thrilling: The Bakersville Dozen definitely had me on the edge of my seat so many times. I couldn’t stop asking “What will happen next?” I could not put it down!There was a lot of suspense and mystery in the air, and you just have to read another chapter and another one and another one. Because Bailey (the MC) has a chance to save the five missing girls, I just wanted to know if she’ll be able to save them from the killer before he or she takes their lives. It was a very interesting concept, and I really liked it.
Wasn’t Very Impactful: The reason why I’m giving this book a 3-star because it felt very average in terms of the impact it had on me. As much as I found it hard to put down, it didn’t really suck me in like Girl on the Verge or other thrillers. The twist at the end, even though I found it surprising yet part of it was predictable, did not shock me too much. It was like someone threw a small snowball at me. When it comes to plot twists, I want to be hit in the chest with a bullet; I want to be shocked and going “No way.” I didn’t feel too much of a connection with Bailey, also, since it didn’t really delve really deep into her emotions. I remember when I read books such as The Continuum Trilogy where the story takes place like a movie. This one really didn’t reach that point.
Concluding Thoughts: Did I like it? Yes. Did I love it? Not that much. But just like I say in my other 3-star reviews, you might like this better than me. This is a good book for those who loves mysteries and thrillers and moments where you are at the edge of your seat. It has a nice storyline and plot, but it just didn’t exactly click for me. But since I couldn’t put it down, so will you.
Disclaimer: I received a free physical ARC of this book in a giveaway and am reviewing this book as part of The Bakersville Dozen blog tour. This will not affect my review.
Overall Thoughts: I’m pretty neutral about the book. I really liked the premise and thought it had so much potential. I know because I read this all in two to three days when I had an overnight trip in Nashville. Did I couldn’t stop reading at times? Yes. But I’m having the same experience with books like Ballad of the Beanstalk: I didn’t enjoy it like a 4-star book. I’m just very neutral on it. It’s not really amazing to me, but it’s not bad. It’s in between, average.
Gripping and Thrilling: The Bakersville Dozen definitely had me on the edge of my seat so many times. I couldn’t stop asking “What will happen next?” I could not put it down!There was a lot of suspense and mystery in the air, and you just have to read another chapter and another one and another one. Because Bailey (the MC) has a chance to save the five missing girls, I just wanted to know if she’ll be able to save them from the killer before he or she takes their lives. It was a very interesting concept, and I really liked it.
Wasn’t Very Impactful: The reason why I’m giving this book a 3-star because it felt very average in terms of the impact it had on me. As much as I found it hard to put down, it didn’t really suck me in like Girl on the Verge or other thrillers. The twist at the end, even though I found it surprising yet part of it was predictable, did not shock me too much. It was like someone threw a small snowball at me. When it comes to plot twists, I want to be hit in the chest with a bullet; I want to be shocked and going “No way.” I didn’t feel too much of a connection with Bailey, also, since it didn’t really delve really deep into her emotions. I remember when I read books such as The Continuum Trilogy where the story takes place like a movie. This one really didn’t reach that point.
Concluding Thoughts: Did I like it? Yes. Did I love it? Not that much. But just like I say in my other 3-star reviews, you might like this better than me. This is a good book for those who loves mysteries and thrillers and moments where you are at the edge of your seat. It has a nice storyline and plot, but it just didn’t exactly click for me. But since I couldn’t put it down, so will you.
September 8, 2018
Near the end of this book, someone mentions "Mean Girl Syndrome," and that seems to sum up the main reason I didn't like this book well: the titular Bakersville Dozen, girls who are slut-shamed in a viral video, are mostly left one-note and they're continually referred to by their nicknames, which include "Shaved, 'Nuff Said," "Anything Goes," "Likes to Blow," and "Teaser Not a Pleaser." Instead of showing how much girls are punished for being remotely sexual while still often being sexualized, most of these characters didn't get the chance to be more than those sexist names. I didn't care about the characters at all, and the only reason I kept reading was because I wanted to see who did it - and when I found out, I was just annoyed. It came out of nowhere, with no clues, and the reasoning was weak at best. At least I mostly skimmed this book and didn't spend too long on it.
I've read from this author before and thought her books were decent, so hopefully this is just a one-off.
I've read from this author before and thought her books were decent, so hopefully this is just a one-off.
December 2, 2017
This was one of the most ridiculous, poorly thought out and executed books I have ever read. While the idea behind it was good, the actual book was terrible. So much didn't make sense... I felt like it was missing the first 100 pages that actually explained the whole basis of the "Bakersville Dozen." Don't waste your time.
September 9, 2017
Despite the interesting synopsis, this book turned out to be really fucking boring. Yikes
September 1, 2017
I received a copy of this book from Skyhorse Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
You never know what you're getting when you go into a thriller. Some are great, some are bad, most fall somewhere in the middle. But there was something really intriguing about this book that made me very excited to pick it up.
And holy macaroni, this was good. You know that slightly panicky feeling you get in your chest when you watch scary movies too late in the evening? I definitely got a bit of that with this book. It was twisty and turny and will keep you guessing until you find out just who was behind this whole thing. I'm usually pretty good at guessing who the killer is in these sorts of books, but this one was hard! I got part of it, but not until the very end, and I missed most of the most important aspects.
The Good Points of The Bakersville Dozen:
The twists and red herrings are amazing in this book. Every time you think you've got it sorted, someone else shows up and makes you question everything you had previously thought. You get to the point where you start wondering if you were the one to make this video because everyone else has been questioned and pardoned.
The pacing is perfect. Just enough to keep you hooked and mildly panicked, but not so fast that you find yourself getting lost over and over.
Despite the fast pace and the thriller element, there was a solid backstory for this book, which is not something we always get. It's developed well, which just makes the ending even more dramatic when you reach that point. I don't feel at all like there was anything missing when it came to the big reveal.
I loved the how the love story played into this book, which isn't something I say a lot. But it fit so well into the story, and provided the perfect plot device to get some characters from one place to another and to create the perfect tension and suspense to really drive this book. It's a triangle, but we'll forgive it in this case, because it just works so well.
The Downsides of The Bakersville Dozen:
There was barely any comment on the slut-shaming and misogyny and degradation of these girls. It was almost like Bailey didn't care that she and the other girls were being objectified. And I guess when it's life or death and your friends are getting kidnapped, but I still wish that this had been explored a bit more.
Very little character development, which is common in these sorts of books. I barely knew anything about Bailey though, let alone any of the other characters, and I feel like it would have been even more addictive if I actually knew and cared about the characters a bit more.
Now that I've finished the book, the whole mystery is a bit ridiculous. I know anything possible, but this seemed to push the boundaries of reasonable. However, this wasn't something that I really noticed until after finishing the book, so it doesn't really affect the reading.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun, fast-paced thriller that could have kept me up all night easily. If you enjoy thrillers, whodunits, scary movies that involve a serial killer or something along the lines of Scream, you'll likely enjoy The Bakersville Dozen.
You never know what you're getting when you go into a thriller. Some are great, some are bad, most fall somewhere in the middle. But there was something really intriguing about this book that made me very excited to pick it up.
And holy macaroni, this was good. You know that slightly panicky feeling you get in your chest when you watch scary movies too late in the evening? I definitely got a bit of that with this book. It was twisty and turny and will keep you guessing until you find out just who was behind this whole thing. I'm usually pretty good at guessing who the killer is in these sorts of books, but this one was hard! I got part of it, but not until the very end, and I missed most of the most important aspects.
The Good Points of The Bakersville Dozen:
The twists and red herrings are amazing in this book. Every time you think you've got it sorted, someone else shows up and makes you question everything you had previously thought. You get to the point where you start wondering if you were the one to make this video because everyone else has been questioned and pardoned.
The pacing is perfect. Just enough to keep you hooked and mildly panicked, but not so fast that you find yourself getting lost over and over.
Despite the fast pace and the thriller element, there was a solid backstory for this book, which is not something we always get. It's developed well, which just makes the ending even more dramatic when you reach that point. I don't feel at all like there was anything missing when it came to the big reveal.
I loved the how the love story played into this book, which isn't something I say a lot. But it fit so well into the story, and provided the perfect plot device to get some characters from one place to another and to create the perfect tension and suspense to really drive this book. It's a triangle, but we'll forgive it in this case, because it just works so well.
The Downsides of The Bakersville Dozen:
There was barely any comment on the slut-shaming and misogyny and degradation of these girls. It was almost like Bailey didn't care that she and the other girls were being objectified. And I guess when it's life or death and your friends are getting kidnapped, but I still wish that this had been explored a bit more.
Very little character development, which is common in these sorts of books. I barely knew anything about Bailey though, let alone any of the other characters, and I feel like it would have been even more addictive if I actually knew and cared about the characters a bit more.
Now that I've finished the book, the whole mystery is a bit ridiculous. I know anything possible, but this seemed to push the boundaries of reasonable. However, this wasn't something that I really noticed until after finishing the book, so it doesn't really affect the reading.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun, fast-paced thriller that could have kept me up all night easily. If you enjoy thrillers, whodunits, scary movies that involve a serial killer or something along the lines of Scream, you'll likely enjoy The Bakersville Dozen.
August 14, 2017
“Stepping into my airy kitchen, I felt like I was floating—a prickly, unsteady kind of floating that made the entire scene seem unreal.”
I was extremely stoked to finally read The Bakersville Dozen by the lovely Kristina McBride. With the blurb describing it as a mix of Gone Girl and Pretty Little Liars, it sounded right up my alley.
The Bakersville Dozen are a group of girls who were featured in a video, which was released anonymously and is completely untraceable, that gives them all risqué nicknames and shows them in compromising positions. Bailey “Like A Virgin” Holzman is trying to navigate her life post-high school and post-video. She thought she was just going to go off to college and be with her high school boyfriend, Jude, but when she stumbles upon a horrifying scene and finds a red envelope with her name on it, she ends up going on a morbid and terrifying scavenger hunt.
And when someone from her past shows up, her world gets shaken a little more.
“You expect me to believe you decided to walk out here—directly to our spot—the moment you saw me, and it has nothing to do with us?”
Unpopular opinion: I love love triangles. They’re classic, and while they can go wrong, McBride does it so well. You feel every hesitation, skipped heartbeat, and breathless moment that Bailey feels. And even though I was team Wes from the beginning, I really, really liked Jude, too.
McBride effortlessly weaves a scorching romance into this summer thriller and does it with the utmost elegance. It never felt distracting or out of place. And what else would bring two lovers closer together than going on a deathly scavenger hunt?
“Wes’s eyes narrowed. ‘Wait. Do you think this is me? Do you actually think I could do this to them? To you?”
Kristina McBride weaves a delicate web in which the reader will continue to change allegiances and not even trust themselves. You’ll have your favorites, but will you trust them? No. And that’s why The Bakersville Dozen is so exciting. I have never been so discombobulated in my entire life. Every new chapter, I was all, “Oh! It has to be this person.” And then the next chapter, my entire theory would change. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading The Bakersville Dozen.
Kristina McBride truly finds her unique voice in The Bakersville Dozen. It was her most mature novel to date. Her words left me satisfied yet hungry for more. I didn’t want to put this book down.
Happy Reading!
Love,
The Wandereader
September 28, 2017
I loved this author's suspenseful, tense writing style. She has a good grasp of teens, the issues they face, and what they like to read. (She had a love triangle in there. That was a must when I was a teen.) I wanted to keep reading and finished the book in three days. The mystery was a good one and she was able to put a creepy feel into it, which I love. There were plenty of suspects, red herrings, and lots going on. It kept me guessing all the way to the end.
There were some things about this book, though, that bothered me and seemed over the top. This may just be a personal preference, but there was mention about drugs and alcohol that I thought was not necessary, especially in a book for teens. Lines just seemed kind of thrown in there. For example, when talking about what munchies to bring to a get together, one girl said she wanted "magic" brownies. Maybe this was put in because this is what is selling, but I just didn't think the story needed it and would have been better without it. Also, there were some things that were just not consistent with the characters personalities which is hard to describe without giving too much away. Since I mentioned in the summary that the protagonist finds the body of one of her missing friends, I will use that as an example. Baily leaves the body there. This is a girl that seemed to really love her friends and I could not believe she would just leave the body there. The author tried to show that she was trying to save her other friends and leaving the body there would help to rescue them, but it somehow didn't work for me. The whole book was not like this, but there were a couple of other small things that just didn't fit. I felt like if this book had been cleaned up a little more it would have been fantastic. Nevertheless it was a really entertaining, fast paced whodunit with lots of secrets and lies.
I recommend The Bakersville Dozen to any mystery / thriller lover that is okay with over the top. It is recommended for ages 14 and up, but I would say 16 and up due to the drugs, alcohol, and sex.
A copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
There were some things about this book, though, that bothered me and seemed over the top. This may just be a personal preference, but there was mention about drugs and alcohol that I thought was not necessary, especially in a book for teens. Lines just seemed kind of thrown in there. For example, when talking about what munchies to bring to a get together, one girl said she wanted "magic" brownies. Maybe this was put in because this is what is selling, but I just didn't think the story needed it and would have been better without it. Also, there were some things that were just not consistent with the characters personalities which is hard to describe without giving too much away. Since I mentioned in the summary that the protagonist finds the body of one of her missing friends, I will use that as an example. Baily leaves the body there. This is a girl that seemed to really love her friends and I could not believe she would just leave the body there. The author tried to show that she was trying to save her other friends and leaving the body there would help to rescue them, but it somehow didn't work for me. The whole book was not like this, but there were a couple of other small things that just didn't fit. I felt like if this book had been cleaned up a little more it would have been fantastic. Nevertheless it was a really entertaining, fast paced whodunit with lots of secrets and lies.
I recommend The Bakersville Dozen to any mystery / thriller lover that is okay with over the top. It is recommended for ages 14 and up, but I would say 16 and up due to the drugs, alcohol, and sex.
A copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 29, 2017
It's Bailey's senior year. She's got the perfect boyfriend, Jude, a good bff, Hannah, and an in with the popular girls at school. Unfortunately, that in is because of a sex video someone released back in September labeling 13 girls, The Bakersville Dozen. Bailey was the odd one out, being labeled "Like a Virgin."
But now, four of the 13 girls have gone missing and when Bailey receives a puzzling riddle, she finds the first dead body. She teams up with her brother Tripp, her bff Hannah, and an old flame, Wes, to follow the clues and try to save the remaining girls. But, all is not what it seems, and danger is on their tail.
My Thoughts-
Like I mentioned above, I didn't figure this one out. The author drops lots of red herrings, so my mind kept jumping around, and at first I would think it one person, and then another. I had several of the pieces, I just didn't put it together. Bravo!
The story line is sinister, with several raw moments and twisty turns. Of course, my first thought was, just tell the police, but the author solved that by having a creepy deputy who Bailey didn't trust. There's a lot of teen drama, and the Dozen aren't just airheads sleeping around. Several of them have scholarships to prestigious schools and colleges.
Bailey is a fun character, and really the only one we see in depth. She is stuck in a romantic hard place, really missing her ex Wes, but loving her new boyfriend Jude. Still, despite the gruesome stuff confronting her, she is brave and pulls through. Like any normal person, she doubts those around her, and her reactions seem true to course.
I didn't really bond with any of the characters, but the fast pace and excitement made that okay. I wanted to know who had done it and most importantly, why. Those questions had be reading through the pages, and I actually didn't read it at night cause it sort of creeped me out, lol. Good job. I'm giving this 4 stars!
But now, four of the 13 girls have gone missing and when Bailey receives a puzzling riddle, she finds the first dead body. She teams up with her brother Tripp, her bff Hannah, and an old flame, Wes, to follow the clues and try to save the remaining girls. But, all is not what it seems, and danger is on their tail.
My Thoughts-
Like I mentioned above, I didn't figure this one out. The author drops lots of red herrings, so my mind kept jumping around, and at first I would think it one person, and then another. I had several of the pieces, I just didn't put it together. Bravo!
The story line is sinister, with several raw moments and twisty turns. Of course, my first thought was, just tell the police, but the author solved that by having a creepy deputy who Bailey didn't trust. There's a lot of teen drama, and the Dozen aren't just airheads sleeping around. Several of them have scholarships to prestigious schools and colleges.
Bailey is a fun character, and really the only one we see in depth. She is stuck in a romantic hard place, really missing her ex Wes, but loving her new boyfriend Jude. Still, despite the gruesome stuff confronting her, she is brave and pulls through. Like any normal person, she doubts those around her, and her reactions seem true to course.
I didn't really bond with any of the characters, but the fast pace and excitement made that okay. I wanted to know who had done it and most importantly, why. Those questions had be reading through the pages, and I actually didn't read it at night cause it sort of creeped me out, lol. Good job. I'm giving this 4 stars!
June 5, 2020
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars! A decent (if somewhat tonally inconsistent) YA thriller! This read a lot better than some of the YA mysteries I have on my list and I enjoyed it for the most part. There was a bit of a disconnect between the fairly gruesome murder scenes and the somewhat neutered look at other teenage issues. It definitely played out like a teen CW TV show in that they go pedal to the metal in terms of violence and then pull back on the realism with other issues to make it more palatable to younger audiences. Not that I mind less romance (I actually prefer it) but it definitely felt strange to move from rated R blood and guts to PG everything else. It also featured one of my least favorite types of characters - the possessive, brooding edge lord - and that storyline played out exactly how I anticipated/feared. The other characters felt pretty flushed out, though. All in all, a genuinely suspenseful and entertaining thriller! Definitely one of the better YA mysteries out there!
November 24, 2017
This was a really enjoyable mystery/thriller.
There are several personal reasons as to why I loved this book. First, part of the book takes place on my birthday, June 2. Secondly, it takes place in Ohio which is my home-state! I loved being able to relate to some of the locations, activities, and social norms of Ohioians. To me, it really made the story more vivid.
I found the rest of the novel equally enjoyable. I loved the tension and mystery in the relation between Bailey, the main character, and Wes, the boy next door. Although it was your "typical YA angsty romance", I really enjoyed it in this hometown setting. I gave this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars because I found the best friend Hannah to be completely insufferable. I found myself wishing that something bad would happen to her just to rid the story-line of her character. Also, I found the ending to be confusing and slightly predictable.
There are several personal reasons as to why I loved this book. First, part of the book takes place on my birthday, June 2. Secondly, it takes place in Ohio which is my home-state! I loved being able to relate to some of the locations, activities, and social norms of Ohioians. To me, it really made the story more vivid.
I found the rest of the novel equally enjoyable. I loved the tension and mystery in the relation between Bailey, the main character, and Wes, the boy next door. Although it was your "typical YA angsty romance", I really enjoyed it in this hometown setting. I gave this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars because I found the best friend Hannah to be completely insufferable. I found myself wishing that something bad would happen to her just to rid the story-line of her character. Also, I found the ending to be confusing and slightly predictable.
July 4, 2017
I always like reading YA Thrillers because I feel like it’s a genre that isn’t very popular right now. We’re getting a lot of contemporary romances, fantasy, and sci fi, but we’re not getting A TON of thrillers. This book had all of the suspense of a great thriller which was really nice. The author did a really good job of making it seem like anybody could be the bad guy. I feel like sometimes books either make it really obvious who the bad guy is from the start or you have literally no suspects. I also like that the reader was given a good amount of clues to the point where we could potentially solve the mystery ourselves.
At the beginning of the book I got really excited because it really seemed like the characters were going to tell the cops (they never tell the cops). But the book didn’t end up going that route which, I thought, was a shame. It feels like that would be way more original than just having the characters stumble around by themselves, but maybe that’s just me.
The characters were fine, but I didn’t really care about any of them that much. I didn’t feel emotionally connected. The secondary characters were also fine and created some depth to the story. I was going back and forth trying to figure out whether I felt it was demeaning for Bailey to reference all of the Bakersville Dozen girls by their descriptors from the video. In the end, I feel like that’s legitimately how the kids at their school would think about them from then on, so I wasn’t necessarily bothered by it.
The plot was a bit preposterous, to be honest. I’ve read some really good thrillers where I felt the plot was plausible so I know it can be done. In the end, it just didn’t feel like it was thought through to the end. The “scavenger hunt” was well-done, but the ending was just so strange. Like…the logistics just don’t seem plausible.
Overall, I thought this book was pretty good. Thrillers is a section of YA that is lacking so I’m excited to see new books coming out in that genre.
Overall Rating: 3
Language: Moderate
Violence: Moderate
Smoking/Drinking: Moderate
Sexual Content: Moderate
At the beginning of the book I got really excited because it really seemed like the characters were going to tell the cops (they never tell the cops). But the book didn’t end up going that route which, I thought, was a shame. It feels like that would be way more original than just having the characters stumble around by themselves, but maybe that’s just me.
The characters were fine, but I didn’t really care about any of them that much. I didn’t feel emotionally connected. The secondary characters were also fine and created some depth to the story. I was going back and forth trying to figure out whether I felt it was demeaning for Bailey to reference all of the Bakersville Dozen girls by their descriptors from the video. In the end, I feel like that’s legitimately how the kids at their school would think about them from then on, so I wasn’t necessarily bothered by it.
The plot was a bit preposterous, to be honest. I’ve read some really good thrillers where I felt the plot was plausible so I know it can be done. In the end, it just didn’t feel like it was thought through to the end. The “scavenger hunt” was well-done, but the ending was just so strange. Like…the logistics just don’t seem plausible.
Overall, I thought this book was pretty good. Thrillers is a section of YA that is lacking so I’m excited to see new books coming out in that genre.
Overall Rating: 3
Language: Moderate
Violence: Moderate
Smoking/Drinking: Moderate
Sexual Content: Moderate
March 5, 2019
This is a quick who dunnit, the author made sure to suck you in for all 304 pages of this book. Young adult or an adult this is sure to grab your attention and hold on tight for the whole ride. Everytime I thought I had pegged down who did it I was met with a nice buzzer sound letting me know I thought wrong. Great read, fantastic writing, and would love to see this as a Netflix original or movie! Kristina McBride make sure when you sell the movie rights to this book that you get a definite "this is happening"! I had seeing movie rights sold on a book and then the company dropping the ball and leaving it in lingo. If you are a fan of Riverdale or 13 Reasons Why, then pick this book up you won't be disappointed!
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