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The Finalists
The competitive selection process for a prized college scholarship turns deadly in the latest thriller from USA Today bestselling author David Bell.
On a beautiful spring day, six college students with nothing in common besides a desperate inability to pay for school gather to compete for the prestigious Hyde Fellowship.
Milo--The front-runner
Natalia--The brain
James--The rule follower
Sydney--The athlete
Duffy--The cowboy
Emily--The social justice warrior
The six of them must surrender their devices when they enter Hyde House, an aging Victorian structure that sits in a secluded part of campus.
Once inside, the doors lock behind them. The students are not allowed to leave until they spend eight hours with a college administrator who will do almost anything to keep the school afloat, and Nicholas Hyde, the privileged and notoriously irresponsible heir to the Hyde family fortune. If the students leave before time is up, they'll be immediately disqualified.
But when one of the six finalists drops dead, the other students fear they're being picked off one by one. With a violent protest raging outside, and no way to escape, the survivors viciously turn on each other.
The Finalists is a chilling and profound look at the lengths both students and colleges will go to survive in a resource-starved academic world.
On a beautiful spring day, six college students with nothing in common besides a desperate inability to pay for school gather to compete for the prestigious Hyde Fellowship.
Milo--The front-runner
Natalia--The brain
James--The rule follower
Sydney--The athlete
Duffy--The cowboy
Emily--The social justice warrior
The six of them must surrender their devices when they enter Hyde House, an aging Victorian structure that sits in a secluded part of campus.
Once inside, the doors lock behind them. The students are not allowed to leave until they spend eight hours with a college administrator who will do almost anything to keep the school afloat, and Nicholas Hyde, the privileged and notoriously irresponsible heir to the Hyde family fortune. If the students leave before time is up, they'll be immediately disqualified.
But when one of the six finalists drops dead, the other students fear they're being picked off one by one. With a violent protest raging outside, and no way to escape, the survivors viciously turn on each other.
The Finalists is a chilling and profound look at the lengths both students and colleges will go to survive in a resource-starved academic world.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published July 5, 2022
111 people are currently reading
11307 people want to read
About the author
David Bell
31 books2,269 followersDavid Bell is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning suspense novelist. His most recent thriller from Berkley/Penguin is KILL ALL YOUR DARLINGS. His previous novels include THE REQUEST, LAYOVER, SOMEBODY'S DAUGHTER, BRING HER HOME, SINCE SHE WENT AWAY, SOMEBODY I USED TO KNOW, THE FORGOTTEN GIRL, NEVER COME BACK, THE HIDING PLACE, and CEMETERY GIRL. He is currently a Professor of English at Western Kentucky University and can be reached via his website at www.davidbellnovels.com, on Twitter at Twitter.com/davidbellnovels, and on Facebook at Facebook.com/davidbellnovels.
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July 5, 2022
The Finalists by David Bell
The prestigious Hyde Fellowship will be awarded to one of six college students. The only thing they have in common is their inability to pay for their college education. Even the administrator in charge of the testing phase of the selection process doesn't know how these six people were chosen for the competition. The administrator, the six students, and a member of the Hyde family, Nicholas Hyde, will be sequestered in Hyde House for written and oral testing and then the lucky fellowship recipient will be announced. This is how it happens every year.
As the participants gather in front of the Hyde House there is a gathering of brick throwing "peaceful" protesters, nothing to see here unless you get bonked in the head with a projectile, but the administrator still thinks brick throwing protestors have the right to throw bricks (as one almost hits him in the head). The protestors don't like much about the Hyde family and they aren't going to be quiet about it so the administrator, Nicholas Hyde, and the six students enter the house and get down to the business of using the next eight hours to decide who gets the fellowship. Except one of the students drops dead. Not to worry, everyone else decides to just continue with the testing. They even continue to eat and drink despite the fact that the dead student might have been poisoned. How dumb is that?
Okay, David Bell often writes books with smart guys doing dumb things. But the smart guys are usually at least a little likeable, a least a tiny bit well meaning, and have something that makes me want to see what happens and how they get out of the messes they make. The characters in this story have no personality and are basically walking/talking complaints and/or social causes. Everyone has secrets, of course, all the students are more than ready to blab unsavory things about each other, some even seem to hate one or more of their competitors and most other people who aren't like them or don't think like them. It was impossible for me to care about any of them. Each one of them seems on their single minded mission to be their label: the front-runner, the brain, the rule follower, the athlete, the cowboy, and the social justice warrior. Along with the administrator, not a ounce of common sense in the lot. Nicholas gets a pass because he's the rich, decadent, spoiled playboy and he seems hung over and over partied and no one expects anything more of him than to hand over the money.
So the testing goes on with the body shoved to the side, people are still eating and drinking and arguing up a storm and things get worse and it's just so boring. Who cares, I didn't, even though it's obvious more bodies are going to fall and they are going to still be stuck in this house. So much arguing, so much blaming, but still, everyone is there to take money from a family they despise. So add hypocrisy to the mix.
Publication: July 5th 2022
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC.
The prestigious Hyde Fellowship will be awarded to one of six college students. The only thing they have in common is their inability to pay for their college education. Even the administrator in charge of the testing phase of the selection process doesn't know how these six people were chosen for the competition. The administrator, the six students, and a member of the Hyde family, Nicholas Hyde, will be sequestered in Hyde House for written and oral testing and then the lucky fellowship recipient will be announced. This is how it happens every year.
As the participants gather in front of the Hyde House there is a gathering of brick throwing "peaceful" protesters, nothing to see here unless you get bonked in the head with a projectile, but the administrator still thinks brick throwing protestors have the right to throw bricks (as one almost hits him in the head). The protestors don't like much about the Hyde family and they aren't going to be quiet about it so the administrator, Nicholas Hyde, and the six students enter the house and get down to the business of using the next eight hours to decide who gets the fellowship. Except one of the students drops dead. Not to worry, everyone else decides to just continue with the testing. They even continue to eat and drink despite the fact that the dead student might have been poisoned. How dumb is that?
Okay, David Bell often writes books with smart guys doing dumb things. But the smart guys are usually at least a little likeable, a least a tiny bit well meaning, and have something that makes me want to see what happens and how they get out of the messes they make. The characters in this story have no personality and are basically walking/talking complaints and/or social causes. Everyone has secrets, of course, all the students are more than ready to blab unsavory things about each other, some even seem to hate one or more of their competitors and most other people who aren't like them or don't think like them. It was impossible for me to care about any of them. Each one of them seems on their single minded mission to be their label: the front-runner, the brain, the rule follower, the athlete, the cowboy, and the social justice warrior. Along with the administrator, not a ounce of common sense in the lot. Nicholas gets a pass because he's the rich, decadent, spoiled playboy and he seems hung over and over partied and no one expects anything more of him than to hand over the money.
So the testing goes on with the body shoved to the side, people are still eating and drinking and arguing up a storm and things get worse and it's just so boring. Who cares, I didn't, even though it's obvious more bodies are going to fall and they are going to still be stuck in this house. So much arguing, so much blaming, but still, everyone is there to take money from a family they despise. So add hypocrisy to the mix.
Publication: July 5th 2022
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC.
July 5, 2022
I normally devour anything David Bell writes. Seeing this book’s digital copy on my library made me ultra energetic. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it!
But as soon as my reading journey starts, it bumps into a block that prevents me enjoy this book!
What does the block contain?
Firstly, plot idea: dark academia meets escape room theme was interesting but the entire execution, the motivations and actions of the characters were not sensible enough for me to get into the story and connect with the characters.
Without giving so much away I could only say the entire execution about the rules of the competition to earn Hyde Fellowship were way too much extreme. I didn’t buy them!
8 chosen students compete for the position in expanse to put their lives in danger is also a little far fetched plot.
It started too slow, eventless and as soon as the students start dying, things get a little messier and extremely escalated.
Still quick and short chapters helped me to get into the story. Second half was fast pacing. And ending was so much better than I expected.
But I’m still giving three solid stars. As a devoted fan of the author I’m still excited to read his upcoming novels but unfortunately this one didn’t work for me!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
But as soon as my reading journey starts, it bumps into a block that prevents me enjoy this book!
What does the block contain?
Firstly, plot idea: dark academia meets escape room theme was interesting but the entire execution, the motivations and actions of the characters were not sensible enough for me to get into the story and connect with the characters.
Without giving so much away I could only say the entire execution about the rules of the competition to earn Hyde Fellowship were way too much extreme. I didn’t buy them!
8 chosen students compete for the position in expanse to put their lives in danger is also a little far fetched plot.
It started too slow, eventless and as soon as the students start dying, things get a little messier and extremely escalated.
Still quick and short chapters helped me to get into the story. Second half was fast pacing. And ending was so much better than I expected.
But I’m still giving three solid stars. As a devoted fan of the author I’m still excited to read his upcoming novels but unfortunately this one didn’t work for me!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
July 5, 2022
The Hyde Fellowship is awarded annually in a time honored tradition.
Six students selected by academic need and an inability to pay, must compete to win a free education complete with room and board, books, and guaranteed employment upon graduation. They will enter the Hyde house, relinquish all electronic devices including phones, and agree to remain locked inside until the victor is selected, The eight hour schedule includes a high tea, essay writing, a shot of whiskey, lunch and a personal interview.
But, are any of them truly deserving?
Protesters of how the Hyde family made their fortune, and participated in the Palmyra Massacre are getting violent outside-and yet, it is actually more dangerous inside the Hyde House, as someone is determined to skew the results-whatever it takes.
David Bell has written a literal, “locked room” mystery.
But despite the fact that I am a fan of much of David Bell’s previous work-I am NOT a fan of this story!
What I have always enjoyed about his past work, is that he usually writes about good men, who love their families but have found themselves in a bit of a jam because of poor judgement-all have been men that you root for!
In this book we have six interchangeable students, who were not well developed at all. They weren’t likable and there was nobody to root for.
I couldn’t care less who won the Fellowship.
Or even who wouldn’t make it out alive. 😳
Despite the fact that characters were being eliminated one by one, there wasn’t a feeling of foreboding, as they simply moved a body aside and carried on with the day’s plan.
Most of the book was dialogue driven-and that dialogue was mostly bickering as they turned against one another.
The whole thing was a bit hard to swallow.
I will still look forward to whatever David Bell pens next-but this one unfortunately was a miss for me.
2.5 ⭐️
Thank You to Berkley books for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
AVAILABLE NOW
Six students selected by academic need and an inability to pay, must compete to win a free education complete with room and board, books, and guaranteed employment upon graduation. They will enter the Hyde house, relinquish all electronic devices including phones, and agree to remain locked inside until the victor is selected, The eight hour schedule includes a high tea, essay writing, a shot of whiskey, lunch and a personal interview.
But, are any of them truly deserving?
Protesters of how the Hyde family made their fortune, and participated in the Palmyra Massacre are getting violent outside-and yet, it is actually more dangerous inside the Hyde House, as someone is determined to skew the results-whatever it takes.
David Bell has written a literal, “locked room” mystery.
But despite the fact that I am a fan of much of David Bell’s previous work-I am NOT a fan of this story!
What I have always enjoyed about his past work, is that he usually writes about good men, who love their families but have found themselves in a bit of a jam because of poor judgement-all have been men that you root for!
In this book we have six interchangeable students, who were not well developed at all. They weren’t likable and there was nobody to root for.
I couldn’t care less who won the Fellowship.
Or even who wouldn’t make it out alive. 😳
Despite the fact that characters were being eliminated one by one, there wasn’t a feeling of foreboding, as they simply moved a body aside and carried on with the day’s plan.
Most of the book was dialogue driven-and that dialogue was mostly bickering as they turned against one another.
The whole thing was a bit hard to swallow.
I will still look forward to whatever David Bell pens next-but this one unfortunately was a miss for me.
2.5 ⭐️
Thank You to Berkley books for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
AVAILABLE NOW
July 3, 2022
David Bell immerses readers in a locked house mystery in his latest book,
The Finalists
. It’s spring and time for the six finalists at Hyde College in Bluefield, Kentucky to compete for a prized scholarship that also has extra benefits. The students, a college liaison, and a representative from the Hyde family are locked in Hyde House for eight hours. This will be the 152nd year of this tradition. The students are evaluated on an essay written during the morning and individual personal interviews in the afternoon. If the students leave before time is up, they’ll be disqualified. When one of the students dies, the others wonder if they will be killed one by one. Was it murder, an accident, a health issue, or something else entirely?
There are eight major characters in this novel. Vice President Troy Gaines is the college liaison and misses teaching. He’s married, has three children, and is worried about being able to afford paying for their college. At times, he came across as a diplomat and at other times as an authority figure. Occasionally, it felt like he reacted to the situations unrealistically. Nicholas Hyde is the heir to the Hyde family fortune. He’s irresponsible and likes to party and flirt. The students are Milo Reed, Natalia Gomez, Captain James Stephenson, Sydney Mosley, Duffy Mansfield, and Emily Paine. Readers get some insight into their personalities. All of them are desperate for the scholarship money and readers gradually get their backstories.
The characters were easily identifiable, and I had no trouble remembering who was who. The author does a good job of setting the atmosphere and tone of the novel. I could easily visualize the rooms in Hyde House, an aging Victorian house that has been in the Hyde family since the 1800’s. The tone is ominous even without a death due to protestors and strict bylaws requiring no personal items, including cell phones and smart watches.
The story seems to ebb and flow, but it gradually builds momentum. It was interesting to see how everyone in the story reacted as events, including death, occurred during the book. Would you feel safe? How would you react? The dialogue felt realistic despite the lack of critical thinking around solutions. While this was not a fast page-turner for me, the pacing worked well. Will you find the plot twist at the end a surprise or a disappointment?
The author layers multiple themes as the story focuses on the challenges students face in order to get an education as well as the lengths colleges will go to in order to receive donations from wealthy donors. Other themes include safety, death, secrets, blaming others, grief, protests, underrepresented groups of students in college, tradition, and respect.
Overall, this engaging novel was never dull and had periods of intense suspense. If you enjoy locked room (building) mysteries, then I recommend that you check out this one. The key is to connect to one or more of the eight main characters. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
Berkley Publishing Group and David Bell provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for July 5, 2022.
There are eight major characters in this novel. Vice President Troy Gaines is the college liaison and misses teaching. He’s married, has three children, and is worried about being able to afford paying for their college. At times, he came across as a diplomat and at other times as an authority figure. Occasionally, it felt like he reacted to the situations unrealistically. Nicholas Hyde is the heir to the Hyde family fortune. He’s irresponsible and likes to party and flirt. The students are Milo Reed, Natalia Gomez, Captain James Stephenson, Sydney Mosley, Duffy Mansfield, and Emily Paine. Readers get some insight into their personalities. All of them are desperate for the scholarship money and readers gradually get their backstories.
The characters were easily identifiable, and I had no trouble remembering who was who. The author does a good job of setting the atmosphere and tone of the novel. I could easily visualize the rooms in Hyde House, an aging Victorian house that has been in the Hyde family since the 1800’s. The tone is ominous even without a death due to protestors and strict bylaws requiring no personal items, including cell phones and smart watches.
The story seems to ebb and flow, but it gradually builds momentum. It was interesting to see how everyone in the story reacted as events, including death, occurred during the book. Would you feel safe? How would you react? The dialogue felt realistic despite the lack of critical thinking around solutions. While this was not a fast page-turner for me, the pacing worked well. Will you find the plot twist at the end a surprise or a disappointment?
The author layers multiple themes as the story focuses on the challenges students face in order to get an education as well as the lengths colleges will go to in order to receive donations from wealthy donors. Other themes include safety, death, secrets, blaming others, grief, protests, underrepresented groups of students in college, tradition, and respect.
Overall, this engaging novel was never dull and had periods of intense suspense. If you enjoy locked room (building) mysteries, then I recommend that you check out this one. The key is to connect to one or more of the eight main characters. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
Berkley Publishing Group and David Bell provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for July 5, 2022.
March 3, 2022
3.25*
Hmmm…I really struggled trying to write this review. As a devoted fan of this author I’m always on the lookout for his latest. Unfortunately this may be my least favorite of his works.
Private college can be outrageously expensive. So if a huge scholarship were being offered by the college’s main benefactor wouldn’t you want it? Of course! Heck, you don’t even have to apply! The benefactor chooses YOU and 5 others to compete for it. As the stakes rise the competition turns deadly. Now the participants must decide if the scholarship is worth their lives!
For me, some of the storyline just didn’t add up. I’m all for checking my believability at the door but this just asked too much even from me. The actions of the students and their college administrator didn’t ring true or realistic to me. I love a locked-room mystery and think this may have worked (somewhat) if the location would have been different. I can’t say much more without risking spoilers so I’ll just leave it at that.
What I did enjoy is the ease of David Bell’s writing. Short, quick chapters that always end with a bit of a cliffhanger so you can’t stop. And I didn’t! I finished in only a couple sittings.
While this wasn’t a favorite I’m still a huge fan and already queuing up for next years’ release!
Hoping I’m just an outlier and you all love it!
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to Elisha at Berkley Publishing via Netgalley for an ARC to read and review.
Hmmm…I really struggled trying to write this review. As a devoted fan of this author I’m always on the lookout for his latest. Unfortunately this may be my least favorite of his works.
Private college can be outrageously expensive. So if a huge scholarship were being offered by the college’s main benefactor wouldn’t you want it? Of course! Heck, you don’t even have to apply! The benefactor chooses YOU and 5 others to compete for it. As the stakes rise the competition turns deadly. Now the participants must decide if the scholarship is worth their lives!
For me, some of the storyline just didn’t add up. I’m all for checking my believability at the door but this just asked too much even from me. The actions of the students and their college administrator didn’t ring true or realistic to me. I love a locked-room mystery and think this may have worked (somewhat) if the location would have been different. I can’t say much more without risking spoilers so I’ll just leave it at that.
What I did enjoy is the ease of David Bell’s writing. Short, quick chapters that always end with a bit of a cliffhanger so you can’t stop. And I didn’t! I finished in only a couple sittings.
While this wasn’t a favorite I’m still a huge fan and already queuing up for next years’ release!
Hoping I’m just an outlier and you all love it!
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to Elisha at Berkley Publishing via Netgalley for an ARC to read and review.
July 5, 2022
Unfortunately, this was not for me.
Six college students have gathered to compete for the Hyde Fellowship. They must enter Hyde House leaving behind their devices. They door locks behind them. They must spend 8 hours inside the house with a college administrator and Nicholas Hyde, heir to the Hyde fortune. There is a protest going on outside Hyde House and inside, one of the finalists has died.
I always have high hopes when I see David Bell has a new book coming out. I tend enjoy his books immensely. This is the first time that I have given one of his books a less than 4 star rating. I enjoy locked room type books. The synopsis of this book was very intriguing. Having to be in locked house. I had Disney's haunted mansion in my mind while reading this "This chamber has no windows and no doors, which offers you this chilling challenge: to find a way out!" Of course there are doors in this book and the windows are nailed shut, but still, I could not get that out of my head. This is a story of survival but for me it was lackluster. I was hoping for more oomph.
I just didn't connect with this book in any way. David Bell usually wows me but not this time. But as I have enjoyed the other books, I have read by him, I will be on the lookout for future books. He is a great writer and I believe this is just a one off.
Others enjoyed this book more than I did, so please read their reviews as well.
I usually round up with my ratings and initially I did, but on further thought, I moved it back down to two stars.
2.75 stars
#TheFinalists #NetGalley.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Six college students have gathered to compete for the Hyde Fellowship. They must enter Hyde House leaving behind their devices. They door locks behind them. They must spend 8 hours inside the house with a college administrator and Nicholas Hyde, heir to the Hyde fortune. There is a protest going on outside Hyde House and inside, one of the finalists has died.
I always have high hopes when I see David Bell has a new book coming out. I tend enjoy his books immensely. This is the first time that I have given one of his books a less than 4 star rating. I enjoy locked room type books. The synopsis of this book was very intriguing. Having to be in locked house. I had Disney's haunted mansion in my mind while reading this "This chamber has no windows and no doors, which offers you this chilling challenge: to find a way out!" Of course there are doors in this book and the windows are nailed shut, but still, I could not get that out of my head. This is a story of survival but for me it was lackluster. I was hoping for more oomph.
I just didn't connect with this book in any way. David Bell usually wows me but not this time. But as I have enjoyed the other books, I have read by him, I will be on the lookout for future books. He is a great writer and I believe this is just a one off.
Others enjoyed this book more than I did, so please read their reviews as well.
I usually round up with my ratings and initially I did, but on further thought, I moved it back down to two stars.
2.75 stars
#TheFinalists #NetGalley.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
June 30, 2022
I give David Bell high marks for creativity. His locked room mystery takes place on a sunny day, in the middle of a college campus, and near a line of police officers. Also included is an old school scholarship challenge that has a racially diverse cast competing for a free year, loan forgiveness, and a job. The stakes are high and suspicions run even higher as the day goes on. This is not my favorite from David Bell, but the protagonist, Troy Gaines, is the kind of normal guy you find in Bell's books. He finds himself in over his head. Now what? Will Troy fold under the pressure or discover new dimensions of himself? For me the other characters were not as winsome, taking away from my esteem for the book itself.
Thank you to Berkley and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Berkley and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
June 15, 2022
The Finalists is my first novel from author, David Bell. And from what I’ve read from other reviewers, The Finalists is not Bell’s best work. In a way, I’m glad to read that Bell has better published works and that The Finalists fell short of some readers expectations. It certainly fell short for me.
I liked the description of the book and that’s what drew me in to start reading it…expecting it to be a page turner. Alas, the story is slow as molasses. The first death doesn’t take place until the reader is 36% invested in the story. The second death doesn’t occur until the 50% point. By which time the reader is too far along to quit.
The story is pretty far fetched and there is a glaring flaw. But if read for wanton entertainment purposes, it’s an okay novel. There is a scant plot twist at the end. But that twist isn’t much and I found it somewhat disappointing.
In all honesty, I found the characters in the novel quite boring. Granted, they are all highly intelligent academics. But at least they could have some color or flavor instead of the generic vanilla. I just couldn’t relate to any of the players in the novel.
I’m going to keep and open mind about the author’s other works. So, I’ll probably try reading some of Bell’s novels in the future.
Overall, I didn’t find The Finalists appealing or enjoyable. But since I managed to finish the book, I’m rating it 2 stars instead of 1.
I received a digital ARC from Berkley Publishing through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
I liked the description of the book and that’s what drew me in to start reading it…expecting it to be a page turner. Alas, the story is slow as molasses. The first death doesn’t take place until the reader is 36% invested in the story. The second death doesn’t occur until the 50% point. By which time the reader is too far along to quit.
The story is pretty far fetched and there is a glaring flaw. But if read for wanton entertainment purposes, it’s an okay novel. There is a scant plot twist at the end. But that twist isn’t much and I found it somewhat disappointing.
In all honesty, I found the characters in the novel quite boring. Granted, they are all highly intelligent academics. But at least they could have some color or flavor instead of the generic vanilla. I just couldn’t relate to any of the players in the novel.
I’m going to keep and open mind about the author’s other works. So, I’ll probably try reading some of Bell’s novels in the future.
Overall, I didn’t find The Finalists appealing or enjoyable. But since I managed to finish the book, I’m rating it 2 stars instead of 1.
I received a digital ARC from Berkley Publishing through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
August 1, 2022
I love reading David Bell, so it was a no-brainer that I wanted to read The Finalists. Never mind the fact that it is also a locked room mystery AND focused on academia which are 2 of my favorite things for a narrative. The book itself looks quite chunky so I was shocked to see that it was not a very long book, considering the audiobook is less than 9 hours. The story is told entirely from Troy's viewpoint who is locked in the house along with the students and Nicholas Hyde. There are really short chapters, and I loved the premise of the book, so I was hoping it would fly by. Unfortunately, the plot was just way too much of a slow mover for me, and I didn't believe for a second these students would have all wanted to continue on after someone died. But of course, what kind of book would that have made! None, there would be no book. So, I get it.
One thing that I really loved about The Finalists is the audiobook, and if you do choose to pick this one up, I highly recommend going this route. Sean Patrick Hopkins hasn't narrated anything else I've listened to, but I would gladly listen to him again because he did a great job. He was perfect at conveying different emotions and I was completely happy with his narration. I also thought Bell did an excellent job of making me suspect basically every single person, and I was definitely surprised by the twists which was a plus. I just wish the pace had moved quicker and a couple of the characters had made some smarter choices, and this would have been more of a winner for me.
Thank you to the publishers for my advanced listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
One thing that I really loved about The Finalists is the audiobook, and if you do choose to pick this one up, I highly recommend going this route. Sean Patrick Hopkins hasn't narrated anything else I've listened to, but I would gladly listen to him again because he did a great job. He was perfect at conveying different emotions and I was completely happy with his narration. I also thought Bell did an excellent job of making me suspect basically every single person, and I was definitely surprised by the twists which was a plus. I just wish the pace had moved quicker and a couple of the characters had made some smarter choices, and this would have been more of a winner for me.
Thank you to the publishers for my advanced listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
November 25, 2022
What an odd way to conduct a scholarship contest.
Six chosen candidates are locked in a house that belongs to the college‘s owner, and they have to complete an essay and follow all the bylaws pertaining to this scholarship.
While they were in the house one of the candidates mysteriously dies, and the students are not allowed out because if one of them leaves or they stop the procedure that has to take place on this certain date there will never be another scholarship for anyone.
As they finish with one part of the contest, and after they have had lunch, another member dies.
What is going on?
Who can be murdering these people in this locked building?
Everyone begins to tell tales about each other, to blame each other, and mistrust each other.
Will they continue to follow the bylaws to the T or break tradition and try to get out of the locked building and alert the police that are guarding the house?
THE FINALISTS has a very detailed, well written story line and pulls you in, but it dragged for me.
Even though the tension was high, this book wasn't my favorite of Mr. Bell's, and I wanted to tell the characters to get out of that house before they all were murdered and to get the attention of the police who were right outside.
I certainly would have left, and I would have made every effort to let the police know there were dead bodies inside.
Did they finally TRY to get out?
They did TRY, but what HAPPENED when they tried?
What happened to everyone?
How were the murders carried out, and who was the murderer?
You will have to give the book a go to find out. 3/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
Six chosen candidates are locked in a house that belongs to the college‘s owner, and they have to complete an essay and follow all the bylaws pertaining to this scholarship.
While they were in the house one of the candidates mysteriously dies, and the students are not allowed out because if one of them leaves or they stop the procedure that has to take place on this certain date there will never be another scholarship for anyone.
As they finish with one part of the contest, and after they have had lunch, another member dies.
What is going on?
Who can be murdering these people in this locked building?
Everyone begins to tell tales about each other, to blame each other, and mistrust each other.
Will they continue to follow the bylaws to the T or break tradition and try to get out of the locked building and alert the police that are guarding the house?
THE FINALISTS has a very detailed, well written story line and pulls you in, but it dragged for me.
Even though the tension was high, this book wasn't my favorite of Mr. Bell's, and I wanted to tell the characters to get out of that house before they all were murdered and to get the attention of the police who were right outside.
I certainly would have left, and I would have made every effort to let the police know there were dead bodies inside.
Did they finally TRY to get out?
They did TRY, but what HAPPENED when they tried?
What happened to everyone?
How were the murders carried out, and who was the murderer?
You will have to give the book a go to find out. 3/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
July 2, 2022
3.5 stars
The Finalists by David Bell is a psychological thriller.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Berkley Publishing and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Hyde College is small, but every April, six students compete for the prestigious Hyde Fellowship, which will provide free tuition, books, room and board, as well as other perks to one lucky candidate.
This year Nicholas Hyde will be in charge, and Vice-President Troy Gaines will assist. As always, the six candidates will be locked away for the day with Nicholas and Troy, where they will have a written test, and then an interview.....and follow all the bylaws that the original Hyde set down many years ago, including the law that states if you leave for ANY reason, you are disqualified. Mind you, with the doors locked, and a protest going on outside, leaving is not easy.
This year, the candidates are: history major James Stephenson (retired army ranger, who prefers to be called Captain); ag major Duffy Mansfield (a farmer); marketing major Sydney Mosley (volleyball star); art major Milo Reed (top of the class in school); biology major Natalia Gomez (really bright); and English major Emily Paine (who seems to have anger issues). Although these students have different backgrounds, and different reasons as to why they are there, the one thing they have in common, is their need for the money.
But as the group finally sits down to write their essay, one of them drops dead....and fear starts to invade the group. Fear, anger, and blame. But is this only the first one to die?
My Opinions:
First, I absolutely loved the premise of this story. And the plot continued to move along at a good clip.
Unfortunately, I didn't like the characters...any of them. They were all either filled with hatred (Emily comes to mind), or obsession (Duffy), or just greed and self-pity. The adults in the crowd weren't a whole lot better.
As well, from a safety point of view, there is no way that this process would have been allowed to happen. A college allowing students to be locked in a house for an entire day with no way to call for help? Yes, I understand it's fiction, but this put the believability quotient to the test. There is far-fetched, and then there is.....NO.
Overall, it was still a good book, and I did enjoy it. The writing was excellent, and again, the plot was good.....it just needed a little more .....something.
For a more complete review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, as well as author information and contact details), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
July 4, 2022
A scholarship competition turns DEADLY in David Bell's latest academic suspense novel—THE FINALISTS.
How far will these students go to achieve their DREAMS?
Six students agree to a lock-in in an old Victorian building, remote and secluded, for eight hours in the hope of winning a full ride to Hyde, a small New England fictional college. The prestigious Hyde Fellowship will provide free tuition, books, room, board, and other perks to one lucky candidate. It all looks pretty straightforward, an essay contest followed by individual interviews.
The eight-hour schedule includes a high tea, essay writing, a shot of whiskey, lunch, and a personal interview.
The Finalists:
Milo—The front-runner.
Natalia—The brain.
James—The rule follower.
Sydney—The athlete.
Duffy—The cowboy.
Emily—The social justice warrior.
The candidates have nothing in common except WIN.
Nicholas Hyde delinquent heir to the Hyde family fortune) the rich, decadent, spoiled playboy and Vice-President Troy Gaines will assist. Each candidate must impress the two. They will oversee the competition.
The candidates must give up their electronics and be locked in the house by the campus police. If they leave, they are disqualified.
Let the games begin.
There is also a political protest going on outside involving the college founder's activities in the Civil War and things get out of hand. However, the events unfolding inside are much more dangerous.
Although these students have different backgrounds, and different reasons as to why they are there, the one thing they have in common, is their need for money.
However, once inside, they start dropping DEAD.
Which among them is the KILLER, and will any of them SURVIVE?
David Bell is a gifted and talented writer, and I have enjoyed his books over the years; however, this one, unfortunately, was not a favorite. The premise is a little difficult to believe and get your head around.
Secondly, no likable characters make it difficult to get into and enjoy the story. Each made questionable decisions. You are not invested in any of them. You just want it to be OVER. There was no communication, and each was out for themselves. A lot of dialogue of bickering and complaining and reads more like a YA genre.
Many red herrings make things interesting, but when reading, the premise is unrealistic and requires an extreme suspension of disbelief. The first part is the setup and moves slower; however, the last half speeds at a fast pace when they start dropping dead.
In the end, the fictional account demonstrates just how far these characters will go for money, greed, success, and a WIN! I would classify this as more of a locked-in murder mystery than a thriller.
For fans of Agathe Christie's And Then There Were None. I look forward to picking up his next book.
Thank you to #Berkley and #NetGalley for an ARC to read, review, and enjoy.
Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: July 5, 2022
My Rating: 3 Stars ✨✨✨
How far will these students go to achieve their DREAMS?
Six students agree to a lock-in in an old Victorian building, remote and secluded, for eight hours in the hope of winning a full ride to Hyde, a small New England fictional college. The prestigious Hyde Fellowship will provide free tuition, books, room, board, and other perks to one lucky candidate. It all looks pretty straightforward, an essay contest followed by individual interviews.
The eight-hour schedule includes a high tea, essay writing, a shot of whiskey, lunch, and a personal interview.
The Finalists:
Milo—The front-runner.
Natalia—The brain.
James—The rule follower.
Sydney—The athlete.
Duffy—The cowboy.
Emily—The social justice warrior.
The candidates have nothing in common except WIN.
Nicholas Hyde delinquent heir to the Hyde family fortune) the rich, decadent, spoiled playboy and Vice-President Troy Gaines will assist. Each candidate must impress the two. They will oversee the competition.
The candidates must give up their electronics and be locked in the house by the campus police. If they leave, they are disqualified.
Let the games begin.
There is also a political protest going on outside involving the college founder's activities in the Civil War and things get out of hand. However, the events unfolding inside are much more dangerous.
Although these students have different backgrounds, and different reasons as to why they are there, the one thing they have in common, is their need for money.
However, once inside, they start dropping DEAD.
Which among them is the KILLER, and will any of them SURVIVE?
David Bell is a gifted and talented writer, and I have enjoyed his books over the years; however, this one, unfortunately, was not a favorite. The premise is a little difficult to believe and get your head around.
Secondly, no likable characters make it difficult to get into and enjoy the story. Each made questionable decisions. You are not invested in any of them. You just want it to be OVER. There was no communication, and each was out for themselves. A lot of dialogue of bickering and complaining and reads more like a YA genre.
Many red herrings make things interesting, but when reading, the premise is unrealistic and requires an extreme suspension of disbelief. The first part is the setup and moves slower; however, the last half speeds at a fast pace when they start dropping dead.
In the end, the fictional account demonstrates just how far these characters will go for money, greed, success, and a WIN! I would classify this as more of a locked-in murder mystery than a thriller.
For fans of Agathe Christie's And Then There Were None. I look forward to picking up his next book.
Thank you to #Berkley and #NetGalley for an ARC to read, review, and enjoy.
Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: July 5, 2022
My Rating: 3 Stars ✨✨✨
June 3, 2023
Review coming soon.
July 4, 2022
A group of six students vie for a scholarship to Hyde College, a small college in Kentucky. They agree to be locked up in Hyde House, an old building on the school’s campus. With no electronic devices, what could be more torturous? The group has little in common and each of them will do anything to win the scholarship. College vice president Troy Gaines oversees the competition, which is also attended by Nicholas Hyde. The students are to take a written exam followed by interviews. This process goes awry when one of the students dies by apparent poisoning. Let the finger pointing begin.
I’m a David Bell fan. He’s very creative and surely knows how to create lots of tension and suspense. While I seek out dark academic books, my issue with The Finalists was that it was a bit too slow moving and I was unable to develop any sympathy for the characters, never finding anyone to root for. I wish I cared more. You may feel differently. If you are a locked room fan, this book may work well for you.
Many thanks to Berkley for the advance.
Rated 3.25 stars.
I’m a David Bell fan. He’s very creative and surely knows how to create lots of tension and suspense. While I seek out dark academic books, my issue with The Finalists was that it was a bit too slow moving and I was unable to develop any sympathy for the characters, never finding anyone to root for. I wish I cared more. You may feel differently. If you are a locked room fan, this book may work well for you.
Many thanks to Berkley for the advance.
Rated 3.25 stars.
August 20, 2022
Heed the bad reviews. This was terrible.
April 29, 2025
This book needed a laugh track bc the whole thing felt like a joke
July 1, 2022
David Bell has been one of my go to thriller authors for years now so I’m always excited when he has a new book out. He consistently writes books that are compelling, twisty and entertaining. Unfortunately I struggled with this one, it just didn’t feel like the type of solid book I’m used to from the author.
I think my biggest issue here was I didn’t believe in any aspect. I didn’t buy that a group of people locked inside a house would just stay when someone drops freaking dead and it just went on from there. I usually like a locked room style mystery but the reason for them being locked up just didn’t make sense or work for me. It’s hard to describe my frustration without giving you much away, so I’ll stop here and just say I’m still a fan of the author and I’ll be looking forward to his next book but this was a miss for me.
I think my biggest issue here was I didn’t believe in any aspect. I didn’t buy that a group of people locked inside a house would just stay when someone drops freaking dead and it just went on from there. I usually like a locked room style mystery but the reason for them being locked up just didn’t make sense or work for me. It’s hard to describe my frustration without giving you much away, so I’ll stop here and just say I’m still a fan of the author and I’ll be looking forward to his next book but this was a miss for me.
September 15, 2022
This was a slow paced thriller with no character to root for and it never managed to capture my interest. I cared enough to finish the book but was disappointed with the identity of the killer and the plot in general. I have liked previous books by David Bell but this one was a letdown.
May 3, 2022
I’m so sorry.
I thought I would love this. I did not.
From the description, I thought I’d get a thriller. Instead, I got Agatha Christie’s ‘And Then There Were None’ mixed with unlikeable characters and a little social commentary.
I had two real problems with this:
First, most of the characters were pompous. Characters I should have liked (the BLM activist, the immigrant, the poor farm boy) were rather insufferable and others, including our main character, were extremely insufferable.
Second, the murders were a little…dull. They weren’t shocking or even particularly vicious. The just…were.
I finished the book, mostly out of curiosity about the who and why, but wasn’t particularly satisfied with anything.
Not for me.
• ARC via Publisher
I thought I would love this. I did not.
From the description, I thought I’d get a thriller. Instead, I got Agatha Christie’s ‘And Then There Were None’ mixed with unlikeable characters and a little social commentary.
I had two real problems with this:
First, most of the characters were pompous. Characters I should have liked (the BLM activist, the immigrant, the poor farm boy) were rather insufferable and others, including our main character, were extremely insufferable.
Second, the murders were a little…dull. They weren’t shocking or even particularly vicious. The just…were.
I finished the book, mostly out of curiosity about the who and why, but wasn’t particularly satisfied with anything.
Not for me.
• ARC via Publisher
April 22, 2022
6 college students are selected to compete with each other for the famous Hyde Fellowship. The competition involves entering the Hyde House and spending 8 hours with a college administrator and Nicholas Hyde, the heir to the family fortune. If any students leave before the time is up they will be immediately disqualified. When one of the 6 students drops dead, mayhem ensues. With the doors locked and no where to run, will the other 5 survive?
This wasn't my favorite book. It was a bit slow and seemed like a young adult genre book to me. I didn't hate it or love it. I will continue to read David Bell though since he is an excellent author and I have really enjoyed his previous work.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for my ARC!
This wasn't my favorite book. It was a bit slow and seemed like a young adult genre book to me. I didn't hate it or love it. I will continue to read David Bell though since he is an excellent author and I have really enjoyed his previous work.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for my ARC!
April 21, 2022
I love reading books by David Bell, but this one I couldn't get into. Took 12 chapter before the first murder took place. I found it to be too detailed about things that didn't relate to the murders. After struggling a week to try to get into this book, I just gave up.
I received this book as a giveaway with a promise that I would give an honest review. Sorry this one just didn't grab my interest and went down hill from there.
I received this book as a giveaway with a promise that I would give an honest review. Sorry this one just didn't grab my interest and went down hill from there.
July 18, 2022
This was an interesting read that had two of my favorite elements - a locked room thriller on a campus setting. When I saw that along with it being by one of my favorite authors I knew I had to read this one! The audio was narrated by Sean Patrick Hopkins and he did a wonderful job with this as well. Overall this was entertaining but not my favorites of his. It started strong but quickly jumped the shark, and while I do not require thrillers to be believable, this one was a bit out there and not entirely necessary as I thought this had a lot of potential. The students could have reacted with more passion to what was happening around them (aka people going down) but the way they reacted to everything was banal and I expected more. Like I said, I enjoyed the setting and the locked room component, and it was a quick and entertaining read, however it was not my favorite by Bell and I am really looking forward to seeing what he does next.
Thanks for the free audiobook PRH Audio! And thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Books for the digital copy to review. This one is available now.
Thanks for the free audiobook PRH Audio! And thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Books for the digital copy to review. This one is available now.
September 6, 2022
I had really high hopes for this one as soon as I saw it was combining a locked room mystery and a campus/academia setting but unfortunately, it fell a bit flat for me.
Although it was slow at parts, I did appreciate the short chapters which definitely helped to drive the suspense. I found the general concept pretty intriguing and enjoyed diving deep into the cutthroat world of elite colleges and scholarships and was generally entertained.
While it wasn’t one of my favourite reads, I did enjoy it enough and I’m certainly curious to check out more form Bell!
Although it was slow at parts, I did appreciate the short chapters which definitely helped to drive the suspense. I found the general concept pretty intriguing and enjoyed diving deep into the cutthroat world of elite colleges and scholarships and was generally entertained.
While it wasn’t one of my favourite reads, I did enjoy it enough and I’m certainly curious to check out more form Bell!
May 4, 2024
3.5 stars
April 24, 2023
Locked house mystery with murdah most foul. Waiting on D to finish reading to write my review.
November 25, 2022
What an odd way to conduct a scholarship contest.
Six chosen candidates are locked in a house that belongs to the college‘s owner, and they have to complete an essay and follow all the bylaws pertaining to this scholarship.
While they were in the house one of the candidates mysteriously dies, and the students are not allowed out because if one of them leaves or they stop the procedure that has to take place on this certain date there will never be another scholarship for anyone.
As they finish with one part of the contest, and after they have had lunch, another member dies.
What is going on?
Who can be murdering these people in this locked building?
Everyone begins to tell tales about each other, to blame each other, and mistrust each other.
Will they continue to follow the bylaws to the T or break tradition and try to get out of the locked building and alert the police that are guarding the house?
THE FINALISTS has a very detailed, well written story line and pulls you in, but it dragged for me.
Even though the tension was high, this book wasn't my favorite of Mr. Bell's, and I wanted to tell the characters to get out of that house before they all were murdered and to get the attention of the police who were right outside.
I certainly would have left, and I would have made every effort to let the police know there were dead bodies inside.
Did they finally TRY to get out?
They did TRY, but what HAPPENED when they tried?
What happened to everyone?
How were the murders carried out, and who was the murderer?
You will have to give the book a go to find out. 3/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
Six chosen candidates are locked in a house that belongs to the college‘s owner, and they have to complete an essay and follow all the bylaws pertaining to this scholarship.
While they were in the house one of the candidates mysteriously dies, and the students are not allowed out because if one of them leaves or they stop the procedure that has to take place on this certain date there will never be another scholarship for anyone.
As they finish with one part of the contest, and after they have had lunch, another member dies.
What is going on?
Who can be murdering these people in this locked building?
Everyone begins to tell tales about each other, to blame each other, and mistrust each other.
Will they continue to follow the bylaws to the T or break tradition and try to get out of the locked building and alert the police that are guarding the house?
THE FINALISTS has a very detailed, well written story line and pulls you in, but it dragged for me.
Even though the tension was high, this book wasn't my favorite of Mr. Bell's, and I wanted to tell the characters to get out of that house before they all were murdered and to get the attention of the police who were right outside.
I certainly would have left, and I would have made every effort to let the police know there were dead bodies inside.
Did they finally TRY to get out?
They did TRY, but what HAPPENED when they tried?
What happened to everyone?
How were the murders carried out, and who was the murderer?
You will have to give the book a go to find out. 3/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
July 30, 2022
3.5 stars. I've been a huge David Bell fan for many years, but I think this was my least favorite of his books. The plot was intriguing, but the unusual premise requires a suspension of disbelief. Having a daughter in college, I understand the enormous financial burden of both the students and the schools. I was curious to see how far the students in the book would go to obtain a scholarship, including previous loan forgiveness and a job upon graduation (a dream come true!), and how much the college VP would withstand in order to secure funding for the school. Unfortunately, the characters were unlikeable, so there was no one to root for, which made the story less interesting. Everyone was a suspect, so the ending didn't really surprise me, as the culprit could have been anyone. As always, I love David Bell's writing style. The short chapters, each ending on a suspenseful note, kept me turning the pages, but the story fell a little flat for me. Still looking forward to the next book from one of my favorite authors!
August 5, 2022
3.5
Thank you to David and Berkley for an advance copy of The Finalists.
Six students of varying backgrounds are all selected as finalists for consideration of an epic scholarship that not only takes care of tuition, but also gets the winner set up for the future. The only thing these six students have in common is that they are in a financially stressed situation and this scholarship is life changing. The scholarship, named after the colleges founding family, is proctored by an administrator of the college and Nicholas Hyde – who has recently taken over the family after the death of his father. He is irresponsible and nonchalant and the school is worried that the loss of a real leader in the Hyde family will spell the end of this scholarship and donations…which are keeping the college afloat.
The scholarship is also tainted by the family’s involvement in slavery during the Civil War and causes some protests outside of the historical house where the final tests are administered. When everyone is inside (sans technology, of course), the doors are locked and one of the six candidates drops dead launching an amateur investigation into all the locked-in members. Everyone has a reason to kill of candidates, but who was bold enough to act on it?
I don’t think this book is getting the ratings that I expected to be honest. I thought that it was a pretty successful locked room thriller that kept me guessing and having difficulty trusting anyone. I love dark academia and combining the two was very clever.
I really liked Troy, who is the school administrator and our POV for the book. As the only one who doesn’t stand anything to gain from being the murderer (in theory) his opinions are very fair and taken at face value, so it’s almost as if we’re voyeurs in the room watching the events unfold alongside him. The students weren’t very likable, but I appreciate the diversity that David brought to the group. There’s a Black ex-military older gentleman, the notorious brainy kid, an athlete, a typical college social justice student, the one everyone knows, and the local southwestern kid. So we get a hodge podge of opinions and backgrounds to make up a colorful cast that was also easy to keep separate.
My criticism would be that I think perhaps we got a little too much background. That isn’t typically a bad thing, but in this case it may have taken away from the mystery itself a bit. Nicholas Hyde’s character would’ve served better as minor support (if you’ve read a review by me, you know I love an off-page character driven story). A quick history of the Hyde family would have sufficed, but I feel like it was revisited several times.
Thank you to David and Berkley for an advance copy of The Finalists.
Six students of varying backgrounds are all selected as finalists for consideration of an epic scholarship that not only takes care of tuition, but also gets the winner set up for the future. The only thing these six students have in common is that they are in a financially stressed situation and this scholarship is life changing. The scholarship, named after the colleges founding family, is proctored by an administrator of the college and Nicholas Hyde – who has recently taken over the family after the death of his father. He is irresponsible and nonchalant and the school is worried that the loss of a real leader in the Hyde family will spell the end of this scholarship and donations…which are keeping the college afloat.
The scholarship is also tainted by the family’s involvement in slavery during the Civil War and causes some protests outside of the historical house where the final tests are administered. When everyone is inside (sans technology, of course), the doors are locked and one of the six candidates drops dead launching an amateur investigation into all the locked-in members. Everyone has a reason to kill of candidates, but who was bold enough to act on it?
I don’t think this book is getting the ratings that I expected to be honest. I thought that it was a pretty successful locked room thriller that kept me guessing and having difficulty trusting anyone. I love dark academia and combining the two was very clever.
I really liked Troy, who is the school administrator and our POV for the book. As the only one who doesn’t stand anything to gain from being the murderer (in theory) his opinions are very fair and taken at face value, so it’s almost as if we’re voyeurs in the room watching the events unfold alongside him. The students weren’t very likable, but I appreciate the diversity that David brought to the group. There’s a Black ex-military older gentleman, the notorious brainy kid, an athlete, a typical college social justice student, the one everyone knows, and the local southwestern kid. So we get a hodge podge of opinions and backgrounds to make up a colorful cast that was also easy to keep separate.
My criticism would be that I think perhaps we got a little too much background. That isn’t typically a bad thing, but in this case it may have taken away from the mystery itself a bit. Nicholas Hyde’s character would’ve served better as minor support (if you’ve read a review by me, you know I love an off-page character driven story). A quick history of the Hyde family would have sufficed, but I feel like it was revisited several times.
March 16, 2022
As part of an annual tradition giving away a highly valuable and, therefore, highly coveted scholarship at a small, private college, six students, a college administrator and a representative from the school's founding family meet in an old home Victorian building on campus and agree to be locked in for the day with no electronics to compete in an essay and interview contest for the money. Harmless, right? Well, when one student dies, it becomes clear that a killer must be among the group. As things go from bad to worse, the group is faced with tough decisions and hard truths.
The concept of this book was immediately intriguing, so as soon as I read it, I wanted to read the book and was ecstatic to receive a copy. The trouble starts in the beginning, as the scholarship tournament is plagued by protests and new information about the Hyde (scholarship/founding) family which sends the college campus and scholarship process into a tizzy. And then things get started, lol. It really does get going quickly. And I was pulled in! It's a locked room mystery, where the subjects literally cannot escape because they've agreed to be, well, locked in.
The only annoying part of the mystery was the students themselves. They're college students and do they ever act like them. The whining and lack of, well, logical thinking, grated on me at times. Like they acted extremely irrationally and selfishly and then wondered why no one trusted them or wanted to listen to them. Well, I have a few ideas.
But overall, I was really into the plot. And I did not guess the ending, though I was a little confused about some things. But overall, It was good. It was something very different. And I liked that.
The concept of this book was immediately intriguing, so as soon as I read it, I wanted to read the book and was ecstatic to receive a copy. The trouble starts in the beginning, as the scholarship tournament is plagued by protests and new information about the Hyde (scholarship/founding) family which sends the college campus and scholarship process into a tizzy. And then things get started, lol. It really does get going quickly. And I was pulled in! It's a locked room mystery, where the subjects literally cannot escape because they've agreed to be, well, locked in.
The only annoying part of the mystery was the students themselves. They're college students and do they ever act like them. The whining and lack of, well, logical thinking, grated on me at times. Like they acted extremely irrationally and selfishly and then wondered why no one trusted them or wanted to listen to them. Well, I have a few ideas.
But overall, I was really into the plot. And I did not guess the ending, though I was a little confused about some things. But overall, It was good. It was something very different. And I liked that.
December 31, 2023
bought this for $9 at a market in sidney. should've left it there. relatedly: david bell you owe me $9 CAD for the psychic damage I took while reading this
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