For the month of March I’ve been on a mission to read as many mystery novels as I possibly could in an effort to scratch the itch left behind when I finished watching Elite on Netflix all in one sitting.
I’ve now read about 9 mystery novels (might go for ten if I can finish one this weekend) and I’m going to dish out the reviews in the next few entries. So to kick it off, I’m going to start by reviewing two books that I felt like had a lot in common thematically and in terms of narrative tone: Blood Will Out by Jo Treggiari and My Sister Rosa by Justine Larbalestier.
These two, more so than the other books I read, felt like classic adult horror novels (despite being labelled YA) and would therefore appeal to fans of such genre giants as The Silence of the Lambs and The Bad Seed.
I’m not typically a fan of this particular style of horror, but I admit both books kept me riveted until the last page. I was almost compelled to finish them despite my growing sense of dread and the knowledge that I would surely lose sleep over these grisly tales.
Both books feature compelling characters and intensely visual narration, almost cinematic in the way they unfold. While Blood Will Out kept me guessing up til the end, My Sister Rosa created a feeling of inevitability and dread that only intensified throughout the book.
I chose these to start with because they were probably my least favorites of the group, despite being thrilling reads. I suspect my lingering animosity towards both books lies not with any failing of the writing, but rather with my own bitterness at having lost sleep.
If you have a stronger stomach and psyche than me, you may very well enjoy these books. If instead you share my general lack of fortitude, proceed with caution, and maybe take these books with a side of calming tea and be prepared to stay up all night with every light in the house on.
Happy reading!
-Kat
Kat Pollock 