Review: Ten by Gretchen McNeil

TEN
By: Gretchen McNeil
Published By: Balzer + Bray
Release Date: Sept. 18, 2012
Series: None
Pages: 304
Genre: Mystery/Horror
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Publisher
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: And their doom comes swiftly.

It was supposed to be the weekend of their lives—an exclusive house party on Henry Island. Best friends Meg and Minnie each have their reasons for being there (which involve T.J., the school’s most eligible bachelor) and look forward to three glorious days of boys, booze and fun-filled luxury.

But what they expect is definitely not what they get, and what starts out as fun turns dark and twisted after the discovery of a DVD with a sinister message: Vengeance is mine.

Suddenly people are dying, and with a storm raging, the teens are cut off from the outside world. No electricity, no phones, no internet, and a ferry that isn’t scheduled to return for two days. As the deaths become more violent and the teens turn on each other, can Meg find the killer before more people die? Or is the killer closer to her than she could ever imagine?



I don't often read a lot of murder mysteries or horror stories, but this modernization of an Agatha Christie play was impossible to pass up. Ten was the perfect book to read on a dark, stormy night for full effect (or during a bright, sunny day if murder mysteries aren't your thing).

What happens when ten teens are isolated on an island during a terrible thunderstorm? Like every horror movie expert knows: Murder. What Meg thought would be a fun - or at least possibly fun - weekend with her best friend Minnie and other local teens turns deadly after they watch a DVD with a murderous message. With each minute that passes, it seems more and more likely that the killer responsible for a recent murder has made it to the island and is now after everyone inside. With no chance of outside aide, Meg knows that it's up to her to find the killer...or risk being the one who's killed next.

First things first: Ten might be a murder mystery, but there is much more to the story. Gretchen McNeil brings a fresh voice to the YA market with a bit of snark that brought the characters to life. Within the context of the mystery we get to know all of the characters, especially Meg and T.J. Meg has always been a loyal best friend to Minnie and often in her shadow, but throughout the novel Meg really comes into her own. Minnie might have a crush on T.J., but as Meg and T.J. are thrown together in trying to solve the mystery, it becomes clear that they have a connection. Yes, somehow Gretchen McNeil manages to develop a really sweet romance in the midst of a suspenseful mystery, and it makes the story all the more enjoyable.

Ten is a book that you can't put down. Even before the murders begin there is never a dull moment, and after the first body is found the suspense builds right until the end. I loved the way that everything was tied together and how there weren't holes in the plot. The book will certainly keep you guessing right along with Meg about who the murderer really is.

If you enjoy murder mysteries, you will definitely want to add Ten to your reading lists. I know that I will look forward to reading more from Gretchen McNeil!

Review: Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD
By: Kendare Blake
Published By: Tor Teen
Release Date: Aug. 30, 2011
Series: Anna Dressed in Blood (#1)
Pages: 320
Genre: Paranormal / Horror
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: ALA
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas's life.



I've been on a bit of a ghost story kick lately, and from friends who had already read this book, I knew that Anna Dressed in Blood had to be good. And it was. This is not your typical mysterious ghost story. Anna Dressed in Blood is a paranormal thriller with secrets and surprises lurking around every corner.

Cas Lowood has one mission in life: track down ghosts and kill them. Armed with his athame like his father before him, Cas and his mother travel around the country in search of ghosts that need to be banished from the world of the living. When Cas receives a tip for a ghost called Anna Dressed in Blood, he can't wait to start the new mission. Yet from the very beginning, something is different. Cas somehow feels drawn to Anna, and when he finds her, it turns out that she is unlike any ghost he's ever met. When she spares his life, something that has never happened before, Cas knows that he has to learn her entire story. Together with his friends and some help from a few witches, Cas sets about uncovering the secrets of Anna's past. But he isn't prepared for what he finds. And once he knows, what will he do?

Anna Dressed in Blood is one of those books that draws you in from the very first page and keeps you eagerly reading for more. I loved knowing both Cas and Anna, uncovering their motivations and their secrets. Cas is an all-around good guy, committed to his mission and still coming to terms with his past. He is excellent at what he does and as a result has been isolated for many years; it was nice to see him opening up to others over the course of the book. The same is true of Anna. She might have been a murderous ghost, but I could not help but feel bad for her, especially once her entire story was revealed. And speaking of murderous. There are several harrowing scenes in this book, and while there is some gore, it is never overly graphic. Instead, it adds to the chilling nature of the story.

I do have to say that I wish we had seen more of the relationship developing between Cas and Anna. It was clearly there, but I would have liked more scenes with them getting to know each other. Also, I know that some people have mentioned having nightmares after reading this book, but I didn't find any of the scenes to be too scary or disturbing.

Kendare Blake has crafted a fabulous debut novel with just the right amounts of spookiness, action, emotions, and romance. I cannot wait to read more from her!