Truly, madly, deadly by Hannah Jayne

Sawyer Dodd has just lost her boyfriend, Kevin, in a tragic car crash, and she's now back at school. Suffering through the glances and whispers of fellow students, she finds a note in her locker, attached to the news clipping of Kevin's accident, with two words : 'You're welcome'. But no-one knew what Kevin did to her, how he treated her, right? With her parent's divorce and her father remarrying and expecting a baby with his new wife, Saywer's life is already upside down. But the note sends Sawyer into a head spin, and then her Spanish teacher shows his true colours, her best friend is attacked and more notes appear in her locker. Where are they coming from, and how does the person seem to know her every move?

This rollercoaster YA mystery thriller is fast paced and has plenty of suspense and drama. Told entirely from Sawyer's point of view, the book starts up at the funeral of Sawyer's boyfriend, giving us our introduction to Sawyer, which is of a broken and hurt teenager. This is further shown when her life is described in more detail - Kevin's controlling and abusive behaviour, her parent's sudden divorce and her new stepmother trying to be her friend, and broken friendships. The book begins with a warning about many of these aspects, as well as suicide and drink driving, hence the older age range for reading this book. It reads really well, as the fast pace enables readers to quickly progress, and the mystery on top of mystery keeps readers guessing. With relatable characters, Truly, Madly, Deadly is compelling and ideal for fans of People Like Us by Dana Mele, All Eyes On Us by Kit Frick, and anything by Karen M. McManus.

Themes: Mystery; Thriller; Suspense; Obsession; Relationships; Murder; Trust.

Melanie Pages