Review: The Shattering by Karen Healey

The Shattering by Karen Healey

September 5, 2011

Little, Brown

Synopsis:
Seventeen-year-old Keri likes to plan for every possibility. She knows what to do if you break an arm, or get caught in an earthquake or fire. But she wasn't prepared for her brother's suicide, and his death has left her shattered with grief. When her childhood friend Janna tells her it was murder, not suicide, Keri wants to believe her. After all, Janna's brother died under similar circumstances years ago, and Janna insists a visiting tourist, Sione, who also lost a brother to apparent suicide that year, has helped her find some answers.

As the three dig deeper, disturbing facts begin to pile up: one boy killed every year; all older brothers; all had spent New Year's Eve in the idyllic town of Summerton. But when their search for the serial killer takes an unexpected turn, suspicion is cast on those they trust the most.

As secrets shatter around them, can they save the next victim? Or will they become victims themselves?

My Review:
THE SHATTERING is an exciting and mysterious novel that will have your head spinning! The plot is creepy yet entertaining. It wasn't at all predictable and I had a hard time figuring out what exactly was going on. The characters all had their own stories and worked well together in trying to solve the supposed "suicides" of young men. The ending will leave you feeling perfectly satisfied, yet wanting more from Healey. She is a phenomenal writer and knows how to keep her readers interested.

We are first introduced to Keri, whose brother is the most recent victim of suicide. She is still a bit raw from the pain of her brother's death. The way she describes her brother made me hurt just as much as she did. I was immediately drawn in to her perspective and was just as eager as her to figure out what was causing the suicides.

Sione is an awkward and somewhat fragile boy who also gets to tell his side of the story. I really didn't like him much at first, just because he was annoying and seemed a little desperate. But as the story went on, I was able to understand why his personality was that way and grew to like him more.

Janna was my least favorite character. She seems very shallow and she got on my nerves from the get-go. She seems much more concerned about finding a boyfriend rather than finding out about the suicides. I mean, her brother was one of the victims so you would think she would show a little concern. THE SHATTERING would have been a much better book without Janna.

THE SHATTERING really surprised me. I though it was just going to be a mystery, but it was so much more. There is something magical behind the deaths of the boys and you will just have to read the novel to find out!

My Rating: