Member Reviews
Gregg Olsen never disappoints and even though this is a YA book I really enjoyed it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book.
There were some interesting elements to this book which make it different to other books, including Hayley and Taylor's "gift" which allows them to receive messages from beyond. However, I found some of the writing style simplistic and some reactions of the characters to a murder were completely unrealistic, making the story difficult to engage with and unbelievable. The suspense was kept throughout the book, making it drag a little, with everything being revealed right at the very end. I would have preferred to be given more clues throughout, making me want to read quicker, which didn't happen unfortunately.
Great book! I didn’t realize it was book 2 in a series, but it read well as a stand alone. Well developed , rich characters, a few quite unlikeable, drive a twisty plot. This was my first book by This author, but it won’t be my last.
Dying to be Her by Gregg Olsen is compelling and keeps you hooked until the very end. It's definitely nice to see that Olivia's murder is explained and what really happened to Taylor and Halley.
Great job! Can't wait for the next book. I would however like to see the cover as that to me is just as important as the story-line.
I really enjoyed this YA mystery set in the sleepy town of Port Gamble (formerly known as Empty Coffin, hence the name of the series). The protagonists of the series, Hayley and Taylor Ryan, are 16-year-old twins. Not only do they share the mysterious ability to sense when one of them is in trouble, but they also get visions and jumbled letters that once unscrambled help them solve crimes.
This time Hay-Tay are dealing with a gruesome murder of a British exchange student Olivia Grant who was stabbed to death during a Halloween party. The host of the party Brianna Connors and her boyfriend Drew seem to act in a particularly uncallous way and this means that they are immediately accused, judged, and found guilty by the press and social media. Brianna gets the dubious honour of being labeled the Worst Best Friend Ever. Brianna may have the largest and most modern house in the town and two extremely uncaring parents, but can it justify the way she behaves?
There appears to be some evidence that points to Beth Lee, Hayley and Taylor's best friend. As they are trying to figure our what exactly happened to Olivia, the twins re-visit the horrific accident that killed four children landed the twins in a coma when they were just five. They also discover some secrets from their mother's past.
There are plenty of red herrings, twists and turns to keep you turning the pages. While some (most?)characters are totally exaggerated, I realy liked the way the author took pains to show how the sisters are both similar and very different in their character and disposition.
It is difficult not to notice that the book is partly inspired by a true crime story of Amanda Knox, an American exchange student accused of killing her British roommate.
Gregg Olsen's writing is as compelling as always and I am really looking forward to reading the third instalment. While Olivia's murder is solved in this one, there are still more questions than answers in Hayley and Taylor's story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
I really enjoyed this sequel beneath her skin and was glad we finally got some answers about what has happened to Hayley and Taylor but I really hope that there is another book released soon to finish off the story as there are still a number of unanswered questions about these two. This time an exchange student is brutally murdered in a story that seemed very much to mirror the Meredith Kercher story but don’t let that put you off. What I do find with these books mind is that a number of the children in the series I really could slap lol.
Dying to Be Her by Gregg Olsen is the 2nd in the Port Gamble Chronicle Series. It was originally released as "Betrayal" in the Empty Coffin Series.
Although written for the "Young Adult" audience, these books are mysteries. And although they may not be as deep as some, a good mystery can be enjoyed by those of any age. I would know.
When young foreign exchange student Olivia Grant is bludgeoned to death at a Halloween party, all eyes are suddenly focused on the young hostess Brianna and her boyfriend Drew. As a very self-centered teenager, Brianna does nothing to help her cause. Enter the Ryan twins. Hayley and Taylor are sure they can solve the crime.
However, the twins are having some issues of their own. They still have not convinced their mom to tell them all she knows about their special gift. When Taylor finds some newspaper clippings about her Mom as a child, they realize that there are a lot of things she hasn't told them. How far can they go to get the answers.
Gregg Olsen has hit a mark with this series. Although fiction, he uses similarities to true events to develop the plots, which makes them very believable. Of course his writing style helps too! A lot of twists and turns keep you guessing.
A twisty turny read.
I absolutely love the characters of the twins and Beth Lee. They are well created and like-able. The story itself was suspenseful and eerie. Standing alone ( if I did not read this authors other works) the two books in this series are pretty good, albeit they seemed maybe targeted for a slightly younger audience as the main characters are high school aged. I know this author for some brutal, gory shocking works so my initial expectations were slightly skewered. I did decide to lay that aside and read these books with an open mind and found them quite enjoyable. I especially enjoyed the twins unique gifts, it gave the books a slightly supernatural undertone at times. Overall a good read.
I was disappointed that In the course of both books there was no answer to what really happened with the bus accident. The book leads you down that path and then just seems to forget about it. Perhaps there will be another works that answers these questions?
Gregg Olsen is such a great author.
From the first page to the very last page you will be hooked.
He gives you clues and you think you have it all figured out only to be shocked you had it all wrong.
This is a must read!
Always love Gregg Olsen books and this one did not disappoint me. Highly recommend getting a copy of this thriller!
Amazing story. Well developed characters that are in a twisted engrossing thriller. Highly recommended. Super suspense that comes to a satisfying end! Highly recommended . A true roller coaster thrill ride
When it comes to Gregg Olsen you can NOT go wrong, his books are amazingly good. This book was so good! I read it in one sitting, I devoured it. I would totally recommend this book! 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Greg does it again. Another winner that is a combination between a mystery or a psychological thriller. I highly recommend it. It’s a page turner.