Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann
Reading Level: Young Adult
Release Date: February 8, 2011
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 240
Source: Received from publisher for honest review
Summary: The small town of Cryer’s Cross is rocked by tragedy when an unassuming freshman disappears without a trace. Kendall Fletcher wasn’t that friendly with the missing girl, but the angst wreaks havoc on her OCD-addled brain. When a second student goes missing—someone close to Kendall’s heart—the community is in an uproar. Caught in a downward spiral of fear and anxiety, Kendall’s not sure she can hold it together. When she starts hearing the voices of the missing, calling out to her and pleading for help, she fears she’s losing her grip on reality. But when she finds messages scratched in a desk at school—messages that could only be from the missing student who used to sit there—Kendall decides that crazy or not, she’d never forgive herself if she didn’t act on her suspicions. Something’s not right in Cryer’s Cross—and Kendall’s about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.
My Review: More or less, some of us experience some type of compulsive behavior in our lives. I for one, have a tendency of checking my alarm and door locks a few times before bed. So, when I was presented with Kendall's OCD characteristics, the sense of truth and understanding behind her personality shined through. I liked her ability to deal with her unique circumstances, while expressing a calm and collective aura on the outside. Now, Lisa's introduction starts with the mystified disappearances of Cryer Cross's teenagers. The inexplicable hints surrounding the plot was mysterious, however I thought the creepy meter didn't push the envelope enough. With the concept of messages showing up from the missing teens, I assumed the writing was going to give me goose bumps. Unfortunately it mostly lacked the feeling I hoped for, however it did show up during the last thirty pages or so.
Moving on, the secondary characters, Jacián and Marlena contributed a great part of the novel. As newcomers in Kendall's town, she learned to slowly warm up to Jacián, while his sister's connection evolved early on. Jacián was yum. At first, I didn't know how to feel about him but once he started spending time with Kendall, he warmed me with his sweet nature and sexy, Latino looks. All in all, Cryer's Cross was a decently written thriller with a dash of formulated romance to win me over. I am curious to read Lisa's Wake trilogy, since I have a feeling that the right dose of hair-rising quality can be found in that series. I recommend you read this one if you're looking for a quick read with a modest plot that will hold your attention until the end. I think this might be a stand-alone but again the ending did leave a section for a possible sequel, I just have to wait and see!
My Rating: 
Book Trailer:
Author's Info:
Lisa McMann is the New York Times bestselling author of the Wake trilogy. She lives with her family in the Phoenix area.
-Blog
9 comments:
I LOVE "Wake" but haven't read the other two yet! I finished "Cryer's Cross" and loved it!
I enjoyed Cryer's Cross but I thought it was more love story than thriller. The love aspect came kind of unexpected.
You have to check out the Dream Catcher (Wake) trilogy, it's great! It's not as creepy but has a certain thrill of its own, plus the romance is even sweeter than the one in CC. I still have to read the last installment but I loved the first two, especially Fade.
I read an excerpt of this and it looks like a great book. I love the title~
I've got this on my wishlist already. Hopefully I'll get to read it soon. Thanks for a great review.
I agree with your thoughts... I didn't think it was spectacular, but it was definitely enjoyable. I thought the feel/tone of the book was quite eerie at times, and that was enough creepiness for me.
did you say Latino? Girl I am so sold! LOL
I keep hearing great things about this one. I'll have to check it out. Glad you enjoyed it and great review! :)
www.blackfingernailedreviews.blogspot.com
I've seen this cover around the blogosphere, but haven't really read anything on it yet. I knew it was by Lisa McMann, but I guess the cover kind of threw me off.
It sounds pretty good though and you gave it a 4 star, so I added it to my list. :) Think I'll give it a try. The book trailer looks pretty awesome too. Great review!
I have this one to read but have been unsure about it. I think I'll give it a try. Thanks for your insights. GREAT review
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