Review: Revealed (Rumors #2) by A.C. Arthur
Print Length: 239 pages
Publisher: Alloy Entertainment (October 27, 2015)
From Goodreads.com: When Nathan Hamilton was accused of killing Landy Connor just weeks before their college graduation, he lost everything—his friends, his reputation, and the love of his life, Tenile Barnes. For ten long years, the murder has remained unsolved, nothing but false leads and dead ends. Desperate to bring Landy’s killer to justice and win back Tenile’s heart, Nathan starts his own investigation. But the first break in the case comes at a high price: Landy’s old roommate Nicole is kidnapped . . . possibly by the same person who killed Landy.
Nathan and his old friends comb through every memory, every photograph, and every trace of evidence for clues about who killed Landy then and who has taken Nicole now. As they separate fact from vicious rumor and piece together what really happened that night, they discover that the truth is darker and more twisted than they ever imagined. The killer is close, waiting in the shadows, ready to strike again.
In the shocking sequel to Rumors, will the friends finally reveal Landy’s killer . . . or will Nicole be the next to fall?
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My Rating: 2 stars out of 5
Even knowing this was book #2, I had to read it from the synopsis alone. And while there were instances in this book where I kind of felt as though I had missed out by not reading the first one, it wasn't bad enough that I couldn't follow the current story-line.
And what I found? Honestly I didn't really like.
To begin with, it seemed as though the author could never keep the time-line straight. One minute it had been weeks since the memorial, weeks since Tenile found Nicole in bed with her fiance. Then it turned into months. By the end of the story, it was revealed that Landy had been dead for 10 years. Which left me wondering - which was it? If Landy had been dead for 10 years, why did everyone come home for the memorial that took place only weeks ago? At first I thought maybe the characters just moved on fast from partner to partner - but the more I read this story the more confused I became. Just how long had it been since one character had been with another?
And speaking of the characters... what an incestuous little bunch they had been. I don't mean that in the literal sense - but rather in the sense that apparently at one point one of the male characters had been dating Landy - and cheating on her - and then mere weeks, months, whatever later he was engaged to another of the group - whilst cheating on her. It seemed as though these characters that were supposedly "friends" changed partners an awful not. Even if the story had taken place over the supposed ten years - I still found it weird and odd that instead of finding someone new, they just went on to the next "friend".
Aside from that I found the story to be very anti-climatic even though it had the potential to be great. Without giving away any spoilers I can say this: there was a great build up to a certain scene - and then when the story continued after that, I, as a reader, had to wonder why. And then the truth came out, but yet the story still continued. Instead of giving closure, it just felt as though the story was being dragged on for a higher word count.
In the end, I was highly disappointed by this one. The author showed great promise, but the story just didn't deliver.
Even knowing this was book #2, I had to read it from the synopsis alone. And while there were instances in this book where I kind of felt as though I had missed out by not reading the first one, it wasn't bad enough that I couldn't follow the current story-line.
And what I found? Honestly I didn't really like.
To begin with, it seemed as though the author could never keep the time-line straight. One minute it had been weeks since the memorial, weeks since Tenile found Nicole in bed with her fiance. Then it turned into months. By the end of the story, it was revealed that Landy had been dead for 10 years. Which left me wondering - which was it? If Landy had been dead for 10 years, why did everyone come home for the memorial that took place only weeks ago? At first I thought maybe the characters just moved on fast from partner to partner - but the more I read this story the more confused I became. Just how long had it been since one character had been with another?
And speaking of the characters... what an incestuous little bunch they had been. I don't mean that in the literal sense - but rather in the sense that apparently at one point one of the male characters had been dating Landy - and cheating on her - and then mere weeks, months, whatever later he was engaged to another of the group - whilst cheating on her. It seemed as though these characters that were supposedly "friends" changed partners an awful not. Even if the story had taken place over the supposed ten years - I still found it weird and odd that instead of finding someone new, they just went on to the next "friend".
Aside from that I found the story to be very anti-climatic even though it had the potential to be great. Without giving away any spoilers I can say this: there was a great build up to a certain scene - and then when the story continued after that, I, as a reader, had to wonder why. And then the truth came out, but yet the story still continued. Instead of giving closure, it just felt as though the story was being dragged on for a higher word count.
In the end, I was highly disappointed by this one. The author showed great promise, but the story just didn't deliver.
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
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Revealed (Rumors #2) is available from Amazon.com
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