Gr 9 Up–Misdirection during an intense opening scene launches readers into a twisting roller coaster of a narrative. Protagonist Crystal Donovan is desperate to win the upcoming video-gaming tourney in order to help her single mom pay off their substantial debts. But the competition puts a strain on her team; her friends also need to win for their own reasons. Then her little sister is kidnapped, and the villain makes it clear that she will be killed if Crystal doesn’t play the twisted game he has planned or if she asks for any help. Secrets multiply, forcing past lies to the surface, and Crystal’s list of suspects gets longer and closer to home. She can’t trust anyone, not even herself. Crystal must keep these secrets balanced or face lethal consequences. Despite the fast pace, red herrings, and the many deadly plot twists, the mystery of what happened five years previous and the current kidnapper’s identity is predictable from early in the story. Readers who finish will get less of an “aha!” moment and more a confirmation of what they’ve already solved. Crystal is wildly inconsistent in her both her capabilities and decision-making, a shortcoming that may leave readers confused and struggling to empathize with her. Some racial diversity is mentioned.
VERDICT An abrupt, too-tidy ending makes this flawed mystery an additional purchase.
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