Review: Truly Madly Deadly by Hannah Jayne

Title: Truly Madly Deadly
Author: Hannah Jayne
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Publication date: July 2, 2013

Genre(s): Young Adult (Thriller/Murder mystery)

Source: Publisher (Raincoast Books)

Format: ARC

Pages: 272

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Sawyer Dodd has it all. She's a star track athlete, choir soloist, and A-student. And her boyfriend is the handsome all-star Kevin Anderson. But behind the medals, prom pictures, and perfect smiles, Sawyer finds herself trapped in a controlling, abusive relationship with Kevin. When he dies in a drunk-driving accident, Sawyer is secretly relieved. She's free. Until she opens her locker and finds a mysterious letter signed by "an admirer" and printed with two simple words: "You're welcome."

Truly, Madly, Deadly was freaking fabulous. It was thrilling, creepy, entertaining, and most of all gripping. It seriously kept me on my toes in terms of trying to figure out who the killer is. I am a huge fan of crime shows such as The Mentalist and Criminal Minds. Because of how much I watch them I tend to easily pick up on the tiniest hints and stories so I tend to always figure out the culprit quickly, which is why I haven't read a good murder mystery in a while, but then comes along this one! 

Sawyer's boyfriend died of a presumed drunk driving accident, however Sawyer finds out that someone murdered him, and now that someone will do everything, even kill more people, to keep Sawyer from getting hurt again. I find novels like those deliciously creepy and am able to read them in a sitting if they are good, and believe me, Truly, Madly, Deadly is so good. While I was able to guess who the killer at the beginning, Hannah Jayne's way of laying out the plot and making everyone seem like the culprit (but in such a subtle way) that I was doubting myself throughout the whole novel. Very tiny hints were dropped about each person that make you think that maybe this is the killer, and not that one. I was playing Guess Who? (if you guys know this game) till the last couple of pages before the killer was revealed, then I had my "AHA!" moment. 

Sawyer as a protagonist was great; Jayne portrayed her in a realistic way. Sawyer was not perfect by any means, she kept the letter from her family, friends, and even the police. I personally would have ran to the police station and handed it to them, but she decided to do this on her own. However things escalated from then on and I believe her decisions and action was well thought out and she tried to protect her family, even if it meant implicating her in some serious business. 

Overall, Truly, Madly, Deadly was able to keep me engaged and at the edge of my seat throughout the whole book. It is one of the best thriller/murder YA novels I have read in a while and I can't wait to pick up any new books released by Ms. Hannah Jayne!