Title: See Jane RunAuthor: Hannah Jayne
Publisher: Raincoast
Publication date: January 7, 2014
Genre(s): Young Adult (Mystery/Contemporary)
Source: Publisher
Format: ARC
Pages: 288
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I know who you are.
When Riley first gets the postcard tucked into her bag, she thinks it's a joke. Then she finds a birth certificate for a girl named Jane Elizabeth O'Leary hidden inside her baby book.
Riley's parents have always been pretty overprotective. What if it wasn't for her safety...but fear of her finding out their secret? What have they been hiding? The more Riley digs for answers, the more questions she has.
The only way to know the truth? Find out what happened to Jane O'Leary.
I have recently read Hannah Jayne's first novel Truly Madly Deadly and loved it. It was everything a YA mystery novel could be and I was excited when I found out she wrote another mystery YA novel, See Jane Run. This isn't a murder mystery though but that isn't where the differences stop between Truly Madly Deadly and See Jane Run. Unfortunately, See Jane Run was much less engaging and somewhat suffering an identity crisis in my opinion.
I am no stranger to birth secrets, especially since I watch a ton of korean dramas, however in See Jane Run, I just felt that the intro to the mystery was a bit… peculiar and unrealistic. Riley and her friend find a birth certificate of a girl named Jane and Riley's friend starts all these conspiracy theories about her parents being kidnappers, murderers, psychopaths, which gets Riley very worked up and concerned.. First thing I would do in this situation is LAUGH IT OFF, and move on.. seriously. I don't get how her friend's lame theories were the instigators to this whole mystery. Also Riley just didn't want to ask her parents at all.. and when creepy things happened.. she never really tried to reach out to them or even the police.. she just kept everything to herself. Also, the mystery itself was very slow moving and frankly quite boring at times.. However towards the ending, when the mystery was finally revealed.. I was seriously freaked out. I give Jayne credit for the creep factor but I wish she was able to keep me interested throughout the whole novel, like how I was while reading Truly Madly Deadly.
We also have the typical love interest who is always a bit suspicious, coupled with her friend, these two were basically the only secondary characters after counting the parents. I wish we delved more in their lives, but they were still great secondary characters. Overall See Jane Run was a bit of a disappointment but if you are a mystery fan then you should pick it up and read it! I personally still pick up any of Jayne's upcoming YA mysteries; if you haven't read Truly Madly Deadly, I suggest you do it ASAP.
Other YA Mystery/Contemporary novels:
Sad to see this was not as goos as Truly Madly Deadly, which I am dying to read. Great review Juhina. I love YA Mysteries too and I think there are not enough of them out there.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm, a bit unrealistic and slow. I'm not sure I like the sound of that mystery. I do like the idea of finding an unexplainable birth certificate and it's a good thing you were freaked out at the ending. Means that the twist was at least exciting :)
ReplyDeleteI've not heard of or read anything by the author, but I do like mystery books. I might give the other book you read by the author a try though :) Great review Juhina!
ReplyDeleteUnrealistic is something I tend to stay away from, but I am curious as to what got you all freaked out at the end. I might have to give this one a try, and I really want to read Truly, Madly, Deeply. Great review.
ReplyDeleteEveryone is saying that the characters are really flat. And that the best friend is really bitchy and mean. I'm going to pass on this one but I loved your review!
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