From the start I could see what all the fuss was about; the premise, in old 90s style slasher sees our protagonist, Charlie, looking for a ride home from college. Charlie has baggage though, and not just physical, her best friend Maddie was brutally murdered and there is a serial killer on the loose, aptly named the ‘campus killer’. Has Charlie inadvertently hitched a ride with the killer of her best friend?
The opening act moves at a fair pace with driver and passenger talking but what really slowed the book down is the constant reference back to the previously murdered girl; Charlie’s obsession with Maddy bordered psychological infatuation.
What struck me about this novel is the decision making of our main character; why would she get in the car without taking the appropriate steps, why didn’t she run when she had a chance, why didn’t she take the offer of help when a character reached out to her? It was both frustrating and, well to be frank, insulting to females.
Despite aforementioned flaws though I absolutely love the genre so I persevered, I mean no one ever watched a teen slasher for the deep and intense story lines and Oscar winning performances - you know what you’re signing up for when you purchase the cinema ticket.
The third act is where the book really takes off, the action is palpable and the reader is kept guessing right to the very end. The characters are very well fleshed out and you can understand their motives; in fact they are all quite likeable even if un-relatable.
This was an enjoyable read with a very satisfying conclusion and I would very much recommend.