Review: Ten

Title - Ten

Author - Gretchen McNeil

Genre - YA Suspense

Published - September 18th 2012

Format - Hardback

(Goodreads)(Amazon)

Synopsis

SHHHH!

Don't spread the word!

Three-day weekend. Party at White Rock House on Henry Island.

You do NOT want to miss it.

It was supposed to be the weekend of their lives—an exclusive house party on Henry Island. Best friends Meg and Minnie each have their reasons for being there (which involve T.J., the school’s most eligible bachelor) and look forward to three glorious days of boys, booze and fun-filled luxury.

But what they expect is definitely not what they get, and what starts out as fun turns dark and twisted after the discovery of a DVD with a sinister message: Vengeance is mine.

Suddenly people are dying, and with a storm raging, the teens are cut off from the outside world. No electricity, no phones, no internet, and a ferry that isn’t scheduled to return for two days. As the deaths become more violent and the teens turn on each other, can Meg find the killer before more people die? Or is the killer closer to her than she could ever imagine?

Review

I’ve had Ten on my shelf since the week it came out but haven’t been able to find the time to get a chance to read it yet. I picked it up because it’s a remix of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None which was a book we read in school that I loved. So of course with this week’s challenge it was a perfect book to read plus I was on vacation and who doesn’t love creepy books while on vacation. Meg and her best friend Minnie have been invited to a house party on Henry Island by Jennifer. It’s not every day that they get an invite after Meg’s the reason that Minnie is no long friends with Jennifer. The girls take a ferry to the Island where they are met by T.J. who is Minnie’s obsession and Meg’s in love with. As Minnie throws herself at the hostess boy toy Ben, Meg is torn between mending the rift between her and T.J. and staying away for Minnie.

When they arrive at the house they learn their hostess won’t be arriving till later the next day but to enjoy the house. Meg doesn't know all the people but learns that they are students from another school. After dinner they attempt to watch a movie but without satellite they end up watching a home movie that says don’t watch me. The movie sends a few of the girls into an uproar as it calls them out. After the long day the reminders drink a few beers and head to bed. It’s when Meg wakes up to potty that she finds Lori’s body hanging with a suicide note. Little did they know at the time it was just the start to a weekend of Terror. As the body count rises Meg will be the one to solve who the killer is and why but will it be too late?

I like Meg she’s a genuinely good person which is rare especially one who will put her life on hold for her best friend. She’s the good girl you can’t help liking even if she’s given up the guy for her friend. Plus she’s smart a writer which is always a plus having a character you can relate to (not that I’m a writer).  I honestly suspected everyone in the house for a while so I didn't connect with them only because I thought they all were the killer.

I jumped right into Ten with high expectations what I got was an entertaining story. The concept however not original was well done. I like the way the story flowed along the killing was done tastefully not all at once but spread out well. I like Meg she's a great character but her Bestie is crazy and would drive me to move across the country far away from her too. The supporting characters have personalities which I liked the author gave them all a voice before most of them died. I found the story full of suspense and mystery keeping you on the edge of your seat till the end. I found the author's writing style reminded me of R.L. Stine & Christopher Pike so of course I gobbled the book up within a few hours. I really enjoyed the new take on the classic I think the author did a great job. I'm really excited to check out her other books.

4 out of 5 stars