With MaliceAuthor: Eileen Cook
Published by: HMH Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: June 7, 2016
Format: eARC
Pages: 320
Source: Publisher
Eighteen-year-old Jill Charron's senior trip to Italy was supposed to be the adventure of a lifetime. And then the accident happened. Waking up in a hospital room, her leg in a cast, stitches in her face, and a big blank canvas where the last 6 weeks should be, Jill comes to discover she was involved in a fatal accident in her travels abroad. She was jetted home by her affluent father in order to receive quality care. Care that includes a lawyer. And a press team. Because maybe the accident...wasn't an accident. Wondering not just what happened but what she did, Jill tries to piece together the events of the past six weeks before she loses her thin hold on her once-perfect life.
Color me impressed! More often than not, I’m disappointed when it comes to YA mystery, so I rarely even try anymore. However, I loved the previous Eileen Cook book I read, so decided to give With Malice a try. I’m glad I did, because I had a great time with it! Betrayal, deceit, speculation, it’s quite the sensational story.
Jill wakes up in the hospital and doesn’t remember the past six weeks of her life. She suffered head trauma, among other injuries. I know, the whole loss of memory thing is kind of tired, and it isn’t exactly my favorite trope, but I love how it was done here. It’s actually believable and realistic. She discovers that she was on the senior trip to Italy when an accident occurred. Someone was killed, and now people are questioning what really happened. That’s all I’m going to say about the story or any other characters besides Jill, because that’s how you should go into this.
Jill is a likable character, but she’s a bit unreliable because of her head injury. Actually so much that is presented in this book is unreliable, and that’s what I love the most. What’s true, and what isn’t? Depends on who you talk to. It’s interesting getting the different perspectives of what people witnessed and their interpretations. Also how differently someone can be viewed by others.
The author incorporates various forms of media, like blog posts, social media, and police interviews. It’s fascinating and sad how it mirrors real life. We see it all the time how society will jump to conclusions and become judge and jury without having the full picture, or base their assessment on rumors. I love how this was done!
With Malice is a real page tuner that had me craving the truth until the end. I’m telling you, the mystery is done very well, and everything unfolds absolutely wonderfully. Honestly, it outshines many adult mysteries I’ve read.
Yay!!! I have this coming up next weekish and I was already excited but more so now. Great review!!
Oh, I think this book will drive me crazy! I don’t do well with deciphering what’s real and not. Lol. But this book has been on my list since it came out in the blogosphere. I can’t wait to read it!
I do not even know if I have ever read a Ya suspense
I love these multimedia narratives! You’re right that YA mystery/suspense can often be disappointed and oversimplified, and I’m glad that wasn’t the case here. I’m definitely adding this to my reading list.
I haven’t read a huge amount of YA suspense and my thoughts on it are pretty similar to yours – that they’re often disappointing. I’m not a fan of memory loss usually but I’ve read a couple lately that I’ve loved and this one sounds really good! I’ll definitely have to add it to my TBR.
I love a good story with an unreliable narrator, there is just something so addicting about them. It’s been forever since I’ve read one of her books, this sounds like a great place to pick back up with her again.
Hope you are having a nice Memorial Day Christy!
I’m glad you enjoyed this read, it’s sounds good! I don’t usually get along well with anything YA either.
Oh my! I obviously need this one! It sounds really intriguing. I love mysteries but as you said, in YA they aren’t done very well. Now this one sounds great. I love trying to figure out what the heck is going on and this one is right up there, especially with someone unreliable. Great review!
Oh I don’t always love books in that kind of format, but when done well… wow! Sounds like this is in the wow category and now I need to read it! Brilly review!
I heard a lot of the same things on another blog. I’m really glad to hear this. Can’t wait to nab it!
Oooh, me likey! Thankies!
AHHHH!!! I NEED to read this. LIKE NOW!! Sounds perfect, and right up my alley. I actually have a copy and just haven’t gotten to it yet. I WILL remedy that soon!! So glad you enjoyed it so much, and great review! 🙂
That’s one thing I loved about the book Dangerous Girls – that it showed how people have different points of view and that the public can decide something based on just pieces of a person. I am really curious about this one though. I love a good mystery and I keep hearing positive things, so must read!
-Lauren
Sounds like With Malice was written well Christy. It is funny how society jumps to conclusions on their own. You have me curious about this mystery!
It’s great to see that this one impressed you! I didn’t know about it but I totally get you about mystery YA
This set up does sound promising. I like what you are saying about it. I have similar troubles with YA suspense. Going on the list!
This actually sounds REALLY good!! A lot of YA mysteries fall flat for me but this sounds like it was done right! I’m hunting it down right now! Great non-spoilery review!!!
I’ve been hearing SO many amazing things about this book. I’m like you in that I’m very very wary of YA mystery books, but this sounds amazing. I love how it has blog posts and interviews and such.
And also the unreliable heroine. I’m here for this!
Great review, Christy. I’ll be sure to pick this one up as soon as it releases! 🙂
Glad you like this mystery! I’m not much into mysteries but you are right, when done well they are really good 🙂
Ahh, I am so glad you loved this one! I have this ARC and plan on reading it soon. Now I can’t wait. Great review!
I am still on the memory loss train. I love it! Don’t know why.
It’s tricky when dealing with mystery in YA. I think the authors don’t want to go too overboard since teens will be reading it. This one seems to be quite good, and I’ve seen it on 4 WoW posts this morning. Great review!
Great review! I have been wanting to read this one and I’m so glad that you loved it! I totally agree with YA mystery — hard to find good ones — so I am excited to pick this up!!
Wow, I typically avoid YA mysteries but you have me tempted to try this 🙂
I actually kinda like memory loss stories sometimes, and you’re right YA mysteries can be hit or very miss. In this case for some reason I thought looking at this that it was an adult book… anyway nice review, I may be adding this one as I like the idea of it. I like the trend too towards including blog posts and interviews and stuff t drive the story.
I don’t really like memory loss, unreliable type books as I get too annoyed and antsy lol, but I’m glad you enjoyed it! And it can be interesting to see different perspectives and the way every person has a different story since it’s pretty much always like that in real life too. And that’s great that the author was able to mirror real life so well, even though it is sad the way society always jumps to conclusions and makes judgments. Great review 🙂
I like mysteries, but I rarely read YA or NA mysteries it seems I usually go for the adult cozy mysteries or MG mysteries. I am glad to hear this is a well done YA mystery that didn’t disappoint.
I am not a fan of the memory loss trope either, but it can be done well sometimes. Ever since I read Burying water by KA Tucker I have changed my stance on it a bit, but it’s still not my favorite trope either. I like the sound of how the author incorporates media. Great review!
I got this one in the post the other day and it sounds totally up my alley! I love how you enjoyed the mystery and even though it is a bit cliche at the start, that it kept you guessing. Lovely review Christy!
Yay for a nice reading surprise. I totally wouldn’t have gotten YA Mystery from the cover. lol Interesting on the unreliable lead. Sometimes that really works for me but others ergs. Glad it was a hit this time!
Woah, this looks original!! I can’t wait to read it actually. I like the fact that it incorporates those types of elements to add to the story! Great review 🙂
I’ve been eyeing this one for a while. You’re right–the whole “memory loss” thing is a bit of a bore at this point in the game (and was part of the reason why I wrote this one off a few months ago) but considering the fact that this one keeps appearing here and there, and the glowing reviews I see for it, i have the urge to pick it up. Lovely review!