Aftermath by Kelley Armstrong
Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: May 22, 2018
Date Read: May 9, 2018
Length: 384 pages
Source: NetGalley
★★★★☆
Three years after losing her brother Luka in a school shooting, Skye Gilchrist is moving home. But there’s no sympathy for Skye and her family because Luka wasn’t a victim; he was a shooter.
Jesse Mandal knows all too well that the scars of the past don’t heal easily. The shooting cost Jesse his brother and his best friend–Skye.
Ripped apart by tragedy, Jesse and Skye can’t resist reopening the mysteries of their past. But old wounds hide darker secrets. And the closer Skye and Jesse get to the truth of what happened that day, the closer they get to a new killer.
This book was truly great. I have to admit that when I first saw that this book would involve a school shooting I was really nervous about reading it. Did I really want to read a book about such a terrible event especially in the current climate? I really wasn’t sure but I decided to add this book to my reading schedule because I wanted to see what Kelley Armstrong could do with such a terrible event. I haven’t read too many books written by Kelley Armstrong but I have really enjoyed the ones that I have read so I trusted that she would deliver a story worth reading. This book ended up being one of those books that are almost impossible to put down. I am so glad that I decided to give this one a try.
As previously mentioned, this book does involve a school shooting so I was really afraid that it would be one of those books that would break my heart to pieces. In some ways, I guess it did because I hated everything they had gone through but it wasn’t the traumatic reading experience that I had feared it would be. The focus of this book is Skye, the sister of one of the teens responsible for the school shooting that tore her hometown apart just a few years earlier. Skye is forced to move back home with her Aunt and go back to the school with the same kids who knew her brother and what he did.
Jesse was Skye’s best friend and was possibly becoming more when everything happened. His brother was one of the victims and his life is completely different than it was before the shooting took place. Jesse not only lost his brother but also his best friend when Skye’s family quickly left town. Jesse isn’t really sure what to think about Skye’s return to their hometown.
This book was a whole lot about the characters. Spending time with both Skye and Jesse as they work through their thoughts and feelings about everything going on was very eye opening. This book was also a really well done thriller. I think I might have actually missed the fact that there was some new issues when I first read the book’s summary but I was quickly caught up in the events surrounding Skye and Jesse. I had a few suspects but I was never quite sure who was responsible for all of the things going on and I found myself completely glued to the pages. I really liked how Skye and Jesse were able to reconnect as they worked to figure things out.
I would not hesitate to recommend this book to others. I found this to be a thought provoking page turner filled with wonderful characters. I can’t wait to read more from this talented author.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Random House Children’s – Crown Books for Young Readers via NetGalley.
About the AuthorKELLEY ARMSTRONG graduated with a degree in psychology and then studied computer programming. Now, she is a full-time writer and parent, and she lives with her husband and three children in rural Ontario, Canada.
I haven't really taken to her YA books in general but this one sounds interesting.
I really haven't read too many of her books. Only 3, I think but this one was really well done and I am glad I took the chance with it.
What a tough subject but this book sounds good. Great review Carole.
Thanks, Cyndy!
This is unfortunately a timely book given what just happened in the US. I've not been a fan of her non-urban fantasy stuff, but this is one I think I would like to try.
It is very timely and incredibly well done. I hope you enjoy this one, Verushka!
i'm glad you gave it a fair go, with the current climate, i don't think there will ever be a good time to read books that touches hearts
I was afraid that this one would be a tear jerker but it really wasn't. I felt bad for the characters but they were used to dealing with the issues.
This one is on my list and I'm so happy to hear you loved it! I'm glad you found it such a provoking page turner filled with wonderful characters becuase the subject is definitely though, so it must have been quite a challenge for Armstrong to write it.
It is such a heartbreaking topic but Armstrong was able to turn it into a wonderful thriller.
I’m glad you liked it because I just added this book to my TBR list. It sounds very timely and kind of depressing. I hope I like it as much as you did. Great review!
Aj @ Read All The Things!
I hope you like it as much as I did, Aj!
I love Armstrong but have to admit for the most part, I've read her supernatural titles. However, after reading your review, I'm gonna see if my library will order this one in.
I actually haven't read any of her supernatural titles yet but they are on my list.
Oh my gosh. I'd seen the cover but not read the blurb for this one. It sounds gripping!
Great review, Carole. 🙂
It was so well done, Angie Elle!
I always love this author so I confess that I'm curious to try this one as well!
This one is definitely worth a try, Melliane!
ALl I can say is…ONE DAY!
I have a HUGE one day pile 🙂
This sounds really good. I would love to give it a try one day.
I hope you get the chance, Nadene. It was a great story!
Oh wow, I didn’t know what this about. Sounds emotional but it seems it would really make you think. Wonderful review.
It was one that made me think. It would be hard to be the relative of someone responsible for this kind of event.
It's been quite a while since I've read one of her books.
I am pretty new to Armstrong but have really liked everyone one of her books that I have tried so far.
It would make me hesitate for the same reasons. I probably wouldn't pick it up unless I really trusted the author. I still need to try her books. It sounds like she did a masterful job with it.
I came so close to ignoring this one but kept going back to it and really only requested it because of the author. It was a gamble that worked out for me.
Agreed. I too was worried, but it was done well and focused on those left behind.
I liked the way she focused on those close to the shooting but years after the occurance.
It's absolutely heartbreaking that there's another one of these in the news. :/
It really is.
Oh, this does sound amazing. Not another school shooting, instead the mystery involved. I wish I had requested this! I own books by her but haven't read her yet. Does watching Bitten count? ha! I need this audiobook!
I really loved the mystery aspect of this book. I haven't read many of her books but the ones I have read have been great. I definitely need to read more very soon.
Nice that Armstrong can handle such a sensitive topic so well!
She did such a great job with this one, Greg!
I haven't read any Kelley Armstrong books yet, and I really want to – I guess I should start with the first in this series. And I should do it rather soon, as she'll be signing at an event I'm going to in late June 🙂
Great review, Carole!
Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews
This is a stand alone so feel free to jump in right away, Lexxie!
Thanks for the wonderful review. I usually avoid this scenario. It seems it happens all too often. But maybe I should rethink that and try this one.
I was really a bit nervous before starting this one but she did a great job with it.
The blurb would have definitely made me hesitate but it does sound like an interesting take on the topic and it sounds like it was really well done. I'm adding it to my TBR.
I hope you enjoy this one, Katherine!
I think this was an important for her to write, especially when she is targeting the correct audience. I'll hopefully be reading this this weekend.
I can't wait to read your thoughts on this one, Lily!
Ouch, you're so much braver than me. I may read this someday but not right now.
I was so nervous about reading this one but it worked out for me.
I'm going to have to try this book. I'm a huge fan of Kelley Armstrong. Great review.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart
Thanks, Melanie! I am quickly becoming a big fan myself 🙂
I am glad that even though this book did have a school shooting included in it, it didn't tear into you as much as you thought it might. Because sometimes the book is for those emotions and sometimes it's part of the larger picture, like in this one. I want to read this book now!!
I hope you enjoy this one when you get the chance to read it!