The Situation: Jordyn Monroe arrives in Washington, D.C. ready to start her first semester of college. After attending a predominantly white prep school in Connecticut her entire life, she is excited to be attending Frazier University, one the most established HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) in the U.S. It may go against her parents wishes, who are still furious with her for turning down her spot at Yale, but Jordyn is determined to make her plan work. When she is immediately embraced by her three roommates, Vanessa, Loren, and Kammy, Jordyn wants to believe that fitting in here will be much easier than it was in high school.
The Problem: While finding a rhythm with her three roommates proves to be fairly easy, and a welcome development, having Vanessa's brother, Devonte, appear in their common living room, needing a place to stay, certainly throws things off balance. The older man is fresh out of jail on a false charge, and the last thing Jordyn wants is to have to say no to Vanessa. It helps that Devonte is charming, intelligent, and helpful around the dorm, but the longer he is around, the more reasons Jordyn has to suspect that something is up. As Devonte continues to impart his wisdom on his young audience, the number of people hanging around the dorm continues to grow, as do Jordyn's suspicions. And when a roommate goes missing, Jordyn reaches out to an likely source for help.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult fiction novel set in and around the campus of the fictional Frazier University, an HBCU that Jordyn chose to attend over Yale, despite her parents' obvious disappointment. It is her first semester in college, living on campus with three other roommates, all from different places around the country. What Jordyn wants more than anything is to make friends and fit in, making it that much harder to risk being the only one to object to Devonte's continued presence, despite his heavy and incessant lectures, and intense attention. His ability to make himself the center of their world is as troubling as it is insidious, and breaking his spell will not be easy.
My Verdict: This book is intense. I could use all of the cliche adjectives to describe it: roller-coaster, wild ride, action-packed, page-turner...you get it. It is the first book that I have managed to finish in one morning in a long time. But I did it, because I had to know how it all turned out, even though there were many moments that were hard to stomach. Sure, the villain is terrible and does terrible things, but there are some decisions Jordyn makes that were hard to accept, even as I turned to the next page or moved on to the next chapter. This one is great for lovers of thrillers, true crime, and also people who love watching documentaries about cults. It is Jackson doing what she does best.
Favorite Moment: Jordyn gets the opportunity to go home with a friend for Thanksgiving, and their family is easily the most delightful group of people in the entire novel.
Favorite Character: Nick is the lone white student on Frazier's campus, but he manages to hold up under the inevitable scrutiny that comes his way.
Recommended Reading: Earlier this year, Jackson published her first middle-grade novel, Blood in the Water.
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