Karen M. McManus cannot stop churning out YA thrillers, which is great news for her readers. Her previous book, One of Us Is Next (the sequel to 2017's One of Us Is Lying) was published earlier this year. Now, in the closing weeks of 2020, we get The Cousins, another thriller that follows the troubling legacy of the Story family and a summer that brings both questions and answers.
The Situation: Aubrey and Jonah Story, and Milly Story-Takahashi are cousins, but they barely know each other. Their parents are not exactly close, but it looks like the three cousins will finally get acquainted over the summer, as they have all been invited to work at their grandmother's resort island. The parents insist that the offer must be accepted, as over 20 years ago, Mildred Story disinherited all four of her kids with a one-line letter: "You know what you did." Once the children arrive, however, it is clear that Grandma Mildred did not invite them, and does not want them there. Even so, the cousins are resolved to stay, each taking up a small job on the resort, if only as an opportunity to find out what they can about their reclusive grandmother, each other, and what may have happened so long ago, that it has caused such a huge rift that has lasted over two decades.
The Problem: Being a Story on a 12-mile island is both easy and difficult. It is clear that the cousins are not held to the same standard as the other employees, which makes their jobs easy, but they are recognized immediately when they make it onto the island. It becomes incredibly difficult for them to uncover any secrets, especially when each of the cousins has a few of their own. Milly stays determined and uses her quick wit and pretty face to her advantage; Aubrey does her best to stay focused and not crumple under the pressure she is receiving from her father at home and her grandmother's associates on the island; and Jonah is simply trying his best to lay low and stay focused. The problematic Story family history has already cost him his summer, as well a few other things. Once the answers do start coming in, little is actually solved, and the Story cousins realize they may be in over their head, especially when the word "murder" starts to show up.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult thriller set during a summer on the fictional Gull Cove Island. The three Story cousins, Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah, will be spending the summer there, seemingly to work at their estranged grandmother's resort. The actual plan, of course, is for them to get back into their grandmother's good graces, and also the family fortune from which she cut off their parents. Greed is certainly at play here, but the longer the story goes on, the clearer it becomes that there is also pride, vanity, revenge, and the search for acceptance. Grandma Mildred's four children, Adam, Anders, Allison, and Archer, all want to be back in contact with their mother, but they all have different motives, and some may not be as ignorant as they act as to what happened 24 years ago. Even the cousins each have their own reasons for agreeing to spend a summer with a grandmother they have never met. Everything in this book is a mystery, and the layers are peeled off slowly as the cousins take turns telling the story.
My Verdict: This is a story. And I mean a really good one. The mystery and overall plot are both so well thought-out and well-written that it is difficult to find any flaws or holes. The characters are also well-rounded and easy to get to know. With three cousins that are different from each other, and also each trying to tell their own story, it is almost expected that at least one of them would not be as interesting or engaging as the others. But that does not happen here. Sure, readers may find one more likeable than the others, but I feel they were all three given equal attention and their own special role in the plot, which is naturally full of twists and turns. What is nice about those twists is that they are not overdone, and they come just often enough. Oh, and the ending. The more I read, the more I realize how hard it must be to write an ending that does not seem rushed, or that does not seem to have any unintentional loose ends, but somehow, even with a plot this complex, McManus nails it.
Favorite Moment: There are plenty of reveals throughout this book, but the first major one (you will know it what it happens) is my favorite. The clues are all there for the reader to figure it out, but it is still a satisfying surprise when it comes to light.
Favorite Character: Aubrey grew on me immensely throughout the book. As she becomes more confident in who she is and her own abilities, she takes more control over her own life and is essential in solving the mystery.
Recommended Reading: I suggest that readers start with McManus' first book if they have not already. One of Us Is Lying is where it all started, and I think readers will enjoy it if they enjoyed this one.
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