Review: Envy by Gregg Olsen

Envy (Empty Coffin #1)

Author: Gregg Olsen

Genre: YA Mystery/Crime

Release Date: August 23, 2011

Summary:

New York Times bestselling adult true crime author Gregg Olsen makes his YA debut with Empty Coffin, a gripping new fiction series for teens based on ripped-from-the-headlines stories…with a paranormal touch.


Crime lives--and dies--in the deceptively picture-perfect town of Port Gamble (aka “Empty Coffin”), Washington. Evil lurks and strange things happen--and 15-year-olds Hayley and Taylor Ryan secretly use their wits and their telepathic “twin-sense” to uncover the truth about the town's victims and culprits.


Envy, the series debut, involves the mysterious death of the twins' old friend, Katelyn. Was it murder? Suicide? An accident? Hayley and Taylor are determined to find out--and as they investigate, they stumble upon a dark truth that is far more disturbing than they ever could have imagined.

Based on the shocking true crime about cyber-bullying, Envy will take you to the edge--and push you right over.  

Review:

This book really intrigued me. It had a bit of everything - contemporary issues, paranormal, betrayal, friendship, bullying, and suicide. I loved how Olsen mixed the serious contemporary topics with a paranormal twist. I don't think adding the bit of psychic stuff dampened the importance of the storyline though - it just gave it some spice, which I really enjoyed.

Almost all readers will be able to identify with and empathize with the characters, especially Katie. Her pain and the terrible things that happened in her life broke my heart. This book deals with some very serious issues that are rampant in our society today - issues like cyber bullying, suicide, popularity, cliques, and jealousy. Olsen gives a great moral lesson to readers throughout the novel, not just at the ending. It makes the reader take a step back and take a hard look at their own lives. Are we doing things that we shouldn't be - that could be hurting someone else? What could these seemingly "innocent" pranks and gestures really be doing to others and what could happen if they're taken too far? The fact that this story is based on true events really makes you think about things more seriously. The plot is fast paced and very well written. It kept me guessing and trying to figure out what happened to Katelyn. In the end, you find out the ugly truth and I just wanted justice for Katie - to see that the people responsible for her death paid for what they did. Although this is a YA fiction novel, I think it really makes you think about teenagers and what goes on in our schools and in society today - and it's not a good thing.