Betrayal Blog Tour: Review

Betrayal (Empty Coffin #2)
Author: Gregg Olsen
Genre: YA Mystery
Release Date: September 4, 2012 

Description:

In this action-packed thriller sequel to Envy, foreign exchange student Olivia Grant is stabbed to death after a party--and the prime suspect is her best friend. As twins Hayley and Taylor Ryan get pulled into the aftermath of this Amanda Knox-like crime, they realize nothing is what it seems. Could it be betrayal of the ultimate kind?
 
Betrayal features real-life crime-solving techniques, heart-stopping suspense, plenty of red herrings, hard-hitting ethical questions, and information about the Amanda Knox case that inspired the novel. As the crime unravels, so does the twins' past…and they must face off against a family member who may unexpectedly have carried out the worst betrayal of all.


Review:

Betrayal is the second book in a young adult mystery series that is centered in Port Gamble, a small town in the Pacific Northwest. Twins Taylor and Hayley Ryan find themselves in the middle of the murder investigation of a fellow classmate - British exchange student Olivia Grant. Will Taylor and Hayley be able to figure out who killed Olivia and why before someone else gets hurt?

Just like the first book in the series, the second installment is an incredibly well written and fast paced mystery jam packed with twists. The plot is very engrossing and had me hooked from the first pages. I was always trying to figure out who the killer was and what would happen next in the story. The paranormal aspect with Taylor and Hayley adds an added dimension to the series that I find really interesting. The characters are all fully rounded with unique personalities that make them easy to identify with. The plot is well executed and written in a way that makes it feel realistic - even more so since it features real crime solving techniques. Aside from the enthralling mystery, the novel deals with hard real-life issues like family, friendship, trust, betrayal, and morality. Fans of the first book in the series will love this new installment, as well as fans of mysteries in general.