The Killer’s Cousin by Nancy Werlin, is a MUST READ. I loved that I listened the audio books version because the reader had an excellent voice, and I felt more into the story than I may have just curled up on my couch. The audio version had the creepy music, the suspenseful pauses. It was downright chilling. The only problem I had was getting too excited and accidentally speeding when the climatic parts of the story were read.

First let me just say that I’m a complete chicken when it comes to anything remotely related to dying, death, murder, or anything of the sort. I didn’t think I’d be able to handle this book without throwing the CDs into the freezer (remember Joey on Friends?). But this book did a beautiful job of being suspenseful and creepy without being scary.

The Killer’s Cousin is about a 17 year old, David, who was acquitted for the murder of his girlfriend the year before. All through the story, David tells bits and pieces of what happened the day that his girlfriend died, but we never get the full picture. All we know is that it was an accident, but it was still done by his hand.
Because of all the bad press and publicity of his trial, David’s parents decide to have him move in with his Aunt, Uncle, and 11 year old cousin in Massechusetts. His Uncle sets him up in his own mini apartment that is a converted attic. When he comes to this house, it is revealed that this attic apartment once belonged to his older cousin, Kathy, who died under strange circumstances four years before. David starts seeing a mysterious shadow that he realizes is Kathy’s ghost.

Meanwhile, he is dealing with hostility from his aunt, and even more hostility from his young cousin Lily. Lily is a strange child, with obvious psychological problems, and an even more obvious hatred for David.

I could go into more detail, but I would just ruin the story for you. While I will say some of the plot was predictable, it wasn’t in a boring way. Even though I predicted some of the events, I couldn’t wait to hear what happened next. This was an edge of my seat, can’t wait to jump in my car and listen thriller. What are you waiting for? Go read it!!

Belong to Me, by Marisa de los Santos started out slowly, but then rapidly gained speed. I thought it was going to be a story about petty neighbors in suburbia. Instead, it’s a deep and heartfelt story about loss, new beginnings, and hurt feelings. Cornelia is the center and the story teller, and the stories of Piper and Dev intertwine with hers. Marisa writes Cornelia in a way that makes me feel like she could be my friend. The heartache and betrayel each of the characters goes through is so real, and not over the top in a Hollywood kind of way. My only complaint is the way Cornelia’s monologues tend to ramble and are a bit confusing. But the overall plot of the book and each person’s story sucks you in, and leaves you as the reader satisfied at the end.