Review: Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

Hardcover, 240 pages

Released: February 8th 2011

Publisher: Simon Pulse

ISBN: 9781416994817

The community of Cryer’s Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshman Tiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD, 16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany’s empty desk in the one-room school house, but somehow life goes on... until Kendall's boyfriend Nico also disappears, and also without a trace. Now the town is in a panic. Alone in her depression and with her OCD at an all-time high, Kendall notices something that connects Nico and Tiffany: they both sat at the same desk. She knows it's crazy, but Kendall finds herself drawn to the desk, dreaming of Nico and wondering if maybe she, too, will disappear...and whether that would be so bad. Then she begins receiving graffiti messages on the desk from someone who can only be Nico. Can he possibly be alive somewhere? Where is he? And how can Kendall help him? The only person who believes her is Jacian, the new guy she finds irritating...and attractive. As Kendall and Jacian grow closer, Kendall digs deeper into Nico's mysterious disappearance only to stumble upon some ugly—and deadly—local history. Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.

My Rating: 4 / 5

My Thoughts:

I should probably preface this review with the fact that I was absolutely blown away by Wake and now can't help but use that as my standard for all her work. I remember the day I read it & chatting to my BFF telling her how she HAD to read it so we could discuss it...and soon!

Lisa has a truly unique style of writing. Her sentences are choppy, yet in few words she can invoke anxiety and panic. In Cryer's Cross, Lisa does it again, keeping you on the edge of your seat (pun intended, what is with Lisa and chairs LOL!)

Why are kids going missing in this small town where nothing happens? Meet Kendall, who suffers from OCD to an extreme and it is her odd behavior that eventually helps solve the case. In addition to the mystery, Cryer's Cross focuses on Kendall and her relationship with two boys: Nico, the hottie quasi-boyfriend (she is too chicken to commit) that she has known forever and the new guy in town, Jacian, who initially comes off as quite standoffish and rude. Now this is where I can't help but make the comparison.. I LOVED the relationship between Janie and Cabel in Wake, but I never got that with Kendall/Nico/Jacian. Nico was perfect (though not in the story for long) and Jacian warms up eventually but easily accepts Kendall's crazy OCD behavior....if only boys were really like that in high school! Sorry, I just didn't believe it.

As the story unfolds, the reader is also given a glimpse into the mind of who is behind the behind, talk about creepy! I was hoping for a longer explanation, especially with one of the elderly characters so to me, the ending to me was a bit flat & wrapped up too quickly. The again, maybe the adrenaline rush had started to fade here?

If you are looking for a quick read thriller to get your pulse spiking at times, this is one to check out. And since I can't help myself....I highly recommend Wake after if you haven't already read it!