Cryer's Cross Review

Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Release date: February 8, 2011

Source: E Book from Publisher

Other books by this author: Wake, Fade, Gone

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.

Review:

Cryer's Cross was a creepy and intense new novel from the fantastic author of the Wake trilogy. Cryer's Cross had me on the edge of my seat, anxious to find out what was going to happen and I never knew until the end. I love mystery and suspense and McMann certainly didn't disappoint in this aspect.

I liked the main character Kendall because she was so developed and layered. From her OCD to her best friend Nico, Kendall had a lot going on. Especially because a young girl in her town had recently gone missing and her OCD was forcing her to think, and think, and think about what happened to Tiffany. When Kendall’s boyfriend Nico disappears the plot really takes off. Readers never really got to know Nico that well, but through Kendall’s emotions and memories, I got to understand what a sweet and dedicated guy he was. No one knew what had happened to Tiffany and Nico or even if their disappearances were connected.

The town of Cryer’s Cross was one of those small towns where everyone knew everything about everyone else. So without her best friend and semi-boyfriend, Kendall didn’t really have anyone. Until she befriends Marlena and Jacian. Marlena was a sweet girl who connected immediately with Kendall. Her brother, Jacian was more elusive and readers don’t really get to see his sweet side until later in the novel. When Jacian and Kendall’s relationship starts to develop into more than constant arguing and their attraction turns into something more serious, I started to really like him. He was there for Kendall as she dealt with Nico’s disappearance and he understood her OCD like no one else.

The best part of this novel was the mystery and suspense. I truly had no idea what was going to happen until the last few pages. I was sucked into the last few chapters and couldn’t put it down even when things got down right creepy. McMann never ceased to throw in an unexpected twist or turn in the plot and wove such a complex story that I couldn’t figure anything out.

Lisa McMann is a great writer and Cryer’s Cross did not disappoint. It was creepy and intense and left me eager to read more by this talented author.

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars