Gripping, insightful summer camp thriller
The Counselors is set at an elite, idyllic summer camp in small town Vermont called Alpine Lake. Goldie, Ava and Imogen met at Alpine Lake for the first time when they were 8 years old. They swore to be 'sisters by choice' and their friendship has endured. Ava's father is a powerful financier. Imogen is also wealthy and wants to become an actress. Goldie is a townie but is able to go to camp because her parents are employees there. The girls are camp counselors. Each girl comes to camp with secrets she hasn't revealed to other two. Goldie's secret is particularly devastating, and she has had an awful year. Then Goldie's ex-boyfriend, Heller, is found dead on camp property, his death determined to be an accident. As Goldie starts to question the circumstances of his death, she realizes that Alpine Lake has its own dark secrets.
The Counselors is told through dual timelines, which really builds the tension. The novel's strengths are the atmospheric summer camp setting, so perfectly portrayed, the complex and strong friendship between the three girls, and the examination of class and privilege. The enormous wealth of the campers starkly contrasts with the residents of the struggling small town. This gripping, well-paced thriller is an entertaining and insightful summer read.
The Counselors is told through dual timelines, which really builds the tension. The novel's strengths are the atmospheric summer camp setting, so perfectly portrayed, the complex and strong friendship between the three girls, and the examination of class and privilege. The enormous wealth of the campers starkly contrasts with the residents of the struggling small town. This gripping, well-paced thriller is an entertaining and insightful summer read.