The Suicide House showed up on my doorstep a few weeks ago and since I’ve been on a murder mystery / cop mystery binged lately, it fit nicely into my reading stack. I generally do a bit of research into books I receive before I read them, which is how I decided to actually read Some Choose Darkness first. Some Choose Darkness (which you can see my full review HERE) is the first in the Rory Moore / Lane Phillips series and I figured I’d read it first. As a note though, you don’t have to read any of Charlie Donlea’s books in any particular order. He writes them specifically so you can intertwine his varies series, and frequently writes cross overs between the series.
This book is filled with a huge cast of characters, jumps between 2019 & present day, and switches POVs frequently. Even with so much going on in this book, Donlea writes clearly enough to where it’s easy to keep track of everything without getting confused. Each of the characters are vividly created and have depth that you don’t normally get when a story has this many characters.
Westmont Prep, a prestigious prep school, is still reeling from a double murder that took place during the summer of 2019. The murder took place at the elluisve Suicide House on the edge of campus. The ‘House’ which use to be home to the teachers, is overrun and unkept. However, the school’s secret society ‘The Man in the Mirror’ uses the place to host their initiations of new members every summer. The house itself is unremarkable until the initiation night leaves two of the school’s students murdered. The case seems to be open and closed, but a string of suicides at the school indicate that the case may really not be closed.
Donlea did a fabulous job with the plot of this books. There were a ton of red herrings and I honestly had no idea what the outcome would be until almsot the last page. That really makes this book and series stand out for me.
Rory and Lane, our two main investigators are also addictive to read about. Rory, may be on the autism spectrum and have a slew of quirks, she is one of the most notable Forensic Reconstructionist. She specialized in cold cases, but her brilliant mind makes her perfect for investigating into cases that have befuddled all others. Pair her with her partner, both professionally and romantically, Lane and they are an unstoppable team.
I can’t wait to read more of Donlea’s books and I’m already read for another book that stars Rory. She might be quirky but I really enjoy her unique character and view of these cases.
This book is filled with a huge cast of characters, jumps between 2019 & present day, and switches POVs frequently. Even with so much going on in this book, Donlea writes clearly enough to where it’s easy to keep track of everything without getting confused. Each of the characters are vividly created and have depth that you don’t normally get when a story has this many characters.
Westmont Prep, a prestigious prep school, is still reeling from a double murder that took place during the summer of 2019. The murder took place at the elluisve Suicide House on the edge of campus. The ‘House’ which use to be home to the teachers, is overrun and unkept. However, the school’s secret society ‘The Man in the Mirror’ uses the place to host their initiations of new members every summer. The house itself is unremarkable until the initiation night leaves two of the school’s students murdered. The case seems to be open and closed, but a string of suicides at the school indicate that the case may really not be closed.
Donlea did a fabulous job with the plot of this books. There were a ton of red herrings and I honestly had no idea what the outcome would be until almsot the last page. That really makes this book and series stand out for me.
Rory and Lane, our two main investigators are also addictive to read about. Rory, may be on the autism spectrum and have a slew of quirks, she is one of the most notable Forensic Reconstructionist. She specialized in cold cases, but her brilliant mind makes her perfect for investigating into cases that have befuddled all others. Pair her with her partner, both professionally and romantically, Lane and they are an unstoppable team.
I can’t wait to read more of Donlea’s books and I’m already read for another book that stars Rory. She might be quirky but I really enjoy her unique character and view of these cases.