Maddie Fynn is a shy high school junior cursed with an eerie intuitive ability that’s out of her control — one that entangles her in a homicide investigation. For as long as she can remember, Maddie has seen a series of unique digits hovering above the foreheads of each person she encounters. Her earliest memories are marked by these numbers, but it takes her father’s premature death for Maddie … father’s premature death for Maddie and her family to realize that these mysterious digits are actually deathdates, and just like birthdays, everyone has one.
Forced by her alcoholic mother to use her ability to make extra money, Maddie identifies the quickly approaching deathdate of one client’s young son, but because her ability only allows her to see the when and not the how, she’s unable to offer any more insight. When the boy goes missing on that exact date, law enforcement turns to Maddie.
Soon, Maddie is entangled in a homicide investigation, and more young people disappear and are later found murdered. A suspect for the investigation, a target for the murderer, and attracting the attentions of a mysterious young admirer who may be connected to it all, Maddie’s whole existence is about to be turned upside down. Can she right things before it’s too late?
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When is a book that when I first started reading it, I didn’t think I would like it, but was surprised that I did. Maddie is a high school junior with an ability to see people’s death dates. Maddie is forced to make extra money by her alcoholic mother, coping with the death of Maddie’s father years earlier. What follows is a serial killer targeting young people, the FBI looking at Maddie and her best friend and everything else. I was hooked into this book and it only took me four days to read it, I loved it and hopefully you will too.
LOVED THIS BOOK
Book source ~ NetGalley
Maddie Flynn is 16, a Jr in high school, and shy. She has a best friend named Stubby and that’s it. Her mom is an alcoholic and her uncle is a lawyer, but lives a couple of hours away. Ever since her dad died, she’s been taking care of herself and her mom. But there’s one thing I didn’t tell you about Maddie. She can see the date a person dies by looking at their forehead. That’s where the numbers are and when she was little she had no idea that’s what they were or that she was the only person who could see them. Her dad’s death was the catalyst for knowing what the numbers were. Because the date he died matched the numbers she saw.
She and her mom earn some extra money to help support themselves by reading people their numbers. Or someone in the family since Maddie can see the numbers in photos and video as well. She sees them all unless they’re too far away or have something covering their forehead. But it’s these readings that land her in trouble with law enforcement when kids loosely connected to her are kidnapped then brutally murdered. How is she going to prove her innocence now?
Wow. I thought the blurb was interesting, but I had no idea how compelling this story would turn out to be. I couldn’t put it down. Poor Maddie. Her life has been hard, but it’s about to get a whole lot harder. The kidnappings, the murders, the investigation are a shitton to deal with, but there’s also her alcoholic mom on top of that. And on top of THAT are the bullies at school. So much crap coming at her on all sides, but she handles it fairly well. Sort of. I mean, she’s still only 16 so it’s okay that she loses it a few times. I think anyone would, really. Or just go on a shooting spree. She does not do that, btw.
The characters, the world, the pacing, and Maddie’s voice make this a sweet spot story. Add in a murderer that’s hard to pin down and you get a fantastic paranormal mystery. I was sad, mad, and enraged throughout the book. The one thing I was not? Bored. If you like YA Paranormal Murder Mysteries with tons of heart then do not pass this one up.
Truly one of the best books I’ve ever read. Was forced to stop reading at points, my family was worried about me!
This book I read so fast cause it was almost impossible too put down! I even brought to my friends house and read several chapters there!
I have recommended this book to so many people (even those who aren’t big readers) and everyone has loved it. It’s a fairly easy read, if you remember the important details. I love Maddie as a character and it has mystery, realistic fiction, and sci-fi elements all in one. There’s also great representation of mental health and family issues. 9.9/10, that .1 allotted to my wanting it to be longer.
(I haven’t read any other Victoria Laurie books yet, so if anyone has recommendations, please let me know!)
I don’t really like realistic fiction. Its too real for me, and doesn’t have enough suspense usually. This book was the same. Yes, it is supposed to be a mystery, but I did not have any guess on the killer. And it ended up to not be one of the choices you are seemingly given. There was also way too much crime stuff. You know, where the police don’t believe her, and put outrageous accusations on people. I really hate that, because sometimes the people are clearly innocent, and the police have only a tiny reason to lock them up. Then they lock them up. It just annoys me, because I like to be able to understand my characters and what is going on. I think someone could like this book, if they are ok with that. The writing was fine. The plot made sense. Just all the Police stuff really shot this book down for me.
A girl who can see everyone’s death date across their forehead is a girl who everyone says they are afraid of. She’s called many unbecoming names. But she is also the girl everyone wants to talk to in private. This makes you believe in this girl and her ability. And all the good and bad that go with it. Super great read! Don’t miss out!