Every year, it comes. And every year, it reminds Grace that someone knows her deepest secret–the secret whose silence has tormented Grace over the years. That secret began with an innocent gang of teenage friends who called themselves The Kitty Committee. The Kitty Committee of Grace’s youth was ostensibly a group of friendship and support. But the friends fell victim to the ringleader’s … the ringleader’s manipulative personality and recklessness, which set the girls on a course of vigilante justice, culminating in an act that will forever change their lives, an act that becomes their shared secret.
Grace’s silence and guilt has led to over twenty years of disappointing relationships, an inability to commit, and a crisis of morality. And no matter how much Grace has suffered and lost, still it comes every year. The reminder that someone out there wants The Kitty Committee to suffer–someone who won’t forget and won’t forgive.
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The Kitty Committee is a stand-alone novel by Kathryn Berla. This is my third novel by this author.
20 years before, Grace was apart of the Kitty Committee, a group of teens meant to be a group of support and friendship until the leader manipulates everyone into doing crimes that changes everyone lives including a secret that they all share.
Each year a letter arrives, tormenting Grace with the secret that she can never forget or move forward from.
Words can describe how on edge I was while reading this book. I am generally not a fan of suspense but this is written so well with complex and interesting characters, one can help but fall in to the story and continuing reading til the last page.
It makes you want to see what is going to happen next and how everyone has been affected by it.
I have read other books by this author but I must say this is one that is going to stay with me and make me wanna read more in the genre.
The Kitty Committee: A Novel of Suspense by Kathryn Berla is a suspenseful read full of secrets and mysteries. It kind of reminded me of mean girls with Carly as the “Regina George” of the book. It was kind of a slow start but it was also interesting. It’s a well written book about the power of friendship and how some friendships can just be catastrophic. Carly’s mannerisms and need to control were interesting and honestly one part of the story I found especially interesting. It just really makes you think about people and how different we all are. And how we all think. Overall I enjoyed it and would read other books by Kathryn. 4 star rating.
The Kitty Committee is a suspenseful tale written by Kathryn Berla. It was mysterious and entertaining. The story was a little slow going for me, at first. But once I
I got into the swing of it, it was really enjoyable.
Grace and her not so nice group of friends, The Kitty Committee, share a secret. A secret that has played on Grace’s mind for year, leading to unrest and unfulfilling relationships. It was great witnessing it all unfold and how it ended. Many moments of suspense and intensity made this novel hard to put down. The dynamic of women and their propensity to bicker and put each other down instead of propping a fellow girl up, was evident in this story. An engaging story that would suit lovers of the twisty and unusual. 4 stars
WOW! What an amazing surprise this story was. I love mystery and suspense but it’s something I rarely have been reading lately but this story totally got me back into the mood!
Grace grew up traveling with her family in South America who are missionaries. Her father sustains an injury so they head back to California where they decide to finally stay. As Grace enters school she sees just how different she is from the other students which is a hard adjustment for her. Two girls decide to take her under their wing and they form the Kitty Committee. In this group of three, only they matter, nothing gets in between them.
Carly is the gorgeous but incredibly manipulative of Maggie and Grace. She digs her claws in deep and there is no way to get out from under her. When she feels like she’s been wronged by Maggie and Grace they must prove their loyalty that haunts them for years to come.
This book was AMAZING! It’ll tangle you in its web and not let you go until the very end.
The Kitty Committee was a well-written and interesting story. Kind of like taking a peek into what happens to the mean clique at school after they are all grown up. Would they regret things they have done? Would anyone hold animosity towards them years later? It also shows how even the most seemingly popular, look down their nose at you people in school, were just trying to fit somewhere. Or following the leader. I enjoyed this read, though I was hoping for a bit more suspense, since it’s labeled as a suspenseful book.
The Kitty Committee: A Novel of Suspense by Kathryn Berla was a breath taking mystery novel. Grabbing my attention from page one and not letting go until the back cover. I easily lost myself in the pages, getting tangled in the words intertwining the past and present as the characters moved from one memory to the next. The mystery aspect of the story really made this story a unique test that I wasn’t prepared for but really showed how well the author could pull you into a story. Getting to know Grace and how secrets from the past could steer her life in such ways. The self-doubt and constant questioning of who she is not only as a woman but as to how her life has turned out really made this for an interesting book. Grace’s friends have all created a sort of “Kitty Committee” and this group all share the same secret as Grace. But can a group of people really be trusted with a secret this big. When tragedy strikes the Kitty Committee it will take them all sticking together to make it out alive. Berla is a new to me author, but I am so happy that I picked this story up. She pulled me in from page one and didn’t let go until the very end. If you are looking for a great story that is sure to keep you guessing and heart racing than this is one you definitely need to own for your collection. I can’t wait to see what Berla brings her readers next, because if it is anything like this story I will be first in line to buy it.
The Kitty Committee: A Novel of Suspense has all you can ask for from mystery, fear and suspense. The story grabs you in from the first page and you do not want to put it down till the last page. The story flows, is engaging and well written. Ms. Berla has a way with her words, so descriptive. The many twists and turns will leave you guessing as well as being taken on an emotional roller coaster ride. The characters are real and believable. We all know some mean girls or went to school with them. The story takes place between the past and present, but the transitions between the two are down with ease. I highly recommend The Kitty Committee.
The Kitty Committee was my first ever experience by Kathryn Berla. I was captivated by the synopsis and the promise of a deep secret that could be thrilling.
I have to say that I was definitely entertained with this book. I sat while reading, trying to figure out what the secret was, and what the outcome would be. I couldn’t help but feel that thrill and suspense while reading the book. The author did a really good job at writing this book, and creating the characters. This was a definite 4 Star Book for me.
The Kitty Committee by Kathryn Berla
Four Stars
The Kitty Committee: A Novel of Suspense is not the first book I have read by Kathryn Berla, however it is my new favorite. This mystery had me hooked on the very first page and I just couldn’t put it down until I finished it. The secret was kept close to the vest for quite a bit of the book which had me guessing what it would be. I loved how the story jumps in time as Grace tell what is going on in her memories. It spirals around a group of girls that formed during high school and continued on. This story had me frustrated at times because I felt Grace should have known better than to stick with the Kitty Committee when things started going sideways. I have always enjoyed Kathryn’s books and I would recommend it to those that are looking for a good mystery.
I give The Kitty Committee: A Novel of Suspense by Kathryn Berla, 4 stars.
This book is about Grace. She never really fit in. When she does find some people to fit in with in high school, she will do anything to keep these friends. Some of the decisions she made haunt her for the rest of her life. She cannot get away from them. And someone wants to make sure she doesn’t forget. Who is doing this? When will it end.
This was such an interesting book. Full of suspense, it keeps you goin until the very end. I do not want to give anything away, but I will say that there a few surprises along the way. It is so well written, I was on the edge of my seat until the end. Grace was a good main character, seeing her grow up and change was hard, but very real.
If you like a good suspense about something that has been done in the past, this book is for you.
The Kitty Committee by Kathryn Berla is a five star novel. I was roped into this story right off the bat. I found it intriguing how Grace was raised as a daughter of missionaries. Coming back to the United States is hard for s teenager and trying to integrate into normal high school life. Being a girl is hard. Being a girl in high school when you don’t know the normal customs is extremely difficult. As Grace tries to find her way, she becomes friends with the mean girls. She didn’t know it at the time, but after they formed their own type of ‘sorority’ called the Kitty Committee, she realizes she is on the wrong path but feels that she can’t do anything about it. Now that she is in, she knows too much to leave. Some things they have done will never be forgotten. Someone out there knows their secret also. The letters in the mail prove it. What they do with that information, she doesn’t know. She just knows it is scary and can’t understand what is going to come of it. Can there be forgiveness to a decades old situation?
3.5 stars
THE KITTY COMMITTEE grabbed me from the very first page. The story sets up in such a way that you know there is a mystery as to the what, why and who. I was looking forward to digging in and moving into the story.
The story is told from the protagonist’s point of view and we are immediately introduced to an antagonist. I could not understand why Grace would even call Carly because Carly clearly didn’t care about what was going on. I was angry from the get go. Like why??? For me, it didn’t get much better than that.
Grace “tells the story” in flashbacks between high school, now, after college, high school, etc. and at times it was a little frustrating because it was too seamless. Almost like a puzzle with pieces that fit so perfectly together yet they are from different puzzles (does that make sense?). Also, there is a lot of build up and then ~shoulder shrug~ It’s over.
I read A LOT and I don’t always remember what authors names that I have read. I absolutely have authors I will “one click” because I’ve enjoyed their past works and others I look forward to being introduced to based on friends recommendations. This is an author whose work I have always enjoyed but didn’t recognize until I looked up what she had previously written. I’ve enjoyed her previous work, this book just wasn’t my cup of tea.
The Kitty Committee is a great read for people who like coming-of-age stories blended with a bit of suspense. This book has a lot of attention to detail which is both a tribute to the author’s effort to tell a good story, and a drawback in that (at least for me) the extent of detail started to become tedious about halfway through the story.
This book follows the life progression of Grace Templeton, a girl who has lived abroad for most of her young life due to her parents being missionaries. Grace’s family moves back to the states during Grace’s high school years. She has been out of the loop and her first year is rough, but she meets up with a couple of other girls who shape her path.
Carly, the ringleader of the group that calls themselves The Kitty Committee, is an interesting character…subtly manipulative to those who aren’t paying attention. She masterfully shapes things to fit her needs and desires. Grace gets caught up in the glow of being accepted and cared for. Decisions are made that set an ominous tone for the future. With a heavy secret hanging over her, Grace tries to navigate her adult life, but it isn’t easy.
The Kitty Committee: A Novel of Suspense by Kathryn Berla is a story about a group of friends from High School who are tied together with a secret but who knows about this wicked secret.
The story is narrated really by Grace and follows her remembering and retelling stories from her teenage years. She is a troubled soul who each year is sent a eerie reminder of the secret only three other people know, but who could the phantom letter sender be.
As some people have already said the story had a Pretty Little Liar vibe to it but it does not detour from the story, although I have to admit I could not really get into it that well. I feel the overall story was a great plot with a twist at the end but I felt I could not really get going in the book with the all the different flashbacks every so often with the chapters.
Although the characters were great and the story was a well write book, I felt at times getting frustrated with Grace. Although that said I would recommend the book for the story as some peoples expectations are different than others and you may feel differently.
The Kitty Committee: A Novel of Suspense By Kathryn Berla. Once again this author had me drawn into the story from the get go. This is a story filled with mystery, secrets and haunting pasts. I had a difficult time with some of the time jumps but the author did a wonderful job of trying to make them flow as easily as possible,I just felt a bit confused at times with them personally. But I still really enjoyed the story in its entirety. I’m a sucker for a suspense story and this one didn’t disappoint me, I was always guessing. The story of Grace, her friends and the past is one that takes you on a journey of how the past can be haunting. I personally believe the characters were well written and connectable. The storyline is well thought out and paced nicely. It’s a book any suspense lover could enjoy. I’m giving this book a four star review.
The Kitty Committee by Kathryn Berla is a dark coming of age story. It tells the story of Grace, a naïve girl who gets caught up in a dangerous friendship group.
The narrative switches between different points in time, so we get Grace’s experiences as a teenager and the impact it has on her as an adult side-by-side. This is very effective – we know something bad will happen and have some clues as to what but have to wait to find out what.
It reminded me a lot of Mean Girls at times. Grace’s parents are missionaries and she has spent most of her life away from America. Initially, she has a hard time adjusting to high school until she is accepted by Carly and Maggie. It also reminded me a bit of Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit, particularly nearer the start. I was worried at times that it was going to be too much like Mean Girls (not that I have anything against Mean Girls!) but the structure allows for the girls’ choices and actions to have much deeper and more serious consequences.
There’s a lot going on in this story – sometimes it feels like a bit too much to follow everything at once but it’s also very enjoyable. Grace spends some time travelling around Europe which was particularly fun to read about!
For me, this is a four star book. I’d recommend it to fans of high school stories like Mean Girls who are after something a bit darker.
The Kitty Committee: a Novel of Suspense by Kathryn Berla
4 out of 5 stars
The thrilling mystery book is one white knuckled, page gripping book. While thrillers are not my normal genre that I lean towards, after reading the synopsis, I was oddly drawn into this book. The author has such a urique way with her words, style of writing, and her plot development that you are easily enveloped into this riving world of Grace and her friends, all of whom, share a secret.
The Kitty Committee is the name of Grace and all of her friends, and the secret? Well for that you will have to crack open the pages of the book to find out, but it will not be what you are expecting. What worries the Committee, is that someone else knows their secret too.
Grace grows in this story and so do many of her friends. I said that the plot development is what draws you into this book but the characters are what makes it so easy to read. This author has gone far and above to create characters that are easy to love, connect with, and to understand. I would HIGHLY recommend this book for a book club!
The Kitty Committee: A Novel of Suspense by Kathryn Berla
5 Stars
I’ve read most of this authors books and she always has a way of getting me hooked early…This one took a bit and I wasn’t sure whether I understood what was going on till somewhere around the middle of the book. I knew she was building up to something I was just trying to keep myself on track to know what that was.
Even before understanding what the secret was I was pulled in and could not put this book down. Now I think back and wonder what took me so long.
This was an awesome story, and the ending floored me…I was so totally off base and had no idea who was behind the yearly reminders that someone obviously knew the secret that only 3 people should have known.
I couldn’t help but feel so very sorry for Grace through most of this book, I loved her and I really loved Maggie, although a few times throughout I just wanted to bang their heads together and wake them up.
I love this author, and she always finds a way to surprise me with her stories, you never know what your going to dive into when you pick up one of her books, Im a forever fan and will be watching for what comes next. I highly recommend this book, but pay attention and don’t give up if it takes you a bit like it did me, you won’t be sorry you hung in there.
Loved It!!
The Kitty Committee by Kathryn Berla
Stars:4
This was a well written book that focused on some serious topics such peer pressure, finding yourself, forgiveness, guilt, and moving forward. I feel that Kathryn Berla did an excellent job with welding present day with the past flashbacks. I felt that the way she intertwined the present and past helped move the story forward. However, I had particularly hard time getting into the books. I had a hard time getting invested in these characters and the story. I did enjoy reading the character progression for Grace.
Kathryn Berla’s The Kitty Committee: A Novel of Suspense is a thrilling mystery. The author does a firm job of nailing the suspense and mystery within this story. The scenes in the story are well told and the method in which the author uses to progress from now versus then is done seamlessly as if it was yourself in the present and recalling memories of the past. It’s not always easy for an author to handle storytelling within the past/present without providing too many or too few details, that was not a problem. The story easily maintained my interest and I found this to be a good read.