Crime Review
We are in detention. How naughty. Five students are in there, all of whom has their own stereotyped identity. The brain, the criminal, the princess, the jock and the misfit. They are all kept after school having been caught ignoring their schools no phones policy, something which they all deny as the phones found were not theirs. Being framed for a crime they didn’t commit right in the first chapter sets us up for the entire book, as this is exactly what happens when the misfit dies suddenly in the middle of detention. Initially thought to simply be an allergic reaction, it soon transpires that it is murder, and the remaining four are all accused of the crime.
But why would they do it? Our students have secrets that they want to keep hidden out of fear for their futures. But somebody knew their secrets. Somebody who had a blog devoted to delicious, malicious gossip concerning all of the students at Bayview High School. Somebody who threatened to expose these secrets. Somebody who was murdered at the beginning of the novel. And now we have our suspects. Or do we?
McManus’ debut novel is certainly an interesting one. It has been described by other reviewers frequently as a cross between The Breakfast Club and Pretty Little Liars, and as accurate as that label may be, it assumes that the plot is nothing more than spoiled teenagers doing dirty, and it’s not quite that simple.
The true power of this novel relies very heavily on the power of McManus’ storytelling ability and the themes that she so effortlessly fits within the text. The anxiety that you feel when you fear failure and worry that you are unable to meet your families expectations. Being let down by parental figures and authority figures, wanting more out of life than has been given to you but finding yourself support your family instead. Sexuality is a common theme throughout the novel; sex, cheating, betrayal, homosexuality. These are regular issues that teenagers face every day. This is where the reference to PLL feels like a dig, because these aren’t issues that are wildly exaggerated and clearly don’t happen. These are real issues. Raw issues. Though some may not have been as well explored as others.
The plot twist is rather clever, though it does feel like the book is rather stretched out in some places, particularly towards the end. This may have something to do with the fact that the power of the deceased misfit is overshadowed significantly by a smaller, less developed character. It our misfit who is the most interesting person to read about, particularly due to revelations made by various other characters throughout the book, and it’s disappointing that there is not as much focus there as on the other main characters. Less interesting is the romantic relationship between the criminal and the brain. It drags on and turns the story into something rather boring. Without this addition, the book would be a splendid crime novel.
A great first novel by any author. It may be flawed but the writing is as engaging as the plot; It is very much one of those books you can read without getting bored. Due to the themes and the age of the cast, it might not be preferable for an audience above a certain age where teen angst deserves an eye roll rather than sympathy.
