Grade: A-
Recent high school graduate, Tessa is reluctantly back from Florida, back to the podunk Pennsylvania town she’d rather forget, back to say goodbye to her dying father. She’s staying with her ex-best friend’s family. She hasn’t spoken to Callie since moving to south after both girls testified to witnessing an abduction turned murder when they were eight, ten years ago. But, Tessa has secrets and she fears the wrong man is on death row.
I’ve read THE DARKEST CORNERS a few times. The twists and turns kept me hooked. Kara Thomas gave Tessa a believable, authentic voice of a young woman abandoned by choices her parents made, reluctant to trust, fueled by her desire to find her sister.
Tessa came by her distrust and bitterness with good cause, but I didn’t like how both she and Callie lied often when unnecessary. I don’t remember either girl showing a kindness toward anyone, and at times they acted thoughtlessly. The characters dripped hopelessness and despair.
THEMES: murder, prison, family, parents, siblings, friendship, mystery
THE DARKEST CORNERS is an interesting mystery with an ending that left me stunned.
ETA: I enjoyed the audiobook narration.