Review: Dangerous Girls by Abigal Haas

Goodreads Summary:

Paradise quickly gets gruesome in this thrilling page-turner with a plot that’s ripped from the headlines and a twist that defies the imagination.

It’s Spring Break of senior year. Anna, her boyfriend Tate, her best friend Elise, and a few other close friends are off to a debaucherous trip to Aruba that promises to be the time of their lives.

But when Elise is found brutally murdered, Anna finds herself trapped in a country not her own, fighting against vile and contemptuous accusations. As Anna sets out to find her friend’s killer, she discovers harsh revelations about her friendships, the slippery nature of truth, and the ache of young love.

Awaiting the judge’s decree, it becomes clear to Anna that everyone around her thinks she is not only guilty, but also dangerous. And when the whole story comes out, reality is more shocking than anyone ever imagined...

Publication Date: July 16, 2013

If you don’t like books that mess with your head, then avoid this novel! Because it will leave you reeling and it’ll stay with you long after you’ve finished. The novel had a ripped from the headlines feel and was definitely inspired by the Meredith Kercher/Amanda Knox and Natalee Holloway cases.

The characters weren’t likable, so it did keep me guessing on who could’ve murdered Elise. The author did throw me off several times as the book chronicles the days leading up to Elise’s death and the murder trial of Elise’s best friend Anna. The timeline jumps around to paint a complete picture of Elise and Anna’s complicated friendship. The friends have their ups and downs and their past indiscretions end up as fodder for the trial.

I thought there was several thought provoking parts of the book including how the media can warp the most innocent things. Photos of Anna are released to the media and she is publicly tried because of her improper emotional responses following Elise’s murder and pictures of the two girls partying.

This was a quick and gripping read and will keep you up late at night to see not only who killed Elise, but the outcome of the trial. The ending will have you reading the last pages over and over again to try and grasp the mind freak you’ve just been put through. Highly recommend for mystery lovers and young adult readers.

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this novel for review!