Spring break. That hard-earned week of fun every student looks forward to the second Christmas ends. But in this book, it may not be something to look forward to.
Red Kenny, the protagonist, joins her friends for a cross-country road trip to their spring break destination. She can’t afford a plane ticket, so they decide to borrow an RV from a friend and take off. The cast of characters includes the drunk, Simon; Red’s best friend, Maddie; Maddie’s narcissistic older brother Oliver; Oliver’s girlfriend, Reyna; and that cute quiet boy Red’s been crushing on, Arthur. Halfway to the week they’ll never forget, the crew gets stranded. No WiFi, no gas, no tires, no help. Just them in the woods– oh yes, and a sniper, too. One that is convinced they have a secret worth killing over. Just admit the crime and the others will be safe. But with so many secrets in one room, who’s secret is the right one? And how much time do they have to find out before they all end up dead?
Broken into chapters by the hour, this novel is a handbook on the nail-biting thriller. Holly Jackson, famous for her popular book series, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder that has recently been adapted into a Netflix series, pulls out all the stops to maintain her crown as Queen of Mystery. As per her usual style, Jackson eases into the plot slowly, arresting interest with the strange characters she crafts, and the unique voice of her narrator. However, the story moves very quickly as soon as the action starts, with fast-paced dialogue and well-placed surprises. Ultimately, she twists a classic mystery into a Lord of the Flies situation, as the characters get increasingly desperate to save themselves at any and all costs.
Jackson skillfully weaves a tense and wonderfully descriptive backdrop despite the incredible limitations she placed on herself with the novel mostly taking place in the RV. She demonstrates her talent by keeping the reader closely engaged with carefully-placed plot twists and action-packed scenes mixed with intense dialogue and a well-timed backstory. Unlike many authors, Jackson manages to seamlessly integrate the key elements of her main character’s life into the story without becoming long-winded or disturbing the plot. Her protagonist, Red, represents Jackson’s writing style best of all, slowly developing into her personality and revealing her motivations in stages. Red is unique to many Young Adult readers, as her inner voice and the narration of the novel are intertwined to reveal more about who she is.
Red has been through many terrible experiences in her life, and the reader can easily imagine the intricate details of her life that Jackson is unable to elaborate on within the space of the novel, just by the distinct voice she creates. Her inner dialogue is equally scatterbrained and engaging, helping readers relate through the mistakes she makes and the humanity clearly visible in her actions. In doing so, Jackson elevates Red into a three dimensional character that could fit right into the world readers occupy. This gives the mystery plot a more realistic twist, and the increasingly fantastical and terrifying turns in the book seem likely to occur outside of the pages. Red also brings in a balance, with her anxious thoughts and ironic sense of humor.
She also adds an element of romance, as Jackson stirs into all her mysteries, and readers of her other series can attest to the quality of Jackson’s love interests. For those who love to read kind, imperfect, and funny love interests, Jackson has their back. Arthur is sweet and realistic, supporting Red’s character development while adding a lighter layer to the mystery plot. He is the perfect example of Jackson’s skill when it comes to making readers fall for her characters as though they are real people. In just two pages, Jackson can transform complete strangers into somebody readers everywhere will develop a subconscious emotional attachment to, making the plot even more arresting as they worry what will happen to their characters.
Most importantly, Jackson finished strong with Five Survive. Her ending will shock and surprise the most cynical reader, and the title has everyone guessing throughout the book who the victim will be. In this way, Jackson manages to invert the classic murder mystery, by delaying the actual murder to have it center in the plot, rather than the whodunit plot arc. This is a fresh new twist on mystery Jackson challenges herself while writing it in multiple ways, creating a book like none other. She crafts a novel out of destroying and reshaping the entire genre, and for all mystery enthusiasts, this style is a must read.
For a slow burn, dark and psychological mystery with top-tier twists and a stunning ending, give Five Survive a try. If you manage to survive reading it, you definitely won’t regret pulling it off the shelf.
4.2 paws
