Cryer’s Cross by Lisa McMann

Cryer’s Cross by Lisa McMann
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: February 8, 2011
Genre: YA, Mystery-Thriller
Pages: 242 (e-ARC)
Source: Simon & Schuster Galley Grab*

The community of Cryer’s Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshman Tiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD, 16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany’s empty desk in the one-room school house, but somehow life goes on… until Kendall’s boyfriend Nico also disappears, and also without a trace.

Now the town is in a panic.

Alone in her depression and with her OCD at an all-time high, Kendall notices something that connects Nico and Tiffany: they both sat at the same desk. She knows it’s crazy, but Kendall finds herself drawn to the desk, dreaming of Nico and wondering if maybe she, too, will disappear…and whether that would be so bad.

Then she begins receiving graffiti messages on the desk from someone who can only be Nico. Can he possibly be alive somewhere? Where is he? And how can Kendall help him? The only person who believes her is Jacian, the new guy she finds irritating…and attractive.

As Kendall and Jacian grow closer, Kendall digs deeper into Nico’s mysterious disappearance only to stumble upon some ugly—and deadly—local history. Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.

This is the very first book I’ve read by Lisa McMann, so I don’t really know what to expect from her or from the story. All I know is that the book cover and title is too intriguing!

Cryer’s Cross is a creepitastic, spine tingling and a definite page turner! I got hooked from the very first page.  Ms. Lisa has her distinct way of delivering her characters’ feelings and thoughts. She made Kendall alive through her powerful writing. I felt as if I am an OCD myself, I felt my heart broken when her boyfriend went missing. It was fantastic!

The plot has a solid direction. Why the kids or teens went missing? Who took them away? Ms. Lisa centered her story from these premise. But that doesn’t mean you know where the story is going. McMann threw mind boggling twists and turns together with the right amount of ghastliness, just enough to make your hair rise!

The characters are well set up. I enjoyed Kendall as a protagonist. I love the fact that she has an OCD for a reason. You can really tell in the story that Lisa familiarize herself about OCD. Just the way Jacian lets Kendall get through to her “rituals” is already a solid proof (that’s pretty much the way how to manage a person with an OCD).

I was left hanging, though, with Kendall and Jacian’s relationship, I was like demanding for more, but then again, it was completely understandable since the focus of the story is on the mystery that surrounds their small town. I just thought Kendall and Jacian look cute together.

Overall, I enjoyed this book! I got scared, my brain was left twisted and it was fascinating. I recommend this to mystery and thriller lovers out there.

*I received this free galley grab from publisher, Simon & Schuster via Galley Grab in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!