Shelf Control #164: The Cousins by Karen M. McManus

Wednesday, the15th of December, and time for Shelf Control once again! Shelf Control is a weekly feature hosted by Lisa at Bookshelf Fantasies, and celebrates the books waiting to be read on your TBR piles/mountains. To participate, all you do is pick a book from your TBR pile, and write a post about it–what it’s about, why you want to read it, when you got it, and such. If you participate, don’t forget to link back to Lisa’s page, and do also leave your links in the comments below as I’d love to check out your picks as well!

For the second week in a row, I have a young adult pick to feature, but a very different one from last week’s–a mystery/thriller–The Cousins by Karen M. McManus. Karen M. McManus is the writer of various young adult thriller novels, the most recent of which is You’ll Be the Death of Me. Usually featuring teens in or outside school who get caught in a murder mystery, these books keep one reading all through, as has been my experience in the couple of books by the author I’ve read so far.

In The Cousins (2020), we have three cousins, Miles, Aubrey and Jonah Story who barely know each other and have never met their grandmother either, for she disinherited their parents much before they were born. One summer, they each receive a letter inviting them to work at their grandmother’s resort, an invitation their parents do not want them to refuse. But when the three arrive at the resort, it’s clear that their grandmother has very different plans in mind for them. Not only that, the entire Story family has secrets and the longer they stay, the more are revealed.

Having enjoyed One of Us is Lying and One of Us is Next by the author before, I was interested in reading more by her so when this was on sale earlier this year, I ended up ordering a copy. I’m expected once again, a fast-paced and exciting read, which keeps one guessing all through.

Do you enjoy young adult mysteries and thrillers? Which have been some of your favourites? Any books by McManus that you particularly enjoyed? Looking forward to your thoughts and recommendations!

Lisa’s pick this week is Passing Strange by Ellen Klages, a piece of historical fiction set in 1940s San Francisco, amidst forbidden Chinatown, exotic food, and nightclubs, in which background unfold the stories of six women, whose lives become intertwined with each other and the city.

Cover image and book info from Goodreads as always.

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