It Should Have Been You

This book had me at the tagline: “Once I decided to kill her, the rest was surprisingly easy.”

It Should Have Been You is a gripping tale of Clara Seibert’s journey to prove herself innocent of her twin sister’s brutal murder. In the midst of a family falling apart, rumors of her involvement in her sister’s death, and a detective that doesn’t believe her, Clara receives menacing threats, warning her that she’s next. Taking matters into her own hands, she tackles her own investigation, Nancy Drew style.

What I loved:
In true thriller fashion, the author had me constantly guessing who the murderer was and who was threatening Clara. The mystery alone kept the pages turning long into the night.

What left me wanting more:
I struggled to identify the ideal reader for this book. In some ways, it is very young. The romance is especially good for an age appropriate clean read for young teens. But at the same time, there are instances where the book is not as appropriate for a younger audience. The author tackles some tough subjects that are perfect for the older spectrum of reader, but the central and secondary characters and plot scale a bit too young for that reader, leaving It Should Have Been You somewhere in between. While the mystery is masterfully planned and revealed in perfect little increments, the dialogue falls short. These young teens come across as very young, but some of their vernacular is quite dated and feels forced at times.

Final Verdict:
It Should Have Been You is full of twists and turns, and all the suspense thriller fans crave. Clara’ sleuthing will have readers constantly guessing, right up to the very end.