The Initial Insult (The Initial Insult, #1) by Mindy McGinnis
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on February 23, 2021
ISBN: 0062982427
Pages: 370
Genres: Horror
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
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An intense, suspenseful young adult novel that is the first book in a duology. Filled with references to Edgar Allen Poe stories and characters, this is a deep dive into revenge gone horribly wrong. When Tress Montor decides that she’s had enough bullying. and that she finally needs to know the truth about the disappearance of her parents, she takes it out on her former best friend Felicity Turnado by chaining her in a basement and threatening her with a good, old-fashion entombment Amontillado-style. But like a good Poe story, there are twists and turns as they two young women recall their shared history in an effort to determine where their friendship went wrong and what Felicity knows about the dark night when Tress’s parents went missing. The plotting is fraught with things unsaid and actions unforgiven, or unforgivable. This has sex, drugs, violence, gore, and torture – sure to draw readers of other dark series like One of Us is Lying and Truly Devious. The book is a page-turner and the ending will have readers clamoring for Book 2. Recommend for grades 10 and up.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth