By Kelley Armstrong
Three years after the school shooting at North Hampton High, Skye Gilchrist is moving back to Riverside to live with her aunt Mae. Though her brother Luka Gilchrist died in the shooting, he wasn’t exactly innocent. He was one of the shooters. Jesse Mandal, Skye’s best friend before she left Riverside, was also affected. His brother Jamil was one of the few who were killed in the shooting. With unresolved feelings from the shooting, Skye and Jesse’s friendship came to a halt until she returned three years later. Together, they uncover pieces of evidence that shatters everything people came to believe happened that day, including Luka Gilchrist being guilty.
Aftermath had the perfect amount of mystery/suspense, with relatable relationships throughout every character in the book. This was a fast-paced novel and never had a dull moment. I was constantly on the edge of my seat! Aftermath has a beautifully crafted plot and a phenomenal ending that was both unexpected and yet came to a full conclusion. When reading, I felt very connected to the characters, almost like I knew every single detail about them because they were so intricately described. I wish the author made the message of the book more prevalent. I wasn’t sure what the underlying message or take away was from the novel. Other than that, I thought it was a good read and entertaining. It included many aspects of a good novel such as character development, suspense, humour and twists. I recommend this to anyone who appreciates a cleverly crafted, jaw-dropping mystery/ suspense including adorable wittiness and teen romance all in one.
-Viktoria S.