Jackson’s debut is well-executed and surprises readers with a connective web of interesting characters and motives. Online articles about the case and interview transcripts are provided throughout, and Pip’s capstone logs offer insights into her thought processes as new evidence and suspects arise. Pip’s sleuthing is both impressive and accessible. But someone is watching, and Pip may be in more danger than she realizes. With his help, Pip digs deeper, unveiling unsavory facts about Andie and the real reason Sal’s friends couldn’t provide him with an alibi. Unable to ignore the gaps in the case, Pip sets out to prove Sal’s innocence, beginning with interviewing his younger brother, Ravi. Andie’s body was never recovered, and Sal was assumed by most to be guilty of abduction and murder. The original investigation concluded with most of the evidence pointing to Sal, who was found dead in the woods, apparently by suicide.

For her senior capstone project, Pip researches the disappearance of former Fairview High student Andie, last seen on April 18, 2014, by her younger sister, Becca. Pip has known and liked Sal since childhood he’d supported her when she was being bullied in middle school. By the end, readers may be wondering if this is a psychological, paranormal or crime story, adding to the intrigue.Įveryone believes that Salil Singh killed his girlfriend, Andrea Bell, five years ago-except Pippa Fitz-Amobi.

She designs an absorbing story that appears to be heading toward an interesting sequel. Hodkin writes strong prose that engages readers and creates some unusual, attractive characters. Add to that her defense-lawyer father, who’s taken on the high-profile trial of the day and the book has one too many subplots, which, along with a bit too much description, leads to its excessive length.

Meanwhile, Mara tries to cope with a nasty student couple bent on destroying her and with a teacher who hates her for no discernible reason. Her relationship with Noah comprises much of the story, even as Mara keeps seeing her dead friends in the mirror. She falls for Noah, ultra-wealthy, British, handsome and perhaps untrustworthy girl-magnet. To escape constant memories, the family moves from Rhode Island to Miami, and Mara enrolls in a pricey private school populated by spoiled rich kids. Mara understands that she’s suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after having survived the collapse of a building that killed her best friend, her boyfriend and his sister. A girl tries to cope with her own survival after the deaths of her friends in this psychological-or is it paranormal?-debut suspense tale.

The unbecoming of mara dyer plot