Tags
Child Pornography, Murder Mysteries, Paranormal Fiction, Sexual Exploitation of Minors, YA Fiction
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: Available Now
256 Pages
Symopsis: Sixteen year-old Echo Stone awakens in a cold sweat in a dark room, having no idea where she is or how she got there. But she soon finds out she’s in Middle House, an orphanage filled with mysteriously troubled kids.
There’s just one problem: she’s not an orphan. Her parents are very much alive.
She explains this to everyone, but no one will listen. After befriending a sympathetic (and handsome) boy, Echo is able to escape Middle House and rush home, only to discover it sealed off by crime scene tape and covered in the evidence of a terrible and violent crime. As Echo grapples with this world-shattering information, she spots her parents driving by and rushes to flag them down. Standing in the middle of the street, waving her arms to get their attention, her parents drive right through her.
She was right. Her parents are alive, but she’s not.
She’s a ghost, just like all the other denizens of Middle House. Desperate to somehow get her life back and reconnect with her still-alive boyfriend, Echo embarks on a quest to solve her own murder. As the list of suspects grows, the journey of self-discovery in which she learns she wasn’t quite the girl she thought she was. In a twists of fate, she’s presented with one last chance to reclaim her life and must make a decision which will either haunt her or bless her forever.
Bad Girl Gone drove me absolutely crazy! I loved the premise, but throughout the entire story there just seemed to be something missing. It was as if there was magic there right beyond the horizon, but it never quite materialized.
*Before I continue, I need to warn you about what could be triggers for some readers. One concerns the murders of children and teenagers, and the other centers around child pornography and the sexual exploitation of minors. None of these are graphically depicted, but some readers may have issues with these.*
I think most of of my issues were with the characters and the dialogue. I disliked Echo from the very beginning, which made it impossible for me to care about her. To be honest, I felt she was a spoiled brat who took her rather privileged life for granted. At one point, instead of wondering who would want to kill her, I was wondering who wouldn’t want to. And, making things worse is that her “voice” just seemed so flat and unemotional.
There was also an annoying love triangle between Echo, Andy, her living boyfriend, and Cole, her new dead love interest. I actually liked both boys, but I couldn’t figure out why they were so crazy about Echo. Plus, I think I can count on the fingers of one hand, the times that this plot device has worked for me.
There were several interesting secondary characters, with my favorite being Darby who was not what she first appeared to be. The problem was, that because of the relatively short length of the book, there just wasn’t enough time to develop all of them fully.
The story itself would have been much more enjoyable if the author hadn’t decided to add a second plotline involving the head of the orphanage. Perhaps in a longer book this would have been an intriguing and welcome layer, but here it was unnecessary, and took away from the central mystery.
I thought when the big reveal came I’d feel at least a modicum of empathy for Echo, but I didn’t. The villain was predictable, although their motivation took me by surprise. But because of my feelings toward Echo, I didn’t connect emotionally into an event that I ordinarily would have.
In the end, Bad Girl Gone left me cold, and no matter how much I would have liked to, I just can’t recommend it. I’m giving it 2 stars because I like the cover, the idea behind the story, and a few of the secondary characters. As always, please check out other reviews on Goodreads and Amazon before making up your mind as to whether you want to try this. The ending leaves me to believe that there will be a sequel, but I’m just not interested enough in Echo to continue.
The Shameful Narcissist said:
I hate when a good premise goes bad. That’s how I felt about Never Never.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
*Sigh.* When good books go bad. 😒
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The Shameful Narcissist said:
You just want to weep for the potential ;_;
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
😭
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Tony Burgess said:
I am not much of a literary person but stories can have a wonderful start and a good middle but the closing is problematic.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Definitely Tony. Unfortunately, for me anyway, this book started off badly, and never got any better.😒
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realthog said:
Sounds to be just up my street, though. A crime fiction/ghost story combo, yahey!
Is it YA or for grownups? (I assume the former — not that this need be a disqualification for interest.)
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
It’s definitely YA, but definitely for older teens. I’d love to know what you think if you read it!😊
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theorangutanlibrarian said:
Ah such a shame about Echo- I really don’t like spoilt bratty characters, so that would be massively offputting for me!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
She drove me crazy right from the first chapter. I was hoping because part of the book was about self-discovery, that I’d like her more as the book progressed, but alas. It just wasn’t meant to be.😟
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theorangutanlibrarian said:
Ahh I totally get that!!
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Stephanie said:
Yikes! Sounds terrible, Kim! Sorry it didn’t work out! Nothing worse than a bad book!! 😯📚 Hoping your next book is a captivating read! ❤😊
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Stephanie. I’m reading a really cool mystery right now!😊👏
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Stephanie said:
Yay!! That’s always good after a dud! 😊
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KrystiYAandWine said:
Oh, bummer. I was intrigued by this one when I saw it, but it sounds like I’ll be okay not reading it. Your review is very well done and explained, of course. 🙂
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Isn’t that cover really eye-catching? I know for a change I’m not in the minority, but there are some reviewers who have liked it.
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KrystiYAandWine said:
It does have a great cover going for it. 🙂
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raistlin0903 said:
Hmm, another book to pretty much avoid I guess, despite the great premise. Really hate it when that happens. By the way, you really read a lot of books: so cool to see, wow 😊
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Michel! Yep. I’m a confirmed bibliophile.😊
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Swapnil Pandey said:
Interesting to read
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thank you!😊
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beetleypete said:
I can remember when I started to realise the trend developing for books with ‘open’ endings, constantly left unfinished, so that sequels could follow. I don’t mean classic sagas like LOTR, but modern thrillers that used to have satisfying conclusions, then began to just have a series of ‘cliffhangers’, or unresolved issues, in order to attract readers into buying into the series, or specific author.
I think that’s a shame, and not a good route to take for an author, i my opinion.
Best wishes, Pete.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Most open endings or cliffhangers I don’t mind, as long as I loved the book and I’m planning on continuing on with the trilogy or series. Loose threads or unresolved plot holes are a whole other matter and are one of my biggest pet peeves.😒
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beetleypete said:
Nothing worse than a ‘pet peeve’, Kim! 🙂 x
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
😒
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vinnieh said:
This sounds like something that had the potential to be challenging and deep but floundered.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
It did indeed flounder Vinnie. 😒
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vinnieh said:
I hate when something flounders.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
😒
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Trang (Bookidote) said:
LOOL this sounds so bad with a good premise to start 😂
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
It was so promising Trang.😡
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Lashaan (Bookidote) said:
Points for the cover! You’re generous, Kim! 😛 Great review though. This really sounds awful.. Hope your next book will be far better than this.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Lashaan.The cover was the first thing that caught my eye, so I felt like I had to give it some credit!
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Jen said:
“I couldn’t figure out why they were so crazy about Echo” Oh I hate when that happens. Especially when I keep scratching my head wondering why possible love interests are actually interested in a character I don’t love. I’m sorry this book was a let down, but here’s hoping the next one you pick up is amazing!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Jen! I had the same feeling reading the Twilight series!😡
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Jen said:
Oh you just made me laugh so hard 😂! I didn’t mind Bella as much as you, but I never felt the urge to be bff with her. 😉
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Diana said:
I also read this book last week and totally agree with you. I ended up skimming through it because of Echo mainly and the reveal was terrible. I kinda hoped for a different villain than what we got lol. Great review.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Diana. Cool cover though.
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