REVIEW: The Suicide House

The Suicide House

Author: Charlie Donlea

I am addicted to podcasts, especially ones that delve into creepy or unsolved mysteries and true crime. This book grabbed my attention not just because I'm always up for a "What evil lurks at the fancy prep school'' suspense story, but also because a podcast is central to the plot. If The Suicide House were a true story, I guarantee I would be a huge fan of Rory Moore and Lane Phillips! Rory and Lane have talents that make them notice details that others might miss. Rory is autistic and puts her senses to work as a forensic reconstructionist and Lane has a knack for analyzing serial killers. Together they are true crime podcast dynamos!

I discovered when I started reading The Suicide House that there is a prior book featuring Rory and Lane -- Some Choose Darkness. I read this novel for review without having read the first book...but I'm going to backtrack and read Some Choose Darkness and then revisit this novel. 

There is a lot going on in this book -- different story lines, the past case of students murdered at an abandoned boarding house near the grounds of Westmont Prep, and other students committing suicide, and more. There are also POV changes, lots of characters and events happening all at once. It's a bit chaotic -- but in reality wouldn't a case like this have about a million rabbit holes to make investigation a nightmare? I think the plot busy-ness added to the psychological feel of this story.....so much going on, so much hidden, so many things playing off each other. 

Great book! I already have the first book checked out from my local library's digital site. I think I might understand Rory and Lane a bit better if I read the first book and then revisit The Suicide House. 

This book definitely kept my attention from start to finish. I loved the podcast angle. The pacing is slow enough to build tension but not too slow, and there are definitely plenty of twists and turns. 

Loved it! I hope there is more Rory & Lane to come! 

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Kensington. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**