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Girl Gone Mad

Review

Girl Gone Mad

Emily Bennett is a therapist who helps children overcome their troubled pasts, yet she has been struggling to forget her own.

In middle school, Emily became part of a clique called the Harpies. They were led by Mackenzie Harper, who came from an ultra-wealthy family. All of the girls had money, except for Emily and the newest addition to the group, Grace Farmer. They committed some unspeakable acts, many of which came at the expense of Grace, and Emily has tried to keep what they did buried. The girls were never caught, and Grace never told on them. In fact, when Grace left their school, Emily and her fellow members thought they would never see her again.

"Short chapters, fast-paced writing with lots of suspense and twists and turns, well-developed characters, and a gripping storyline make for a memorable read."

But now, 14 years later, someone by the name of Beth Norris sends Emily’s mother a message on Facebook to let her know that a member of the Harpies, Olivia, has died by suicide. Emily’s mother encourages her daughter not only to go to Olivia's funeral, but also to connect with Courtney, another Harpie, to see if she might like to go along.

After the funeral, Emily's mother receives a second message about another member of the group who has died by suicide. Emily and Courtney begin to wonder if there is a connection between the two deaths. When Emily starts seeing someone who looks just like Grace, she's not sure if she's having hallucinations, or if Grace has come back to seek revenge on the entire group.

Avery Bishop, the pseudonym for a USA Today bestselling author, incorporates the timely topics of bullying, social media, mental health, suicide and poverty into the novel. Short chapters, fast-paced writing with lots of suspense and twists and turns, well-developed characters, and a gripping storyline make for a memorable read. You will find it difficult to put the book down as you will be dying to know what happens next.

Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin on September 25, 2020

Girl Gone Mad
by Avery Bishop