Monday, January 5, 2015

Review: When by Victoria Laurie


When by Victoria Laurie
Maddie Fynn is a shy high school junior, cursed with an eerie intuitive ability: she sees a series of unique digits hovering above the foreheads of each person she encounters. Her earliest memories are marked by these numbers, but it takes her father’s premature death for Maddie and her family to realize that these mysterious digits are actually death dates, and just like birthdays, everyone has one.
Forced by her alcoholic mother to use her ability to make extra money, Maddie identifies the quickly approaching death date of one client's young son, but because her ability only allows her to see the when and not thehow, she’s unable to offer any more insight. When the boy goes missing on that exact date, law enforcement turns to Maddie.
Soon, Maddie is entangled in a homicide investigation, and more young people disappear and are later found murdered. A suspect for the investigation, a target for the murderer, and attracting the attentions of a mysterious young admirer who may be connected to it all, Maddie's whole existence is about to be turned upside down. Can she right things before it's too late?

”add

Publishes in US: January 13th 2015 by Disney-Hyperion
Genre: ya visions/psychic
Source: Disney Hyperion via Netgalley
Series? no

Buy it: 
AMAZON.COM
BARNES & NOBLE.COM

Author stalk away: ~site ~twitter ~facebook

 

   I wanted to read When because the concept of Maddie seeing the death dates really intrigued me. I am not always all over the murder mystery types but with that extra element it did grab my attention. 

   Maddie is a character easy to sympathize with. She sees death every time she looks at people, even a picture. From a young child she saw these numbers, and realized what it meant when her dad passed on the number, date, she'd always seen attached to him. With this, Maddie has a dilema if she should tell people about their death dates, but her mom has nudged her into it because while they have checks coming in from a wrongful death suit, her mom drinks, a lot, and that money comes from Maddie's clients as they call them, who pay for Maddie to tell them their dates. 

   When she tries to warn the family of a death date and that person ends up dead, she is all of the sudden in the spotlight of the FBI who looks into the disappearance and then the murder and torture of the one she tried to warn. With all eyes on her, suspicious that she did it, or had involvement in the death, her lawyer uncle tells her not to tell any more death dates. Which is understandable. But of course, another new number comes around, and she waivers on if she should warn them. She is already being questioned, she's had several bad experiences with people not believing her, and she feels guilt over her dad, and the dead teen, and she doesn't want to add to that. 

   I like the friendship that was spotlighted. She's been friends with the awkward but totally golden hearted Stubby (oh how I loathed that nickname-- but we can't have it all). 

   It was wrapped up well and my questions were answered. I would read another Laurie book again. 

Bottom Line: Solid mystery, and liked the main character.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Would you want to know your death date?

32 comments:

  1. Eek! Can't wait for this now, the whole death date is what made me want to read it (and for some reason it reminds me a bit of Numb3rs). But yikes, the nickname, but like you said, we can't have it all. :( But come on, Stubby? Could've been Stubbs or something.
    I wouldn't want to know, but I'd probably be curious to, I mean, who wouldn't?

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  2. I just downloaded this book from Net Galley. I can't wait to read this one because it reminds me of Numbers by Rachel Ward. Glad you liked the mystery and the main character.

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  3. I typically enjoy books that revolve around death whether it be grim reapers, necromancers, etc. Kudos to Victoria Laurie for coming up with such a unique way to tackle the subject. I most certainly would NOT want to know my death date.

    Carmel @ Rabid Reads

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  4. Shit I don't want to know my death date but she is a fascinating heroine to follow for sure

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  5. Have just come from another blog where this was reviewed so it seems as if its going to be a popular read. Definitely a curse to be able to see such dates, the mere thought of it sends shivers down my spine.


    http://pettywitter.blogspot.co.uk

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  6. I was pleasantly surprised by this and loved the characters. So glad you enjoyed it Brandi

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  7. I'm glad you liked this so much, Brandi. I gave it half a star less than you, so we both enjoyed it. Stubby's nickname truly was awful, I agree!
    I would not want to know my death date at all! I rather like just enjoying life, and remembering to tell my loved ones that I love them :)

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  8. I've had m eye on this one for so long (way before they changed the title of it!) and i'm so glad to hear that you enjoyed this one. It's always great when a book has a fantastic MC you can connect with! I'l be looking out for this one!

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  9. This is really intriguing to me. I don't think I'd want to know the date of my death, but if it was a choice between the date and how, I'd choose the date for sure. I'm glad that you enjoyed it. It definitely sounds like an interesting read.

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  10. It's so nice to see a standalone book, one with a good mystery that is well done and enjoya. Glad this worked out for you, Brandi :)

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  11. Lovely review!


    this one does sound really intriguing. I don't read many murder mystery type books, but I thing this would be a good read to get lost in! The MC also sounds like a very interesting character as well!

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  12. This was a good review! I am not sure whether or not I want to pick up this book. I do like the idea of death rates being seen, but I have read a book called Numbers by Rachel Ward before and this idea sounds exactly like that one, storywise as well. I think I am going to have to pass it up.

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  13. Great review! I had similar feelings about the book. And don't get me started on the nickname, I grew up having a cat named Stubby so I had a real hard time with it haha.

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  14. Oh this would have intrigued me as well. Might have to check it out. I do like a good mystery.

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  15. This book does sound really interesting, I don't know why I didn't pay more attention to it before your review, so glad you enjoyed it Brandi! :)

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  16. This sounds great! And I love that there's a spotlighted friendship, though like you, I don't like the nickname Stubby. Great review, Brandi!

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  17. I really enjoyed this one even if I've already tried a book in this genre but it was nice. I liked the investigation.

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  18. I liked this one a lot too, and I loved the mystery, but my favorite part was the romance, or lack thereof. I thought it was so refreshing, how everything was handled.

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  19. No way! I want to just live life. We're all going to die at some point why spend time worrying about it.

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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  20. This has a pretty cool concept! And no, I definitely would not want to know my death date. It would pretty much debilitate me I think.

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  21. I love the authors adult books so I'll HAVE to read this!

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  22. This is intriguing. I would hate to have the ability to know when people were going to die... Still, it sounds like a good story.

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  23. When I saw this I thought of Numbers by Rachel Ward, which has a very similar premise. For some reason the idea of knowing when people die just creeps me out (so the answer to your question is: NO) and I decided to skip this one. But glad you enjoyed it overall!
    Jen @ YA Romantics

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  24. This one does sound good!! Thanks for sharing...

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  25. This sounds like a unique story to me and the death dates would be unsettling to see! It would be so hard to see things like that about everyone you love and those that you meet. I am very curious about this book and what happens to the main character. Thanks for sharing!

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  26. Hmm, no haha, I wouldn't want to know my death date. Would make me so anxious.

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  27. Never heard of this one before - I do quite like good mysteries though! And no, I would definitely not want to know my death date O.O

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  28. This is such an intriguing premise to me, and I like that there's a mystery. I would never want to know my death date though! :-)

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  29. I have heard great things about this one. I like a good mystery.

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  30. That would definitely be daunting, I don't think I would want to see my number, or anyone else's.

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  31. I don't think NO is a strong enough word, lol :) Awesome review, Brandi, I hadn't heard of this one before, but I'm adding it to my TBR pile. Thanks for posting! xx

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  32. I'm glad you liked When, Brandi. I'm kinda like you on murder mysteries but I like how this one is set up. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. :)


    Oh, and no, I would not wish to know my death date. AT.ALL. ;)

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