A review by rachreadreview
Litani by Jess Lourey

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

4/5

• Synopsis: “In the summer of '84, fourteen-year-old Frankie Jubilee is shuttled off to Litani, Minnesota, to live with her estranged mother, a county prosecutor she barely knows. From the start, Frankie senses something uneasy going on in the small town. The locals whisper about The Game, and her mother warns her to stay out of the woods and away from adults. When a bullying gang of girls invites Frankie to The Game, she accepts, determined to find out what's really going on in Litani. She's not the only one becoming paranoid. Hysteria burns through the community. Dark secrets emerge. And Frankie fears that, even in the bright light of day, she might be living among monsters.”

• This book really deals with some heavy/dark subjects so it’s definitely not for everyone. But wow. Less of a thriller and more of a drama, but it still had me stressed and on the edge of my seat, turning pages because I needed to know what happened next. I enjoy the way Lourey builds tension - I thought that same with “Quarry Girls.” And the way that she describes the 80s Midwest really makes you feel like you’re there. That being said, I think I might need a bit of a break and something lighter before I read the next one of hers on my shelf!