Actual Rating: 4.5

I read this in a few hours, nonstop. It was that unputdownable. Nine takes place after Sophie Xander has found out that she's adopted, and that her biological parents are horrible people. No longer sure of her own identity, Sophie lashes out at her parents, who don't know what to do. Despite clashing, Sofia and Ryan know they have to protect their daughter, especially when girls from Sophie's high school start getting abducted. Then, in a cruel twist of fate, Hayley and Sophie are kidnapped, and the detectives know they only have ninety-nine hours to get them back. But the plot thickens, when it turns out that this case has a much more personal connection than they realized...

Even though I'm already out of high school, I still have a soft spot for high school setting stories, and I knew I would have no problem clicking with this story. I love that the plot for this story was not only the mystery/suspense—Nine had a heavy dose of family tensions as well, and having that sub-plot in the midst of such intense scenes really brought the three-dimensionality of the story to life.

I loved that this book revolved a lot around Sophie's struggle with her identity, even though I sometimes found myself a little annoyed with her. Maybe it's because I'm cynical and old and never really had that extreme of a rebellious teenage phase, but I was occasionally frustrated with her immaturity, and her character development was expected. Still, it was there, and I loved the theme of family and identity being such a huge part of the story.

I've also come to realize that I really enjoy the mini perspective jumps throughout the books. Sometimes hearing something narrated by the antagonist always adds a lot to the mystery. The element of dramatic irony always pulls me in, and the writing style is simply marvelous overall.

Since this is the ninth book of the series, I feel like I'm repeating the same thing when I say I love this, and that I'd recommend the book for any lovers of mystery, thriller, or suspense. But maybe repetition is necessary because so far, this series has never let me down and I'm sure it won't let you down either! ( )

Jane Blythe never waits for the danger and the hook and comes out of the gate swinging in Nine, and I fear for some of my favorite characters.

Kidnapping and the murder of young girls.

The villain targets a venue that hits too close to home and the kids are in danger. The serial killer has his sights on young girls and their school. He enjoys watching them suffer, revels in their fear.

Early on I knew what was coming, but Jane doesn’t let it end there. She adds a twist. She takes it to a hand wringing, foot tapping level. Not satisfied with the expected story, she ramps it up. It’s not enough to take me on a rollercoaster ride, she has to have me flying over the edge along with the characters into a pit of hell.

I love that the characters are hard as nails when it comes to their police work and the evil that surrounds them, but as squishy soft as a marshmallow when it comes to the kids in their lives. The characters have been put through hell in previous books but that doesn’t stop Jane from adding to their horrible memories , adults and kids alike. I hate it for them, yet love it for me.

OMG Jane. WTF. Hasn’t everyone suffered enough? Blowing my mind where you have taken this. What does it say about me…that I am loving every minute of it. LOL

I love how dark it gets…and it keeps getting darker.

Best one yet. Mind blowing. Terror and horror fill every page as the end builds to a soul crushing tension that made me put if down, regroup, catch my breath, then pick it up again. I don’t know how she can top this. Give me more.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Nine by Jane Blythe.

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