Brilliantly constructed for the upper age range of YA readers, A TRIO OF SOPHIES reads like a perfect tale for teenagers - female and male. Engaging and cleverly plotted, there's a depth to the characterisations and the manner in which some very current day issues are explored.

Many of us have been in the situation where our name was obviously popular at the time we were christened, and you suddenly find yourself in a school class, or social situation with an urgent need for distinction system. In this case, it's a trio of Sophies (Sophie A, Mac and Twiggy) who all met up at primary school - remaining friends right through high school, until Sophie A goes missing. Told in the form of Sophie MacKenzie (Mac's) personal journal, the story starts 64 days after the disappearance, with Sophie A still missing, despite police investigations, working it's way back to the day that she vanished.

An interesting structure that works incredibly well, the voice of Mac is the main viewpoint of the entire book - she's the quiet one, the diligent student, the girl who wants to make something of herself. She's also the one that readers have to believe, but there's something in her telling that doesn't quite add up, and it's up to the reader to decide what to believe and why. The Sophies aren't the only characters here though - there are other teenagers, parents, and teacher James Bacon. The cast is all pretty well drawn out, remembering always, that everyone is seen via the view of Mac and what she wants you to know.

The clever construction of A TRIO OF SOPHIES comes with the way that this singular, insulated viewpoint, is interwoven, without the hint of a lecture or preach, with a heap of real current day problems for kids - jealousy, longing, awakening romantic and sexual urges, forming and holding onto friendships, and most devastating of all, adults who groom young people.

The pace remains high, the style of dialogue feels exactly right, and the relationship between the teenagers, and the adults in their lives was utterly convincing. Could not recommend A TRIO OF SOPHIES more highly - for adults and older teenager readers alike.

https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/trio-sophies-eileen-merriman ( )

Highly recommend this backwards diary about one of three friends called Sophie who go missing, written from the point of one of the other Sophies called Mac. Readers are taken on a journey back in time until we find out the truth of what happened. For older readers due to Mac having an affair with one of her teachers. Seriously engrossing plot where you can't help but feel you are not getting the whole story as you only have one person's point of view. For fans of One of us is Lying and similar books. ( )

This was a super enjoyable read, and towards the end, I could not put it down. I especially enjoyed, that it was set in Auckland, New Zealand, though I wonder how much mileage those teenagers must have on their cars.

The story: There are three Sophies, three friends:

• Sophie Abercrombie
• Sophie Twiggs – Twiggy
• Sophie MacKenzie - Mac

and ONE IS MISSING. Nobody seems to know what happened. She was last seen kissing her teacher.

The book starts with Mac's diary entry on the 64th day after Sophie Abercrombie went missing and is going backwards day by day. This style was initially a bit hard to read but is interesting. The book kept my attention and got me hooked quickly. I did dislike the main character, and there were parts where I just went arggggg…. There was also one thing which kept bothering me, but I don’t want to spoil the book, but that’s probably the reason for giving it 4 stars.

If you loved "One of Us is Lying" or "Two can keep a Secret" by Karen McManus, then this should be a must-read for you. I highly recommend you pick it up.

A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.

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