Review: A great book with equally great characters.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 18, 2013
Enter to Win by Kirsten Jany is one of those books that remind me why it's good to read outside of my usual genres. This is a book I'd have been disappointed to miss. It has all the elements to make it a classic whodunit with a bit of trendy fare that makes it both contemporary and riveting.I adore the concept for this book and think it's quite brilliant. In order to boost the ratings of a failing daytime television soap opera show, the producers decide to hold a contest where they will choose 4 finalists to compete for 200 hundred grand. All the contestants have to do is to come up with the most compelling story based off of their real lives to be used in a future episode of the show. The gamble pays off and the contest is a hit.But as one can expect, the contest doesn't go as planned. Shortly after the finalists are chosen and brought to the producers' mansion, the show's director is murdered and someone steals the prize-money setting off a chain of events that result in the finalists becoming the prime suspects for the crime. What follows is their journey into self-introspection and the horrifying realization that one of them may be the killer.The plot is, in and of itself, interesting. But the real highlight of this novel is the characters. The more I got to know about them and their motivations, the more compelling the story became. The story is told in first person and switches point-of-view for each character's part of the story. Normally, this approach could be really confusing. But I think it was well done and added richness to the story. In fact, there was a feeling of voyeurism as a result that I think heightens the reader's interest in the unfolding mystery.Overall, this is a surprisingly fast-paced book and terrific story that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I would certainly seek out more work by this author.4 Stars for a compelling mystery that will keep you guessing who the killer is to the very end.Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.