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From the author of ‘I Killed Zoe Spanos’ comes a new young adult dark academia mystery.

A big thank you to all involved for the opportunity to review Very Bad People..
I won this ARC in a Goodreads Giveaway and I’m so excited to share my thoughts with you today!

I hadn’t heard of this author before Very Bad People was recommended to me.. But now? I’ll be looking forward to reading more from her in the future.

Looking for a light mystery where a persistent teen sets out to discover more about her mother.. only to find herself surrounded by secrets and in the middle of a decades old puzzle someone’s determined to keep buried..?

Look no further.

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  (Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Any purchases made through my links may earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you.)

Very Bad People by Kit Frick

Publication date: April 5, 2022
Genre: Young adult fiction, Dark Academia, Mystery, Thriller
Pages: 413
Standalone

The Bolan’s were once a perfect, happy family.
Momma was a dreamer who loved fairy tales and laughter..
Until the day she took her three young daughters out of school and drove the van into a lake.

The children somehow managed to escape and survive but their Momma didn’t make it.
It was later ruled a terrible ‘accident,’ even still, the town had their whispers.

Her oldest daughter, Calliope, always believed there was more to it.. that something, or someone, caused what happened that day.
And now that she’s old enough, she can finally begin to search for answers.

Accepted into the prestigious Tipton Academy, her momma’s old school, Calliope finds comfort in the memories of the parent she lost.
It’s not long, however, before she’s caught up in more than she bargained for and the lines begin to blur.
She may finally discover the reason everything went so wrong.
But some times, some secrets, are better left buried.

Four Stars!

Main Characters:

Calliope – Sixteen. Socially awkward. Trying to make sense of her mother’s death and why it happened.
Kathleen Marie Bolan – Her ‘Momma,’ the greatest mystery of all.
Nico – The possible love-interest.
Adam Davenport – Died at Tipton.. an accident or another puzzle?

Storyline: Intriguing.. but there are quite a few things going on.
(I think the author wanted more but it was, perhaps, too ambitious.)
Pace: Matches well with the storyline and situations. 3.5/5
Writing: Intelligent and Absorbing.. but was bogged down by unnecessary details. 4/5
Cover: I’m not sure it or the title suit this book as well as they could. 3.5/5

POV’s: Just one. Calliope.

Very short chapters (sometimes only one or two pages) work with setting a great pace and bolster the mystery of it all but also takes away from the ability to really get lost in the story.

It may not sound like it by the end of this review but I did actually enjoy this one.

The book starts off with a bang and drags you in with an almost audible snap..
(And I’m such a sucker for an explosive opening.)

Immediately you’re questioning the situation, the characters, the meaning behind it all, and the questions just continue to build.

Calliope’s love for her family is unquestionable, though, not as big a part of the storyline as I would have liked.
The multiple mysteries at play keep you on your toes and invested in peeling back each layer of the story.
And you can tell the author put a lot of work and time into the idea behind this book.. which makes ticking off any small criticisms all the harder.

I did want more from it. The twists and turns were there, and boy, were there some doozies., but I would have liked more depth and character development. This book had a lot of potential and I may be a tiny disappointed that it didn’t live up to it all.
Namely? I would’ve liked to get more of a look into the past, maybe a second POV, one of her mother at Tipton.. A few chapters dispersed throughout that gave more insight into that time period and how things began could have elevated this book from good to great.

We also don’t really get to know the characters all that well. Some, like Calliope’s family, are hardly present.. While others, like her ‘friends’ at the academy, play a roll in the overall storyline but aren’t that close with Calliope in the day to day. It feels like they are the facts we’re given about them.. not fully developed or formed ‘people.’

Calliope’s a nice girl (it’s easy to sympathize with her) but she was a difficult character to really root for. She constantly questioned herself, the people around her, her own memories, her actions and decisions regarding right and wrong.. I get she’s young (I’m sorry.. sixteen is young to my old, crotchety self) but I may have actual literary whiplash. And I would tell you if that changes, if she develops into a more confident, decisive character.. but that would ruin the surprise.

Those are just a few issues I had with the book though.. small fries.
The good far outweighed the frustrations.

I really appreciated the way the story came together in the end. (it was a damn good ending)
In a spectacular show of skill, Frick will have you on the edge of your seat, as the pieces of each puzzle begin to form undeniably shocking truths.. That some questions are better left unanswered.

Twists and turns that keep you guessing, carefully constructed distractions send you on a merry chase, and just when you think you’ve figured it out.. That the answers are just there, playing along your fingertips, and BAM! The author pulls the rug out from beneath you and the reality of it all sets it.
You’ll never see it coming.
You never would have guessed.
And that.. that moment.. is what makes this book something else.

I would absolutely recommend this book to mystery fans, fans of YA academia, and coming of age stories.
It’s worth the read!

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That’s all for now!

Thank you for taking the time to check out my review, I hope it was helpful, and be sure to keep your eyes peeled for your own copy of Very Bad People – Due to be released on April 5, 2022!

Are you familiar with this author or any of her other books?
Does this sound like something you would read?

Happy reading, everyone!

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