School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-Nick Pearson's real name is Tony Bordeaux. A high schooler in Witness Protection, this is the fourth new identity and home for Nick in the last few years. It's all because his father keeps falling into his old criminal habits. Despite this, Nick is trying his best to fit into his new life and school in Stepton, Georgia. He befriends his student guide, an eccentric aspiring journalist named Eli Cruz. As Eli attempts to persuade him to join the school paper, the reporter alludes to shady dealings and sinister happenings going on in Stepton, including something called "Whispertown." Unexpectedly, Nick finds Eli dead one morning. The police rule his death a suicide, but Nick and Eli's sister Reya suspect that he may have uncovered something that he shouldn't have. As evidence mounts, the protagonist begins to connect all the disparate events, culminating in deadly consequences. Giles's action-packed debut will have teens on the edge of their seats as they follow Nick's journey to discover the secrets of Whispertown and his attempt to uncover why his friend was killed. Teen readers will especially relate to the likable everyman and African American main character. His burgeoning relationship with Reya, despite being grounded in tragedy, is one of the more charming aspects of the plot. A twist reveal at the novel's climax will shock many and will leave fans of mystery and suspense books extremely satisfied. Ryan P. Donovan, New York Public Library

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

This engrossing thriller blends gritty crime storytelling with solid, realistic family drama. "Nick" and his family are in the Witness Protection Program, due to his father's past association with a dangerous crime boss. However, they are continually forced to move and switch identities because of Nick's father's continued criminal ventures. Nick worries that another move will destroy the renewed sense of possibility that he's found through his job on the school paper, his friend Eli, and Eli's attractive sister, Reya. That's before he finds Eli's body and begins to suspect that Eli's death isn't the suicide it's made out to be. Nick's attempts to investigate lead to revelations about the town, his friends, and his family. Giles ably handles multiple themes, not shying away from the racial tension that exists in the small southern town (Nick is African-American, and Eli and Reya are Latino), while avoiding making it a primary focus. This mature crime story expands beyond high school walls to address the challenges of maintaining meaningful relationships and the cost of loyalty. Ages 13-up. Agent: Jamie Weiss Chilton, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. (Jan.)

Starred Review ALA Booklist

Starred Review Sorrells, Edgar Award-winning author of legal thrillers for adults, brings his expertise to a compelling suspense story for teens. Chastity Pureheart, newly settled in High Hopes, Alabama, is absolutely in the dark about her name and why she and her mother keep packed suitcases by the front door wherever they live, as if they may need to move in an instant. On the night of Chastity's sixteenth birthday, her mother disappears. Mom's car is later found, abandoned and filled with fake I.D.s. Chastity is convinced that Mom is still alive, and with foster care looming in six days, Chastity is determined to find her. The clock is ticking, and there's a creepy vacant house to explore, with a skull in the basement that connects to a 1960s high-school football hero. Sorrells masterfully sustains suspense throughout, spiking the drama with some truly frightening scenes that make this a terrific read. In the end, Chastity, confused as she is, still emerges as determined, feisty--and triumphant.

Voice of Youth Advocates

Sorrells, author of mysteries and legal thrillers for adults, including Proof of Intent (Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's, 2002), writes his first suspense novel for a young adult audience. Sixteen-year-old Chastity Pureheart ("Chass") does not know her real name, because her mother, who has kept them on the run since Chass was a baby, refuses to share the secret that keeps them moving from place to place. Each time they move, Chass assumes a new identity. On the night of her sixteenth birthday, her mother disappears from their home in High Hopes, Alabama. As she searches for clues to her mother's disappearance, Chastity finds herself in dangerous situations, encountering unexpected enemies and surprising allies. The suspense is heightened by the strange reactions of the townspeople to her mother's disappearance, and the resurfacing of a twenty-year-old murder case that might offer clues to the larger mystery of Chass and her mother's real identities. It is difficult to believe that a teenager with Chastity's intelligence and abilities would not have pressed her mother for more information about her true identity or tried earlier to find the truth on her own. The quality of the writing is uneven, but the riveting action and appealing protagonist will keep readers engrossed. The subplot involving Chastity's not-quite-a-boyfriend Ben and popular teen-queen Brittany offers enough depth and surprises to elevate this story above average suspense-thriller fare. Overall the resolution is satisfying, with the stage set for a sequel. Reluctant readers and fans of mystery-thrillers will welcome this offering, which is recommended for public library YA collections.-Deborah Fisher.

Horn Book

The new kid, going by "Nick" (for now), must learn to fit in without standing out--his family isn't allowed another witness protection relocation. But when a friend turns up dead after collecting some damning information on mysterious local goings-on, blending in is no longer an option. Smart, punchy teen dialogue; a strong African American protagonist; and non-stop twists and turns make this mystery pop.