A murder investigation isn’t the only thing the dreams trigger for JJ. They also lead to secret meetings with his estranged sister, an unlikely connection with a doctor who lost his daughter in the fire, and a confusing friendship with McKinley, a classmate of JJ’s who seems determined to help him solve
the mystery.
All JJ wants is to shake the problems that have followed him since that fire, and he’s convinced he must catch the arsonist to do it. But as JJ struggles to find the culprit, he sees there’s more than one mystery in his life he needs to solve.
My thoughts:
I really enjoyed reading this. The plot was unique and the mystery aspect was interesting. The writing was high quality too, so I wasn’t distracted by bad grammar or sudden points of view shifts or anything like that which I have encountered in some recent books I’ve read. JJ was a very believable character and likeable despite his problems.
JJ’s drinking, especially his reliance on whiskey, was a poor attempt to self medicate himself as he was using it to destress and get away from his problems rather than have to face them. I like how this changes when he meets McKinley and Dr Ben. His friendship with Lewis was really one of convenience I think as Lewis was kind of like his drug pusher, getting him to his dad’s whiskey, getting him to beer keg parties, and providing him with cover stories and sneaking him back in to JJ’s own room with his aunt not knowing. They only ever hung out for that or to make a scene when JJ felt a need to lash out. McKinley connected to him personally, through JJ’s sister Penny and their shared love of music, same type of clothes, and writing. This was his first real deep personal connection outside of family and I think this is why he was able to become aware of his sexuality. Something had to get past JJ’s pushing the world away for him to wake up and smell the coffee.
And speaking of JJ not facing himself, it’s so deep that not once does he mention anything notable about his own appearance even, except for what he wears and then only in pretty general terms, and the fact that his legs are horribly scarred. he mentions how others look, their glasses if they wear them, their hair styles, hair colour, their eye colour, and so on. But get changed to go out somewhere? No mention once of wearing a shirt to enhance the “insert colour” of his eyes. Nor does he describe himself by comparing differences, such as “We have some of the same band tshirts and favour this style of jeans, but he wears his hair like this unlike my own…” or anything like that. It’s as if JJ tries so hard to not look at himself, that he refuses to even see his outer self. he denies himself to the point of treating himself as a non entity. He’s all but obliterated his self image. If someone is that out of touch with theirself, there’s no real reason they would be able to be honest enough with their inner self to notice a way they are wired to connect to the world, until they allow such a connection.
I thought it was cool that he and McKinley turned out to be regular teenaged boys and not super sleuths like they were trying to be. I really loved how the grown ups in the story were also well developed. hey weren’t cardboard props saying stuff like, “No, you can’t go out and solve a mystery!” and then vanish until needed to then say, “Oh! I should have known you’d sneak out of the house and solve the mystery and save the day! Hahaha, how about we go celebrate with your friends at the malt shop”. That’s just plain weird. Instead, they did real life proper responsible grown up stuff , trying to help JJ with all of his fears, doubts, and yes, even the mystery but going through proper police channels. The mystery didn’t end the way i thought it would, which was great. I don’t predictable.
One thing I didn’t like was Darryl. She was allowed to get away with way too much selfishness and her son Patrick was like a mini version. I think Patrick’s bad deed should have been publicly exposed so she could share the shame of what he’d done and her selfish misuse of a children’s squabble to feel more secure as Penny’s mom. if you have to punish people and be an evil witch (I’m trying to be polite here) to make yourself feel good, then other people need to step up and stop you when it affects the lives of children. I want to see her pay for ruining so much of Penny and JJ’s life with her selfishness.
I’d like to read a sequel of what happens now that Dr Ben is in JJ’s life because I think the book ended a little too soon (not enough to take off any points though).. I think the two of them can help heal each other and together connect with Jeremy. Jeremy and Dr Ben have unfinished business. I don’t think an ex would come around so much to just use exercise equipment. I think if I was someone’s ex, I’d have joined a gym or something. If I was making excuses to hang around like that, even keeping my own key and coming over when my ex was not home, then I think my heart would be telling me I need to figure stuff out and make stuff right as I am still really in love with this other person.
I rate this
.
