Book Review: Hysteria by Megan Miranda

Title: Hysteria
Author:  Megan Miranda
Reading level: Young Adult
Genre:  Thriller 
Size: 336 pages
Release Date: February 5th 2013
Publisher: Walker Childrens/Bloomsbury
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Find It: Goodreads | Amazon | BN | The Book Depository

Mallory killed her boyfriend, Brian. She can't remember the details of that night but everyone knows it was self-defense, so she isn't charged. But Mallory still feels Brian's presence in her life. Is it all in her head? Or is it something more? In desperate need of a fresh start, Mallory is sent to Monroe, a fancy prep school where no one knows her . . . or anything about her past.But the feeling follows her, as do her secrets. Then, one of her new classmates turns up dead. As suspicion falls on Mallory, she must find a way to remember the details of both deadly nights so she can prove her innocence-to herself and others. In another riveting tale of life and death, Megan Miranda's masterful storytelling brings readers along for a ride to the edge of sanity and back again.

My mother hid the knife block.

I was expecting great things from Megan Miranda's latest after loving Fracture and Hysteria did not disappoint.  The setting (private boarding school out in the boonies) may sound a bit cliche...but I assure you that it works completely.  Though I admit that I may have a thing for small town/rural New England settings. Miranda's prose and dialogue flow effortlessly and are completely believable for a young adult read without feeling in the least bit "dumbed down."

The story unfolds a few months after Brian's death and is presented as a combination of  the present mixed in with Mallory's flashbacks/memories of what happened the night Brian died and the weeks leading up to it.  I love how we slowly learned the story of what happened that night as the book progressed while we were simultaneously trying to figure out what was happening at the boarding school.

Mallory is a typical teen  - stupid at times but very likeable. Reid is...well...amazing...anyone looking for a new book boyfriend? I nominate him!  Miranda keeps us guessing with the supporting characters: who can Mallory trust and who isn't what he/she appears?

The action and suspense grab the reader from the start and never lets up.  The pacing is perfect, pulling the reader in and keeping one captivated until the very end.  I couldn't put this one down...in fact I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish this one because I just had to know what happened.  I think you'll need to know too...

Hysteria was spooky and mysterious and still managed to squeeze in a few swoon worthy moments.  Trust me, you don't want to miss this one...

4.5 Timepieces

Megan is a scientist - turned - teacher - turned - stay-at-home-mom - turned - writer. She is not nearly as indecisive as she sounds. She lives near Charlotte, North Carolina, where she volunteers as an MIT Educational Counselor, does the mom thing by day, and writes by night.

Her first novel, FRACTURE, was published in January 2012 by Walker/Bloomsbury. HYSTERIA, a YA psychological thriller, will be published in February 2013. VENGEANCE, a companion/sequel to FRACTURE, will follow in 2014.