Beneath Her Skin is the first instalment in the young adult Port Gamble Chronicles series, set in the small town of Port Gamble, Washington and is based on a shocking true crime relating to cyber bullying. It opens with 15 year old Katelyn Berkley about to take a bath. Having spent a lot of time crying she doesn't know what to do with herself and the depression she finds herself in. Downstairs in the kitchen her mum, Sandra, is searching for the espresso machine wanting to use the foamer on her Bacardi Spiced Rum and Eggnog. Sandra's parents, Nancy and Paul, had recently left after visiting for Christmas and had dropped a bombshell - their promise to fund Katelyn's college education was no longer possible due to their financial situation. Katelyn had left the table in tears. Now when her mother shouts up to her she gets no reply. Sandra makes her way upstairs and down the hallway. She reaches the bathroom and knocks before stepping inside but what she finds devastates her. Katelyn is slumped over the tub. Under the bath water Sandra can make out the shape of the mini espresso machine still plugged in at the wall. No one is sure whether she committed suicide or if it was an accident but her friends and family are adamant that Katelyn would not have taken her own life.

When the coroner rules her death as accidental by electrocution, twins, neighbours and childhood friends of Katelyn's, Hayley and Taylor Ryan, who have the power to speak to the dead, believe Katelyn is telling them that something sinister happened and that it wasn't just a tragic accident. Believing it could've been homicide,, Hayley and Taylor begin to decipher messages from Katelyn using their special psychic abilities that will tell the truth of what happened that day. But someone is watching their every move around Port Gamble and stalking them like a predator stalks its prey. And they are not alone is trying to find the truth; an investigative journalist is also searching for an explanation. Hayley and Taylor are determined to find out what happened and as they investigate, they stumble upon a dark truth that is far more disturbing than they ever could have imagined. This is a compulsive, thrilling and engrossing read with twists and turns that blindside you and enough plot action to keep you turning the pages well into the night. I don't normally enjoy books featuring supernatural powers, but I thought it worked really superbly here and added to the drama and intrigue exceptionally. With evil lurking and strange things happening, this is a riveting and thoroughly gripping tale. Highly recommended.

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

2.5 Hearts This is a new series by Gregg Olsen but I am so sad to say that I am not sure I will bother with the next one.

So the story is about twins who seem to have a psychic ability and they are investigating the death of an old friend. But there is just so much wrong with this book.

There is a bit of a paranormal feel with the “abilities” the twins have and honestly there doesn’t seem to be much in the suspense side of it either. And there is no horror. There are so many unanswered questions. I can think that some questions about the twins may be answered as the series goes on but there are still questions about the murder.

Just not what I hoped based on the cover and synopsis.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Port Gamble is a close knit community that 10 years ago experienced a terrible bus crash that killed several young girls. One of the survivors of the crash is Katelyn Berkley who is found dead in her bathtub of an apparent suicide. But friends of Katelyn - twins Taylor and Hayley Ryan - aren't so sure. Ever since the tragic bus crash they have been able to hear the dead. It seems that Port Gamble has something to hide and Katelyn from beyond the grave is trying to help the twins figure out what is really going on.

Twins have the ability to sense memories using water, objects, dreams and other mediums. They know Katelyn didn't kill herself. Using their skill, they delve deeper, trying to solve their sad friend's death.
Katelyn dies in the bathtub- electrocuted when the family espresso machine falls in. Her death is ruled accidental. Though no one can ignore the scares from cutting, the lingering depression, isolation.
Taylor and Hayley are determined to find out what really happened.

This book is a YA book and a repackaged version of the book "Envy (Empty Coffin #1)., originally published 10 years ago. It starts out with the tragic death of 15 year old Katelyn, which is deemed a suicide, though no one in her life can determine why she would have done that. Identical twins Hayley and Taylor were friends with Katelyn when they were younger and (along with some of their friends and fellow students), try to seek answers as to what really happened.

On the good side, the mystery is sound and I had a hard time figuring out what really happened until it was revealed. I am also familiar with the Port Gamble, Washington location where the story is located; it's always fun to see places you know depicted in books.

On the less good side, there was a lot going on that didn't really need to be there- another whole mystery involving Hayley and Taylor when they were babies and a ton of internal dialogue from all of the characters in the book, many of them quite shallow. Also, it doesn't appear that anything was updated since the original version so you had things like printed out directions and lack of social media that I would have expected to be modernized.

Overall, a good mystery and an OK overall book, but I wish that Olsen had modernized the re-release. I read the 2nd book in the series too (and liked it better), and am unsure if a 3rd is coming, but if so, I am sure I will read it, especially if it's newly written. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is an older story repackaged with a gorgeous cover - the older title [book:Envy|10586317]. Both covers have an eerie quality to them and I have to say that I love this new one more than the last. But the original story is from 2011 and I think the story reflects it. The kids lack some of the on-line skills many kids have these days and a lot of the lingo. I also think the story with the on-line chat and video would be very different these days.

With all that, however, it is an interesting mystery - not necessarily a thriller (I don't think there's a lot of tension or suspense). Learning what the twins could do as they try to figure out what happened to their friend was interesting as well, and I liked how that all played out. I just think the story got a little slow in places as they tried to get back in to house and then had to deal with their day to day lives. The mystery felt a bit lost in places but it did pick back up at last hundred pages or so and I liked the how it all wrapped up.

Gregg Olsen has reissued an earlier release with a new title. Envy has now become Beneath Her Skin. No matter what name you use, it is a fantastic thriller with lots of questions to find the answers to.
Katelyn is found dead in her home on Christmas night and the police rule it a suicide. What makes it even more tragic, Katelyn is a survivor of a horrible bus crash from ten years earlier that the small town of Port Gamble, Washington never really got over.
Taylor and Hayley are twin sisters and childhood friends of Katelyn's and they want answers. What could have been so bad for Katelyn to take her own life? Taylor and Hayley sometimes get feelings about events and they believe someone else killed Katelyn. This book is full of twists, thrills and questions that need to be answered.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Gregg Olsen for the chance to read this book in exchange for a fair review. If you haven't read Gregg Olsen's books, pick this one up and enjoy staying up way to late at night to finish it!

The death of a fifteen year old is hard for anyone to handle. It’s even harder when the cops have concluded that it was a suicide and no one can figure out the reason why Katelyn would take her own life.

Taylor and Hayley aren’t as close to Katelyn as they were when the trio were younger. But the twins still don’t believe that their former friend would take her own life. More than not believing it, they can’t help but feel like something is off. Can their determination to figure out the truth actually change anything? And does this sudden death have anything to do with the bus crash the three girls survived ten years ago? It takes a little while to get there, but eventually the truth comes out and it’s not what anyone could have expected.

I generally like his books very much but this series is not for me, i am not sure what it is attempting to be? young adult mystery, mystery with humor, psychic mystery, but the combination doesnt work for me, not terrible just not as good as his usual ones

Starting with an angst-ridden teenager, this psychological thriller debuts the twins Haley and Taylor Ryan of Port Gamble. Into their world of schooling, family, boyfriends and the usual teenage microcosm of forging an identity comes the murder of a former friend. Not satisfied with the suicide ruling, the twins discover the darker secrets lying beneath their small-town life as they investigate further. Many skeletons long hidden in the closet will be revealed including some regarding the twins. An enjoyable psychological thriller with elements of the supernatural, an entertaining read with a three-and-a-half-star rating. With thanks to NetGalley and the author for a preview copy for review purposes.

*Thank you to Netgalley and Gregg Olsen for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review"

Gregg Olsen’s very first Young Adult novel, has been reissued under the name Beneath Her Skin.

Did Katelyn Berkley commit suicide or didn’t she? We find her in the beginning of Beneath Her Skin, in her bathtub with a submerged espresso machine. Some deem it a suicide, while her old friends don’t believe she would do that.

Taylor and Haley are 15-year-old twins with special abilities who are former friends of the victim. Haley can touch inanimate objects to ‘see’ a memory or feeling. Taylor can receive coded messages while submerged in water, described in the book as scrabble pieces. Their first clue that something isn’t right is when they see a message out on the water that spells out “look.” From there, they set out to find out what really happened to their old friend, Katelyn.

Port Gamble, Washington, is our setting. It’s a small town where everything is old., from houses to cemeteries to structures. It’s a setting which gives the book a magical feeling that remains throughout.

As usual, Gregg Olsen excels at creating a cast of characters the reader won’t forget. This includes Colton, the hunky teenager who lives across the street, Beth, best friend of the twins and a sharp tongued outcast, and Starla, the girl you love to hate and former best friend and next-door neighbor of the deceased teen. Taylor and Hayley’s father is a famous crime writer, which adds another delicious element to the story.

Every single character, no matter how wonderful they seem, has a dark side to them. It keeps the reader on their toes from beginning to end and surprises them along the way. There are multiple storylines introduced throughout, that give more insight into the scenario that Katelyn was murdered. Though this book is based on true events, she could be any girl in small town America. A teenager who thought she had found love online but found something much, much darker.

The glorious thing is that nothing is what it seems. When the reader thinks they have finally figured out what happened to Katelyn, they are surprised again. As an avid reader of mystery and suspense, I often try to solve the mystery early in the book. I loved that I was wrong here, and Olsen could surprise me. Be warned that not all characters get their due justice. While the ending is satisfying, you yearn for those who did Katelyn wrong to get their payback. This is not that book.

This is a suspense thriller that I loved. This is book one of a two book series and what a great start it is. This is an author that I have been reading for quite awhile and his books keep getting better and better. This is a well developed story that has characters that are connectable and made the story pop off the pages. I loved being pulled into the story right from the beginning. The twists and turns had me guessing who did it, just when I thought I knew, nope my mind would go in a different direction. The characters are just great and the twins are my favorite. They made the story fun to read as well as entertaining. What will happen when Katelyn is found dead in her bathtub? Was it murder or suicide? Plus add a bus crash that adds to the story will keep you turning pages to the end. I highly recommend this book and this author.

I really had a lot of conflicting feelings about this book but in the end it was just an okay read for me which was rather disappointing. I wasn't a fan of the first half of the book. I just couldn't connect with the writing style and the many points of view. I found myself getting rather bored but I continued and around the middle I started to get more involved with the story line as more details were revealed. I found the twins, Hailey and Taylor and their secrets to be quite interesting and this is what pushed it up to three stars for me.

So, although there were many mixed emotions throughout this book, it turned out to be a bit lacking when it came to the thriller aspects. I would recommend it to fans of YA mystery and true crime fans.

Beneath Her Skin was an interesting read. I didn't realise that it was a YA book when I requested it but I did quite enjoy it. I enjoyed the characters and would recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

This novel leaves so much to be desired. I know it’s repackaged from the 2011 version of “Envy” but the publishers and writer would have done a better job by updating the language and timetable for a 2021 rerelease. (For example: “printing out Google maps directions for them to get where they needed to go”).

I also found the ending of each chapter/section abrupt; ending it with a sinister comment or phrase seems unnecessary. Some of the inner dialogue is also really snarky and unnecessary.

<i>”Costco? Wow, that’s really sad, she thought. She hoped if she died her parents would at least have Subway cater a gathering in her memory.”

“As identical twins, the girls were genetic anomalies, not idiots. They knew that the dad’s sister would be Katelyn’s aunt. But now was probably not the time to point it out.”</i>

The whole novel just felt off, as an adult male was trying his hardest to write through the minds of teens. And the plot was very much ripped from the headlines themselves. The secondary plot (which overtook the primary about halfway through the book) left huge gaping holes all over the place. I have the second book in the series to review and hope that one clears some things up? Fingers crossed.

This book was just an ok read for me. It just didn't hold my attention.



Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in return of my honest review.

I’m really struggling with this book. I’m going to have to DNF because I just can’t get into the writing style. When I requested them, I didn’t realize that they’re YA. I’ve put it down and read another book and came back to it but it’s just not for me. I’m so sorry!!!

When a teen in a small town in Washington commits suicide, it hits the whole community, especially the girl’s classmates. Twins Hayley & Taylor have knew the girl their whole lives, and while they weren’t exactly close, the twins definitely feel there’s something off about her death. I realized after I started reading this book that it was previously published under the title “Envy” in 2011 and was re-edited and re-released under this new title. I’ve found that this isn’t all that uncommon for some author’s early works: They publish version one, get stronger in their writing, better managers/editors, and often times want to give these initial books a second life. I thought this one was good----maybe not up to the standards of Gregg Olsen’s more recent works, but I definitely liked the story and will be reading Book 2 in this 2-book series soon.

3 Stars

NOTE: Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

Olsen does it again - with a great mystery and solid plot - a definite page-turner with an interesting cast of characters. The author definitely captures the angst of high school, the arrogance of privilege, and blends it with a pair of go-getter twins that will stop at nothing to solve the mystery. Really enjoyed the characters, felt like I knew them. The mystery was interesting and the plot definitely engaging and I was happy to see that their adventures are to continue.

In the small, historic town of Port Gamble, a young girl, Katelyn, is found slumped over a clawfoot tub. As the community grieves, friends and family close to Katelyn begin to question whether she really had an accident or if there was something more sinister at play. This isn't the first time she has had a close brush with death, making the accident even more of a tragedy.

Katelyn's former friends and neighbors cannot rest until they discover what happened on the night that Katelyn died. And Haley and Taylor Ryan are not the only ones in pursuit of the truth. There is also a reporter in pursuit of the story, and someone who seems to be watching every move that the town makes. There is enough tragedy and mystery in here for a real pageturner.

I've become a recent fan of Gregg Olsen books after reading "If you Tell." I picked up the sequel to "Beneath Her Skin" ("Dying to be Her") and after realizing this was a series went back to read this book (the first of the series). Overall I really enjoyed this book. Beneath Her Skin was part mystery, part thriller, and with a supernatural twist. And thankfully, this is the first of a series, which gives me a good next read--up next, "Dying to be Her!"