Simon - Michael Mullin

                Simon is a fast paced novel that had me hooked from the very first page. A mass murder has occurred in a well-to-do New England community and five people are dead. How they died and who they are is slowly revealed throughout the book as the narrative moves back and forth from the present day news reports about the murders to the past events that led up to the crimes. Simon is a young man who lost his father and had to watch his mother marry his uncle. Scheming to get a hold of Simon’s share of his father’s company, Simon’s uncle weaves a wicked web that results in tragedy. Somewhat based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet, this book is a thrilling read from the beginning to the end. The writing is gripping and keeps the reader wanting to turn the pages. The characters are well thought out and multifaceted, especially Simon, as the reader witness’s his descent into understandable madness. The dialogue is well written and believable. The writing is so good and the book full of so many twists that I didn’t have the entire story figured out until the author revealed it at the end. It has a unique ending and the lack of predictability made it a very enjoyable read. Aimed at young adults, it will also be enjoyable to older age groups as well. I read the book on my ereader and it formatted well. The cover didn’t really catch my eye at first but upon closer look it is quite unique. This is a really excellent read!