Review: Suspicion by Alexandra Monir

December 23, 2014 2 stars, Book Review 16 ★★

Review: Suspicion by Alexandra MonirSuspicion by Alexandra Monir
Published by Delacorte on December 9, 2014
Genres: Mystery, Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 295
Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
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*This book was provided by the Publisher for review. No compensation was provided and all opinions are strictly my own.

A modern-day twist on the classic thriller, Rebecca, with a dash of the supernatural, a powerful romance, and a deadly family mystery.

“There’s something hidden in the maze.”

Seventeen-year-old Imogen Rockford has never forgotten the last words her father said to her, before the blazing fire that consumed him, her mother, and the gardens of her family’s English country manor.

For seven years, images of her parents’ death have haunted Imogen’s dreams. In an effort to escape the past, she leaves Rockford Manor and moves to New York City with her new guardians. But some attachments prove impossible to shake—including her love for her handsome neighbor Sebastian Stanhope.

Then a life-altering letter arrives that forces Imogen to return to the manor in England, where she quickly learns that dark secrets lurk behind Rockford’s aristocratic exterior. At their center is Imogen herself—and Sebastian, the boy she never stopped loving.

Combining spine-tingling mystery, romance, and unforgettable characters,Suspicion is an action-packed thrill ride.

two-stars

An intriguing story was promised but a disappointing letdown was delivered

Suspicion couldn’t help my catch my book cover loving eye with its gorgeous muted purple and grey tones and the blurred image of the girl running through the maze. Even the description sounded tasty with a gothic mystery of a family with dark secrets and a tragic past and present to take place in a famous estate on the outskirts of London. Complete with a garden maze (how could that not be a tasty treat right?) Overall the book was a very quick read with a smooth writing style that had me easily moving through it. While I had a handful of of issues with the storyline I think I could have enjoyed it more overall if those things weren’t compounded by the final reveal at the end being so unrealistic to me. I’m sure some readers will still enjoy the book.

The author notes that this book is inspired by the classic story “Rebecca,” which I have never read, so I have no idea how closely this book is compared to that. I was however expecting it to be a supernatural romance with deadly family secrets just as the book blurb promised.

BEWARE from this point forward there be SPOILERS!

Soo this powerful romance…where was it?

I have read my fair share of romances in the fantasy and paranormal genre and this most certainly was not what I would consider ‘a powerful romance.” In fact I did not feel the romance aspect there at all. There was no real build up between the two characters, Imogen and Sebastian, to establish any sort of solid connection. Imogen has supposedly loved Sebastian since they were children. The book starts up with her being age 10 and I think him 12 or 13. But the tragedy of her parents dying separates them until Imogen is 17/18 – but also let’s throw in that at age 13 Sebastian was already dating her cousin Lucia…and continues to do so for the next 7 years until her death….yeah ok…maybe. But since Lucia is dead by the time Imogen returns and Imogen professes how she feels he then conveniently says (after goodness knows a VERY short time) that he loves her and never really loved Lucia. But there is no grounds for his love really…what a couple years when they were children then a 7 year absence your whole teenage and early adult life, then a few days in her company and blammo you love her? Same goes for her – I call hogwash. Essentially their relationship felt so slap dash and groundless, yes the dreaded insta-love for me, that I just could not get behind it.

The convenient use of the supernatural

The supernatural aspect could have been used so much better then it was, instead it seemed more like a convenient way for Imogen to figure things out in the end. It held such promise and mystery in the beginning even though Imogen feared this strange power that she seemed to have while she was at the estate. Which leads me to wonder – why the heck would these powers only express themselves when she is at the estate and not while she was growing up in America. That just made absolutely no sense to me as a detail point.

The big mystery revealed at the end was completely improbable

There really were two family secrets…one an old one and the other a more recent one. The first of which Imogen uncovers she has inherited via research info she gets from Sebastian and the second is the big mystery of who doesn’t want her to inherit the estate which she discovers the answer to only because of the convenience of her “gift.”

In a nut shell…

All things considered I did read through this book in less then a day. Which for me means that the writing was smooth and flowed well. I do think however that some of the dialogue was not fitting for the ages of the characters and that many of the situations, circumstances and plot points were either ridiculous, far fetched or just downright not within the realm of my belief. I think for the right reader this could very well be an enjoyable read and I felt it could have been for me as well if I didn’t feel like frequent things weren’t falling into place well with the characters and story.

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Tabitha (Pabkins)

When I'm in the zone I can flip book pages faster than the eye can see - screaming "More Input!" I'm a book, yarn, & art supply hoarding goblin who loves to draw, make toys and craft all sorts of creepy cute things. My current habit is to listen to audio books while I'm arting it up!
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16 Responses to “Review: Suspicion by Alexandra Monir”

  3. Danya @ Fine Print

    I think everyone knows I’m a huge sucker for fantasy-romance combos, but I’m in complete agreement with you: this sounds like a big ol’ bucket of swill. First of all, if you’re gonna date your dead cousin’s former significant other, you’d better be sensitive about it. Secondly, why would you want to date someone who jerked your cousin around for SEVEN YEARS? That ain’t cute.
    Danya @ Fine Print recently posted…Review: Dreamer’s Pool by Juliet MarillierMy Profile

  7. fatalerrer

    Nice review! I mean, well, not so great book, but the review was still good. In fact, I find that bad reviews can often be the funnest to read.

    I have to agree with your gripes about insta-love. I haven’t had much issue in the books I’ve read (yet), but it’s a horribly prevalent problem in movies. Last month I watched Sweeney Todd and Les Miserables and those have some EXTREME examples of instant love.
    fatalerrer recently posted…No Book Unread Project Update #1 – The Snare Strewn Path to ProgressMy Profile

  8. Valerie

    Hahahha I recently just finished this and I didn’t like it that much. The mystery itself was good and the conclusion was good, but as you said, it seems impossible. I don’t think it could’ve happened, especially in the real world. And blah those characters. I’ve already forgotten everyone :/
    Valerie recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday #39My Profile