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The Lying Game #6
Seven Minutes in Heaven
MY SISTER WANTS THE TRUTH.
BUT SOMETIMES THE TRUTH HURTS.
For months, my long-lost twin, Emma, has been living my life and trying to solve my murder. She's unearthed dark secrets about my friends, my family, and my tangled past. But when it comes to finding my killer, she keeps running into dead ends.
Until my body shows up in Sabino Canyon. Suddenly everyone knows there are two girls who look like Sutton Mercer - and that one of them is dead. At first the police assume the body is Emma's. But as questions and accusations start flying, it's harder than ever for Emma to keep playing me. The truth is bound to come out eventually. And when it does, Emma will be suspect number one in my murder investigation. If she can't find my killer before time runs out, she'll end up behind bars. . . . or worse.
Sara Shepard, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Pretty Little Liars books, finally reveals the shocking truth about Sutton's murder in this riveting novel about secrets, lies, and killer consequences.
BUT SOMETIMES THE TRUTH HURTS.
For months, my long-lost twin, Emma, has been living my life and trying to solve my murder. She's unearthed dark secrets about my friends, my family, and my tangled past. But when it comes to finding my killer, she keeps running into dead ends.
Until my body shows up in Sabino Canyon. Suddenly everyone knows there are two girls who look like Sutton Mercer - and that one of them is dead. At first the police assume the body is Emma's. But as questions and accusations start flying, it's harder than ever for Emma to keep playing me. The truth is bound to come out eventually. And when it does, Emma will be suspect number one in my murder investigation. If she can't find my killer before time runs out, she'll end up behind bars. . . . or worse.
Sara Shepard, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Pretty Little Liars books, finally reveals the shocking truth about Sutton's murder in this riveting novel about secrets, lies, and killer consequences.
371 pages, Hardcover
First published July 30, 2013
172 people are currently reading
10.9k people want to read
About the author
Sara Shepard
137books14.6kfollowersSara Shepard graduated from NYU and has an MFA from Brooklyn College. She has lived in New York City, Brooklyn, Tucson, Arizona, Philadelphia, and now lives in Pittsburgh, PA. Sara's Pretty Little Liars novels were inspired by her upbringing in Philadelphia's Main Line.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,096 reviews
January 11, 2016
Before reading:
"Nothing has prepared her for the shocking truth..."
that...Ethan's the murderer. The end.
"Nothing has prepared her for the shocking truth..."
that...Ethan's the murderer. The end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2013
****Before reading****
Even though I'm loving this series,please be the last one.
I can't take any new suspects popping up. It seems that everyone's been a suspect. Is Sutton actually dead? I hope not, but if she is, fingers crossed Ethan did it. That guy is a huge creeper.
Team Thayer!
****After reading****
Even though I'm loving this series,please be the last one.
I can't take any new suspects popping up. It seems that everyone's been a suspect. Is Sutton actually dead? I hope not, but if she is, fingers crossed Ethan did it. That guy is a huge creeper.
Team Thayer!
****After reading****
September 27, 2015
Seven Minutes In Heaven by Sara Shepard
This was the perfect ending to an incredible series!
This series has taken me through the last 4 years of my life, and I do not regret it one bit, In-fact I wouldn't have all the memories I have now without these books. Isn't it amazing how books can do that?
I was right about who I suspected to be the murderer, but that doesn't mean I got any less scared when we found out! This book had the perfect mixture of creepy, suspense, thrill, and just everything you could want in a book and series finale!
I've never freaked out so much whilst reading a book, my heart was constantly racing. I read this book so fast, it felt so short, but omg it was everything I wanted.
It was written beautifully, the ends of each characters stories were wrapped up beautifully.
This is the longest series I've read in my life so far, and will forever hold the biggest nostalgia ever.
This particular instalment in the series is now one of my favourite books ever.
It's so sad to say goodbye, and I'm not entirely sure I'm ready to leave these characters *winces*, but I guess I have to.
Bye beautiful characters and story, I'll never forget you.
Order of the series from favourite to least favourite (but I still loved them all SO much)
1. Seven Minutes In Heaven
2. Never Have I Ever
3. Hide and Seek
4. The Lying Game
5. Two Truths And A Lie
6. Cross My Heart, Hope To Die
This was the perfect ending to an incredible series!
This series has taken me through the last 4 years of my life, and I do not regret it one bit, In-fact I wouldn't have all the memories I have now without these books. Isn't it amazing how books can do that?
I was right about who I suspected to be the murderer, but that doesn't mean I got any less scared when we found out! This book had the perfect mixture of creepy, suspense, thrill, and just everything you could want in a book and series finale!
I've never freaked out so much whilst reading a book, my heart was constantly racing. I read this book so fast, it felt so short, but omg it was everything I wanted.
It was written beautifully, the ends of each characters stories were wrapped up beautifully.
This is the longest series I've read in my life so far, and will forever hold the biggest nostalgia ever.
This particular instalment in the series is now one of my favourite books ever.
It's so sad to say goodbye, and I'm not entirely sure I'm ready to leave these characters *winces*, but I guess I have to.
Bye beautiful characters and story, I'll never forget you.
Order of the series from favourite to least favourite (but I still loved them all SO much)
1. Seven Minutes In Heaven
2. Never Have I Ever
3. Hide and Seek
4. The Lying Game
5. Two Truths And A Lie
6. Cross My Heart, Hope To Die
December 2, 2013
Ok, my theory for the finale.... And I know it's probably way too obvious!
I think Ethan was obsessed (crazy, which is why he was in the mental ward) with Sutton when she was alive and he made up the story about going into the mental ward because of his mum. If you read the books, Ethan will often say he remembers Sutton doing or saying certain things like in the library or whatever - stuff that people wouldn't necessarily remember about her, like he stalked her. Plus, she wouldn't have hung around with him because he wasn't cool enough, so how would he have gotten close enough to hear her? Again, unless he was spying on her. Also, it's kind of a coincidence that he just happened to be there when the Lying Game pulled the snuff film prank on Sutton, again unless he was stalking her.
Then when Emma rolls into town and she looks exactly like Sutton he sees his opportunity to be with Sutton in some deluded way, because they're obviously identical. Or, because he's obsessed with Sutton, he's been researching her family and finds out she has a twin sister... Then lures Emma to Tucson. Ethan is obviously computer savvy! He managed to high jack the photos from the school's security camera, therefore he could easily access restricted files about Sutton and her family. But, he could also have found a way to access her computer files and send the snuff film to Emma's foster family. AND high jack the Chamberlain's home security to strangle Emma! I think Ethan is referred to as having broad shoulders and that's how the killer is described...
I don't know whether he killed her or not, I think probably not because it's way too obvious. But he literally lives across from Sabino Canyon, if Sutton went towards Nisha's house after her argument with her mother he could have seen her and seized his opportunity. Maybe he tried it on with Sutton but she turned him down, so he flipped and accidentally killed her?
Nisha might have found out about this obsession (looking at his records) and tried to tell Emma but Ethan found out and killed her to shut her up! Emma did after all tell Ethan that Nisha had given her access to the files... Maybe he tried to break in to get them before Emma could read them and Nisha caught him so he killed her.
May also explain why Thayer was knocked down by a car, because Ethan was jealous!
Also, Ethan is seen smoking in one of the books (think its the first) and the person watching Emma is always seen with a lit cigarette, of course this could be her mother. The murderer always seems to know what Emma is doing, she tells everything to Ethan, therefore he would know everything and be able to write the threatening notes. Sutton also recalls remembering Ethan watching her with an hopeful glance and if I remember rightly, in the first book Sutton's ghost gets a strange feeling when she first sees him but she can't put a finger on what the feelings actually are. Plus, Charlotte also refers to him as a stalker in one of the books (think it's the first one).
Also found it strange how he enjoyed the popularity he received for being with Emma. At the football game, Emma notices how much he is enjoying the female attention... I just found this really odd for such a quiet loner.
I know this is a long-shot but it's just a theory...
I think Ethan was obsessed (crazy, which is why he was in the mental ward) with Sutton when she was alive and he made up the story about going into the mental ward because of his mum. If you read the books, Ethan will often say he remembers Sutton doing or saying certain things like in the library or whatever - stuff that people wouldn't necessarily remember about her, like he stalked her. Plus, she wouldn't have hung around with him because he wasn't cool enough, so how would he have gotten close enough to hear her? Again, unless he was spying on her. Also, it's kind of a coincidence that he just happened to be there when the Lying Game pulled the snuff film prank on Sutton, again unless he was stalking her.
Then when Emma rolls into town and she looks exactly like Sutton he sees his opportunity to be with Sutton in some deluded way, because they're obviously identical. Or, because he's obsessed with Sutton, he's been researching her family and finds out she has a twin sister... Then lures Emma to Tucson. Ethan is obviously computer savvy! He managed to high jack the photos from the school's security camera, therefore he could easily access restricted files about Sutton and her family. But, he could also have found a way to access her computer files and send the snuff film to Emma's foster family. AND high jack the Chamberlain's home security to strangle Emma! I think Ethan is referred to as having broad shoulders and that's how the killer is described...
I don't know whether he killed her or not, I think probably not because it's way too obvious. But he literally lives across from Sabino Canyon, if Sutton went towards Nisha's house after her argument with her mother he could have seen her and seized his opportunity. Maybe he tried it on with Sutton but she turned him down, so he flipped and accidentally killed her?
Nisha might have found out about this obsession (looking at his records) and tried to tell Emma but Ethan found out and killed her to shut her up! Emma did after all tell Ethan that Nisha had given her access to the files... Maybe he tried to break in to get them before Emma could read them and Nisha caught him so he killed her.
May also explain why Thayer was knocked down by a car, because Ethan was jealous!
Also, Ethan is seen smoking in one of the books (think its the first) and the person watching Emma is always seen with a lit cigarette, of course this could be her mother. The murderer always seems to know what Emma is doing, she tells everything to Ethan, therefore he would know everything and be able to write the threatening notes. Sutton also recalls remembering Ethan watching her with an hopeful glance and if I remember rightly, in the first book Sutton's ghost gets a strange feeling when she first sees him but she can't put a finger on what the feelings actually are. Plus, Charlotte also refers to him as a stalker in one of the books (think it's the first one).
Also found it strange how he enjoyed the popularity he received for being with Emma. At the football game, Emma notices how much he is enjoying the female attention... I just found this really odd for such a quiet loner.
I know this is a long-shot but it's just a theory...
August 5, 2013
First, never go into a car with someone you know is psycho.
I hate it when series end. Never being able to read new scenes with fresh eyes featuring characters I grew to love.
But I'm glad this series has ended too. Because it ended with this glorious ending featuring everything I could have wanted. Six books are enough, even though I will forever miss this story.
Even though this book and series has faults, it breathes so much life that I don't care. I love this story. I love the writing. I feel sorrow similar to Sutton and Emma throughout the whole story, especially during the chapters starting from "Message from beyond the grave" to this wonderful book's end. I love that Sutton was able to show how much she grew up and learned in her last memory once before she died. It was nice to see the sweet Garett from the Lying Game come back at the funeral.
I cringed so many times when Emma continued to pretend to be Sutton after her family found out the truth of the twins and especially when Sutton's body was found. Now that they was true concrete evidence of her existence, she could have lesson so much sorrow during the middle of this book. I wish Emma was braver and smarter. Still, during the last part she was extremely brave hopefully she will grow braver and more logical-minded after this story ends (and gets counseling)
I liked how realistic everyone reactions to the truth about Emma was. Even the one who believed in her innocent still felt anger before understanding and forgiveness.
And how Louisa's sad story was not Sutton's fault.
Lastly, I am thrilled that my two favorite characters were the once who were their for Emma in the end of "Endgame." Even though I would have loved a surprise about the killer's identity, I am satisfied with how the killer's last stand was written. Whoah, that chapter was so exciting. In my head I was like * hurry.
A story about family, mistakes, betrayal, despair, and, most importantly, staying true and being satisfied with your own identity.
I hate it when series end. Never being able to read new scenes with fresh eyes featuring characters I grew to love.
But I'm glad this series has ended too. Because it ended with this glorious ending featuring everything I could have wanted. Six books are enough, even though I will forever miss this story.
Even though this book and series has faults, it breathes so much life that I don't care. I love this story. I love the writing. I feel sorrow similar to Sutton and Emma throughout the whole story, especially during the chapters starting from "Message from beyond the grave" to this wonderful book's end. I love that Sutton was able to show how much she grew up and learned in her last memory once before she died. It was nice to see the sweet Garett from the Lying Game come back at the funeral.
I cringed so many times when Emma continued to pretend to be Sutton after her family found out the truth of the twins and especially when Sutton's body was found. Now that they was true concrete evidence of her existence, she could have lesson so much sorrow during the middle of this book. I wish Emma was braver and smarter. Still, during the last part she was extremely brave hopefully she will grow braver and more logical-minded after this story ends (and gets counseling)
I liked how realistic everyone reactions to the truth about Emma was. Even the one who believed in her innocent still felt anger before understanding and forgiveness.
And how Louisa's sad story was not Sutton's fault.
Lastly, I am thrilled that my two favorite characters were the once who were their for Emma in the end of "Endgame." Even though I would have loved a surprise about the killer's identity, I am satisfied with how the killer's last stand was written. Whoah, that chapter was so exciting. In my head I was like * hurry.
A story about family, mistakes, betrayal, despair, and, most importantly, staying true and being satisfied with your own identity.
May 30, 2019
****4.5 stars!****
I don’t think I’ve read a book this quickly in a very long time! I’m so glad I wasn’t disappointed in how this book came to its end. I knew from the start that Ethan was the killer considering he was the only one who guessed Emma wasn’t Sutton straight away when him and Sutton really didn’t know each other. I love how it all came together though and we finally got to read how that night actually turned out. I would’ve liked to read more on Emma’s life after everything went down and I also would’ve liked to hear about whether they find Becky’s other child. Overall, this was an amazing series that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout all six books! Sad it’s over but so glad I’ve read it ☺️
I don’t think I’ve read a book this quickly in a very long time! I’m so glad I wasn’t disappointed in how this book came to its end. I knew from the start that Ethan was the killer considering he was the only one who guessed Emma wasn’t Sutton straight away when him and Sutton really didn’t know each other. I love how it all came together though and we finally got to read how that night actually turned out. I would’ve liked to read more on Emma’s life after everything went down and I also would’ve liked to hear about whether they find Becky’s other child. Overall, this was an amazing series that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout all six books! Sad it’s over but so glad I’ve read it ☺️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
February 9, 2013Plot twist: Sutton, Laurel, and the rest of them are playing a Lying Game Prank on Emma.
Just kidding. Ethan's the killer.
Just kidding. Ethan's the killer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2016
musste am Ende tatsächlich weinen oO
August 8, 2013
If Ethan is the murderer (who i have suspected since book 1) I think it's something along the lines of he liked Sutton/or she got him to like her and she played along and then it got serious and told him it was a joke (possibly a lying game?)
And he took it to heart because he was made to look like a fool and maybe he has a mental illness which explains the huge file at the mental hospital and he started getting more and more obbsessed with Sutton and one day he managed to find out she had a twin. He wanted to hurt Sutton maybe not even wanting to kill her but maybe something went wrong and he did and he obviously knew about Emma and he's the one who sent the email etc
I'm incredibly sorry this is sooo jumbled and doesn't make alot of sense but hopefully you can catch my drift
Why i have always thought it was Ethan:
-He is probably keeping Emma close to steer her away from finding out the true killer by feeding her different suspects
-Sutton was a bitch to him and we find out more as the books go on
-Is it me or they always seem to talk about Ethans house/room? late at light etc especially in the last book i think this maybe some hint or foreshadowing? idk
-Ethan is the only one who has not been a suspect
-The only one who didn't freak when he found out she wasn't Sutton
-He just seems TOO nice like idk i just don't trust him
Okay there is more reasons but i can't think because i read the other books a while ago if you have anything to add please comment this theory is all messed up and jumbled together
BUT I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS BOOK OH MY GOD
EDITED 8TH AUGUST 2013
so i guess i was correct with some of my theory! (yay) but honestly this book was awesome!!i loved finding out how ethan had done it all! and omg the end was so emotional i just can't i actually got teary about it all, i just felt awful about how she loved Ethan but he had done all that to her? i loved this series and im bitter sweet about it ending really, i just thought it was amazing and i was so happy emma got what she had always wanted! and Sutton was finally put to rest! such a good ending to a good series! Well done Sara!
And he took it to heart because he was made to look like a fool and maybe he has a mental illness which explains the huge file at the mental hospital and he started getting more and more obbsessed with Sutton and one day he managed to find out she had a twin. He wanted to hurt Sutton maybe not even wanting to kill her but maybe something went wrong and he did and he obviously knew about Emma and he's the one who sent the email etc
I'm incredibly sorry this is sooo jumbled and doesn't make alot of sense but hopefully you can catch my drift
Why i have always thought it was Ethan:
-He is probably keeping Emma close to steer her away from finding out the true killer by feeding her different suspects
-Sutton was a bitch to him and we find out more as the books go on
-Is it me or they always seem to talk about Ethans house/room? late at light etc especially in the last book i think this maybe some hint or foreshadowing? idk
-Ethan is the only one who has not been a suspect
-The only one who didn't freak when he found out she wasn't Sutton
-He just seems TOO nice like idk i just don't trust him
Okay there is more reasons but i can't think because i read the other books a while ago if you have anything to add please comment this theory is all messed up and jumbled together
BUT I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS BOOK OH MY GOD
EDITED 8TH AUGUST 2013
so i guess i was correct with some of my theory! (yay) but honestly this book was awesome!!i loved finding out how ethan had done it all! and omg the end was so emotional i just can't i actually got teary about it all, i just felt awful about how she loved Ethan but he had done all that to her? i loved this series and im bitter sweet about it ending really, i just thought it was amazing and i was so happy emma got what she had always wanted! and Sutton was finally put to rest! such a good ending to a good series! Well done Sara!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2013
Rewind back literally 1 minute ago ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So basically here I was sitting on my bed scrolling down a list of new books in 2013 and I see this..... My phone literally fell out of my hand in shock, I can't wait until this book comes out!!!!!!!!! I might actually go and buy it legally!
So basically here I was sitting on my bed scrolling down a list of new books in 2013 and I see this..... My phone literally fell out of my hand in shock, I can't wait until this book comes out!!!!!!!!! I might actually go and buy it legally!
September 6, 2020
Okuması kolay, güzel bir seriydi. Yazar gizemi bu kadar uzatmasa katili tahmin etmek daha zor olabilirdi belki. Kurgu biraz tekrara girse de saçma veya mantıksız pek bir şey olmadı neyse ki.
January 23, 2018
Ok here is proof that Ethan is the killer!
1. Someone hacked onto Sutton's Facebook account to trick Emma into coming to her house. Charlottes house was also broken into. Ethan is very good at hacking which can explain both of those occurrences. Also when Emma went over to Ethan's house he was on her profile page.
2. Ethan and Emma supposedly got in a "fight" But not before Emma saw the glow of a cigarette butt in the bush. They left separately. The next day Emma got into Ethan's car and remarked it smelled faintly of cigarette even though he doesn't smoke I think he had a friend hide in the bush for him. Then he gave that friend a ride home.
3. As soon as Misca found Ethan's medical records she supposedly died. Ethan arrived minuets after claiming he didn't feel well but was a bit better now.
My theory: I think Ethan killed Sutton because he was madly in love with her, but she turned him down. Driving him mad enough to kill her. Then he brought in Emma as his replacement so he could have a second chance with another "Sutton." It would also explain why he keeps coming up with a list of possible suspects. That way he stays off her radar. Also it was strange the way he totally believed her when Emma said she wasn't Sutton.
1. Someone hacked onto Sutton's Facebook account to trick Emma into coming to her house. Charlottes house was also broken into. Ethan is very good at hacking which can explain both of those occurrences. Also when Emma went over to Ethan's house he was on her profile page.
2. Ethan and Emma supposedly got in a "fight" But not before Emma saw the glow of a cigarette butt in the bush. They left separately. The next day Emma got into Ethan's car and remarked it smelled faintly of cigarette even though he doesn't smoke I think he had a friend hide in the bush for him. Then he gave that friend a ride home.
3. As soon as Misca found Ethan's medical records she supposedly died. Ethan arrived minuets after claiming he didn't feel well but was a bit better now.
My theory: I think Ethan killed Sutton because he was madly in love with her, but she turned him down. Driving him mad enough to kill her. Then he brought in Emma as his replacement so he could have a second chance with another "Sutton." It would also explain why he keeps coming up with a list of possible suspects. That way he stays off her radar. Also it was strange the way he totally believed her when Emma said she wasn't Sutton.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Shelved as 'books-i-would-die-for'
July 30, 20137/30/13
The killer
The killer
Read
January 12, 2015Ok, as much as I am absolutely obsessed with this series, it's so predictable. I mean, every book is the same- THIS person is SOO undeniably the killer (even though, to an outside viewer they are obviously not) and then some epiphany occurs and then they're ruled out as a suspect. It's just frustrating how this series could have been solved 3 books ago. But I am also partly glad it wasn't, because I'm hooked. I just wish this could be out already :/ oh and if it's not the last one, I will cry.
December 3, 2016
The whole series was very repetitive, which is something I hate in a mystery series.
January 28, 2021
Привет, пандишпанчета!
За много години като за начало и да се надявам (сама за себе си), че аз няма да изневеря на новогодишното си обещание да пиша повече през тази година. Определено не съм спряла да чета и да акумулирам книги, съдейки по количеството вкъщи.
Та, шегата на страна – започвам с една от най-пресните поредици в ума ми, която консумирах наведнъж. Не помня да съм чела скоро ей така 6 книги за два дена. Сама се видях в чудо!
Сара Шепърд стана доста популярна поради поредицата си за „Малките сладки лъжкини“ (която не съм чела, но сериала беше супер) и поредицата ѝ „Перфекциониста“, която е дуология и ми допадна. „Игри на лъжи“ е много стара нейна поредица, която на шега намерих в магазин Т-Маркет всяка за по 5лв – намерих само 4, а другите 2 прочетох на английски.
Идеята и сюжета на абсолютно всички книги на Сара е, че се въртят около мистериозно убийство, което главната героиня трябва да разреши.
В тази поредица Ема „по случайност“ разбира, че има сестра близначка (двете се оказват осиновени от различни семейства) и опитвайки се да се види с нея, всъщност се оказва в капан – близначката ѝ Сътън е била убита, а убиеца я кара да живее живота на Сътън, иначе и Ема ще я последва същата участ.
Можете да си представите в цели 6 книги, какви лукуми са били разтягани. Ах, имаше и любимото ми клише – любовен триъгълник. Но честно казано, като за тийн драма тип книги, бяха много добре изпипани. Определено имаше много елементи, които ми допаднаха в тях, за да ги изчета така бързо. Разбира се – да разбера кой е убиеца – беше главен мотивиращ фактор.
Поредицата си имаше всичко – мистерия, любов, динамика. Минах през всички спрекри на емоциите с всяка една част!
Мога само да ги опиша като кнкги, които трябва да се изживеят. Проблема е, че като знаеш вече края, надали би ги отгърнал повече. Може и да греша, кой знае.
Оценявам читателското си преживяване като 4/5 звезди.
February 15, 2016
Wow. Wow. I thought this was a fantastic ending to the mystery. I've started all of Sara's series, but this is the first one I've finished, so it was really great to see how she wraps up her mysteries.
The pacing of this finale was perfect. Secrets that have spanned the entire series came out into the open from literally chapter 1. She really did not keep us waiting and it was great to see the characters react to things through the whole book. The final big reveal occurred at about the 3/4 mark, which gave us plenty of room for a satisfying ending. I LOVED how much wrap up we got. The space in which the characters find out the twist, and then we find out, and then the confrontation happens was not drawn out, it all happened within a few pages. I cannot say enough how perfect I felt the pacing was.
Additionally, the truth came as a HUGE shock to me! Granted, it's been several years since I read the first 2 books, so maybe that made me forget some initial information because I've heard from others that they predicted it. But, the way this series has approached the entire mystery (very classic murder mystery) threw me for a loop and I really had no suspects by the end so was able to be surprised. It was pretty heart wrenching to me too. Beyond just the shock, there were some events described so horrifyingly that I was actually brought to tears from fear. I cant say that's ever happened to me before. It was pretty terrifying.
Gotta say I'm a fan of Sara Shepard. Can't wait to finish her PLL series.
The pacing of this finale was perfect. Secrets that have spanned the entire series came out into the open from literally chapter 1. She really did not keep us waiting and it was great to see the characters react to things through the whole book. The final big reveal occurred at about the 3/4 mark, which gave us plenty of room for a satisfying ending. I LOVED how much wrap up we got. The space in which the characters find out the twist, and then we find out, and then the confrontation happens was not drawn out, it all happened within a few pages. I cannot say enough how perfect I felt the pacing was.
Additionally, the truth came as a HUGE shock to me! Granted, it's been several years since I read the first 2 books, so maybe that made me forget some initial information because I've heard from others that they predicted it. But, the way this series has approached the entire mystery (very classic murder mystery) threw me for a loop and I really had no suspects by the end so was able to be surprised. It was pretty heart wrenching to me too. Beyond just the shock, there were some events described so horrifyingly that I was actually brought to tears from fear. I cant say that's ever happened to me before. It was pretty terrifying.
Gotta say I'm a fan of Sara Shepard. Can't wait to finish her PLL series.
August 16, 2013
For some reason, I gave this book a four stars. Why do I seem so reluctant in that rating? It's because the killer was just way too obvious. (Yes, I know what I typed in my review of book 5, but as soon as Emma had a new suspect was when I knew that I was wrong . Pulling a PLL on us, Shepard yet again made this book a "girl suspects XXX is murderer, which means, that XXX is clearly NOT the murderer".
Anyways, I'm finally glad to be done with one murder mystery (still waiting for A(& A) to get her (or their) comeuppance). The first half of the book was the same long-running script that everyone who reads this should be familiar with (especially if you have read the Pretty Little Liars series), but I couldn't tear myself away from the second half. Hopefully, you'll agree and won't think that this series was a waste of invested time ('cause I was definitely starting to think that, but have come not to regret reading this series).
Anyways, I'm finally glad to be done with one murder mystery (still waiting for A(& A) to get her (or their) comeuppance). The first half of the book was the same long-running script that everyone who reads this should be familiar with (especially if you have read the Pretty Little Liars series), but I couldn't tear myself away from the second half. Hopefully, you'll agree and won't think that this series was a waste of invested time ('cause I was definitely starting to think that, but have come not to regret reading this series).
May 18, 2014
So effing obvious.
May 11, 2017
Mehr auf:
Achtung! Diese Rezension kann Spoiler zu Band 1-5 beinhalten!
Inhalt:
Seit Wochen spielt Emma die Rolle ihrer ermordeten Zwillingsschwester Sutton Paxton perfekt – doch Suttons Mörder hat sie immer noch nicht gefunden. Als plötzlich die Leiche von Sutton entdeckt wird, gerät Emmas sorgfältig konstruierte Lügenwelt ins Wanken. In kürzester Zeit wird Emma Hauptverdächtige Nummer eins. Wenn sie nicht bald den Mörder überführen kann, wird sie hinter Gitter landen – oder noch schlimmer: ihr Leben verlieren …
Quelle: randomhouse.de
Meinung:
"Der begehbare Kleiderschrank wäre der Traum eines jeden Mädchens gewesen."
Das Cover passt sich wieder an seine Vorgänger an. Auch hier ist ein Mädchen, wahrscheinlich Emma oder Sutton abgebildet. Hier sind die Farben aber dunkler gehalten, als bei den anderen Bänden, was daran liegen könnte, dass es der letzte und somit düsterste Teil der Reihe ist, da die Identität des Mörders aufgedeckt wird.
Shepards Schreibstil fand ich, wie in den anderen Büchern auch, sehr angenehm zu lesen. Wieder wird die Geschichte aus Suttons Sicht erzählt, die als Geist immer bei Emma ist. Da das Buch ein Jugendbuch ist, sind die Formulierungen nicht sehr komplex und die gewählten Wörter nicht kompliziert. Shepards Schreibstil ist flüssig und dadurch kommt man in dem Buch schnell voran und bleibt nicht an Stellen hängen. Allerdings, und ich weiß nicht ob die Übersetzer schuld sind oder Sara Shepard, gibt es oftmals gleiche Wörter bzw. Phrasen, hier hätte etwas mehr Abwechslung gut getan.
Dieser letzte Teil der Serie fängt genau da an, wo Teil 5 geendet hat. Emma weiß noch immer nicht, wer Suttons Mörder ist. Ihr neuer Verdächtiger ist in diesem band Garret. Doch dann wird Suttons Leiche im Canyon gefunden und Emmas Identität wird aufgedeckt. Natürlich glauben sofort alle, dass sie Sutton getötet hat, doch Emma gibt nicht auf und sucht weiter nach dem richtigen Mörder. Bis sie ihn findet und selber in Gefahr gerät.
Wie in den anderen fünf Bänden auch, geht Shepard hier nach dem Prinzip vor: Jemand wird verdächtigt, es zeigen sich eindeutige Beweise, es stellt sich heraus, dass derjenige nicht der Mörder ist, Emma ist wieder am Anfang. Natürlich ist Lesern der Reihe klar, dass nicht Garret der Mörder sein kann, denn das würde dann aus dem Rahmen fallen. Allerdings hat man in diesem Band mehr über die Beziehung von Sutton und Garret erfahren und auch weitere Details seiner Familie, was ich sehr interessant fand.
Die Rückblenden aus Suttons letzten Stunden sind wieder einmal sehr gut ausgearbeitet und man möchte unbedingt wissen, wer sie denn nun getötet hat. Diese Momente habe ich wieder sehr gern gelesen, da sie viel Abwechslung zu der sonst eher repetitiven Story bieten. Bei der letzten Rückblende tat es mir wirklich leid, dass Sutton tot ist, da sie da viele ihrer eigenen Fehler erkannt hat und sich bessern wollte.
Emma geht den Ermittlungen nach und versucht alle von Garrets Schuld zu überzeugen, hierbei steht ihr Ethan wieder tatkräftig zur Seite. Die Beziehung zwischen den beiden entwickelt sich in dem Buch aber nicht mehr weiter. Ich hatte das Gefühl, als würden sie die ganze Zeit über auf der gleichen Ebene bleiben. Ja, Ethan ist nett zu Emma und hilft ihr, aber da hätte es noch einige Entwicklungsmöglichkeiten gegeben.
Etwa nach der Hälfte des Buches wird Suttons Leiche gefunden. An hier wurde es richtig spannend und ich habe den zweiten Teil in einem durch gelesen. Emma tat mir leid, da alle sie für die Mörderin hielten und niemand dieses Urteil hinterfragt hat. Sogar die Mercers wollten nichts mehr mit ihr zu tun haben. Shepard hat mit Emma einen wirklich starken Charakter kreiert, der viel durchstehen muss und doch nicht klein bei gibt. Ich kenne niemanden, der Emmas Schicksal überlebt hätte.
Eine andere Beziehung hat sich aber sehr gut entwickelt und zwar die von Emma und Thayer. Er verurteilt sie nicht sofort und glaubt ihr, als sie sagt, dass sie Sutton nicht ermordet hat. Schon als Thayer seinen ersten Auftritt hatte, wusste ich, dass es noch sehr viel Potential für ihn gibt. Am Ende gabs dann noch eine Szene mit diesen beiden, die mir sehr gut gefallen hat und viel der Phantasie überlässt.
Hier war ich mir dann schon zu 100% sicher, dass diese Person, die ich verdächtigt habe, der Mörder von Sutton ist, da es einfach so viele Hinweise in diesem Band gab, das kann man gar nicht mehr übersehen. Trotzdem habe ich mir bis zum Ende gewünscht, dass es nicht so ist.
Die Auflösung kam jetzt nicht so überraschend, aber dennoch gab es viele unerwartete Dinge, die in den letzten Kapitel aufgedeckt wurden. Die Geschichte aus der Vergangenheit des Mörders und das Treffen des Mörders mit Sutton im Canyon sind nur zwei dieser Dinge. Da hab ich wirklich den Atem angehalten und musste unbedingt weiterlesen. Nishas Tod wird auch aufgeklärt und das war wirklich schrecklich, denn ich mochte Nisha. Trotz allem habe ich keinen richtigen Hass auf den Mörder entwickelt, dafür hat Shepard gesorgt. Nach anderen Rezensionen nach, geht das aber nicht nur mir so.
Das Ende vom Buch war dann wieder schön. Etwas viel heile Welt, aber trotzdem passt es zu der Atmosphäre von Lying Game. Ich finde es irgendwie schade, dass die Reihe nun aus ist, aber es war auch ein tolles Lesevergnügen. Ich werde mich sicher bald an die anderen Reihen von Sara Shepard machen, da sie wirklich toll schreibt´.
Fazit:
Ein gelungenes Ende dieser wirklich spannenden Reihe. Auch wenn sie etwas vorhersehbar war. Leseempfehlung an alle, die bereits die anderen Bände gelesen haben, hört nicht auf, das Ende lohnt sich! Das Buch bekommt 4 von 5 Sterne.
Achtung! Diese Rezension kann Spoiler zu Band 1-5 beinhalten!
Inhalt:
Seit Wochen spielt Emma die Rolle ihrer ermordeten Zwillingsschwester Sutton Paxton perfekt – doch Suttons Mörder hat sie immer noch nicht gefunden. Als plötzlich die Leiche von Sutton entdeckt wird, gerät Emmas sorgfältig konstruierte Lügenwelt ins Wanken. In kürzester Zeit wird Emma Hauptverdächtige Nummer eins. Wenn sie nicht bald den Mörder überführen kann, wird sie hinter Gitter landen – oder noch schlimmer: ihr Leben verlieren …
Quelle: randomhouse.de
Meinung:
"Der begehbare Kleiderschrank wäre der Traum eines jeden Mädchens gewesen."
Das Cover passt sich wieder an seine Vorgänger an. Auch hier ist ein Mädchen, wahrscheinlich Emma oder Sutton abgebildet. Hier sind die Farben aber dunkler gehalten, als bei den anderen Bänden, was daran liegen könnte, dass es der letzte und somit düsterste Teil der Reihe ist, da die Identität des Mörders aufgedeckt wird.
Shepards Schreibstil fand ich, wie in den anderen Büchern auch, sehr angenehm zu lesen. Wieder wird die Geschichte aus Suttons Sicht erzählt, die als Geist immer bei Emma ist. Da das Buch ein Jugendbuch ist, sind die Formulierungen nicht sehr komplex und die gewählten Wörter nicht kompliziert. Shepards Schreibstil ist flüssig und dadurch kommt man in dem Buch schnell voran und bleibt nicht an Stellen hängen. Allerdings, und ich weiß nicht ob die Übersetzer schuld sind oder Sara Shepard, gibt es oftmals gleiche Wörter bzw. Phrasen, hier hätte etwas mehr Abwechslung gut getan.
Dieser letzte Teil der Serie fängt genau da an, wo Teil 5 geendet hat. Emma weiß noch immer nicht, wer Suttons Mörder ist. Ihr neuer Verdächtiger ist in diesem band Garret. Doch dann wird Suttons Leiche im Canyon gefunden und Emmas Identität wird aufgedeckt. Natürlich glauben sofort alle, dass sie Sutton getötet hat, doch Emma gibt nicht auf und sucht weiter nach dem richtigen Mörder. Bis sie ihn findet und selber in Gefahr gerät.
Wie in den anderen fünf Bänden auch, geht Shepard hier nach dem Prinzip vor: Jemand wird verdächtigt, es zeigen sich eindeutige Beweise, es stellt sich heraus, dass derjenige nicht der Mörder ist, Emma ist wieder am Anfang. Natürlich ist Lesern der Reihe klar, dass nicht Garret der Mörder sein kann, denn das würde dann aus dem Rahmen fallen. Allerdings hat man in diesem Band mehr über die Beziehung von Sutton und Garret erfahren und auch weitere Details seiner Familie, was ich sehr interessant fand.
Die Rückblenden aus Suttons letzten Stunden sind wieder einmal sehr gut ausgearbeitet und man möchte unbedingt wissen, wer sie denn nun getötet hat. Diese Momente habe ich wieder sehr gern gelesen, da sie viel Abwechslung zu der sonst eher repetitiven Story bieten. Bei der letzten Rückblende tat es mir wirklich leid, dass Sutton tot ist, da sie da viele ihrer eigenen Fehler erkannt hat und sich bessern wollte.
Emma geht den Ermittlungen nach und versucht alle von Garrets Schuld zu überzeugen, hierbei steht ihr Ethan wieder tatkräftig zur Seite. Die Beziehung zwischen den beiden entwickelt sich in dem Buch aber nicht mehr weiter. Ich hatte das Gefühl, als würden sie die ganze Zeit über auf der gleichen Ebene bleiben. Ja, Ethan ist nett zu Emma und hilft ihr, aber da hätte es noch einige Entwicklungsmöglichkeiten gegeben.
Etwa nach der Hälfte des Buches wird Suttons Leiche gefunden. An hier wurde es richtig spannend und ich habe den zweiten Teil in einem durch gelesen. Emma tat mir leid, da alle sie für die Mörderin hielten und niemand dieses Urteil hinterfragt hat. Sogar die Mercers wollten nichts mehr mit ihr zu tun haben. Shepard hat mit Emma einen wirklich starken Charakter kreiert, der viel durchstehen muss und doch nicht klein bei gibt. Ich kenne niemanden, der Emmas Schicksal überlebt hätte.
Eine andere Beziehung hat sich aber sehr gut entwickelt und zwar die von Emma und Thayer. Er verurteilt sie nicht sofort und glaubt ihr, als sie sagt, dass sie Sutton nicht ermordet hat. Schon als Thayer seinen ersten Auftritt hatte, wusste ich, dass es noch sehr viel Potential für ihn gibt. Am Ende gabs dann noch eine Szene mit diesen beiden, die mir sehr gut gefallen hat und viel der Phantasie überlässt.
Hier war ich mir dann schon zu 100% sicher, dass diese Person, die ich verdächtigt habe, der Mörder von Sutton ist, da es einfach so viele Hinweise in diesem Band gab, das kann man gar nicht mehr übersehen. Trotzdem habe ich mir bis zum Ende gewünscht, dass es nicht so ist.
Die Auflösung kam jetzt nicht so überraschend, aber dennoch gab es viele unerwartete Dinge, die in den letzten Kapitel aufgedeckt wurden. Die Geschichte aus der Vergangenheit des Mörders und das Treffen des Mörders mit Sutton im Canyon sind nur zwei dieser Dinge. Da hab ich wirklich den Atem angehalten und musste unbedingt weiterlesen. Nishas Tod wird auch aufgeklärt und das war wirklich schrecklich, denn ich mochte Nisha. Trotz allem habe ich keinen richtigen Hass auf den Mörder entwickelt, dafür hat Shepard gesorgt. Nach anderen Rezensionen nach, geht das aber nicht nur mir so.
Das Ende vom Buch war dann wieder schön. Etwas viel heile Welt, aber trotzdem passt es zu der Atmosphäre von Lying Game. Ich finde es irgendwie schade, dass die Reihe nun aus ist, aber es war auch ein tolles Lesevergnügen. Ich werde mich sicher bald an die anderen Reihen von Sara Shepard machen, da sie wirklich toll schreibt´.
Fazit:
Ein gelungenes Ende dieser wirklich spannenden Reihe. Auch wenn sie etwas vorhersehbar war. Leseempfehlung an alle, die bereits die anderen Bände gelesen haben, hört nicht auf, das Ende lohnt sich! Das Buch bekommt 4 von 5 Sterne.
March 21, 2021
Ein wirklich großartiger und gelungener Abschluss der Reihe! Auch wenn wir bereits nach Teil 1 bereits den Killer kannten - wie sich nun herausgestellt hat - hat es einfach unglaublich viel Spaß gemacht, zu rätseln, wer der Mörder sein könnte. Sara Shepard schreibt einfach großartig!
April 6, 2013
The last book? We FINALLY know what happened to Sutton? Ok...
Ethan didn't do it. I really don't think that he did. Was he involved? Probably. He didn't like Sutton after the unknown Lying Game prank that no one knows what they did. Do we get to find out what happened in this book? I wanna know.
Anyway, Sutton is dead. They find her body in this book. But its the way that she died. Not who killed her. She probably committed suicide or something and she had someone help her make it look like a murder. She probably seriously hated her life. I mean, her life was turned upside down in one night. Her "parents" are her grandparents and her mother in kind of insane. I don't know.. probably doesn't make sense. But it's a theory.
I think Nisha was involved. She probably ended up really liking Emma and she felt guilty so she wanted to tell her what happened. But then whoever was helping her killed her because they don't want to be caught. I'm probably wayyyy off but you know. It's going to be something really unexpected. I mean, who thought that there was a secret twin and she was the one who killed Ali in PLL?
Kind of excited about the last book. I'm sad that the series is ending but its time to find out what happened to Sutton.
Ethan didn't do it. I really don't think that he did. Was he involved? Probably. He didn't like Sutton after the unknown Lying Game prank that no one knows what they did. Do we get to find out what happened in this book? I wanna know.
Anyway, Sutton is dead. They find her body in this book. But its the way that she died. Not who killed her. She probably committed suicide or something and she had someone help her make it look like a murder. She probably seriously hated her life. I mean, her life was turned upside down in one night. Her "parents" are her grandparents and her mother in kind of insane. I don't know.. probably doesn't make sense. But it's a theory.
I think Nisha was involved. She probably ended up really liking Emma and she felt guilty so she wanted to tell her what happened. But then whoever was helping her killed her because they don't want to be caught. I'm probably wayyyy off but you know. It's going to be something really unexpected. I mean, who thought that there was a secret twin and she was the one who killed Ali in PLL?
Kind of excited about the last book. I'm sad that the series is ending but its time to find out what happened to Sutton.
April 10, 2017
I knew it was him, but at the same time I didn't want it to be!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2013
SPOILERS:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well I finally finished this book, after midnight. I would have read this earlier, but I was reading the Cuckoo Calling by R.G, aka J.K.Rowling, which was a pretty good book, really good.
Anyway now I read a earlier spoiler saying it was Ethan who was the killer. I was bummed because I had suspicion, but this was proof, but since the beginning I suspected it was Ethan, It was until the 4th, I believed it, and then the 5th book, there was concrete proof that Ethan was the killer. Everyone on this website, all said it was Ethan, it was too obvious to be honest.
Now, I assumed in the end, that everyone would find out the truth, about the switch, so I was surprised that wasn't the case.
I did get annoyed when Emma fixated on a another character, and I kept thinking, he isn't the killer, jeez, haven't we been though this enough times.
Anyway, Ethan, I thought he accidentally killed Sutton, but it turns out he is full blown psychopath and the revelation did surprise me.
It's good that Emma got the family she wanted but at a greater loss. The sad thing is, Emma is now going to be Sidney from Scream Films, they both gave their virginity to their boyfriend, who in the end turned out to be killers and tried to kill them. Emma is going to have difficulty to trust people, would she recover, I say yes, but she's going to need therapy.
One thing I did find, maybe creepy, it was when everyone was grieving for Sutton in the end, but because Emma is there, they were moving on, welcoming her, but sometime I felt, they just saw Sutton in Emma, and for a bit, they can just imagine that Sutton was alive until reality crashed in. I do hope everyone moves on, but remembers that Emma isn't Sutton, and never will be. I think, in the end, maybe, when it's time to go college, she moves away, for a short time, and well, just try to forget everything.
Now, on to Sutton, we say from the beginning, how she was quite annoying, woe is me attitude, and then as we progressed on, Sutton is redeemed, she realizes what she had and lost, and she can't do nothing. I would deem this series, as a supernatural as well, because Sutton seeing everything, how would you define that. But Sutton was only there, until she got justice, and she did, and she knows, her family while, they may grieve, they have Emma as well, so I did like the conclusion, as she disappears for eternal rest.
Anyway this was very fast paced, unlike the other books, it jumped very quickly, and I was hooked instantly. There was places I felt bad for Emma, the rejection from Maddie/ Char, the slap, rejected from school, and the locks being changed.
Lastly, some people rooted for Thayer and Emma, but that can never happen, he was in love with Sutton, and if he was with Emma, that would mean he just saw Emma as a replacement, Yes they will be friends, but they can never be, both of them probably wouldn't get past the Sutton issue and maybe they would feel its disrespectful.
Finally, Ethan, what a psycho, they say who fooled everyone except for the readers. Hopefully Ethan will go to jail, and never is let out, otherwise, well lets say, Emma and Sutton will be reunited quickly.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Anyway I hope SS lays this series to REST and doesn't RESURRECT it liked the PLL series, because she should leave it as it, where we the readers can imagine that Emma, in the end moves on, and finally ends up happy. No need to go and involve Emma in another mystery, like PLL, leave it to REST.
Since reading the fist book, waiting years for the conclusion, it's be a long journey.
Those who have just started to read the first book, well your lucky, you can read all 6 in one go, not wait months and years to find out the killer.
I hope SS next series is FRESH, but most of all SHORT, maybe a 4 book, or shorter, because SS, did kind of take the piss, as each book I read, I knew that person wasn't the killer. so year, SS please make it short, unlike PLL, which to me it looks like SS is going to publish 100th book of PLL.
Anyway, its been a long journey, I can now stop with the theories of who the killer is, lay Sutton to rest forever.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well I finally finished this book, after midnight. I would have read this earlier, but I was reading the Cuckoo Calling by R.G, aka J.K.Rowling, which was a pretty good book, really good.
Anyway now I read a earlier spoiler saying it was Ethan who was the killer. I was bummed because I had suspicion, but this was proof, but since the beginning I suspected it was Ethan, It was until the 4th, I believed it, and then the 5th book, there was concrete proof that Ethan was the killer. Everyone on this website, all said it was Ethan, it was too obvious to be honest.
Now, I assumed in the end, that everyone would find out the truth, about the switch, so I was surprised that wasn't the case.
I did get annoyed when Emma fixated on a another character, and I kept thinking, he isn't the killer, jeez, haven't we been though this enough times.
Anyway, Ethan, I thought he accidentally killed Sutton, but it turns out he is full blown psychopath and the revelation did surprise me.
It's good that Emma got the family she wanted but at a greater loss. The sad thing is, Emma is now going to be Sidney from Scream Films, they both gave their virginity to their boyfriend, who in the end turned out to be killers and tried to kill them. Emma is going to have difficulty to trust people, would she recover, I say yes, but she's going to need therapy.
One thing I did find, maybe creepy, it was when everyone was grieving for Sutton in the end, but because Emma is there, they were moving on, welcoming her, but sometime I felt, they just saw Sutton in Emma, and for a bit, they can just imagine that Sutton was alive until reality crashed in. I do hope everyone moves on, but remembers that Emma isn't Sutton, and never will be. I think, in the end, maybe, when it's time to go college, she moves away, for a short time, and well, just try to forget everything.
Now, on to Sutton, we say from the beginning, how she was quite annoying, woe is me attitude, and then as we progressed on, Sutton is redeemed, she realizes what she had and lost, and she can't do nothing. I would deem this series, as a supernatural as well, because Sutton seeing everything, how would you define that. But Sutton was only there, until she got justice, and she did, and she knows, her family while, they may grieve, they have Emma as well, so I did like the conclusion, as she disappears for eternal rest.
Anyway this was very fast paced, unlike the other books, it jumped very quickly, and I was hooked instantly. There was places I felt bad for Emma, the rejection from Maddie/ Char, the slap, rejected from school, and the locks being changed.
Lastly, some people rooted for Thayer and Emma, but that can never happen, he was in love with Sutton, and if he was with Emma, that would mean he just saw Emma as a replacement, Yes they will be friends, but they can never be, both of them probably wouldn't get past the Sutton issue and maybe they would feel its disrespectful.
Finally, Ethan, what a psycho, they say who fooled everyone except for the readers. Hopefully Ethan will go to jail, and never is let out, otherwise, well lets say, Emma and Sutton will be reunited quickly.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Anyway I hope SS lays this series to REST and doesn't RESURRECT it liked the PLL series, because she should leave it as it, where we the readers can imagine that Emma, in the end moves on, and finally ends up happy. No need to go and involve Emma in another mystery, like PLL, leave it to REST.
Since reading the fist book, waiting years for the conclusion, it's be a long journey.
Those who have just started to read the first book, well your lucky, you can read all 6 in one go, not wait months and years to find out the killer.
I hope SS next series is FRESH, but most of all SHORT, maybe a 4 book, or shorter, because SS, did kind of take the piss, as each book I read, I knew that person wasn't the killer. so year, SS please make it short, unlike PLL, which to me it looks like SS is going to publish 100th book of PLL.
Anyway, its been a long journey, I can now stop with the theories of who the killer is, lay Sutton to rest forever.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2017
I'm really, really, really happy with how this series ended. I feared it would go the way of Pretty Little Liars and we'd be 20 books in before figuring out the identity of Sutton's killer, but Sara Shepard wrapped it up nicely in Book 6. Though initially I wasn't stoked on who the killer was, I couldn't be happier with how neatly Sara Shepard tied everything up.
We learn that the killer is Ethan and he'd lied about his previous history as a juvenile delinquent. He wasn't arrested for retaliating against an abusive father, he was arrested for strangling a girl to death at age 10. Turns out Ethan was dangerously in love with Sutton and used his hacking skills to discover and lure Emma to Tucson as a 'present' for her.
Unfortunately when Ethan revealed all to Sutton in Sabino Canyon, she didn't take it too well. Names were called and Sutton fled, only to fall and break her leg in the canyon. Infuriated that she wasn't reciprocating his feelings, Ethan bashed Sutton's head in with a rock. Ethan then fell in love with Emma and desperately tried to get her to stop digging into who killed Sutton.
While I initially thought "Really? The killer is someone we already crossed off the list?" Sara Shepard convinced me in the end. Ethan's telescope is introduced from the get go, though we never entertain the idea that he used it to watch over Sabino Canyon and Nisha's house. Ethan's hacker skills are introduced from the get go, but we never question that he could have hacked into Sutton's Facebook, Laurel's computer, Becky's hospital records or the Chamberlain and Banerjee's alarm systems. We see early on that he has a strained relationship with his mother and a colourful psychiatric history, but we don't think more of it. Sara Shepard capitalises on the reader having shrugged off all these easter eggs, tying Sutton's murder up in a neat little bow.
More happened in this novel than the past three combined. I nearly dropped my Kindle on the train when Emma was pulled out of school to be advised that the decomposed body of her dead twin had been found in the Canyon. The books were stretching on so long that I'd questioned whether Sutton's body would ever be discovered. Part of me thought that she was still alive but comatose, being cared for as a Jane Doe in a hospital several towns over. Part of me was sure that Sutton's body had been dumped out of Tucson since it had been so difficult to find. While I'm not thrilled that the past three books have been filler, the explosiveness of the series finale helps to make up for it.
Though we've known from the get go that this book is about death, the tragedy of Sutton's murder didn't sink in until her body was discovered. Shepard's description of Sutton's empty eye sockets staring up at the sky was haunting; it hit home that while the Mercers used to have this vibrant, headstrong, wayward daughter, she was truly gone. The queen bee that had once stood there was now nothing more than a pile of bones and tattered clothing.
While Shepard's books have had always this farfetched fantastical element to them, this book forces the reader to stop and think "Hey, I might think I'm strong and invincible, but one person can easily reduce me to nothing. I can be here one moment and gone the next, nothing more than fading memories and meaningless material possessions". While Shepard's Pretty Little Liars series kills characters left and right, their deaths are glossed over. They're just another notch on the killer's belt and we never hear from the victims' families. In Seven Minutes in Heaven we're made to stop and realise that this isn't just a trashy teen murder mystery, it's a story about the murder of a teenage girl and the loss of a child.
I really enjoyed how Shepard wrote the assimilation of Emma into the Mercer family. It was so sensitive and tentative: while under other circumstances they may have welcomed Emma with open arms, they were simultaneously grieving for the loss of a child and reeling from the discovery of a long lost granddaughter. They extended the olive branch to Emma but were all walking on eggshells, unsure how to welcome this stranger who is a constant reminder of the child they lost.
I absolutely adored the scene in Sutton's bedroom prior to the funeral. Emma is asked to add her own touches to Sutton's room, which proceeds to stir up a host of questions and emotions. Where does Sutton end and Emma begin? How much of Emma's personality was lost during the weeks spent masquerading as Sutton? How can she incorporate her own effects in a room that still feels like Sutton's? Is it disrespectful to Sutton to do so? Will she ever be seen as her own person?
I also really enjoyed how Shepard tied up ghost!Sutton's storyline. She didn't depart this world when her body was discovered or when she was finally laid to rest. She continued to bob along behind Emma for weeks, wondering when her business would be finished or if she'd be bound to Emma for eternity. She finally moved on at Christmas, where a tree-decoration scene showed that Emma had been accepted into the family but that Sutton would never be forgotten. There was no easy way to deal with the loss of one child and the discovery of another, but the family were trying and learning. Sutton effectively went "into the light" and it wasn't cheesy or farfetched, it was just sweet.
Overall: My faith in Sara Shepard was restored in this novel. Shepard tied up the murder mystery in a neat little bow whilst respectfully acknowledging that at its core, this is a book about death. It would have been easy for Shepard to give us a dramatic, flashy reveal, then skip ahead several months to where our protagonists are well adjusted and living happily ever after. Instead, Shepard forced the readers to contemplate the unimaginable pain and grief of losing a child. Shepard made the reader put themselves in Emma's shoes, struggling to maintain her own identity and joining a family that didn't know how to welcome her.
I couldn't be more impressed with how quickly, neatly and respectfully Sara Shepard tied up this series. She might've gone astray in recent years, but this book goes to show that when she's on, she's fucking on.
We learn that the killer is Ethan and he'd lied about his previous history as a juvenile delinquent. He wasn't arrested for retaliating against an abusive father, he was arrested for strangling a girl to death at age 10. Turns out Ethan was dangerously in love with Sutton and used his hacking skills to discover and lure Emma to Tucson as a 'present' for her.
Unfortunately when Ethan revealed all to Sutton in Sabino Canyon, she didn't take it too well. Names were called and Sutton fled, only to fall and break her leg in the canyon. Infuriated that she wasn't reciprocating his feelings, Ethan bashed Sutton's head in with a rock. Ethan then fell in love with Emma and desperately tried to get her to stop digging into who killed Sutton.
While I initially thought "Really? The killer is someone we already crossed off the list?" Sara Shepard convinced me in the end. Ethan's telescope is introduced from the get go, though we never entertain the idea that he used it to watch over Sabino Canyon and Nisha's house. Ethan's hacker skills are introduced from the get go, but we never question that he could have hacked into Sutton's Facebook, Laurel's computer, Becky's hospital records or the Chamberlain and Banerjee's alarm systems. We see early on that he has a strained relationship with his mother and a colourful psychiatric history, but we don't think more of it. Sara Shepard capitalises on the reader having shrugged off all these easter eggs, tying Sutton's murder up in a neat little bow.
More happened in this novel than the past three combined. I nearly dropped my Kindle on the train when Emma was pulled out of school to be advised that the decomposed body of her dead twin had been found in the Canyon. The books were stretching on so long that I'd questioned whether Sutton's body would ever be discovered. Part of me thought that she was still alive but comatose, being cared for as a Jane Doe in a hospital several towns over. Part of me was sure that Sutton's body had been dumped out of Tucson since it had been so difficult to find. While I'm not thrilled that the past three books have been filler, the explosiveness of the series finale helps to make up for it.
Though we've known from the get go that this book is about death, the tragedy of Sutton's murder didn't sink in until her body was discovered. Shepard's description of Sutton's empty eye sockets staring up at the sky was haunting; it hit home that while the Mercers used to have this vibrant, headstrong, wayward daughter, she was truly gone. The queen bee that had once stood there was now nothing more than a pile of bones and tattered clothing.
While Shepard's books have had always this farfetched fantastical element to them, this book forces the reader to stop and think "Hey, I might think I'm strong and invincible, but one person can easily reduce me to nothing. I can be here one moment and gone the next, nothing more than fading memories and meaningless material possessions". While Shepard's Pretty Little Liars series kills characters left and right, their deaths are glossed over. They're just another notch on the killer's belt and we never hear from the victims' families. In Seven Minutes in Heaven we're made to stop and realise that this isn't just a trashy teen murder mystery, it's a story about the murder of a teenage girl and the loss of a child.
I really enjoyed how Shepard wrote the assimilation of Emma into the Mercer family. It was so sensitive and tentative: while under other circumstances they may have welcomed Emma with open arms, they were simultaneously grieving for the loss of a child and reeling from the discovery of a long lost granddaughter. They extended the olive branch to Emma but were all walking on eggshells, unsure how to welcome this stranger who is a constant reminder of the child they lost.
I absolutely adored the scene in Sutton's bedroom prior to the funeral. Emma is asked to add her own touches to Sutton's room, which proceeds to stir up a host of questions and emotions. Where does Sutton end and Emma begin? How much of Emma's personality was lost during the weeks spent masquerading as Sutton? How can she incorporate her own effects in a room that still feels like Sutton's? Is it disrespectful to Sutton to do so? Will she ever be seen as her own person?
I also really enjoyed how Shepard tied up ghost!Sutton's storyline. She didn't depart this world when her body was discovered or when she was finally laid to rest. She continued to bob along behind Emma for weeks, wondering when her business would be finished or if she'd be bound to Emma for eternity. She finally moved on at Christmas, where a tree-decoration scene showed that Emma had been accepted into the family but that Sutton would never be forgotten. There was no easy way to deal with the loss of one child and the discovery of another, but the family were trying and learning. Sutton effectively went "into the light" and it wasn't cheesy or farfetched, it was just sweet.
Overall: My faith in Sara Shepard was restored in this novel. Shepard tied up the murder mystery in a neat little bow whilst respectfully acknowledging that at its core, this is a book about death. It would have been easy for Shepard to give us a dramatic, flashy reveal, then skip ahead several months to where our protagonists are well adjusted and living happily ever after. Instead, Shepard forced the readers to contemplate the unimaginable pain and grief of losing a child. Shepard made the reader put themselves in Emma's shoes, struggling to maintain her own identity and joining a family that didn't know how to welcome her.
I couldn't be more impressed with how quickly, neatly and respectfully Sara Shepard tied up this series. She might've gone astray in recent years, but this book goes to show that when she's on, she's fucking on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2018
Going into this I thought I was going to get a cute ending tying up all the loose ends and solving all the problems of the previous books. Instead what I got was a long crying session, pain and heartbreak (in a good way).
I had known who the killer was from the second book, because it's the only explanation that made sense to me and by the end of the fifth book I was convinced it was actually who I suspected so I wasn't all that surprised by the revelation, what made the book worth it for me is how the author made that revelation and how emotional it got before and after that.
Overall, this book was a great ending and I had so much fun reading the series.
I had known who the killer was from the second book, because it's the only explanation that made sense to me and by the end of the fifth book I was convinced it was actually who I suspected so I wasn't all that surprised by the revelation, what made the book worth it for me is how the author made that revelation and how emotional it got before and after that.
Overall, this book was a great ending and I had so much fun reading the series.
April 9, 2022
2.5⭐️
May 6, 2024
Habe diese Buchreihe geliebt <3 So fun und spannend aber auch traurig und schön, vor allem das Ende. 6 Teile haben jetzt aber auch erstmal gereicht haha
August 4, 2013
"We Mercer girls are all alike. We're bitches you don't want to mess with."
- Laurel Mercer, in all of her bad ass-ness
I knew it!
I knew it!
I freaking knew It!
WARNING: This review will be chock full of spoilers. So please do not read if you haven't it yet.
Seven Minutes in Heaven is the final book in The Lying Game Series. Boy, is it final. There is no room left for interpretation. While dealing with the "accidental" death of Nisha, Sutton's body is discovered at the bottom of Sabino Canyon. Of course, everyone thinks it's Emma Paxton but the truth comes out and Emma is public enemy number one. With everyone but Ethan against her, Emma tries to find out the truth behind Sutton's murder once and for all.
Seven Minutes in Heaven was good. Damn good. Shepard answered every question that the series has brought up. Everything came to a head and it was exciting and sad. I knew that Ethan was a killer and my theory wasn't that far off. I didn't expect that Ethan was a psychopath. The way that everything was laid out: why he killed Sutton, how he killed her was excellent.
When both he and Sutton were struggling on top of the canyon and she fell. He looked horrified. I thought to myself: they better not make it an accident as if he didn't mean to kill her. Then you see that Sutton's still alive, she's just badly injured. I really thought that Shepard was just going to have Ethan leave her there. That would have been cold but not the most logical and murderous thing to do. Shepard has shown Ethan Landry as calculating; always one step ahead.
However, when Ethan met Sutton at the bottom, they exchanged angry words, and he bought that rock crashing on her head, I was like whoa. Poor Sutton. Poor Emma! It's after that scene that Emma finds out what Nisha wanted to tell her so badly about Ethan: he's a psychopath and a murderer and Sutton wasn't the first person he had killed.
Ahhh! This is how I feel about this book! It was that good. I'll have to commend Sara Shepard. She gave me the most satisfying ending and it made sense! The best part: it didn't come out of nowhere! I had suspected Ethan since book three. That's what a good mystery does: throws up a bunch of red herrings but they don't really derail you from whom you know is guilty: Ethan. Man, I really enjoyed Ethan too.
Although, the Who Killed Sutton was the bulk of the mystery, family seemed to be the heart. After everything she's been through, Emma will finally get the family she desperately wanted as herself. The Mercers are willing to try and work their way to forgiveness but it'll take time. One thing I really loved and will love Shepard forever for is that Thayer and Emma did NOT get together in the end. Thank God! It wouldn't make any sense and it would be weird and icky. Thayer's heart belongs to Sutton and eventually he will move on...just not with Emma.
The ending of Seven Minutes in Heaven is with the Mercers quietly celebrating Christmas with Emma as Sutton moves on. It is when she sees that happiness that she moves on herself, dissolving into energy, and disappearing. Seven Minutes in Heaven was great. If fans of the series are looking for a resolution, they don't have to be happy with it, they got one. A damn good one.
SIDE NOTE: For fans of The Lying Game, I suggest you read the novellas only available as ebooks: The First Lie and True Lies. They do help when you're reading the series.
- Laurel Mercer, in all of her bad ass-ness
I knew it!
I knew it!
I freaking knew It!
WARNING: This review will be chock full of spoilers. So please do not read if you haven't it yet.
Seven Minutes in Heaven is the final book in The Lying Game Series. Boy, is it final. There is no room left for interpretation. While dealing with the "accidental" death of Nisha, Sutton's body is discovered at the bottom of Sabino Canyon. Of course, everyone thinks it's Emma Paxton but the truth comes out and Emma is public enemy number one. With everyone but Ethan against her, Emma tries to find out the truth behind Sutton's murder once and for all.
Seven Minutes in Heaven was good. Damn good. Shepard answered every question that the series has brought up. Everything came to a head and it was exciting and sad. I knew that Ethan was a killer and my theory wasn't that far off. I didn't expect that Ethan was a psychopath. The way that everything was laid out: why he killed Sutton, how he killed her was excellent.
When both he and Sutton were struggling on top of the canyon and she fell. He looked horrified. I thought to myself: they better not make it an accident as if he didn't mean to kill her. Then you see that Sutton's still alive, she's just badly injured. I really thought that Shepard was just going to have Ethan leave her there. That would have been cold but not the most logical and murderous thing to do. Shepard has shown Ethan Landry as calculating; always one step ahead.
However, when Ethan met Sutton at the bottom, they exchanged angry words, and he bought that rock crashing on her head, I was like whoa. Poor Sutton. Poor Emma! It's after that scene that Emma finds out what Nisha wanted to tell her so badly about Ethan: he's a psychopath and a murderer and Sutton wasn't the first person he had killed.
Ahhh! This is how I feel about this book! It was that good. I'll have to commend Sara Shepard. She gave me the most satisfying ending and it made sense! The best part: it didn't come out of nowhere! I had suspected Ethan since book three. That's what a good mystery does: throws up a bunch of red herrings but they don't really derail you from whom you know is guilty: Ethan. Man, I really enjoyed Ethan too.
Although, the Who Killed Sutton was the bulk of the mystery, family seemed to be the heart. After everything she's been through, Emma will finally get the family she desperately wanted as herself. The Mercers are willing to try and work their way to forgiveness but it'll take time. One thing I really loved and will love Shepard forever for is that Thayer and Emma did NOT get together in the end. Thank God! It wouldn't make any sense and it would be weird and icky. Thayer's heart belongs to Sutton and eventually he will move on...just not with Emma.
The ending of Seven Minutes in Heaven is with the Mercers quietly celebrating Christmas with Emma as Sutton moves on. It is when she sees that happiness that she moves on herself, dissolving into energy, and disappearing. Seven Minutes in Heaven was great. If fans of the series are looking for a resolution, they don't have to be happy with it, they got one. A damn good one.
SIDE NOTE: For fans of The Lying Game, I suggest you read the novellas only available as ebooks: The First Lie and True Lies. They do help when you're reading the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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