Title: Very Bad People
Author: Kit Frick
Genre: YA, Thriller, Mystery
Published On: April 5 2022
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Source: physical (book subscription box)
Pages: 416
Synopsis:
In this dark academia young adult thriller for fans of The Female of the Species and People Like Us, a teen girl’s search for answers about her mother’s mysterious death leads to a powerful secret society at her new boarding school—and a dangerous game of revenge that will leave her forever changed.
Six years ago, Calliope Bolan’s mother drove the family van into a lake with her three daughters inside. The girls escaped, but their mother drowned, and the truth behind the “accident” remains a mystery Calliope is determined to solve. Now sixteen, she transfers to Tipton Academy, the same elite boarding school her mother once attended. Tipton promises a peek into the past and a host of new opportunities—including a coveted invitation to join Haunt and Rail, an exclusive secret society that looms over campus like a legend.
Calliope accepts, stepping into the exhilarating world of the “ghosts,” a society of revolutionaries fighting for social justice. But when Haunt and Rail commits to exposing a dangerous person on campus, it becomes clear that some ghosts define justice differently than others.
As the society’s tactics escalate, Calliope uncovers a possible link between Haunt and Rail and her mother’s deadly crash. Now, she must question what lengths the society might go to in order to see a victory—and if the secret behind her mother’s death could be buried here at Tipton.
My thoughts
(Spoiler free)
I had only read one book by Kit Frick before Very Bad People landed in my hands, but it was her debut, See All the Stars, which I was very impressed with. So when an advanced copy of her latest YA thriller was included in my book subscription box from The Strand, I was excited to see an author I recognized!
I had a few mixed feelings about this one, however, so I’ll share what worked for me and what didn’t.
Frick’s writing was good. Some might find her blunt and dry, but it worked with the thriller genre, building tension and mystery. And she did a great job building anticipation. I found this dark academia set in the fall very atmospheric. It was one of my favorite aspects of the book. She’s also good with characters, especially her lead. I liked Calliope, even though I didn’t always agree with her choices. It made her human and relatable. I would have liked to know some of the secondary characters a bit more, but it also made them unreliable, which might be the point.
And I enjoyed the secret society trope. I’ve read a few other books with secret societies, most recently The Maidens by Alex Michaelides (My Review), and comparing it to those, I think this one was done very well. Definitely more juvenile for YA, but still quite dark. While several aspects of the book weren’t believable (more on that in a bit), the secret society as a group was convincing.
“The society’s purposes will be to haunt and rail, that is to clandestinely observe injustices, inequities, and bad actors at Tipton Academy, and to rail against these wrongs.”
Kit Frick, Very Bad People
So that’s what worked for me and kept me turning pages, but now let’s see what didn’t work for me.
While the build-up was great, sometimes the delivery was a let down. There were some surprising twists, but I wasn’t sure they felt genuine to the story. I wanted that gasp moment, but was left with more of an anticlimactic one.
And if you prefer your thrillers to be tied up with a big red bow at the end, this one might not be for you. I don’t typically mind when a book doesn’t give me all the answers, but it didn’t feel organic here. I wasn’t satisfied. In fact, I immediately jumped on Goodreads to see if I’d missed somewhere that this was book one in a series. I found nothing to indicate that.
So overall, a good story that kept me intrigued and flipping pages, but maybe didn’t deliver as well as I’d hoped it would. Definitely still worth a read if you’re a fan of dark academia and secret societies.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to The Strand for providing me with an advance copy.
(All quotes are taken from the advance copy and are subject to change in final print.)
Rating:
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About the Author
A Song For A Book
I’ve chosen to highlight “Come Out and Play” by Billie Eilish for Very Bad People. The words made me think of Calliope and all the secrets she’s keeping from those around her.
And I know it makes you nervous
But I promise you, it’s worth it
To show ’em everything you kept inside
Don’t hide, don’t hide
Too shy to say, but I hope you stay
Don’t hide away
Come out and play
Look up, out of your window
See snow, won’t let it in though
Leave home, feel the wind blow
‘Cause it’s colder here inside in silence
And you don’t have to keep it quiet…
Have you read Very Bad People? Did you add it to your tbr? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Wandering!
