Review: When

Author Victoria Laurie

Format e-ARC

Print Length 336 pages

Publisher Disney-Hyperion

Published January 13, 2015

Maddie Fynn is a shy high school junior, cursed with an eerie intuitive ability: she sees a series of unique digits hovering above the foreheads of each person she encounters. Her earliest memories are marked by these numbers, but it takes her father’s premature death for Maddie and her family to realize that these mysterious digits are actually death dates, and just like birthdays, everyone has one.

Forced by her alcoholic mother to use her ability to make extra money, Maddie identifies the quickly approaching death date of one client's young son, but because her ability only allows her to see the when and not the how, she’s unable to offer any more insight. When the boy goes missing on that exact date, law enforcement turns to Maddie.

Soon, Maddie is entangled in a homicide investigation, and more young people disappear and are later found murdered. A suspect for the investigation, a target for the murderer, and attracting the attentions of a mysterious young admirer who may be connected to it all, Maddie's whole existence is about to be turned upside down. Can she right things before it's too late?

My Opinion

Maddie grew up different than normal people. She grew up seeing a set of number above someone’s head. These numbers are apparently their death date. Only no one figured this out until her daddy passed away. This leads to her momma drinking too much and Maddie having to provide for the family. Maddie does this by reading the numbers for people. When she tells a socialite that her cancer ridden daughter will survive, the woman is internally grateful- that is until Maddie tells her that her healthy son will soon die. This eventually makes her the prime suspect in his murder investigation.

Maddie is surprisingly well-adjusted for someone who sees death dates. She is determined not to let her gift swallow her up whole like it did her momma. She keeps a journal of clients and dates that she sees to help ground her and relies heavily on her uncle and best friend. 

Speaking of things getting tough oh boy do they ever as bodies begin to add up they are corresponding with dates in the journal. This leads to the FBI thinking that Maddie and her bestie have their own nefarious objectives. If only they could believe her. Can they work together to capture the serial killer or will the FBI try to pen the deaths on Maddie? 

When is a suspenseful psycho thriller that has the reader guessing who done it until the very end. What is the serial killers end game? What motivates them? And for the love of all that is holy- why is all the evidence pointing to Maddie?

Overall, if you are looking for a book with a who done it kinda feel this is the book for you. If you are looking for a book with a who done it kinda feel and romance this is not the one for you. There is no romance in this one, there is a few references to a crush but that is about it. If you are looking for a book written in reality again this is not the one for you. Case in point- most states have an anti-bullying law on the books for schools to follow. Maddie is getting visibly bullied in front of her teachers and none of them do anything. This is against the law and the teachers would lose their certificate if this were to happen where I am.

My Rating 3 out of 5 stars

Favorite Quote “In this country you’re innocent until proven guilty.”

Other People

Uncle Donny- Daddy’s brother, also a lawyer

Stubs- male bestie, with a kind heart

Mrs. Duncan- nice neighbor lady, almost grandmotherly

Agent Faraday- FBI kinda a jerk