I’ve read many a back cover that claims a book is “gripping,” “pulse-pounding,” and a “fast-paced thrill ride.” PERSONAL EFFECTS by JC Hutchins actually delivers. (ha, you see? I’m capitalizing now like a Real Writer! ^_~ )
The concept alone sold me (partly because I drafted something similar but didn’t have the means to see it through). It’s a book that crosses the boundary between fiction and reality by including pieces of evidence from a murder case. There are phone numbers you can call, birth certificates, and more. I enjoyed translating the braille but most chilling was the piece of artwork. Reading along, I took the paper and did as the the characters did, folded it to match up two symbols…. BAM, message.
I didn’t expect the writing to be anything special, often a concept sells weak writing, but this is some of the best I’ve ever read. My heart raced through the majority of the book — if it wasn’t so damn scary I would have finished it in a night. I was dying to get to the end just so I could read it all over again.
There are some spots that could have had less backstory and the beginning starts out as if you’re not going to get a twist–but you do, oh you do. If the characters don’t do it for you then you may find parts overwrought, but otherwise it’s freaking brilliant. Hutchins layers the fear and builds quirky, unique characters… I mean, Lucas the parkour expert? But the traits aren’t just throwaways, they relate to the plot even their affection ” ‘dore you” slang is an integral clue.
I don’t usually like metaphors and similes because they’re often cheesy, ridiculous or overly poetic at the cost of the story but I was drinking up those in PERSONAL EFFECTS. The protagonist describes his hyperactive brother as “pop rocks for the soul” “the sound-scape of the city played kick-drum backbeat to our high, ragged breathing.”
I also just plain loved the characters. I’m a geek and not just a geek but a weird geek. I often have a hard time finding characters I relate to. Pretty much Jaenelle from THE BLACK JEWELS trilogy by Anne Bishop and Stargirl in STARGIRL by Jerry Spinelli. That’s it. But Zach, Rachel and Lucas had me from square one. I love Zach’s relationship with Rachel, it’s geek romance perfection yet still conflicted enough to stay interesting.
In conclusion, I have a new favorite author.
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