Book Review: The Initial Insult by Mindy McGinnis
With dark themes and a hell of a lot of Edgar Allan Poe references, this book is for anyone who loves revenge thrillers. Check out my review for The Initial Insult below!
Book Information
Tress Montor used to have it all: the last name that meant everything in Amontillado; the loving parents; the money; her best friend, Felicity Turnado. That was before, though. Now, Tress has nothing except her last name. Her parents went missing seven years ago with Felicity being in the car with them the night they disappeared. Now, Tress knows she has to find out what happened to her parents. She knows that Felicity knows something, she just isn’t talking. But Felicity can’t remember anything from that night, and when Tress chains her up to force her to talk, the girls must learn how their friendship crumbled all those years ago, and how one night changed both of their lives forever.
Review | Heidi Dischler
I love Mindy McGinnis. Her writing style has always kept me intrigued and her plot has always kept me reading until the very last page. This book is no different, and the difficult relationship she has woven between two girls is beautiful in its tragedy.
This novel alternates between the past and the present, but I was never confused as to what was happening. I’m not one for revenge novels, but I love that McGinnis used one of Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories as inspiration. The pain and emotion that these two girls feel throughout the novel really grips at my heart. And her use of the cat for some of the alternating chapters? Brilliant. I loved them all.
Spoilers ahead.
Before I even finished this book, I knew I wouldn’t be able to do a review without spoilers. My head is still spinning and I can’t believe what I just read. Thank goodness there’s a second book, but oh my gosh I don’t want to wait another year.
First of all, I really thought the cat killed everyone and there were dismembered body parts everywhere when Tress tried to get help. But then she simply got her cousin and left. I was sooo confused at the point.
I really really truly believe that someone killed Tress’s parents and that someone is either Felicity’s mom or dad, or Annabelle’s sister. I have so many questions. And the fact that Felicity is trapped in the basement by bricks? Well, I didn’t forget about Tress’s sloppy rows and how it left air holes. Felicity is getting out of there, I just know it.
Overall, I really enjoyed this twisted, crazy novel and I can’t wait for the second book! Mindy McGinnis never ceases to amaze me with her novels and I love every single one. My favorite character has to be the panther. Yep. I said it.
Source: Overdrive Audiobook from Public Library
I need to know what happened to Tress’s parents. I have read the books twice now trying to figure out and details I might have read over. But is anyone going to say anything about the random words Felicity somewhat hears after Lee Montor stops the car and gets out with his wife???? I have a list and have been trying to assemble them into a sentence 😫😫. I have so many questions about the behind the scenes of these book characters lives. (Here’s the list of words from what I mentioned earlier!! Paper, thief, stole, mine, your, sister, don’t, please, money, listen) LET ME KNOW IF YOU FIND OUT THE ARRANGEMENT!!