Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

Release Date: February 8, 2011
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 240
Review Source: eARC from Galley Grab for honest review

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
The community of Cryer’s Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshman Tiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD, 16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany’s empty desk in the one-room school house, but somehow life goes on... until Kendall's boyfriend Nico also disappears, and also without a trace. Now the town is in a panic.

Alone in her depression and with her OCD at an all-time high, Kendall notices something that connects Nico and Tiffany: they both sat at the same desk. She knows it's crazy, but Kendall finds herself drawn to the desk, dreaming of Nico and wondering if maybe she, too, will disappear...and whether that would be so bad. Then she begins receiving graffiti messages on the desk from someone who can only be Nico. Can he possibly be alive somewhere? Where is he? And how can Kendall help him?

The only person who believes her is Jacian, the new guy she finds irritating... and attractive. As Kendall and Jacian grow closer, Kendall digs deeper into Nico's mysterious disappearance only to stumble upon some ugly —and deadly— local history. Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.

My Thoughts:
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. 'Cryer's Cross' was an interesting paranormal story, one that felt original compared to most books out there right now. The idea of the story is quite creepy and devastating, and the way it is described by McMann is atmospheric, making the reader feel like a part of the tale. At first I found the book hard to get into because of it being written in 3rd person present tense. I guess this is a stylistic choice, but I didn't really think it was necessary. In fact, it impeded my enjoyment of the story at first, but thankfully I was able to dive into the story and become engrossed with the characters after 40 pages or so.

I think I would have liked it if the story was flushed out a bit more in certain areas, and for the background explanation for the events in Cryer's Cross to be more detailed or revealed little by little. This is my one big disappointment with the book: the story behind the desk seemed a bit like a campfire story that we've all heard before. I can't really say more without giving away the story, and I don't want to do that, because 'Cryer's Cross' still provides a satisfying reading experience. The whole book has an uneasy feel to it, and as a reader you're never sure who's telling the truth or what is really going on. 'Cryer's Cross' is an eerie read that is emotional and intense at times, and is one that will keep you up late at night trying to guess the real culprit behind the disappearances in Cryer's Cross.

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