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Kris Crossing by Luke Melia

Pages: 251
Price: Rs. 283 INR(Kindle Edition)
ASIN: B085KCZ19H
Buy here: https://amzn.to/3fG06bZ

Plagued by the tragedy of her past, local celebrity Hollie Crossing has disappeared. Though her mother and boyfriend do everything they can to find her, their worst fears are confirmed when Hollie’s jacket is found in a river… She has taken her own life. Meanwhile, 300 miles across the country, Kris Gibson is a struggling drug addict looking for any opportunity to get clean and make something more of her life. Everything is a struggle for Kris, as she begs and steals just to survive the day. When Kris comes into possession of a wallet belonging to the missing Hollie Crossing, she takes on her identity, using it to put herself on a path to recovery. Things, however, are not as simple as they seem, and Kris begins to notice changes that she can’t explain…

My take on the book:

Hollie Crossing becomes a child star overnight after appearing as a cute kid in one TV commercial. As she plans to shift to Hollywood to pursue further acting career, a home fire kills her Dad, and scars part of her face permanently. The city does not let her move on as everyone still remembers her as the pretty kid, while Hollie struggles now to live with her face. Though her mother and boyfriend are extremely loving and supportive, Hollie disappears unable to cope with life. Her jacket was found in a river leaving her family in a dilemma if they need to accept the inevitable has happened.

Elsewhere, Kris Gibson was left by her parents at a care centre where she was forced to earn money for her caregivers. To overcome life’s setbacks, Kris along with a brother she adopts at the care center, becomes a drug addict and a compulsive thief. One fine day they land upon Hollie’s wallet, and as they decide to start life afresh, Kris initially assumes Hollie’s identity through her cards. But things obviously don’t go as planned by Kris; is Hollie alive and will Kris be able to continue to fake her identity forms the rest of the story.

Kris Crossing is an intelligent psychological thriller that keeps the reader guessing till the end. The story though a thriller drags at places when the author establishes the character traits, especially of Kris. The author also differentiates the girls well, as both are contrasting people. However, if you are not well versed with the slang of that part of the world, Kris’s conversations can take time to settle as the author keeps them real. Along with Kris and Hollie, even the secondary characters are etched well.

The story is a subtle commentary on two young women finding it difficult to cope with life as they struggle with their own daemons. The reader is bound to empathize with both the girls and the situations they had to face. The plot twists are unexpected and keep the reader hooked. If you like to explore different storylines and interesting thrillers, this one is a must read.

My rating:

4/5.

“I got the book as a part of the review program in Outset” 

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