Book Review: Feral by Holly Schindler

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Feral
Author: Holly Schindler
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Mystery
Released: August 26, 2014
Review Source: Harper Teen

It’s too late for you. You’re dead. Those words continue to haunt Claire Cain months after she barely survived a brutal beating in Chicago. So when her father is offered a job in another state, Claire is hopeful that getting out will offer her a way to start anew.

But when she arrives in Peculiar, Missouri, Claire feels an overwhelming sense of danger, and her fears are confirmed when she discovers the body of a popular high school student in the icy woods behind the school, surrounded by the town’s feral cats. While everyone is quick to say it was an accident, Claire knows there’s more to it, and vows to learn the truth about what happened.

But the closer she gets to uncovering the mystery, the closer she also gets to realizing a frightening reality about herself and the damage she truly sustained in that Chicago alley….

Claire Cain and her father, Dr. Cain, move to Peculiar after he takes a sabbatical. Claire couldn't be more eager to get out of Chicago after she almost cheated death by surviving a brutal beating. But, Peculiar definitely lives up to it's name. Soon after moving in she discovers the body of a student that has been missing, Serena's. Things get creepier as her life and Serena's seem to blend together. Claire is determined to get to the bottom of things. That is, if Peculiar and it's feral cats don't scare her off first.

Feral is an insanely creepy read. Really, the first pages totally set the mood for this book. With scary details, it definitely had me putting the book down several times to get through it. But, enough mystery definitely had me picking it back up quickly. Schindler's writing was vivid. So much so I felt like I had watched a movie when I finished. Actually, this story being made into a movie would definitely work. It's got the chill factor!

Although I didn't relate to any of the characters they each were written so perfectly. Claire, the protagonist, pulled you in and made you feel what she felt. The supporting cast was brilliant! Each of them strange in their own way adding to Peculiar's oddness.

The story itself was fantastic. Like I said, blockbuster material. Watch out for Feral and pick up a copy for a thrilling read!