The Reappearance of Rachel Price Review: A paragon of mystery
I'm currently reading lots of books that seem like effective comp titles for my book-in-progress, Lu Patrick Easley and The Groovy Penguin Avenue. With a dark, cynical character-focused mystery following a teenager, The Reappearance of Rachel Price seemed like a good match. So, did the book live up to my hopes? Did it win me over as my first experience reading a Holly Jackson novel? And, most importantly for me (and least importantly for you, I'd reckon), is it an effective comp title? That's what I, Brighton Nelson, will discuss in today's review.
Honestly, I've got very little to critique about this book! The most common criticism I've seen is that the book's second act meanders, but I starkly disagree. I thought it ratcheted up the tension and character development greatly throughout the act. A lot of people also say the ending is unrealistic, arguing that Bel undergoes too great a character change once the mystery is revealed. I couldn't disagree more, as people simply handle things differently. I can assure you, I would feel the same way in that scenario—some people can flip a switch in their brain and completely change their opinion on something. Not everyone is stubborn when faced with facts, after all. Personal example: one of my best friend's parents completely cut off communication from the two of us. I really liked them before, but instantly couldn't trust them or care about them afterward. This book tackles even darker themes than that, so it's not shocking at all. I say this as a 19-year-old myself: if my dad was akin to Charlie, I would've done the exact same thing. Love goes out the window when such things happen.
And, yes, to the people who say Carter couldn't have done what she did at 15 at the end of the novel? People leave problematic parents all the time. It's not shocking. Aunt Sherry and Jeff aren't the worst parents ever, but the amount of absolute neglect shown to anything Carter cared about by Sherry? It's quite apparent that Rachel is a much better, nicer person by the end of the book. I see a lot of 15-year-olds who are annoyed and ditch their friends for much stupider reasons. I can't really fathom why people think their perspective on life is the only wayevery human will function when faced with adversity.
I've also seen some people say Bel was a hateable main character, but I also disagree there. She's super flawed at the beginning, looking for the wrong in everything, but it makes sense given how the status quo has been completely shattered. Also, by the end, you start to see through her cynicism and see the lovable side of her, as Ramsey and Ash do. I would actually go so far as to say that Bel's perspective and growth are the book's biggest strengths.
Now that I've countered some common arguments in that mega-rant, it's time for my personal negatives. While I enjoyed the wordplay regarding the recurring knot in Bel's stomach, it felt like an overload of the same descriptive idea. If about half the instances had been cut, I would've considered this recurring feeling a unique aspect of the prose, but it was problematic. The only other minor nitpicks I've got are 1) the actions of the villain could've been telegraphed more strongly without ruining the foreshadowing, and 2) I wish Ash had been there for the finale, as I can't imagine him being okay with Bel potentially being in danger. I get that they wanted the main girl trio to get their moment, but even if he'd run into the fray and gotten knocked out, that would've been better.
However, a couple of gripes can't deter me one bit from designating this book as one of my new favorite books, newly considering Holly Jackson as one of my new favorite authors, and honorably selecting this as a comp title, as undeserving as I am of such a comparison. I was not bored for one minute of this book; it was that legendary.
Firstly, the cast of characters here was elite. Bel was a fantastically flawed main character, and her tense relationship with her Mom, Rachel, was a gripping highlight of the novel. I never really knew whose side to take in the conflict, which is a sign of a mystery novel well done. Ash and Ramsey were also so entertaining, and stole every scene that they were in! But Charlie, Carter, Pat, Sherry, and beyond were also compelling, leaving not a single character to feel like a darling unkillable.
I was shocked by how perfectly the calibration of mystery and character drama was here. While my current novel is more character-oriented by design, when I inevitably write another mystery novel, I want to write it this way. The plot here is fantastic, throwing wrenches at every turn and building mystery boxes that J.J. Abrams himself should be jealous of. I was shocked by the third act, which resolved every lingering question in my head in a cooler way than I was expecting, or daresay hoping. With nearly 100 pages of straight reveal-after-reveal pacing—each more mind-blowing and tight than the last—I experienced a full range of emotions, from tearing up to grinning to pumping my fist in joy of the peak resolution unfolding before me.
The Brighton's Bookshelf Verdict
Brighton's Bookshelf Score - 10/10
Letter Score - S+
It's not very often I read a book deserving of a full five stars, but The Reappearance of Rachel Price is one of those rare instances. Equally balancing realistically captivating characters, tense prose, and a tight, explosive mystery plot, this is a novel I'll be gushing about until I deteriorate to a husk, à la Grandpa Pat.
Interested in checking out some of my other reviews? Check them out below!
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