The Write Reads Blog Tour: The Cousins by Karen M. McManus (Penguin Random House, 3rd December 2020)

The best thing about the thriller genre is that the plot lines are always so fresh and gripping – scenarios that appeal to even the most vivid imagination. In The Cousins, Karen M. McManus has taken one of the most timeless and familiar themes, family, and spun it into an intriguing, tense novel that is impossible to put down and feels so different from other books in the same genre.

The Story family are the wealthiest family on Gull Cove Island. In 1996, the four Story siblings –Adam, Anders, Allison and Archer –  receive an unexpected, mysterious letter from their mother, Mildred Story, disowning them from the Story estate and banishing them from the Island forever. Over the years, they have tried to regain contact with their mother, but their attempts have been shunned. Until one summer many years later, when their own children receive a sparsely worded summons to Gull Cove Island, signed by Mildred. The elder Storys see this as an opportunity to reconnect with their long-lost family – and their inheritance – but the cousins Milly, Aubrey and Jonah aren’t so sure. They must band together to discover the truth about the two letters that their grandmother Mildred sent a generation apart, and what really happened in 1996, as the fate of the Story family rests on their shoulders. It soon becomes obvious, though, that everyone in this novel has their own secrets, and they will do anything to keep them hidden.

The Cousins is intriguing from the very first page. The reader is immediately launched into the background of the Story siblings and their estrangement from their mother, and one another, through the eyes of Milly, Aubrey and Jonah. The three narrative threads interlink perfectly, weaving the novel together and picking up on details the others may have missed; with a fourth narrative interspersed across the novel from Allison Story in 1996, which adds a degree of context and keeps the mystery engaging. The Story cousins are well-rounded and empathetic characters; they all have individual desires, insecurities, sadness and secrets, which are delved into skilfully by McManus as the novel progresses. Despite their youth, the cousins are complex and mature, with a keen focus on loyalty and an unshakeable aim to discover the dark truth about the Story family. McManus has also developed a vibrant cast of supporting characters, ranging from the elder Storys to the Gull Cove resort employees, which add intrigue and often comedy to the plot. The setting of Gull Cove Island and resort is vivid, with the striking Catmint House (the Story ancestral home) at the centre, as a focal point for each of the characters.

The novel is taut and well-paced – there are enough cliff hangers to keep the reader turning the page, but McManus is careful not to whip through the action at top speed. Rather, she expertly layers the plot and drops clues and hints for each of the cousins, and the reader, to build on until the final, gripping conclusion is reached. Alongside the main plot of family drama and mystery, McManus explores themes of class, grief, trauma and love, which adds depth to the novel and prevents it from drifting into the realm of all thrill and no substance. The impact of actions taken many years previously reverberates across the generations, haunting the characters even before the truth has been revealed. A dark heart of excessive wealth and corruption beats a rhythm throughout the novel, driving the plot forward and threatening to pull the cousins into its sinister grip. However, there are light-hearted moments to balance the tension – the interactions between the cousins are witty, with plenty of verbal sparring and awkward, blush-inducing scenes which are endearing and authentic.

The Cousins is a refreshing novel, delving into a well-loved genre and giving it a new, exciting edge. It’s perfect for anyone who enjoys thrillers and intrigue, driven by a vibrant narrative from young adult voices. A truly gripping read!

The Cousins by Karen M. McManus is out now. A huge thank you to Penguin Random House UK for an advanced copy of the novel and to The Write Reads for inviting me on the blog tour. Make sure you check out the other amazing bloggers taking part in the tour!