Book Review: Suspicion by Alexandra Monir

Suspicion 

By Alexandra Monir

Release Date: December 9, 2014

Source: Publisher
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Summary: A modern-day twist on the classic thriller, Rebecca, with a dash of the supernatural, a powerful romance, and a deadly family mystery. 
 
“There’s something hidden in the maze.” 
 
Seventeen-year-old Imogen Rockford has never forgotten the last words her father said to her, before the blazing fire that consumed him, her mother, and the gardens of her family’s English country manor.
 
For seven years, images of her parents’ death have haunted Imogen’s dreams. In an effort to escape the past, she leaves Rockford Manor and moves to New York City with her new guardians. But some attachments prove impossible to shake—including her love for her handsome neighbor Sebastian Stanhope.
 
Then a life-altering letter arrives that forces Imogen to return to the manor in England, where she quickly learns that dark secrets lurk behind Rockford’s aristocratic exterior. At their center is Imogen herself—and Sebastian, the boy she never stopped loving.

Combining spine-tingling mystery, romance, and unforgettable characters, Suspicion is an action-packed thrill ride.

Review: One look at this cover and I just had to know what this book was about. When I saw that it was by Alexandra Monir, I got even more excited. I really enjoyed her Timeless series and couldn't wait to see what she did with this supernatural, mysterious romance. 

17-year-old Imogen Rockford lost her parents seven years ago and has never returned to where they died in their relatives' English country manor. Since then, Imogen has been living with her new guardians in New York City, but when a letter arrives asking Imogen to return, her life is turned upside down and she has to face the place she's been avoiding the past seven years. Once she arrives in England, though, Imogen learns that the manor has some pretty dark secrets that involve her childhood crush and a woman from the past that may be closer to Imogen than she had realized. 

After finishing this book, I definitely have mixed feelings. I loved the idea behind this book and thought the secrets behind the manor and Imogen's family were very intriguing. This was definitely a page turner, but I wish it wasn't so rushed at the end! This went from 0 to 60 near the last third of the novel and I was so entranced with all of the secrets that kept unraveling. I wish, though, that we had the shock value the entire novel, not just the rushed shock at the end. I did, though, think that the secrets were SO GOOD and not what I was expecting at all, so this one definitely held my attention. 

Not only did I love the secrecy and danger, but I also loved the setting of this novel. While Imogen is from New York, she goes to England and has to learn how to live a life of near royalty. At the end of the novel, Alexandra explained her inspiration for the novel and mentioned how Downton Abbey intrigued her and influenced this book, and I definitely got that vibe while I was reading. There was tension between the help and the people they worked for, and Imogen was the sort of person who was incredibly kind to the help and cared for them like family. I loved how the manor was described and everything Imogen was able to see and the events she was able to attend. There's even some polo with a very attractive someone from Imogen's past who just so happens to be a polo star. Talk about yummy! 

While there was some romance for Imogen, I think it was a bit rushed and strange in how she never got over her infatuation she had when she was 10. I wanted more reciprocated romance in the beginning instead of it happening mostly at the end, just like the revelation of the secrets. Overall, though, I definitely couldn't stop reading this one and really enjoyed the added paranormal element to the story. If you want a YA novel with deadly secrets, the constant threat of danger, and mysterious paranormal powers, you should try out Suspicion!