The Finalists by David Bell @BerkleyPub @NetGalley #fiction #thriller #bookreview #bookblogger

Kaceey’s Review:

Hmmm…I really struggled trying to write this review. As a devoted fan of this author I’m always on the lookout for his latest. Unfortunately this may be my least favorite of his works.

Private college can be outrageously expensive. So if a huge scholarship were being offered by the college’s main benefactor wouldn’t you want it? Of course! Heck, you don’t even have to apply! The benefactor chooses YOU and 5 others to compete for it. As the stakes rise the competition turns deadly. Now the participants must decide if the scholarship is worth their lives!

For me, some of the storyline just didn’t add up. I’m all for checking my believability at the door but this just asked too much even from me. The actions of the students and their college administrator didn’t ring true or realistic to me. I love a locked-room mystery and think this may have worked (somewhat) if the location would have been different. I can’t say much more without risking spoilers so I’ll just leave it at that.

What I did enjoy is the ease of David Bell’s writing. Short, quick chapters that always end with a bit of a cliffhanger so you can’t stop. And I didn’t! I finished in only a couple sittings. 

While this wasn’t a favorite I’m still a huge fan and already queuing up for next years’ release!

Hoping I’m just an outlier and you all love it!

Thank you to Elisha at Berkley Publishing via Netgalley for an ARC to read and review.