The Incident On The Bridge

Reviewed by: Brooke Faulkner - McArthur Public Library, Biddeford, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: March 7, 2017

Review

An unusually structured, riveting mystery told from multiple points of view about Thisbe, a smart young woman last seen standing on the side of the Coronado Bridge in California, and presumed by many to have jumped to her death when she turns up missing.

Careful pacing stretches out the suspense and both Thisbe's back story and those of a cast of secondary characters are spun out incrementally, including Thisbe's loyal and determined sister, Ted; a newcomer, Fen, who spotted Thisbe on the bridge that night; a guy, Jerome, in whom Thisbe was interested; and many more. Though readers are privy to more information than those featured in the story, the tension is still effectively maintained throughout and the novel plays out as a puzzle whose pieces are artfully slotted into place. The portrayal of Thisbe as a perfectionist teen shaken to her core after being played by Clay, an opportunistic guy in her class, is spot on, though even Clay is a multidimensional character instead of being presented only as a villain.

This gripping thriller will be appreciated by older middle school and high school fans of writers like Adele Griffin and Lauren Oliver.

Overall Book Score: very good