Melody

Thorndike Press | 2016 | 475 pgs
Source: Library



[The cover above is a large print edition.]


Megan Abbott's You Will Know Me is a taut suspenseful thriller which will make you think about a few family issues and what it takes to pursue one's dream.

When Devon Knox was three, she had a foot injury but that didn't stop her parents from enrolling her in gymnastics programs thereafter. In fact, they think gymnastics might help her with better balancing and control of her right foot; the one which she had had an accident with a lawn mower when she was three. Whether it's talent or fierce determination, Devon is extraordinary when it comes to gymnastics and her achievements make her parents and the close-knit gymnastics community proud. Devon's father even goes extra miles to raise funds. Many young gymnasts' mothers will also support one another and do whatever they could help. For the Knoxes, they are no limits when Devon is concerned until a violent death rocks their gymnastics community. 

Ryan Beck is the boyfriend of Hailey, who is Devon's coach's niece. Ryan is believed to suffer from a fatal head and neck injuries when the car hit him. There isn't any skid marks on the road and the police believes it might be an attempted murder. Unfortunately, there are no clues considering it was dark and there aren't any witnesses. Hailey is devastated over his death and no one knew what happened between them as they were seen together in a restaurant the night he died. As rumours swirl among the community, Katie Knox tries to hold her family together while also finding herself drawn to the crime itself. When the truth is finally revealed, it hit not only to the Knoxes but to the readers as well. 

You Will Know Me is a brilliant thriller. As this story revolves around gymnastics, I found myself learning more about this sport than before and it was an eye-opener to me. Balance, flexibility, agility, endurance and control - these are some of the things a gymnast has to exercise to perfect those glorious movements and I could imagine how tough these may seem just by reading the book. Aside from the suspense, this story is also thought-provoking in a sense that makes you wonder how much some parents would do to achieve their children's dreams and hold tightly onto them. 

Megan Abbott's writing style is addicting and though I may not like most of the characters in this book, my curiosity and the intensity of the story pushed me to finish this book quickly. Until that final page I still found myself lingering on some of the issues and how weighty they all seemed to be. Recommended. 


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12 Responses
  1. Kay Says:

    I liked this one and thought the author did a good job portraying the 'elite' athletic community. I think there are probably parents such as this in all of the 'possible for the Olympics' sports, but maybe especially ones like gymnastics. Megan Abbott does teen girls very well. I've got a couple of other books by her and need to read them.


  2. jenclair Says:

    I'm interested in this one. I don't think I've read this author before.


  3. Lark Says:

    The gymnastics connection in this book makes it an even bigger draw for me. It's like all those books about ballet that I can never resist reading. Even though I don't do either sport (and never have). :)


  4. Iliana Says:

    I had heard about this book but for some reason I thought it was more of a noir type thriller. I think probably because some of her other books have been like that. Really interested in this one!


  5. Melody Says:

    Kay - I loved Megan Abbott's writing in this book; she's really nailed all the emotions of each character here. I'm going to check out her other books. :)


  6. Melody Says:

    Jenclair - I really enjoyed this one; it's not quite a hardcore thriller but there are some intense parts which sucked me in.


  7. Melody Says:

    Lark - I love everything about gymnastics though I don't do the sport, too. It's always a joy watching the gymnasts perform but I know how tough their training can be.


  8. Melody Says:

    Iliana - It's definitely a different kind of thriller; one which intrigued me and kept me interested till the last page of the book. I'll have to check out her other books.


  9. Anonymous Says:

    I was thinking of looking for this one at the library, since I love to watch Olympic gymnasts on tv, though no one I know does this sport. It sounds like a really different kind of plot, too.


  10. This sounds really good, Melody. When I was growing up, I loved gymnastics. I wasn't very good at it, but I was fascinated by the sport and used to watch it religiously. I think I would like this thriller.


  11. Melody Says:

    Rita - I love watching gymnastics, and reading this book was an enjoyable experience because not only it's about gymnastics and also it's a genre which I like. :)


  12. Melody Says:

    Wendy - I've always been fascinated by gymnastics since young. Although I don't do the sport I love watching the gymnasts perform. Hope you'll enjoy this book when you get to it, Wendy.


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