Book Review for If I Die Tonight
If I Die Tonight, is a suspenseful crime novel written by Alison Gaylin about a hit-and-run case. The novel is about a kid named Wade that is hated by everyone. Just a few hours ago a popular senior, Liam Miller, was killed in a hit-and-run and everyone suspects its Wade, the odd one in class. The police station in Havekill takes care of the situation and will do anything to bring justice to the table. The novel is set in 3rd person omniscient or the eyes of 3 major characters, Connor, Pearl, and Jackie. Connor is the brother of Wade, Jackie is the mother of both Connor and Wade, and Pearl is an officer in Havenkill's police force. Each character plays a major role in the story. Throughout the story you see things unfold in the eyes of a heartbroken mother, self-conscious 13-year old, and a self-conflicted officer. The switch of point of view never felt confusing. In fact, the frequently changing perspectives helped in understanding what exactly was going on in each scene of the novel. Even though there were many heroes in this thrilling novel, the major protagonist is Pearl Maze. Not only is she a fighter, but she is also a counselor helping kids cope with the death of a lost one. The antagonist in the novel really does come out as rather surprising. Although before seen as a helpful figure in the community, it is later found out that he is the complete opposite of that. It is truly the last person you'd expect to be the one behind the great scheme of things. The major problem was finally resolved yet leaving a big hole in people's hearts with the death of Liam Miller. My favorite character is Pearl just because of how powerful she is. Although she has a tragic past dealing with death, she still managed to pull through the whole case and come out winning. This masterpiece of a novel had me at edge from the first sentence to the last. I myself wouldn't change a single thing about it. It all wrapped together like a braid leading to an overall amazing crime novel.
