Review: Kate Unmasked by Cindy M. Hogan
Kate Unmasked by Cindy M. Hogan is a suspense-filled mystery with a touch of romance.
From the blurb:
The mysteries of her past consume her.
Seventeen-year-old Kate has never stopped searching for the secrets of her past – the secrets that began with her missing birth parents. After years of every lead drying up and every hope turning false, Kate finally lucks onto a promising lead.
Determined to find the truth once and for all, Kate travels to the gritty New Jersey shore. But what she finds is worse than she ever could have imagined. She can’t hide from who she is, and now she must face the awful consequences of finding the very people she should have been hiding from.
Some secrets should stay dead and buried.
I’m torn about this book. I enjoyed Ms. Hogan’s writing, which is descriptive without being overly flowery, and all the elements for an exciting read are there: mystery, suspense, lies. I found Kate, the main character, rather unlikable at times, and the same went for her best friend. Though there were exciting moments that enticed me to keep reading, there were a number of events that were simply unbelievable within the context of the story. Without spoiling too, much they included a teenager going on vacation with her best friend’s family without her parents knowing their true destination; the Jace subplot, the ending of which I feel went off the rails and left me wondering what the point of it was; and the major drama that happens to Kate when she finds out about her family.
That sounds like a of criticism, and there’s that, but I also enjoyed aspects of this book very much. The author did a great job building suspense and intrigue, tossing in a few well-placed red herrings. Wish list: Duran was my favorite character, and I’d love to read his story.
When attempting to put my finger on why this wasn’t a winner for me, I think it comes down to my wish that the author spent more time crafting events in a believable way, developing certain characters (especially Kate) more fully, and tying up the loose ends of a number of subplots. There was a lot of potential with this novel, and I’d certainly give another book from this author a try.
3.25 Stars
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