What Happened to Cass McBride?

Giles, Gail. What Happened to Cass McBride? 2006. 212p. ISBN 978-0-316-16638-6. Available at FIC GIL on the library shelves.

Cass McBride is the queen of her high school. As a freshman, her poise, enthusiasm, and looks made her the envy of every girl, and the desire of every boy. She dates sport captains based on the season. And she’s looking forward to being the first junior ever elected to Prom Queen. Friendly but reserved, outgoing but secretive, Cass is like her father, callous and driven.

Imagine her surprise when David Kirby, the school loser, asks her out. She turns him down gently, but she writes a caustic note to her best friend about the bottom feeder who even dared to talk to her, and leaves it in her desk to be found next period. Too late, however, she realizes that David has grabbed the note and read it.

The next morning, Cass finds out that David has committed suicide and had pinned a death note to his chest. Was she the cause of his suicide? David’s big brother, Kyle, certainly thinks so, and vows revenge on Cass.

Kyle kidnaps Cass, and buries her alive. He wants her to suffer as much as he and David did. With a miserable home life and dysfunctional parents. Kyle and David were each other’s support, but when Kyle left for college David was left alone to fend his mother’s verbal and emotional assaults. Now, it’s time to avenge all the wrongs in the world, and Kyle doesn’t care how far he will have to go to derive satisfaction.

With Cass in the ground and time running out, can the police find out who abducted her and rescue her from her grave before she dies in it?

A great psychological thriller, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time, even if the conclusion leaves you wanting. For more, consider All the Bright Places.