This is the 2024 book release for Danielle Valentine, an American author who is also known under the pen names of Danielle Rollins, Ellie Rollins, and Danielle Vega. In April 2023, it was announced that the twelfth season of American Horror Story would be based on her book Delicate Condition. She lives in a (probably haunted) hundred-year-old house right outside of New York City with her family and two angry cats.
Olivia D’Angelli’s birth was infamous, having been born on the crime scene of the infamous Camp Lost Lake murders in 2008. Seventeen years later, Olivia’s life looks pretty perfect until she discovers the man she calls dad is not her biological father. Her mother has spared her a few details of her birth, but now she wants answers about her bloodline, and the only place she knows to look is Camp Lost Lake.
Reagan has spent the last few years on the run with her fugitive mother, Laurie Knight, who has been found guilty, without conclusive evidence, of the Camp Lost Lake murders. Reagan, knowing her mother is incapable of murder, is desperate to find evidence that would clear her mother’s name. So she heads to Camp Lost Lake without her mother’s knowledge to do some digging.
When Olivia’s investigation stumbles her across an old video camera belonging to one of the murder victims, the group at the camp unanimously agrees that it must be turned over to the police. But before they get a chance to do so, a masked figure resembling the witch that committed the murders all those years ago strikes again. As the bodies pile up, Reagan and Olivia cross paths to discover a shocking reality. When they watch the contents of the old video recorder, new suspects are suddenly found, ones closer to home for Olivia. With the masked witch figure hunting then down and everyone with something to hide, Olivia and Reagan are suddenly in grave danger.
Two Sides To Every Murder is an atmospheric, fast-paced YA horror novel with a unique, gripping plot. The story is told in dual POVs, alternating between teenagers Olivia and Reagan. There is also a dual timeline between present day and the original Camp Lost Lake murders in 2008 that makes the story quite compelling.
The book definitely has an 80s slasher movie feel to it, especially when the characters get unexpectedly killed in gruesome ways. There are also several thrilling and heart-pounding chase scenes between the witch and the young adult characters that will have you on the edge of your seat—so be prepared!
If you listen or read the book carefully, there are many clues that make the major plot twists quite predictable. You may have to suspend your disbelief with some of these twists and some of the story’s plot holes. Fortunately, Valentine does a good job explaining some of the loopholes later on. The ending includes another major twist that you won’t likely see coming!
Narrators Alex Finke, Valerie Rose Lohman, and Hillary Huber take listeners back and forth between 2008, when the Camp Lost Lake murders occurred, and present day, when the two girls cross paths at the camp. Finke and Lohman both deliver exciting and authentic performances of Olivia and Raegan. Each narrator gives a distinct personality to their character, making the audiobook easy to follow, even as the story quickly alternates back and forth between the two. Huber’s interluding narration of the murder scene drama in 2008 is a perfect compliment to the alternating POVs. Huber’s narrator is well paced and delivered in the perfect tone to be distinctive from the present-day action and also adds great entertainment value to the story.
If you’re looking for an entertaining YA popcorn thriller with a unique story, some gore, and a few good twists, then you’ll likely enjoy this one!