The Masked Truth

Starred review from August 10, 2015
Armstrong (the Age of Legends trilogy) specializes in the unexpected in this terrifying thriller where suspense and psychological horror serve as perfect counterpoints to themes of forgiveness and growth. Riley Vasquez was settling in for a night of babysitting when a deadly crime was committed in the house. She survives, but nightmares and guilt leave her a shadow of her former self. In an effort to return to who she was before the tragedy, Riley agrees to attend a weekend therapy camp held in a renovated warehouse. Max Cross shares a therapy group with her, though they don’t interact much. His dark secret and sarcastic attitude keep him from getting close to anyone, yet when the camp attendees are taken hostage by three masked men, Riley and Max must dig deep to trust each other in order to escape the warehouse. Masterful storytelling, particularly in the setup and execution of a plot overflowing with twists, and edge-of-the-seat mystery provide spine-tingling chills, and while Armstrong doesn’t shy from violence, it isn’t gratuitous. Ages 14–up. Agent: Helen Heller, Helen Heller Agency.

August 1, 2015
A weekend therapy camp becomes a living nightmare for a group of troubled teenagers when it is taken hostage by masked gunmen. Riley Vasquez has suffered from PTSD since the parents of a young girl she was babysitting were brutally gunned down in their home while Riley hid upstairs with the child. Max, recently diagnosed with schizophrenia, is acutely aware that he cannot always trust that his subjective experience matches reality. The two become each other's best hope for survival as the violence and chaos progressively escalate. The novel begins with a punch of adrenaline, and the pace rarely slows as Riley and Max race to unravel who is truly behind the murderous plot. As they struggle to stay alive, they also grapple with their own psychological conflicts, revealed largely from Riley's first-person point of view and occasionally from Max's third-person perspective. The violence in this thriller is not for the faint of heart; there is a substantial body count by the story's end. However, the dry wit and gentle compassion exchanged between the two protagonists help to keep the tension from becoming overwhelming. Riley's trauma and Max's mental illness make them fragile, but the teens are not broken. In each other they find the understanding and the strength they need to survive. Action-packed suspense from beginning to end. (Thriller. 14-18)

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September 1, 2015

Gr 10 Up-Readers are exposed to a thrilling tragedy turned hostage situation all within the first 20 pages of this novel. Riley Vasquez witnesses the brutal murder of a couple she was babysitting for while she hid under the bed with their daughter. A weekend at therapy with five other troubled teens is supposed to help her cope-that is until three masked men break in, taking them all hostage. Riley teams up with Max Cross, a teen diagnosed with schizophrenia, as they try to escape their captors. The novel is written from the points of view of Riley and Max, which gives readers different takes on the same events, including the perspective of someone struggling to get a strong grasp on reality. Once they escape, they are faced with a whole new set of issues as they discover they are now caught in the middle of a murder mystery conspiracy. The action-packed story line is well written and makes the novel hard to put down. This title sheds light on mental illness and the way it is perceived in a unique way, while keeping readers on their toes with numerous twists and surprises. The masked truth about the captors is revealed on the very last pages. Murder and brutal violence make this more suitable for mature teens. VERDICT Fans of Harlan Coben will enjoy this riveting suspense thriller.-Morgan O'Reilly, Riverdale Country School, NY

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2015
Tricked by a former friend into canceling a date and filling in as a babysitter, teenage Riley could never imagine the fear that now haunts her. A witness to the double murder of the parents of her young charge, Riley can't shake her memories of that evening, especially since she was little help to the police investigators. She agrees to attend a therapy weekend, only for terror to intrude again when kidnappers break into the building and murder both counselors and teen attendees. Riley survives thanks to the help of Max, but after regaining consciousness in the hospital, she learns that Max has been accused of these latest murders. After all, there is no trace of the kidnappers, and Max is schizophrenican easy fall guy. Max and Riley need answers; they need to solve this mystery. Occasional chapters narrated by Max serve to reinforce the uncertainty, even providing some red herrings for readers. Fans of April Henry and Joan Lowery Nixon will appreciate this dark mystery.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)