Review: Perdita by Faith Gardner

Perdita by Faith Gardner
Hardcover, 224 pages
Published August 1st 2015 by Merit Press (first published July 3rd 2015)
ISBN: 9781440588112

Granted, Arielle has a vast, excitable imagination. But she's not imagining how strange and out of control her life becomes after the death by drowning of her older sister's best friend, Perdita. Not only does this death echo the death of Arielle's own older brother, ten years before, it leads to dreams and visions in which Perdita seems to be reaching out to Arielle, asking for her help. The only other explanation—that Arielle's high-strung emotions have finally caused her to break with reality—is even more terrifying. A story that builds to greater and greater heights of suspicion and fear, Perdita is also a multi-layered literary achievement that leaves no emotion untouched. 

Goodreads

Book Review

Arielle has a best friend called Chloe and a sister who is more of a rival than a confidante. Just before her sister’s departure for Harvard, Arielle starts getting haunted by what she thinks may be her sister’s dead friend Perdita trying to reach her. The girl dies under mysterious circumstances even though the police initially believe the girl committed suicide. Arielle continues to encounter what she believes to be Perdita’s ghost throughout the story while she falls in love with Perdita’s younger brother and starts to find clues to why and how Perdita died. Her vivid imagination is cleverly intertwined with facts and evidence that come to light about the police investigations. The conclusion is surprising and unexpected and adds an interesting twist to the overall plot.
The novel therefore covers a variety of themes, from the supernatural, teenage infatuation, sibling rivalry, deceit and the downside of a society that values meritocracy and competitive behaviour.

Review by mother and daughter duo, Helene & Shona Tiernan.
Both are avid readers of fiction, enjoying a wide range of topics. Helene is a former journalist, a trained yoga teacher and also enjoys putting pen to paper herself. Her daughter Shona is a 13-year-old teenager who sings, plays the violin, drums and is passionate about tap dancing and her little brother. Both love diving into different worlds through the eyes of an author. Originally from Belgium, they currently live in Portugal with their family.