Review: Slide by Jill Hathaway

Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth--her sister's friend Sophie didn't kill herself. She was murdered.

Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn't actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else's mind and experiences the world through that person's eyes. She's slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed "friend" when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie's slashed body.

Vee desperately wishes she could share her secret, but who would believe her? It sounds so crazy that she can't bring herself to tell her best friend, Rollins, let alone the police. Even if she could confide in Rollins, he has been acting distant lately, especially now that she's been spending more time with Zane.

Enmeshed in a terrifying web of secrets, lies, and danger and with no one to turn to, Vee must find a way to unmask the killer before he or she strikes again.

 The premise of Slide is what initially caught my attention. Part paranormal and part thriller, the concept seemed to cater perfectly to my taste. Although I was left unsatisfied by the resolution, the novel did stand out to me in several other aspects.

Sylvia "Vee" Bell has a strange ability--she can slide. When in possession of an object that someone may have emotionally imprinted on, Vee passes out as though she is narcoleptic. In reality, however, she ends up viewing the world from said-person's perspective. Sliding has never posed much of an issue for Vee until one fateful day in which it leads her to witness a murder through the culprit's eyes. This, of course, is the focal point of the story.

Vee is a likeable protagonist. She's intelligent, brave, and caring towards her father and sister even though they're not always a happy little family. However, my positive thoughts in regard to characters end here. I wasn't a fan of Rollins, Vee's best friend, because he seemed unreliable and made questionable choices. Zane, the love interest, fared no better due to intentional acts that simply upset me. I found myself questioning Vee's father's judgement over and over. There was no one I could really understand and/or relate to other than Vee herself.

For me, the best part of Slide was the central conflict. As someone who has always been interested in crime dramas, suspense flicks, etc., I thoroughly enjoyed trying to figure out who the killer was. I found that the book was successful in capturing all elements of a good mystery, from a complex situation to various potential suspects. The ending took me by surprise, but unfortunately not in a good way. It appeared almost rushed and far too simple an answer for such a twisted storyline. Nonetheless, I was entertained to say the least. If you're looking for something unique that will keep you guessing, I'd recommend giving this one a shot.

Rating: 3/5 stars