I finished The Damselfly by Susi Holliday two days ago, and I’m still angry at the author! The Damselfly is the third and final book in the Banktoun series. The first two books were plenty dark and sad, so I should have seen it coming, but this one still took me by surprise. Even though it’s been a few days, I’m still agitated.
Synopsis: The Damselfly by Susi Holliday
“Katie Taylor is the perfect student. She’s bright and funny, she has a boyfriend who adores her and there are only a few months left of school before she can swap Banktoun for the bright lights of London. Life gets even better when she has an unexpected win on a scratch card. But then Katie’s luck runs out.
Her tragic death instead becomes the latest in a series of dark mysteries blighting the small town. The new school counsellor Polly McAllister, who has recently returned to Banktoun to make amends in her own personal life, is thrown in at the deep end as the pupils and staff come to terms with Katie’s death. And it’s not long before she uncovers a multitude of murky secrets. Did Katie have enemies? Is her boyfriend really so squeaky clean? And who is her brother’s mysterious friend?
With Banktoun’s insular community inflamed by gossip and a baying mob stirring itself into a frenzy on social media, DS Davie Gray and DC Louise Jennings must work out who really murdered Katie before someone takes matters into their own hands . . .”
Goodreads
What I Liked
I’ve been reading this book at a weird time, so I didn’t quite get to enjoy it as much as I would have at another time. Despite being super distracted and reading in short increments, I did enjoy the book. I liked that even though it was a third in a series, it felt like a fresh take on the story. The newly introduced characters were all interesting; the book was well-written as always.
What I Didn’t Like
In general, I liked this book least out of the three in the series. This could be because of how I read it rather than the book itself. I didn’t particularly appreciate that after the climax and resolution of the story, something else happens. And although it was in some ways fitting for it to end that way, it just upset me. Although, it did have the desired effect of being shocking and memorable.
Summary: The Damselfly by Susi Holliday
The Damselfly by Susi Holliday was the perfect last book in the Banktoun series. The first two books, Black Wood and Willow Walk were also great. Overall, I feel like this series is excellent for people who enjoy a good thriller. I love Susi Holliday, who also goes by S.J.I.; I have read most of the books that she’s written, my favorite was Violet, but I also enjoyed the Lingering. There is only one book I haven’t read by the author, and it’s already sitting on my bookshelf.
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