James Mycroft has left for London to investigate a car accident similar to the one that killed his parents seven years ago... without saying goodbye to Rachel Watts, his "partner in crime."
Rachel is furious and worried about his strange behavior -- not that Mycroft's ever exactly normal, but London is the scene of so many of his nightmares. So Rachel jumps on a plane to follow him... and lands straight in a whole storm of trouble.
The theft of a copy of Shakespeare's First Folio, the possible murder of a rare books conservator, and the deaths of Mycroft's parents... Can Watts help Mycroft make sense of the three events - or will she lose him forever? Sparks fly when Watts and Mycroft reunite in this second sophisticated thriller about the teen sleuthing duo.
Thoughts on Every Word
Hopefully, I've already convinced you to read
Every Breath. Or maybe you're smarter than me and you read it months ago (which, technically, I did too but never reviewed it). EITHER WAY, it's time to discuss the sequel (a book that is also deserving of your attention and devotion). Four reasons it's EVEN BETTER than the first book:
1. The flight.
When I was thinking about the reasons I loved this book (and how to condense them into a list - with alliteration!), I immediately thought of two things: the setting and what we learn about Mycroft. I've combined them both on this bullet point, and I'll start with the first aspect of it. After learning about a car accident in London that's eerily similar to the one that killed his parents, Mycroft leaves for England to investigate.
I didn't expect the change in setting, but it worked perfectly. I studied abroad in Oxford one summer, so I loved how the setting felt so familiar. Plus, it was so nice to see Mycroft return to the place he called home. The setting became so important to the mystery - and to Mycroft's past - but you'll have to read to find out more!
So, that's the first (and more literal) flight: the one from Australia to England. And then there's the second (and more figurative) one: the way Mycroft is trying to run from his past. You'd think that returning would mean that he's finally ready to face what happened to his family, but that's not really the case. He's pouring himself into the mystery and logic and hiding from the pain and loss he experienced. There are hints of that side of him in the first book, but it becomes much more prominent in
Every Word. It made this a sad read at times - but one that was so worth it, too. Seeing him wrestle with his past was difficult!
2. The friendship.
In my review for the first book, I talked a lot about the romance. And while it's present in
Every Word, I became more impressed with Rachel and Mycroft's friendship. When Mycroft leaves for England, he does so without saying goodbye to Rachel. She is, understandably, furious. But she's also scared. She knows how much he's struggling, and she's worried that he won't be able to handle returning to the scene of his greatest nightmare.
Despite her anger at him, she decides to follow him to England... even though she knows that he will likely reject her when she gets there. Because he's hurting, he might lash out and hurt her. He won't want her there, but she knows that he
needs her. And as his friend, she has to show up. No matter what, she wants to be by his side. I didn't think I could love this couple more, but clearly I was wrong! I love that they were friends before they became anything more - and that Rachel still makes that a priority. I respected her so much for it!
3. The fear.
You can't have a Sherlock-inspired story without a little mystery! The mystery in
Every Breath was a smaller one, at least in my mind. It didn't impact many people, and it was essentially over once it was solved. But the mystery in
Every Word is bigger. It's an entire continent away, involves the theft of a rare (and incredibly expensive) book... and seems to be tied to a larger organization. There's more going on here than meets the eye! And honestly, it made this book more nerve-wracking for me.
It felt like there was so much more at stake - and so many more people involved! I was never sure what was going to happen next, and I was thrilled that the book kept me on my toes. It made me so nervous for these characters that I've grown to love, but I was also glad that the mystery seemed to have more depth and breadth. Although part of the case was solved in this book, I know there's more to come in the next one...
4. The feelings.
You didn't think I was going to ignore the romance, did you? I may have appreciated the friendship in this book, but I was definitely dying over the heightened emotion in this story. There were so majorly swoony moments in this book, but there were also many that absolutely broke my heart. There are a few scenes in particular that just... AHHHHH. I can't. My poor little broken babies! These two may have some questionable kissing timing (seriously, y'all, your lives are in danger), but I didn't mind. Their chemistry is just the best!
Aside from the romance, it felt like a more emotional book overall. I was laughing one minute and frantically turning the page the next.
Every Word kept me on my toes, which is exactly what I wanted. I'd say my heart can't take much more, but I want every last bit of emotional overload. I'm committed to these two!
So Quotable
"I have seen the aftermath of death, the incredible mechanism of the body laid bare, and I know now that each person is a kind of miracle. A spark nestles like a bird inside our chests, so deep that we can't find where it lives, but it is everything. It's what makes us dream and think and feel and laugh and sing. And it is a mystery, and it is mundane, and, above all, it is fragile. Any moment could be our last."
