Following the best-selling novel, The Heartbreak Hotel, Trey, is the much-anticipated sequel in Josh Conley’s emotionally captivating saga of crime drama.
Julius, obsessed with revenge for the setup of his cousin Jackson, attempts to kill the person he holds as responsible, Jade. When ambushed in a parking garage, Jade unveils a truth that saves her life, for the moment.
Overwhelmed with emotion Julius reveals a truth of his own, that someone close to Jade may be responsible for the murder of their father, Trey. As they search for answers into Trey’s murder, they stumble upon a homeless person who reveals more than what they expected about their father.
As both Julius and Jade come to understand more about their father’s life, they soon realize that all that’s being told, isn’t as it seems. Now faced with a life-or-death decision, a horrible secret is unraveled. Can Julius handle this truth? Can he forgive those who betrayed his family? Or will revenge overtake him to initiate a bloodbath?
Plot/Idea: 8 out of 10
Originality: 8 out of 10
Prose: 9 out of 10
Character/Execution: 9 out of 10
Overall: 8.50 out of 10
Assessment:
Plot: Conely’s sequel to The Heartbreak Hotel is strategically plotted and well-paced, including certain flashback scenes that heighten the thrilling aspects of the narrative.
Prose: Conely’s prose is animated and enticing, drawing readers into snappy dialogue with added elements of humor that bring the novel and characters to life.
Originality: The novel is an accelerating, family-oriented crime drama that jumps off the page, encouraging readers to invest in the individual characters’ agendas and the overarching plot.
Character/Execution: The characters in the novel are well-developed and distinct. Main protagonists and brother/sister duo Julius and Jade are witty and strong, while side characters offer different perspectives and tones to the storyline that adds to the mystery and suspense.
Date Submitted: July 25, 2022
