"A modern twist to a classic case of who done it?"
Reviewed by Patti Loveday
Posted January 29, 2018
Young Adult Suspense
WICKED CHARM is a suspenseful and mysterious novel that takes
place in a swamp in Okefenokee, Georgia. Written by Amber Hart,
this novel is a little quirky, spooky, and oddly unique. The
mystery that lies deep within the pages is like nothing I have
read before and I was drawn deeper with each page I read. Hart
shares this wonderful story from two points of view, Willow,
and
Beau. These two main characters are complete opposites but
somehow are perfect for each other. Willow's life is about to change dramatically when she moves
with her parents. They are moving in with her grandmother who
happens to live in an isolated area near a swamp in Georgia.
Having neighbors close by is not normal for anyone living in
Okefenokee. So, when Willow finds out that the Cadwell family
lives next door it makes the move a little brighter. The
beautiful family is not what they seem and have a wicked charm
about them. Beau is Willows age and well known for being a
heartbreaker. He has girls falling for his good looks, but soon
enough he gets bored and moves on leaving the girl heart
broken. When Beau meets Willow for the first time, he realizes
that she is not immune to charms. She knows the Cadwell family
is bad news and she should stay away. Somethings are just too
hard to resist. Beau notices Willow straight away and cannot seem to stay away
from her. He wants to know more about the beautiful girl who
moved in next door. Someone he knows he can't have but wants.
They soon decided to take the time to get to know each other.
Beau has a girlfriend when Willow first moves to town, but that
does not last long. What happens when his ex-girlfriend turns
up dead in the swamp? When multiple people are considered
suspects, no one knows who to trust. Hart writes with a suspenseful but mysterious tone that makes
this a spooky fast-paced read. As the list of suspects grow,
you will not know who the killer is until the very end. The
setting is ideal for this story. A swamp that is full of
secrets, unknowns, and mystery. The list of characters is well
developed but secretive about their pasts. This helps to add a
dark touch to the story making it harder to figure out who did
it and why. Overall, I really enjoyed reading WICKED CHARM and highly
recommend it to anyone who loves a scary read that is sure to
keep you up at night!
SUMMARY
Nothing good comes from living in the Devil's swamp. Willow Bell thinks moving to the Okefenokee area isn't half
bad, but nothing prepares her for what awaits in the
shadows
of the bog. Girls are showing up dead in the swamp. And she could be
next. Everyone warns Willow to stay away from Beau
Cadwell―the bad
boy at the top of their suspect list as the serial killer
tormenting the small town. But beneath his wicked, depthless eyes, there's something
else that draws Willow to him. When yet another girl he knew dies, though, Willow
questions
whether she can trust her instincts…or if they're leading
to
her own death.
ExcerptThe walk is littered with stones and broken twigs. Leaves
rustle like crackly paper. The wind brushes my skin so
lightly that it’s almost a sigh. And then, only a few
minutes later, I see the thing Beau wants me to see,
sitting in the middle of it all.“What is this?” I ask. I bound over to it. Tree roots pop up from the ground like
veiny scars intersecting a path. The crazy boy has made a
platform for us out of wood, with four stilt legs beneath
it digging into the ground. The wood is pine and smells
like it, too. I run a finger along the edge, feeling where
he smoothed it. It’s newly made, I can tell by the flakes
that pepper the forest floor like pencil shavings and the
rich wood smell. Atop the platform are another four posts
with a fifth in the center, and draped over that is a
canopy of white fabric. It sways in the breeze like
spider’s silk. “I wanted us to have a place to hang out,” Beau replies.
“Where we won’t run into Old Lady Bell, Charlotte, or
Grandpa, and where we can both be alone to relax.” His eyes roam the swamp around us. The makeshift pavilion is smaller than my room, but still
it’s the most beautiful thing. Clear lights are strung
around it, reminding me of fireflies. There is not enough
space in my lungs for the quick breaths of excitement I
find myself taking. I gasp at the beauty of it all. “How did you get them to light up?” My question is filled
with wonder. “Battery powered,” he says, his grin growing. “Wait till
you see inside.” He helps me onto the platform that protects us from
wandering critters below. It’s easily five feet up. I try
not to catch my feet on the lights. Beau pulls back the drape. A small cluster of cushions sits
on the ground, fronted by a tiny wooden table topped with
freshly fallen leaves and sticks, reminding me of a bird’s
nest. A pink magnolia marks the middle, the source of the
floral smell that sticks to the air. “You did this?” I ask, mesmerized. “All by myself,” he says. It’s hard to imagine. Sure, I can see how Beau would bring
the cushions and lights and tools to the island by boat,
and how he could use the resources already here—the trees
and stump for the table, the sticks and flower and leaves—
to construct everything, but what I can’t see is why Beau
would go through the trouble. Isn’t he the boy Jorie warned
me about—the one who breaks hearts? Isn’t he the one Gran
swore was darker than the night? That Beau doesn’t match
the one standing before me, watching my reaction. “I love it,” I say. And then I wrap my arms around this surprising boy and
press my lips to his.
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