Payback by Kristen Simmons Pages: 352
Published by Tor Teen on February 2, 2021
Series: Vale Hall #3
Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Suspense, Thriller, mystery
Source: Finished Hardcover from Publisher
Also in this series: The Deceivers , ScammedThe unpredictable truth will be revealed in Payback, the stunning conclusion to Kristen Simmons’ Edgar-nominated thriller series that started with The Deceivers...
Brynn Hilder has conned a lot of people. From the spoiled rich kids of Sikawa City to her mom's loser ex-boyfriend, from a motorcycle gang to a senator's son. If there was money to be gained, or a secret to uncover, she figured out how to get it done. And thanks to Vale Hall and its director, Dr. David Odin, she's found a family of hustlers just like her.
Together, Brynn and her friends have overcome doubt, deceit, and betrayal to unearth the truth--a truth even a group of professional scammers couldn't have predicted.
And now they must tackle the biggest con artist of them all: the man who brought them all together.
**Note: This is the third book in a series that should be read in order. If you are new to this series, you can check out my reviews of books 1 &2 HERE**
Payback is the third and final book in the Vale Hall trilogy by Kristen Simmons. You definitely need to read these books in order, and now is the perfect time to binge read all of them with the concluding novel releasing this week. I freakin’ love this series so much! The Vale Hall series, takes place at a school called Vale Hall which to the outside world appears to be a prestigious boarding school with top notch academics, but on the interior is really a school for aspiring con artists. There are so many secrets cons and intricately woven sub plots throughout the first two books that I can’t get into specifics, but I do want to talk about general things that I think this series and author Kristen Simmons does a fantastic job of.
I love all of the characters in the series. They each have their own personalities, their own secrets and their own parts to play in the overall plotlines. (Grayson is still my all time favorite character!) It was fantastic. I also love the atmosphere of suspicion and suspense that Kristen Simmons artfully woven throughout this trilogy. There are times when you genuinely have no idea who you can trust and how the ultimate plto is going to wrap up. We finally get some answers with Payback. I loved the way that Kristen wrapped everything up. I think this is a fantastic series. In Payback we get to see more of the Vale Hall school director, Dr. David Odin himself. I was super intrigued by Odin as a character. I loved digging deeper into his psyche and figuring out his motivations throughout the series. It is all really well done.
Even though I am super pleased with how everything wrapped up, I can’t help but want more books set in this world. I love these characters and I love the world, and I want to visit it again. I don’t hear this series talked about enough. I think it is a super underrated young adult mystery/thriller series, and I want to scream it from the rooftops that people should check it out! It is perfect for fans of Pretty Little Liars, Ocean’s 11 and Truly Devious. The Vale Hall Trilogy is excellent. I have thoroughly enjoyed my binge read of it, and now I want more!
Books in the Vale Hall Series:
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About Kristen Simmons
KRISTEN SIMMONS is the author of the ARTICLE 5 series, THE GLASS ARROW, and METALTOWN. She has worked with survivors of abuse and trauma as a mental health therapist, taught Jazzercise in five states, and is forever in search of the next best cupcake. Currently she lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband, where she spends her days supporting the caffeine industry and chasing her delightfully rambunctious son.
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