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    Envy: An Empty Coffin Novel
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    Envy: An Empty Coffin Novel
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    Envy: An Empty Coffin Novel
    Audiobook9 hours

    Envy: An Empty Coffin Novel

    Written by Gregg Olsen

    Narrated by Julia Whelan

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    EVIL COMES IN all sorts of flavors. Some bitter. Some deceptively sweet. That's what Katelyn discovers on the day she dies. One minute she's a depressed teen with a loser life. The next, she's lying on a stainless steel slab, eyes glassy, skin frosted over, and very, very dead. Was it:

    SUICIDE? MURDER?
    WHO'S TO BLAME?

    Twins Hayley and Taylor Ryan stumble upon the truth, which is far more disturbing than they could have ever imagined . . . and which sheds light on another secret, a hidden past even they don't know about.

    Inspired by a ripped-from-the-headlines true crime about cyberbullying, Envy is the gritty first volume in a new bone-chilling series that takes you to the edge - and pushes you right over.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBrilliance Audio
    Release dateSep 30, 2011
    ISBN9781455843299
    Unavailable
    Envy: An Empty Coffin Novel
    Author

    Gregg Olsen

    #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Gregg Olsen has written more than thirty books, including Lying Next to Me, The Last Thing She Ever Did, and two novels in the Nicole Foster series, The Sound of Rain and The Weight of Silence. Known for his ability to create vivid and fascinating narratives, he’s appeared on multiple television and radio shows and news networks, such as Good Morning America, Dateline, Entertainment Tonight, CNN, and MSNBC. In addition, Olsen has been featured in Redbook, People, and Salon magazine, as well as in the Seattle Times, Los Angeles Times, and New York Post. Both his fiction and nonfiction works have received critical acclaim and numerous awards, including prominence on the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. Washington State officially selected his young adult novel Envy for the National Book Festival, and The Deep Dark was named Idaho Book of the Year. A Seattle native who lives with his wife in rural Washington State, Olsen’s already at work on his next book.

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    Reviews for Envy

    3.5/5

    45 ratings30 reviews

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    • 4/5
      I was excited to read this book, but I think it might have suffered for my having read Olsen's Waterman & Stark series. Compared to those books, I had a harder time engaging with the plot and characters here. I think part of it may have been the teenagers--they felt more like teenagers seen and written by a sympathetic adult than wholly believable teenagers if that makes sense. It wasn't so much that they weren't believable, as that they were a bit too neat in terms of character and feelings, whereas real teenagers are kind of a mess. (No offense meant to any teen who might be reading this lol--I was a mess when I was a teen, too!) Here, in other words, the characters were just a little bit too neat and easy, more like adults who hadn't graduated high school than teens if that makes sense, when it came to the two at the heart of the story. The other teens in the background felt more believable, but they were also little more than stereotypes because they were in the story so little--and that was fine because they really were only minor characters. But, all together, it led me to feel like the characters especially held back the first portion of the book for me.By the time I got into the second portion of the book, the plot and the intrigue had me engaged, so I sped through the second half of the book pretty quickly. There was also a twist that was a really nice touch to what I'd expected to be a predictable book.So, all told, I don't know if this series can hold its own against Olsen's other series, but in the end, I'm glad to have read it and I certainly plan on reading the next one. Now that the characters are established, it'll also be a lot easier to go into that one now that I know what to expect, so I expect to enjoy it even more.
    • 1/5
      Gregg Olsen's YA debut is NOT impressive. Like several other NYT best-selling adult authors, he seems to think he can milk the cash cow of YA publishing by making his protagonists a decade or two younger and throwing in some text message and out-of-date slang. And, unsurprisingly, the result is a book that reads more like adult fiction than YA. The voice feels like that of an adult peering in on a teenager's life. The teens talk and text in the manner that adults who don't know many teens or have much respect for them THINK teens do. The girls are supposedly crushed over their friend's death, but the reader never sees or feels any evidence of this. The teens consistently call the death a "bummer" and say that it "sucks," but, in general, teens aren't that shallow and they feel their emotions far more deeply that that. Almost none of the emotions ring true here. Additionally, there are major plotting errors. On page 186, the teens look at a thumb drive that is not actually handed to them until pg 207. There are math errors in terms of how old the girls would have been in different years. The timeline is consistently confused with flashbacks and transitions handled poorly. And when chapters are 4-5 pages long and the first 3 or more all end with "they didn't know it yet, but...", that's not actually foreshadowing; it's physical abuse of a dead equine. Maybe that sort of thing works in the adult market -- I read very little adult fiction, so I wouldn't know -- but it won't fly in the teen world. When you read the acknowledgements of most YA authors, you see the names of other YA authors. YA literature is a community of people who respect teens, their intelligence, their passions and interests. A writer starting out in YA should seriously consider looking to that trend and that community instead of attempting to rely on their success in the adult market. Teens are significantly more discerning readers than adults give them credit for, or indeed than most adult readers, and they can spot when someone is just trying to make a buck off them. I'm sure this will sell well because Gregg Olsen's adult fans will purchase it for the kids in their lives, but I'd be surprised if it took off with teens. They've got many far better options in the world of authors who actually have a passion for the world of YA literature.
    • 3/5
      I liked the book enough to check out book two in this series. I hated the texting lingo. We always told our kids if they wanted to text us, write out the whole thing or we will delete it like they never sent it. Perfect example of why kids cannot spell at all anymore.I am liking the twins and I also enjoyed the twists.
    • 1/5
      Slow and Boring. Not a big fan of the characters. Predictable. HATE when authors use "text speak" or try to incorporate products that they think teenagers will relate to (uggs, smashbox etc). Ending was tacked on and awkward. Author had no idea how girls think/feel/speak. If you don't understand them - don't write about them.
    • 1/5
      This was definitely not my type of book. I really struggled to get into this book and I actually gave up on it about half way through which is really disappointing, because the first chapter was great. I loved the description and the intense feeling that Olsen create there. But that description becomes the books downfall.After the first chapter every little thing was bogged down with adjectives and yet nothing felt real. While a well placed adjective or adverb can help build depth, Olsen's frequent over description completely slow down the story and pulled me right out of it. It got to the point that I was skipping page after page of boring useless details.There was also an endless list of characters that we were introduced to, and get to see a chapter here and there from their point of view. I don't mind third person, in fact I actually prefer it, but Olsen puts us right in these new character's heads and I began to wonder if I was supposed to be getting clues from each of their seemingly pointless thoughts. From the synopsis, I thought this story would focus on the twins, but they're just two more characters that I really didn't care about. They had absolutely no personality and their powers were so badly described (strange, I know, considering Olsen was so detailed about everything else) that I had no idea what they were suppose to be doing with them.Envy is loosely based on a real life tragedy of cyber-bullying, but what could have made an interesting realistic story was really just a mess. Technically there was nothing wrong with the book, but I felt no connection to any of the characters, and midway through I had no investment in figuring out what really happened and was completely bored. I gave up at the halfway point after about a month of having it sit open on my nightstand, and I don't have the slightest inclination to give it another try.
    • 4/5
      Review taken from my blog: reading-by-candlelight.blogspot.comI have to admit that it took a while for me to get into this one. I wanted something different to read than my usual paranormal or dystopian read, so I picked this book up. The plot in the beginning moves kind of slowly, but throughout the book the pace picks up and I ended up really enjoying it.I liked the plot and setting in this book. Even though the pace was slow in the beginning, I understand why. The author was setting the story up, putting in background info and other goodies to raise the tension later in the book. I found myself hooked when the last 100 pages came, I couldn't put it down. I could envision the town and all of the wonderful.. or not so wonderful, characters. Speaking of characters..Haley and Taylor: Our main character in the story are twins, Haley and Taylor. I loved them both. They each had unique personalities that I liked - twins shouldn't have the same personality. They had such a close bond, and I really liked that. Plus they were pretty much telepathic and psychic. Awesome.Katelyn: She wasn't actually present, of course, since she had died, but we got a lot of glimpses of her life from when she was alive. I loved her and hated her at the same time, and pitied her and rolled my eyes at her in the same instant. I felt sorry for her because of her family life. Her parents fought, and her mother had a drinking problem. I can understand these things.. but she was such a weak character. It was like she had no strength to her, especially after not making cheer squad. I kind of wish she would have been stronger when she was alive.. but oh well.Starla: I loathed her. I know she's just a character in a book, but I felt like her cruelty jumped through the pages and smacked me in the face. She was so self-absorbed, all she cared about was her looks and popularity. There are a lot of girls like this in real life, so her character actually is quite realistic. I just thought she was quite cruel.. she ditched Katelyn, who was supposed to be her best friend. She not only ditched her, but she was a main contributor to her depression.I enjoyed all of the twists and turns in this book, I was always kept guessing. Even from the beginning of the book I had a tiny inkling of what happened and who was involved. While I was partially right, there are many things that just jumped out at me and surprised me. I was completely off in part of my guess. This book will keep the best guessing.
    • 1/5
      This is just not a book for me. I picked it up a few month ago and couldn't get into it. Decided to give it another try tonight. After about 30 pages I had to give up. My main issue was the multitude of characters being thrown at me without a proper introduction. I couldn't connect and it left me bored. I felt like I was expected to all ready know each of them and their stories. It had me checking my copy for missing pages. The differing POV, and careless switch between each character, was enough to make me dizzyI also wasn't a fan of the dialogue. I know this author also writes adult fiction and personally it was reading more like an adult novel littered with random incoherent teen texting and Facebook updates. Keep in mind I didn't finish this novel. This is just a review of the first 30 pages and why I opted to add Envy to the DNF shelf. Bottom line: This book stressed me out and not in a good way.
    • 4/5
      I haven't read a lot of true crime novels (or novels based off of true crimes, anyway). This was definitely my first that calls under the YA genre. It was easy to become intrigued with the story from the very beginning and I found the characters dynamic and worth following. The way things played out was even more chilling knowing that some version of the events actually occurred. I am definitely planning on reading more of Gregg Olsen.
    • 4/5
      This book was definitely not what I imagined it would be when I read the synopsis, but thats definitely not a bad thing. I found out from a fellow blogger while reading this book that Gregg Olsen based this story loosely on an actualy cyber-bullying case, which I found extremely interesting, and think that bullying in general is an important topic esp. for young adults, as suicides are prevelant amoungst bullying victims. Katelyn, a young high school student was found by her mother on Christmas Day dead in her bathtub, but was it a suicide, a murder, or something else sininster in nature?? Twins Taylor and Haley Ryan try to solve the mystery of their once close friends death, but find deeper, darker secrets hidden as well in the mix. The construction of this book itself is amazing, in fact the second I saw it in person I immediately knew that I needed it in my collection. The pages are crisp white, and the end pages are full of scrabble pieces. The book overall is just extremely well-made and the cover is so creeptastic! I love it. Gregg Olsen writes a creeptastic and fast paced novel, I read this right around Halloween and it was the perfect book. I'm so happy that this is going to be part of a series and I cannot wait to read more in the Empty Coffin Novels.
    • 3/5
      Katelyn is dead. It's Christmas night and her mom is the one who discovers her. What happened with her? Did she killed herself? Was it an accident? Did someone murdered her?... In a small town like Port Gamble these where the questions everybody asked.But Katelyn was a troubled girl and almost everyone knew she used to cut her wrists because, in her own words, it was the only thing that made her feel in control. That's why her death was labeled as "accident", specially since she was found with a mini espresso machine inside the tube with her dead body. And of course everybody believed it.Except for Taylor and Hayley, two twins that used to be friends with Katelyn and who happened to "know" somehow that this was no accident and they made a silent promise to discover Katelyn's murderer.How did they now it was no accident? They both, since they were children, had this ability to see or feel the past and sometimes the future. And a very persistent reporter wanted to used Katelyn's death to write a big story about the twins and a tragic accident that had happened a few years ago.In a more personal note my opinion about this book is complicated. Although I enjoyed it I didn't love it. The end of the first chapters really annoyed me... the way the author finished them, splitting phrases to try to build some tension just didn't work for me. But then the book really improved and I had a good time with it.The fact that this book is based in a real story was and still is very appealing to me and a good thing was that I never read any news about what really happened so no spoilers for me :D Am I going to read the second book? Sure! Why? I just told you, I enjoyed the book and I'm sure the sequel will be interesting too.
    • 4/5
      First I want to say, I saw the immediate "similarities" with Twilight but thank the lord, the author didn't disappoint and stay with the knock-off thought flow. It is almost like he was using the similarities to make fun of Twilight, which made me like this book a little bit more. I am not a Twilight fan. This had me absolutely shaken to the core. Centered around online bullying, this story is loosely based upon the Megan Meier case and seemed to depict high school kids with a startling realness. All in all, a good book.
    • 3/5
      Oh ack, this is one of those difficult reviews to write. Because I was half and half about this book. I really didn't care for the first half of the book. I was kind of bored to death. The style of the writing and the POV's wasn't grabbing me, I wasn't growing attached to any characters and I really wasn't even caring too much about the story and the mystery like I should have been. I forced myself to continue reading and about halfway it started getting easier and the mystery became more important to me as more details were revealed. But it wasn't until the last quarter of the book that I could sit down and read straight through and actually not want to put the book down and really was desperate for answers. I was finally feeling a little more attached to the twins in the story, Hailey and Taylor and their own secrets (or secrets about them) outside of Katelyns death. So I would say that the last half and especially the last quarter of the book pushed this up to three stars for me. I also liked the more contemporary issues like the cyber bullying and the realistic parts of the issues the characters had and had to work through.Now, I know lots of people loved this book so I want to make sure you understand what it was that bothered me. I didn't care for the style of writing. It just wasn't for me. It wasn't that it was bad, it just wasn't something I was feeling, that I connected with, that compelled me to keep reading. It was a third person style and jumped around to the different people. From the twins, to the different mothers, a couple of friends, and even a reporter. I think maybe seeing all the different thoughts was suppose to maybe add to the mystery, but it just wasn't really working for me. However, I think fans of mysteries and true crime would enjoy it, just don't go into it expecting to be all creeped out cause it wasn't really all that creepy like I usually imagine a thriller to be. It was just a mystery with a touch of paranormal like stuff (notice I say touch and paranormal-like, it's definitely not a strong paranormal type theme). Once the book picked up, once the pieces started coming together more, I began to feel like I could start making guesses and the book was suddenly much better for me. I started feeling the mystery and felt like I knew who did what, etc. And to be honest, I was actually right. But guessing it correctly didn't ruin the ending in any way. There were many details I hadn't figured out so there was still plenty of surprise. Now this is the first in a series so I wondered where it could go and if it would leave off on a cliffhanger, or what? Well, the book wraps up this mystery but at the end there's a little opener for the next one. And the finished copy I read had the sneak peek of the next book and it was pretty intense. I think I'm actually really wanting to read it. So although this book sent lots of mixed feelings through me I felt like I could say I like it okay when I'd finished, so I'm giving it three stars and I do recommend it to fans of mysteries, true crime and thrillers (light style thrillers ;). This one has loads of positive reviews, so be sure to check them out before you cross this one off your list.
    • 2/5
      I was quite interested in reading this book. Taking a few very important problems in today's society like cyber-bullying and suicide and adding a paranormal edge to the whole thing. While you did get some aspects of those problems, taken right from the headlines, it didn't quite work for me.I enjoyed the characters of Katelyn and the twins, Hayley and Taylor. In fact, I'd have to say I enjoyed all the characters even if they were the "good" guys or the "bad". The author was able to portray characters with more than one side to a personality. One where often the "bad" guys had problems within their lives and a rounded out view as to why they acted the way they did. I also enjoyed the unfolding of Katelyn's life and Hayley and Taylor. The twins who were born to solve problems with a psychic gift between them were the most interesting and who I believe the next stories in this series will revolve around.So, have I now left you scratching your head as to why I said it didn't work for me? Well... it was the story. It was several stories all jumbled together. Yes, they all have a connection as they all live in the same town, but it was as if we are pulled in several different directions trying to find out what the real mystery is that we are supposed to care about. The main story was elusive and yet seemed to be everything at once. It felt as though this book either needed to be several short stories, or at least let one of the mysteries take the lead. It just didn't work. Even what we thought would be the main story was reduced in the end to something of lesser importance. This was a chance to make a huge statement and I don't think it was achieved here.I give this book 2 stars. It wasn't bad at all, but lacked direction. I might pick up another book in this series as they are published. I've seen books like this get a direction and then the stories rock. I'm hoping that this will go that way. The ideas were good, so there is potential.
    • 4/5
      This is a stunning novel that interlaces a serious topic such a cyber bullying with great character background and a good amount of paranormal elements. Even the layout of the book was noteworthy!Katelyn Berkley is found dead in her bathtub Christmas night. An espresso machine was found next to her in the tub. Everyone has written this off as accidental and some are whispering that it is a suicide because Katelyn was "kind of messed up." Taylor and Hayley, two twin girls with a unique gift don't believe that it was suicide, they're sure that Katelyn was murdered. They rely on their special gift to piece together moments in Katelyn's past and try to stop a family secret from going public. Gregg Olsen is a wonderful storyteller. I've read books that are written from the first person perspective, there is sometimes the occasional alternating point of view between two people, but Olsen explores all of the key characters. Not only was it engaging, the writing style made sure that every character had his or her own proper voice. While it seems that the focus of this novel is the two twins, it's obvious that Katelyn Berkly is the true main character. Every action, every memory is somehow related to Katelyn or her grieving family. The paranormal elements of the novel really kept the story interesting, especially in the end when some information is revealed. The backbone of this story deals with the very serious topic of cyberbullying. This novel was actually based on the terrible tragedy that happened a few years back to a Missouri teen. Also, Olsen uses different fonts and symbols throughout the book. There was a scene where the twins were decoding a message with scrabble cubes, the author actually used a font that resembled scrabbled blocks. Everything about the book format was just fun!This was a great and intriguing novel. The constant change of perspective and the constant flipping back and forth between the past and present made this novel a very enjoyable novel with a very mature theme. Although I really appreciate that Olsen brought this real-life tragedy to surface with his novel, I can't wait to read to read something that is 100% Olsen's story. I recommend this novel for mystery lovers and those interested in social issuse!
    • 4/5
      I did like Envy by Gregg Olsen. However, I did have a hard time keeping up with all the different characters, as the narrator hopped between them fairly often. I also liked and disliked the omniscient narrator. I like that it knew all that was going on, but disliked how impersonal it felt. I am a sucker for first-person narratives. The story itself was interesting and mostly flowed well. I got hung up a few times, but not enough to make me put the book down. I have some avid mystery reading teens, so I will be passing along my personal copy as well as ordering it for my branch.
    • 5/5
      This book could have been a mess. The author takes a fairly famous real life cyberbullying case, fictionalizes it a bit, adds a paranormal element in twin girls who have some psychic ability, and adds in several other little mysteries. It could have been all over the place and it could have easily ended up glamourizing the bullying situation. Instead we have a wonderful novel that never lets us forget that it is a fiction story and yet still really brings home the effects of cyberbullying in our teenager right now.The twins, Hayley and Taylor, use their gifts to investigate the death of their ex-friend and neighbor Katelyn. Katelyn died in a very mysterious manner and a little digging discovers she was having an online relationship with a boy...possibly a fake boy. The story here unravels in layers as we get to know more and more about not just Katelyn's life and death, but the lives of her parents and the mysteries surrounding a tragic bus accident ten years before. The story wraps up very satisfyingly with most of our questions resolved. I have to say there were a couple of twists at the end I didn't see coming and something very tramatic also happens at the end involving a reporter who is snooping around. We never know exactly what is going on with this reporter and I think that should be brought back up again in the future books. If it doesnt and it really ends as is, I will be disappointed. Still there is a lot more going on here than it first appears which really works for the novel. The characters are complex and driven by many different motivations. The book is written in a different tone I wasn't really used to. Almost a dry tone to start off with until I caught on. Then story flips between many different character's viewpoints. Again this could have been a mess but ended up adding much to the book.I would highly recommend this gem. I also give kudos to the author for keeping bullying in the spotlight. This is a huge problem and deserves as much recognition and awareness as possible. If nothing else this book should remind both kids and adults that sometimes a little decision can end up spiriling out of control and ruining lives.
    • 5/5
      Envy by Gregg Olsen I have just finished this amazing book. The plot was amazing and flowed together wonderfully. The young adults in the story were believable. I just loved it but I am afraid to say much more I am known to do the "spoiler" thing when I speak on books. I am now passing it on to my teen kids here at the library. I am having to buy more for the library and I have passed my personal copy on to certain young ones I know that read books all night to get them done. I was lucky enough to go to the doctor yesterday (check-up) and had two hours of uninterrupted reading time. I am sad that I have to wait 3 months for my next check up. I have found the best times for me to read is when I am waiting which seems to be often enough for me to finish at least three books a week. I always have my Sunday afternoons after church dinner (lunch) that the family along with myself relaxes. My daughters 8 & 9 do this by playing outside and riding bikes, my son who is 20 is usually catching up on college work and I READ! It is a wonderful day of the week for me. Now some of the household work gets put off for a day or so but I feel it is worth it to have time for my passion of reading and studying insects, that is a whole other post.
    • 5/5
      I started this book and finished it all in the same day. I really enjoyed it. I was a bit confused with all the characters at first because you have katelyn of course the main person the book is about but, then you have all the kids ( katelyns friends) and all their parents. Once, I got past that it went fine. I would say overall the author did a good job as far as keeping the reader interested once, I started reading i couldnt put it down. It seems like one story but, I felt like there were really 2 because you have the bus mystery as well. Im glad there is a second book coming out. Although fall 2012 seems pretty far haha, so yes, i would say this is a definite read! : )
    • 2/5
      Right away I was excited to read this book because of the intriguing cover art. Then, there are several hints given as to what's to come that kept me reading. However, I am a bit disappointed in the story overall. The author keeps alluding to a dark and sinister force that's out there, but it turns out to be much more mundane than all that. The twins and their abilities are interesting, but it seemed like the story never really developed into the paranormal mystery that was promised. I don't think I will be checking back in for book 2.
    • 4/5
      Writers have been writing some amazing stories. I love it when an author takes a real life story and changes it into something completely new! I love IT! So many new stories with a whole new twist. And this story has a twist like no other...I loved the mystery in this book. I like a good mystery that not only keeps me on my toes but also searching for clues. As the reader, you are taken on this great reading adventure in search for what really happened to Katelyn. As the story unfolded, I am amazing at the great writing that has pulled in and drown me. The characters of this book are not what I expected. We have twins Haley and Taylor that uncover not one but two mysteries in the making. I want to be these twins BFF's. They searched, ask questions, even their wittiness had me snickering and in awe of what they are capable of doing. I also like how close knit the families were. Haley/Taylor had wonderful parents and very supportive. I like the small town talk of the other families. it made the story much more juicier.One thing I adore about this book are the point of view switches. I like how they didn't confused the reader, but enhance the book. The reader got to see from all point of views and was able to peace together the great mystery of the story.Envy is a great mystery story like I have never read before! Totally amazing and thought provoking, Envy is what you want to read!
    • 4/5
      I actually really liked this book. The beginning was a bit slow, and I had some trouble keeping track of characters. I also couldn't tell the intended audience. This story fell a bit short of what I would like, it could have been more creepy and the cliffhanger ending to the side story of the twins threw me off, but it also made me need to read the next one.Kind of like a supernatural Veronica Mars.
    • 4/5
      This is a very dark novel, as one would expect from Gregg Olsen. What is unexpected is the fact that this is a young adult novel, the first in the Empty Coffin series. I read it straight through--I couldn't leave the suspense and mystery--it is a VERY complex mystery. This is a true-life inspired book related to cyber-bullying, but Olsen adds some great extras with secrets that have secrets and no small touch of paranormal involved. It all centers around the death of Katelyn, and whether or not it is an accident or a suicide. The twins next door, Hayley and Taylor, were once very good friends of hers, until Katelyn became a loyal follower of cheerleader Starla. Now they are trying to figure out what happened, spirited along by some secrets of their own. This is truly an attention grabbing read--don't start it too late at night...or with the computer on. Wha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!
    • 4/5
      Chilling. That's the first word that pops into my head when I think about my reading of Envy. Even before I realized that this was based on a true crime, my heart beat faster just reliving the events of this book. Imagine a book that mixes a bit of horror with the paranormal we all know and love. Are you imagining? Good. That? That's this book. It's pretty amazing.

      I fell in love with Hayley and Taylor instantly. Twins, sisters, confidants, and sharing one of the biggest secrets that they've ever had. I really wanted to get to know Hayley and Taylor as I followed them. Witty and intelligent, these girls are definitely spitfires! Determined to find out who killed their friend, the girls end up learning more about themselves than they every really though possible. I loved uncovering the mystery of their childhoods, and learning more about the Ryan family overall. It's not everyday you see such a tight knit family, and it makes for great atmosphere.

      When I said that this book was chilling, I wasn't kidding. Gregg Olsen leads the twins on quite a chase as they struggle to uncover what truly happened to Katelyn. The mystery here is scrumptious. It's the type that will draw you in, have you probing for answers, and then throw a slap in the face at the last minute, just as you think you might have finally figured out what's going on. Oh yes. There's some twists and turns along the way. Let's just say it makes this a read while worth diving into. I can promise you that you'll be flipping pages faster than you can read.

      Long story short, this is a wonderfully written mystery that is just creepy enough to make you want to keep reading. I devoured Envy and then was still hungrily looking for more to read. If you are a fan of mysteries, or of true crime novels, this is the best of both worlds. Pick up a copy of Envy and get reading.
    • 3/5
      Good balance of his regular crime novel writing and YA appeal. Next story in the series bound to be just as good.

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    • 3/5
      I really tried to like this novel. The cover got me all curious. Yet it wasn’t what I thought it was. I thought there was going to be more of a paranormal feel to it, but it’s limited to mostly the twins having their telepathic abilities. I rather liked the history behind the two girls that was actually the more interesting part of the book. The mystery part of the book wasn’t that great. It sure had all the makings of an intriguing mystery, it even got me hooked and I kept trying to guess who was behind it. Yet the ending was just so anti climactic and I felt almost as if I was cheated out of a good ending (and suddenly feeling the urge to demand a refund of my time back). So when you find out who did it and what really happened, it was pretty much bland.The characters were okay. The twins were your typical gifted, overachieving, strikingly beautiful people to ever walk the earth with paranormal powers. Nothing new there and they were like made out of a cookie cutter style. None of the characters really stood out to me, and I think this, with the combination of rather dry writing, and a slow pace of the plot, I didn’t really enjoy the novel. It was disappointing, since I was looking forward to reading this, and I thought it certainly had the potential to be interesting.I am still not sure if I’m going to read the second one of this book. It’ll have to be spectacular and exciting enough for me to read. It is the first book of a series, and sometimes they’re off to a rocky start so who knows what the second one will have. Not going to recommend this to anyone but if you are curious, I say take it or leave it.
    • 3/5
      So this book is not what I expected at all. This is the story of cyber-bullying, but not in any way you normally think it will happen.Blurb from Goodreads:New York Times bestselling adult true crime author Gregg Olsen makes his YA debut with Empty Coffin, a gripping new fiction series for teens based on ripped-from-the-headlines stories…with a paranormal touch.Crime lives--and dies--in the deceptively picture-perfect town of Port Gamble (aka “Empty Coffin”), Washington. Evil lurks and strange things happen--and 15-year-olds Hayley and Taylor Ryan secretly use their wits and their telepathic “twin-sense” to uncover the truth about the town's victims and culprits. Envy, the series debut, involves the mysterious death of the twins' old friend, Katelyn. Was it murder? Suicide? An accident? Hayley and Taylor are determined to find out--and as they investigate, they stumble upon a dark truth that is far more disturbing than they ever could have imagined.Based on the shocking true crime about cyber-bullying, Envy will take you to the edge--and push you right over.I have to say that I do not read many books written by male authors. It is not because I don't like male authors, but there just seem to be so many more female ones out there. I was happy to pick this one up. And the premise of this book is something that is near and dear to every parent who has a child in this day and age: cyber bullying. It is something that is real and something of which every parent should have an understanding. I really love that the story is based on true eventsThere is a large cast of characters in this book, so I will not talk about them all but I will say they are well developed. I was really able to connect with them. I could feel their emotions: their fear, their angst, their connection to one another.The main characters are Haley and Taylor, twins who reside next door to Katelyn Berkley. When Katelyn mysteriously dies, they know that something is just not right, and they are determined to figure out exactly what it was that lead to her death. But these girlsare not your ordinary teens, though. Their connection to things other-worldly makes them special. Throughout the book you can feel the evil undertone. You can feel that something is lurking that is outside of the world as we know it. Throughout the book, they focus on the "clues" Katelyn left behind, in the hopes of finding the truth and allowing her soul to rest.Each chapter of this book gives differing view points of the "crime" as experienced by the people who surrounded this young woman. Their relationships with her are painted from all perspectives: anger, fear, sadness. You get the feeling that Katelyn was a lonely girl, who had withdrawn from the few friends she did have. When she gets the popular girl in trouble, she pays for it dearly, or so it seems. I have to say that the differing points of view sometimes felt disjointed to me, and I was sometimes lost. But the story line was intriguing enough to make me want to keep reading.Olsen certainly has control of writing. His descriptions are real and accurate. You can feel, smell, and even taste the tensions and other emotions emoting from the characters as they process the death of a young lady in their small community. And the events that unfold are not at all what you think they are going to be, so the mystery keeps you wanting more.I really enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to read the ARC copy of Betrayl that I have sitting on my self.3 out of 5 stars for me.
    • 3/5
      I believe envy may not be the first in YA suspense – but it reminds me more strongly of its adult version (similar to how The Season takes the historical romance genre and makes it more youthful). It reminds me of cryer's cross with a similar creepy factor to it. Yet I feel that the difference between them is that cryer's cross had a more supernatural ending and envy simply relies on more realistic events that can actually happen to anyone.THE GOOD BITS{YA version of adult suspense.} I don’t read much suspense, especially after a few all-nighters with Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta vs serial killers. Nothing defines the suspense genre better than the reader’s growing sense of dread as the pages turn, and envy definitely channels this necessary reaction! With creepy interludes of an unknown villain, I braced myself for a horror that defies imagination that reveals whose sick mind was behind Katelyn’s death.{Inspired by real tragedies relating to cyber-bullying.} Gregg Olson incorporates cyber-bullying into envy – and the result of it simply horrifies me to no end. The Internet has such a wonderful function, but when used for evil intentions, it can be a powerful weapon for bullying. envy makes me wonder how exactly we can stop such violence when it isn’t even very tangible – how does one de-program the tech-savvy bullies and make them feel the consequences of their actions?{Unexpected twist with unpredictable ending.} The ending of envy took me completely by surprise – and it definitely will leave readers wondering just where Gregg Olson wants to take this series. Katelyn’s death seemed so straightforward at first in the beginning, but the Ryan twins suspect foul play with their uncanny sixth sense. As more players enter the field to look into Katelyn’s death whether to uncover the truth or reap the benefits of bad news, I was not even close to piecing the whodunit together.THE BAD BITS{Too many characters in the kitchen.} Throwing different people into the mix helps to keep the suspense building. I wonder who will finally discover the truth, who will hinder the investigation, who was behind the crime., who suffers, who simply doesn’t care – and it keeps me on my toes. However, I thought some of the characters were a little distracting as they served not the immediate story of Katelyn’s death, but existed for the overall series storyline. It works for TV series like LOST or VERONICA MARS where each episode was a mini-mystery with hints of the finale, but in envy I found it a little distracting.{Misleading cover?} Is it just me, or does the cover remind anyone else of the girl from THE RING? Very creepy – too creepy in fact for a book with no ghostlies or other bumps in the night. I don’t think I would have picked envy up if I had realized it was suspense.{Twin “specialness” not fully developed. } I suspect that the Ryan twins will be the stars of the EMPTY COFFIN SERIES, and envy is merely the tip of the iceberg as to what exactly these twins can or cannot do. I am not entirely convinced that this “specialness” works for the series yet. I wish also that the twins stood out from each other more because they are still “Hay-Tay” to me and not as individual as say Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield.THE OVERALLWhile the EMPTY COFFIN SERIES may promise to be different from current YA books, I cannot say that envy left me with a definite sense of “AHA! This is what YA is missing from its shelves!” It was a decent suspense, but nothing that blew my socks off. It will be interesting to see if Book 2 will deliver a more potent reaction…
    • 4/5
      I haven’t read many crime stories, but was in the mood to try something new. I was drawn to Envy’s creepy, gorgeous cover and was hooked further when I read the premise. The combination of cyber-bullying, mystery and paranormal seemed really fresh and like it would be an interesting fall read. I was curious to see how it all tied together to a real cyber-bullying true crime, and if it would be a story I would recognize. Envy is adult true crime writer Gregg Olsen’s YA debut, and he delivers a well-woven mystery with plenty of suspense, surprises and suspects that kept me guessing throughout.Katelyn is in a dark place in her life where everything is going wrong. When she is found dead, it seems clear to everyone that she took her own life. As the citizens of Port Gamble, Washington try to cope and make sense out of the shocking death, the telepathic twins Hayley and Taylor suspect it wasn’t a suicide at all. They begin their own investigation into Katelyn’s death and discover that everyone has something to hide.The town is full of interesting and colorful characters and we get to know them through the multiple point of view narration. The twins are the main focus, and their paranormal ability is one of the mysteries explored as well as Katelyn’s death. In the beginning I found the teen dialogue to be a bit forced at times and some of the pop culture references a little distracting. But as the story progresses, those small issues smooth out and the writing flows nicely.The time frame makes some leaps from past to present as more of the characters’ history and relationships to each other is revealed. The mystery kept me on the edge of my seat as I tried to put together the clues to solve the crime.Regular readers of true-crime mysteries or those up to date on the case Envy was inspired by may be able to figure out the ending ahead of time. For me, I was surprised up till the very end. I thought the conclusion was unpredictable and enjoyed all the twists in the story.Envy is a creepy and exciting mystery on it’s own but also makes you think about online behavior with the cyber-bullying part of the plot. It makes the story that much more scary and real when you combine the bullying aspect with the mystery.I think this book should appeal to YA fans of dark, creepy stories, and also Adult true crime fans. Envy is a promising and well-crafted kick-off to the EMPTY COFFIN series, and I look forward to reading the next installment. The sequel is called Betrayal, and it is expected to hit shelves in Fall 2012.
    • 2/5
      I requested this book because I love reading young adult fiction, and I was intrigued by the idea of an established writer of adult material venturing into YA. The story sounded intriguing – a suspicious death, teen sleuths, suspense. And, the story is supposed to have been inspired by true crime. So far so good.Unfortunately, the execution of this book is disappointingly poor. Fifteen-year-old Katelyn is found dead. While ruled an accident, this girl’s schoolmates, who know something of Katelyn’s troubled life, suspect something more sinister is going on. Twins psychics Hayley and Taylor find the pull to discover the truth irresistible. Using their handy, secret psychic abilities to read the minds of both the living and the dead, not to mention computer files, the twins head down a road of not only solving a crime, but also unlocking a mystery out of their own past. How convenient.Though I was drawn to the premise of this book, in the end there was very little about it I actually liked. While the second half is a bit smoother than the first, it was still laborious. The storyline awkwardly jumps the characters’ varying perspectives. Timelines are confused; at times this supposedly linear story seems to suddenly jump, without explanation, from the present to several weeks into the future to several weeks back into the past again. There is too much going on here with the multiple story threads. The two distinct storylines – that of Katelyn’s suspicious death, and the mystery surrounding Taylor and Hayley’s childhood – get muddy. The characters’ backstories get in the way of there actually being a story. I found it impossible to suspend reality and get lost in it. Most of it is just silly.Shame on the editor and publisher. Writers and readers can do better than this. I can’t in good conscious recommend this book.
    • 3/5
      The Short of ItUnusual death: unexpected, dark, and mysterious. The Long of ItKatelyn dies from electrocution. An odd kitchen appliance in the bathtub. It HAD to be suicide. Right? Twins with a paranormal sense, Hayley and Taylor (HayTay) immediately begin to get glimpses of what might have really happened in that bathroom the night Katelyn died. The Thoughts about ItSo, as if I needed another series to get into, Envy is Book One in the Empty Coffin series. HOWEVER, what I dig about this series is it’s totally groovy if I don’t read any more in the series. Sure there was a bit of a hanger that makes you go, huh, wonder what that’s about, but it’s not enough that I’m going to feel like I’m missing something if I don’t ever get around to finding out. THIS is the kind of serious that I wish would come out more often. What I do have to admit, ya’ll, is this book had me going back and forth between hatin’ it and lovin’ it. Irksome? I didn’t really FEEL for any of the characters. And the paranormal aspect? Well, I just didn’t like how it was done. Bottom line. BUT I thought the story line was pretty nifty (and I dug how Olsen brought up his true crime inspiration of the mom who bullied the girl on facebook. Ya’ll that’s just sick!) Also, the writing felt authentic. And maybe it’s because the author is a true crime writer prior to turning into a young adult novelist? The writing made me think of a newspaper. Informational, interesting, but unfeeling.If you’re into mystery I’d definitely pick it up. It’s a quick read. Captivating enough that I finished it in one sitting and stayed up past my bedtime.