Break Us – Jennifer Brown – Nikki Kill #3 – Katherine Tegen Books – Published 13 February 2018

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Synopsis

Nikki Kill doesn’t see the world in black and white. Her synesthesia shades everything in view, transforming numbers, words, and emotions into colourful clues. Which means she’s a dangerous commodity to anyone with something to hide.

Nikki has already taken on the Hollises—one of L.A.’s most powerful families—for murdering her half sister, Peyton. However, Nikki’s next steps are clouded by the grey of uncertainty. Before she knows it, Nikki is on the trail of a cold case that couldn’t be any more personal—the death of her mother.

But when the web of lies and secrets she uncovers leads back to the people who have tried to silence her, Nikki must pursue the sunbeam gold of justice, or everything—including her life—will be lost.

My thoughts

Break Us is the third and final book in the amazing Nikki Kill series. Mystery, suspense and just a touch of romance (finally!!) culminate in a brilliant conclusion.

This review may contain spoilers for the first and second book in the Nikki Kill series. If you are looking for mature YA mystery, with a daring protagonist and thrilling twists and turns, check out Shade Me.

Nikki has spent the last few months looking for answers. The world might have moved on, but Nikki knows a murderer is still on the loose. Meanwhile, Detective Chris Martinez is slowly recovering on an attack on his life. With Chris’ memories scattered, it is up to Nikki to encourage Chris to continue searching for answers, before they are both targeted again.

In books one and two of the Nikki Kill series, Nikki uncovered many clues surrounding her mother’s death, a previously unknown sister and her death, and the secrets of both her own family and a family who were willing to kill to maintain their fame and power. The conclusion of book two gave Nikki some answers, but she knows the real killer has gone unpunished, and there is still more to discover about Nikki’s mother’s death. Chris’ investigations have stalled while he begins the long journey of recovery -both mental and physical.

I love Nikki. She never stops, doesn’t care if everyone tells her to give up or stop searching, she is determined to find the answers she seeks. She is just as dogged in her relationship with Chris. I honestly felt a little sorry for Chris, as Nikki never gives him a moment’s peace. But her brusque manner and ‘I don’t care attitude’ is 100% Nikki, and something I enjoyed most about her. And finally, finally, the romance that was hinted at in book one and slowly developed in book two, despite all the setbacks and challenges they face, finally gets its moment – though it has to fight for it through all the breaking and entering, sparring, and chasing of bad guys.

Break Us is a brilliant conclusion to the Nikki Kill series, compelling and satisfying, a YA mystery-thriller series I highly recommend.

More information

Category: Young adult fiction.

Genre: Mystery/thriller.

Themes: Crime, detective, mystery, synesthesia,

Reading age guide: Ages 14 and up.

Advisory: Sexual references, references to prostitution. Coarse language, f*** (24), sh** (46), as***** (1), bit** (4), pi**(8). Violence – murder.

Published:  13 February 2018 by Katherine Tegen Books.

Format: Hardcover, ebook. 384 pages.

ISBN: 9780062324498

Find it on Goodreads