The Fall of Iris Henley

Gr 9 Up–High school senior Iris Henley has a pretty good life: she’s the top girl on the cheerleading squad, has great friends, and does well enough in school. Things are good, aside from the fact that Iris’s ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend are dead. The case is quickly ruled a murder-suicide by the small-town sheriff’s department, and life goes on. Then one day, an anonymous post appears on a secret social media app proclaiming that Iris is the real murderer. Suddenly, Iris’s life is thrown into chaos. She doesn’t know whom to trust or who believes her, and the sheriff is very interested in her alibi. As rumors continue to swirl, adults let her down, law enforcement proves to be ineffective, and friends reveal their true colors, Iris will have to take it upon herself to find the truth and clear her name. Graham’s (“Veronica Mars” ­trilogy) fast-paced thriller will keep readers on their toes with its abundance of twists, turns, and red herrings. The focus of the story is on solving the mystery and, as a result, characters feel slightly underdeveloped; so much ­happens within the course of the book that it may be a struggle to keep all the details straight. Nonetheless, readers who enjoy a Veronica Mars–esque main character and a mystery that will keep them guessing will enjoy this novel. Iris and her family are presumed white; friends Sophie and Max are presumed Latine.