Choker by Elizabeth Woods

Choker

Elizabeth Woods

233 pages

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Release Date: January 4th, 2011

Source: Publisher

What if the only friend you could trust turned out to be dangerous? A new thriller from debut author Elizabeth Woods!

   Never judge a book by its cover. That phrase has never been truer.

   Choker was absolutely creepy. On her blog, Good Books and Good Wine, April said it was creepy too. But as I was reading Choker, I kept wondering why she said it was so. Until I reached the end.

   I finished it around 11 o'clock, at night. I kept hearing sounds everytime my eyes were about to close. Yes, it was *that* creepy. To me, anyway.

   Cara Lange moved away from her best friend Zoe when she was in fifth grade. Middle school was horrible and now, high school is pretty much the same for seventeen year old Cara. Especially after she chokes on a baby carrot during lunch. From then on, Alexis (your typical high school meanie) and her best friend (who happens to be Cara's neighbor), Sydney, start calling Cara, Choker. It gets on her nerves, but she doesn't say anything, she usually just keeps to herself.

   When she gets steps out of the shower in the evening, she nearly screams when she sees Zoe sitting on her bed. It seems Zoe did something bad at home, so she came to Cara, who has to hide her without telling her parents. Cara is overflowing with happiness, Zoe always knows when to show up, when Cara needs help.

   Then things start to go wrong. Sydney is found the next morning, floating dead in her pool. A few days later, someone else turns up missing. Who is doing this to them? Cara can't help but think its Zoe, but is it?

   You have to read it to find out.

   I was very impressed with the way Elizabeth Woods was able to describe her characters and plot in depth with only 233 pages. I kept thinking back to Cryer's Cross as I read Choker, maybe it was the length, or because it was narrated in the third person. But Choker had more depth to it than Cryer's Cross. I found myself relating to Cara in many situations, and the plot was clearly written.

   As I read through, I kept thinking: I know how this is going to end. Boy was I wrong! Nothing, and I mean nothing, prepared me for the ending. I have to say the ending is unique and nothing like I expected, but I was a little disappointed at the way things ended. But it was definitely a good read all in all!

-Would I recommend this to anyone? Probably ages 11 and up

-Is there a second book? I doubt it

-Will I be looking forward to book two? Definitely!

I LOVE the cover. Though it is a contrast to the creepiness inside, I love how the cover doesn't betray what the book holds.