95

Lisa Towles completely captivated my attention in her novel, Ninety-Five. A riveting thriller, this book will keep you on your toes and eager to know what will happen next. Zak, the book’s main character, is a student at the University of Chicago along with his ride-or-die best friend Riley. The boys, interested in socializing, meet with fraternity recruit David Wade and are in for a surprise. Zak finds himself drugged the next morning waking up in a fury to realize he is not in his own room and has no memories from the night before. He confronts Wade with countless questions but is refused straight answers. Wade eventually takes Zak to the house of someone named Jane, an idiosyncratic character, and he quickly finds his life turned upside down. Immersed in a new world where notebooks write back, cryptocurrencies rule, and powerful men pose against one another, Zak finds not only his life but the lives of those around him at risk. Between dodging killers, uncovering tracking devices, and meeting both enemies and allies, Zak discovers more secrets than he could ever fathom. To his confusion, he meets not only dangerous people in this place but fellow college students who also have been led on this path of chaos. Grappling with the question of why he was chosen for this journey, Zak fights both physically and mentally to carry forward and fulfill what he must do. This suspenseful novel follows his journey of initial confusion and rage, to self-discovery and exploration in the new life he finds himself being forced to live.

I recommend this novel for all young adults, especially those who struggle with internalizing emotions. The reader will resonate with Zak, as they experience his past and present. They will also learn through Zak how coming to terms with emotions can help stabilize the future and further happiness. I also recommend this novel for anyone who enjoys page-turners, mysteries, and suspense. My attention was kept from beginning to end as I found myself invested in Zak and Riley, and what would happen next to them. I enjoyed the subtle romantic plotline between characters as well; I think this addition really enhanced the read. Truly an adventure from the prologue to the end, I thoroughly enjoyed everything this book had to offer. I look forward to hopefully a second novel, where Zak would continue his journey with his potential love interest close by.