Omens by Kelley Armstrong

Published: August 2013

Publisher: Dutton Adult

Pages: 486

Copy Provided by: Bought

Summary: Goodreads

Summary:

Twenty-four-year-old Olivia Taylor Jones has the perfect life. The only daughter of a wealthy, prominent Chicago family, she has an Ivy League education, pursues volunteerism and philanthropy, and is engaged to a handsome young tech firm CEO with political ambitions.

But Olivia’s world is shattered when she learns that she’s adopted. Her real parents? Todd and Pamela Larsen, notorious serial killers serving a life sentence. When the news brings a maelstrom of unwanted publicity to her adopted family and fiancé, Olivia decides to find out the truth about the Larsens.

Olivia ends up in the small town of Cainsville, Illinois, an old and cloistered community that takes a particular interest in both Olivia and her efforts to uncover her birth parents’ past.

Aided by her mother’s former lawyer, Gabriel Walsh, Olivia focuses on the Larsens’ last crime, the one her birth mother swears will prove their innocence. But as she and Gabriel start investigating the case, Olivia finds herself drawing on abilities that have remained hidden since her childhood, gifts that make her both a valuable addition to Cainsville and deeply vulnerable to unknown enemies. Because there are darker secrets behind her new home and powers lurking in the shadows that have their own plans for her.

Review:

I have to be honest and admit that this is the first ADULT title by Kelley that I've ever read.  It was fascinating though!  The summary itself had me hooked.  Can you imagine finding out that you were adopted and your real parents were murderers of the most heinous crimes?  What if the social network around you began to crumble and everything you thought you knew was a lie.  With no one to rely on, Olivia has to lean on her smarts to get by.  Here is where Kelley could have continued and made this an interesting story all on her own but here and there are hints and bits of information to demonstrate that there is something supernatural involved.  Heck, it's a Kelley Armstrong book!  Of course there is going to be something supernatural going on!!  Like I said before, there is just enough going on to keep your intrigued but not enough information to really determine the forces at work.  Its like a big book tease....

Ms Armstrong knows just how to build up her characters in this first book.  The interplay between Olivia and her semi-trusting lawyer Gabriel is tenuous.  Should she trust him?  Is he a friend or is he out for his own interests? They also seem to have this magnetic attraction towards one another despite keeping things professional.  Are they friends or will this turn into more?  And what makes Olivia so special in this town of Cainsville where everyone seems to want her to trust and confide in them?

My conclusion on Omens is that it is rightly for an adult audience or at least a much more mature young adult reader.  You'll enjoy it if you like mystery and the supernatural.  There is a lot of swearing but how would you feel if you were the daughter of an infamous murdering couple and went from a wealthy well bred family to someone whom the public gawked at?  

Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite Canadian authors.  I have to admit that I have only read both of her YA series - Darkest Powers and Darkness Rising but I loved them both.  My favourite by far is Darkness Rising.  Kelley is imaginative, descriptive and just knows how to spin an incredible tale.  Recently, I had the opportunity to see Ms. Armstrong in person as she was promoting the release of her newest title - Omens. Have you ever seen an author in person?  It is incredible.  Especially when you meet someone who is truly passionate about what they write and has complete respect for their reading audience.  Kelley is enigmatic, entertaining, is humble and cares about what her audience thinks and how they interact with her titles.  Love her. That's one of the reasons why, when I went to this signing, I wanted to be able to give one of you, our followers a signed copy.  Please visit our post - WIN A SIGNED COPY OF OMENS BY KELLEY ARMSTRONG to enter!