Format: Hardcover, 320 pages
Release Date: March 5, 2024
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Thrillers / Suspense
In this pulse pounding thriller, Izzy and her family welcome an exchange student into their home. But after a series of mishaps and coincidences, and with a serial killer on the loose, Izzy begins to suspect the young man is not who he seems.
For most of her life, Izzy has been looking forward to fulfilling her mother’s dream of studying abroad in Italy. Going into her senior year, Izzy is counting down the days until she can leave her humdrum life behind, until Alberto, a handsome and mysterious Italian exchange student shows up for his stay with her family. Now life in her hometown doesn’t seem so drab, as Izzy, and everyone else, is immediately charmed by Alberto and his irresistible accent.
For most of her life, Izzy has been looking forward to fulfilling her mother’s dream of studying abroad in Italy. Going into her senior year, Izzy is counting down the days until she can leave her humdrum life behind, until Alberto, a handsome and mysterious Italian exchange student shows up for his stay with her family. Now life in her hometown doesn’t seem so drab, as Izzy, and everyone else, is immediately charmed by Alberto and his irresistible accent.
But something about Alberto isn’t quite…right. As an avid true crime fan, Izzy has been following a serial killer case in San Francisco and the murderer, whose description bears a passing resemblance to the Italian exchange student living in her house, seems to have made his way north. As Izzy pays closer attention to Alberto—his actions, his temper—she finds more and more holes in his story that he has trouble explaining away.
When a local girl is murdered, Izzy thinks Alberto might not be who he seems. Worse, a series of “accidents” seem to target Izzy herself. In a race against the clock, Izzy must convince anyone that Alberto could be a notorious killer before another girl ends up dead.
Gretchen McNeil's Four Letter Word is a story about a family that welcomes an exchange student into their Eureka, California home only to find out that things aren't what they seem. Elizabeth (Izzy) Bell is a true crime fan. She loves listening to "Murder Will Speak" which is a true docuseries featuring a serial killer they call Casanova who targets single women in bars.
Izzy has been looking forward to fulfilling her mother’s dream of studying abroad in Italy. Going into her senior year, Izzy is counting down the days until she can leave her humdrum life behind, until Alberto Bianchi, a handsome and mysterious Italian exchange student shows up for his stay with her family. Now life in her hometown doesn’t seem so drab, as Izzy, and everyone else, is immediately charmed by Alberto and his irresistible accent. But something about Alberto isn’t quite…right.
As an avid true crime fan, Izzy has been following a serial killer case in San Francisco, and the murderer, whose description bears a passing resemblance to the Italian exchange student living in her house, seems to have made his way north. As Izzy pays closer attention to Alberto—his actions, his temper—she finds more and more holes in his story that he has trouble explaining away. When a local girl who was friendly with her brother Riley is murdered, Izzy thinks Alberto might not be who he seems.
Worse, a series of “accidents” seem to target Izzy herself. In a race against the clock, Izzy must convince anyone that Alberto could be a notorious killer before another girl ends up dead.
*Thoughts* Four Letter Word reimagines the classic Hitchcock film Shadow of a Doubt from a fresh perspective. Overall, a decent mystery although it was pretty clear who the killer was. Didn't see the betrayal by a family member though. Izzy is a character who has been the lost sheep of the family, as it were. Her brothers are doing things they want to do, but Izzy is expected to live the life her mother left behind when she started having kids.
The author does do a good job of explaining how Beth Bell has dealt with BiPolar issues as well as other things I shant spoil. Effective immediately, if you have a white character who bitches about white privilege, I am reducing my rating by a minimum of 1 rating point. I am in my 60s and I would love to know WTF white privilege is because I need some of it in my life as do the 50% of homeless people who have white skin.
Ooh nice! I still need to read this one! I love Gretchen's thrillers though! Glad to see it was mostly entertaining, but already dreading the part you mention below that took away a rating point. Find myself in agreement with you based on what you said. Very nice review!
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