The Hanging Girl by Eileen Cook

Image courtesy of NetGalley.com

I have received an advanced reader's copy of this book 

in exchange for an honest review.

The Hanging Girl 

by Eileen Cook

Skye is close to her high school graduation.  She has a best friend, Drew, who has everything; big house, nice clothes, full refrigerator.   Skye does not have these things.  Skye lives in a grungy apartment with her mother and works part time at Burger Barn to have enough money to pay the bills and have enough food to eat.  She and Drew have always dreamed of moving to New York City, sharing an apartment and having adventures.  Drew can afford to have this dream, Skye can not.

Skye makes extra money at school using a deck of Tarot cards to read her classmates' fortunes.  Although she feels some guilt for scamming her peers, she needs the money.  However, when one of her classmates goes missing, Skye has to use her "gift" to help the police locate her.  

When the web of lies becomes too much for Skye to keep up with, her entire future seems to hang in jeopardy.  Can she continue to lie to Drew?  Can she trust her mother not to interfere with her own "psychic" abilities?   Will the police see what's really going on?

The Hanging Girl is a psychological thriller that will appeal to a wide variety of readers.  Although Skye is in high school, the content is mild enough for younger students.  There isn't any sexual content and the violence is not graphic.  I think this story is appropriate for middle to high school students, and most adults!