Review: Bad Things Happen Here by Rebecca Barrow

 

Luca lives on Parris, a seemingly idyllic island with secrets to hide. The deaths of young women are scattered across it, including that of Luca’s best friend Polly. There’s also a shocking betrayal, an old friendship and a haunting curse.

  Luca believes she can escape the threat of this curse until it claims the life of her sister. Luca embarks on a mission to investigate her sister’s death, uncovering lies and deception, while her relationship with her neighbour Naomi deepens. 

  This book is extremely inclusive. Luca is plus-sized, queer and mixed race, with a refreshing mindset. The mental health representation was excellent, with many emotional themes explored in a realistic and respectful manner. I was impressed by the depiction of Luca’s feelings, giving us a character to relate to and connect with. The theme of privilege was also woven into the book, Parris being a place of rich families who are almost oblivious to the murders in their area. I found this interesting, creating tension between characters and giving another layer to these murders.
I really enjoyed the small, fast-paced chapters with intriguing conclusions, prompting you to continue. The relationship between Luca and Naomi was captivating, and Luca’s complicated relationship with her old friend Jada left us wondering what happened between them. 

          Although the investigation was fast-paced and exciting, some parts were slightly disappointing. I never quite understood what Luca was aiming for or trying to achieve. She mainly focused on one source for clues, giving the book a rather narrow-minded conclusion. Something else I found disappointing was that the connection between the murders was never revealed. We get the solution for the death Luca is investigating but the others almost fade into the background. Sadly, I did not have that ‘gasp’ moment at the end. However, the inclusion, diversity, characters and beautiful writing were amazing and I really enjoyed it! 

 Lasairíona Scarff, 16