Solving crime with Instagram has appeal for modern teens. Initially moves slowly but suspense is more gripping in final chapters. Series knowledge required to fully invest in the plot.

I do remember enjoying the first book in this series, but don't have the time or enough enthusiasm to carry on with the series, do like that it was something different form the Pretty Little Liars author however.

Eerie, thrilling and rather unnerving at times, Follow Me is a brilliantly crafted murder mystery that will make you want to sleep with one eye open.

Brilliantly matched together, the characters all have a distinct and individual voice allowing one to hear from all their perspectives. Shepard differentiates and transitions between all the characters seamlessly, providing individual voices and not like copy-and-pasted people. As characters they are realistic and determined, they have realistic emotions one would expect and as the reader you feel rather connected to them, making you feel like you are on this journey with them.

What I found really put this sequel above the first novel is that we get to read from Brett's perspective, which made for an interesting sequel and having finished the first novel, I was incredibly intrigued as to how Shepard was going to write this; spoiler ahead if you have not read the first book yet, but I was most intrigued by this sequel due to the fact that at the end of the first novel the reader and characters find out that Brett is the killer. He is an incredibly chilling and disturbing character, yet intriguing. You get to see his point of view on everything as this sequel also tackle some serious topics, in particular Brett's intense misogyny. This is a serious talking point in the novel, for Brett believes these women should be punished for the things they have done like cheating, going against societies prejudice expectations, but also the fact that he believes a women should not love nor be confident about themselves and show it to others. Brett believes this is wrong and that women who display these characteristics are simply being self-absorbed, even though male characters throughout also exhibit the same characteristics he hates so much in women. I am really intrigued to see how this is explored and tackled further in the sequel.

The plot was terrifying and chilling. Shepard is one of my favourite writers for mysteries. She writes them perfectly and every time it is something new, she never follows a similar pattern; I am always left shocked, surprised and holding on to the edge of my seat. The plot was fast pace, with never a dull moment. I love how you are sort of reading from all of their perspectives at the same time, as this really amplifies the imagery in this novel making you truly feel like you are right there beside them. Now, having read many horror and thriller novels, I am now not very easily unnerved nor scared when reading this genre anymore. Yet one particular scene in this sequel left a lasting impression. Shepard is just an amazing writer of murder mystery that I was left rather unnerved and disjointed after reading this.

How this sequel was wrapped up, was perfect. I knew from the beginning there was going to be a third novel, and so this did make me nervous as to how Shepard would play out the ending to this, but it really did surpass my exceptions. I never saw the last ten percent coming and was so pleased with this, as I was left shocked and grasping for more! I am incredibly excited for the sequel.

Once again, Shepard has surpassed my expectations and left me itching for more.

I did find this to be kind of a shallow read, with the writing and storyline not the type to grip me. I almost dnf'd it but kept on to give it a chance.

I had to push myself through it though. At parts I just wanted to roll my eyes. I didn't read the first book and I'm glad I didn't because I got the gist of what happened anyway, and I feel like my opinion of it would have stayed the same.

I thought it had seriously unnecessary descriptions that felt out of place and just thrown in for background purposes. No one cares if seagulls are pecking something on the grass or the slap of a joggers shoes on the pavement while a seemingly serious conversation is going on. Well I didn't.

I couldn't even deal with some things. Like haven't they hung out with this guy Brett in person? Yet they can't recognise anything about him but his eye colour - although there is a thing you can get called contacts people. Oh he might have slimmed down, be a gaunt lanky 15 year old, and now this person, or maybe that person. Get real. This isn't The Tourist. If he hasn't had a complete surgical makeover then I'm unconvinced you can't recognise a guy who became a close friend.

The way they go about investigating seems so childish and even Brett, I find him ridiculous. Not even a villain I have any interest in. Playing his little games which are just silly.

Anyway that's my bit of a rant. Tbh I like ranting. Go figure.

Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The 2nd one was very good, but it wasn't as good as the first one which was really disappointing.

The book was good, nothing over the top. I have read other book series of Sara’s but I felt that the plot of this series, in particular, is mirroring that of Pretty Little Liars. Don’t get me wrong I loved the series but the similarities don’t go unnoticed.
Anyway, back to the actual book, it followed straight on from book one, the characters, Seneca, Maddox, Aerin and Maddison are trying to locate Brett, after coming to the shocking realisation that he was not who he claimed to be.
The book is quite like a game of cat and mouse – Brett feds them clues whilst threatening and taunting them, while they try to locate Brett and stop him from killing others.
As the book, progresses the gang of ‘amateur sleuths’ try to save Chelsea – Brett latest ‘victim’, from certain death and to figure out their individual relationships. They succeed, at which, you’ll have to read the book!
One thing I liked about the book was that Sara provided different perspectives, which I believe served a useful role of allowing the reader to understand the characters better, but I do wish that they delved a bit more into their personal lives, not just on a base level but at a much more deeper level than provided in the book.
I would rate that Follow me by Sara Shepard a 3/5 because I feel that it is written as more of a young teen book (12 to 15, maybe even 16), as the writing is not ‘up to par’ as YA novel.

One for fans of book one...

Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars

Sara Shepard's dark, dangerous journey into the anonymous world of online crime solving really appealed to me with the first book in this series, The Amateurs, and now we've returned with the sequel, Follow Me! The thing I loved most about the first novel was that these people dedicated a lot of their time in this community with the sole mission of solving crimes the actual police and detectives had given up on. There is something undeniably attractive about these books and film that explore crime because it's obviously greatly out of the norm of our real lives so you can put yourself in the shoes of these people being the vigilantes and saving the day while also getting that creepy look into the villains of the story that we're so addicted to. This book still centres around the same group of people from Case Not Closed from the first novel but due to the plot evolving from the first book it is also much more focused on giving the reader more insight into the villain of the story this time.

One thing that completely blew my mind in the first book was a huge plot twist right at the end that I really didn't see coming at all! I was so shocked, I think I might have had an inkling about it but now so long after reading it I really can't be sure. I did see something dark in them before the big reveal and I like how the author wrote in that unsettling sense of oddness in the character though because it worked out very well! All I know is that after I finished that book I was desperate for the sequel to find out more about the motives of this surprise murderer that was unveiled. If you were on the edge of your seat at the end of the first book then you won't be disappointed for this book because it's packed with plenty of juicy chapters for the suspect's perspective and I didn't see a lot of what they did coming until it happened.

I must say that, similar to the first book, I wasn't very attached to the characters themselves because I didn't really see myself in any of them or see anything I could connect with like you need when you're putting yourself in someone's shoes. That isn't too important to me in this case because the plot is much more of the focus in these books but it still takes away from the overall rating when you're not really rooting for the characters and caring about their well-being when they're in trouble often! Seneca and Aerin are probably still the characters I favour the most because they have close, personal ties to the cases they're investigating so they're the most interesting and I am really looking forward to their chapters in the next book.

Follow Me was a good sequel and I loved that it actually had its own plot and crime case to solve within this book that was fully wrapped up and left with a great cliffhanger but it definitely wasn't enthralling as the first book. I am really hopeful that the third book will be great like the first because the ending of this book was another good ending but we will have to wait and see. I'll definitely be looking out for the third book to conclude this interesting Young Adult thriller series.

Despite not having read the first in this series, I enjoyed this! I think it would have been a little better if I had though, so do keep that in mind! That said, despite definitely now knowing what happens in the first book, I would definitely read it if given the opportunity, as it's good fun and I want to see how it all started.

Follow me picks up a little time after the first book, and does a great job of introducing the bad guy and the main characters without being heavy handed. I really liked that this series has an ongoing bad guy who is known from the first book but still manages to be creepy and hiding in plain sight. I also really liked the ending - I guessed where it might go with Chelsea but it was well done, and I totally didn't see the very ending. My only real complaints was that they weren't very subtle given they knew he was baiting them and I don't blame the police for ignoring and doubting them as their evidence is a little shady in places. But it's good fun, and a decent mystery.

Great story for teenagers. My daughter will enjoy this as she loves Pretty little liars. Well written and interesting. I'll
Probably buy her this for Christmas.

I very much enjoyed the first book in The Amateurs series of murder mysteries, about a group of teens united by their desire to catch a killer. The books are both clever suspense thrillers, about a young killer who is a master of disguise and enjoys playing games with his hunters. Shepard is a master of observation and her description of daily life in the seaside town is often hilarious. I found the darker aspects of this book to be a bit to closely described for my liking, but this may not bother teen readers.

Sara Shepard is back with a much anticipated follow up to 'The Amateurs'. Seneca, Aerin, Maddox and Madison have a new case to solve, when social media star Chelsea Dawson disappears from a party after a argument with her ex boyfriend. In this cat and mouse game will they be able to find Chelsea in time?
It was so easy to get back into this world Sara Shepard has built. It was so fast paced that i devoured this book in one sitting. It was just that good!! There were so many twists and turns that i didn't see coming, epically that last twist. The suspense will have you at the edge of your seat. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I will be purchasing this book when its out in October.