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Burn Our Bodies Down by Rory Power is a novel about mystery, family, and strange occurrences set in a small town in Kentucky. Seventeen-year-old Margot has always lived with her mother, the only family she ever believed she had. Due to her mother’s manipulative and passive-aggressive nature, Margot longs to escape her grasp and find out if she has any other family. One day, Margot discovers a photograph of her mother as a child and a phone number on the back. Margot decides to call the number, and she finds out she has a grandmother in a town called Phalene, a few hours away from where she lives. Despite her mother’s wishes, Margot sneaks out and goes to Phalene to figure out what her mother is hiding from her and why she left Phalene all those years ago. Once she arrives, Margot is surprised to learn that her grandmother’s farm has caught on fire. As she watches the flames consume the strange-looking corn fields, Margot notices a body among the fire, with a face that looks exactly like her own. No one in town has even seen the girl before, and as Margot tries to investigate who she is, she learns that her family is keeping secrets from her, and she is determined to figure out what they are hiding.  
 

First of all, I just want to say that I love the cover of the book. I think the flames blending into the girl's hair give the cover a captivating look and really capture the theme of the novel. Secondly, Rory Power manages to weave an intricate plot, full of suspense and mystery, alongside powerful themes of family and belonging. The book has several twists, one of which left me completely shocked, as I did not see it coming in any way. I found the protagonist, Margot, to be quite likeable due to her personality and determination to unravel the secrets of the Nielson family. Margot is not perfect however, and does often doubt whether she is doing the right thing, which in part is a result of her suffering through her mother’s countless scoldings. I wish the author elaborated more on Margot’s life with her mom and included more interactions with her new friend, Tess, who helps her reveal the secrets her family is hiding. The author has an almost poetic writing style and has descriptions that include metaphors and lots of details, providing the reader a clear image of what is happening. Power paces the book so that most of the action occurs in the second half, making the beginning part a little slow, but definitely worth it because it sets the scene for the unanticipated twists.  
 

Since the author explores several genres, I would recommend this book to anyone who likes mystery, horror, family relationships, and science fiction. I have never read anything quite like it before, and the unique storyline will definitely stay with me for a while. I was intrigued the whole time and the suspenseful plot made Burn Our Bodies Down an exciting page-turner.  

Checkout Burn Our Bodies Down from the Newport Beach Public Library.