Review: See Jane Run - Hannah Jayne

Review: See Jane Run - Hannah Jayne - January 2014

I'll be honest when I picked up See Jane Run, I was practically buzzing with excitement. Hannah Jayne has become one of those authors whose books I snatch up the moment I spot them, and this premise? Absolutely brilliant. A mysterious postcard, a hidden birth certificate, parents who might not be who they claim , it's the kind of setup that should have had me racing through pages late into the night with my reading lamp on full blast.

The story follows Riley, who receives an unsettling postcard with just four words: "I know who you are." Things spiral from there when she discovers a birth certificate for Jane Elizabeth O'Leary tucked inside her baby book. Suddenly, Riley's overprotective parents seem less endearing and more suspicious. Were they keeping her safe all these years, or were they hiding something far more sinister?

I loved watching Riley transform from a sheltered teenager into someone determined to uncover the truth, regardless of the cost. Hannah Jayne does an excellent job building that creeping sense of paranoia ,the kind where you start questioning everything you thought you knew about your own life. The pages turn easily, and there are enough twists to keep you guessing about Riley's real identity and what happened to the mysterious Jane.

But here's where I have to be honest: something felt missing. Maybe my expectations were just too high after Hannah Jayne's previous books, but this one didn't quite deliver that gut-punch I was hoping for. The revelations felt a touch predictable, and I found myself wanting deeper character development, particularly with Riley's parents. Their motivations could have been explored more thoroughly to really amp up the emotional stakes.

That said, this is still a solid YA thriller that fans of the genre will enjoy. Hannah Jayne's writing remains sharp and engaging, perfect for those cozy reading sessions curled up on the sofa with a cup of tea (though you might grip that mug a bit tighter during the tenser moments). If you're new to Hannah Jayne's work, this is a decent entry point, though I'd still recommend checking out her earlier novels first.

See Jane Run didn't become my new favourite, but it reinforced why I keep coming back to Hannah Jayne's books , she knows how to craft an intriguing mystery that keeps you turning pages, even when you've guessed where they're heading.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3L6MFGR