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The Collective by Alison Gaylin

Camille Gardner has (barely) lived through every parent's worst nightmare, the loss of her fifteen year old daughter Emily five years previously. What makes Camille’s pain exponentially worse is the fact that after Emily was murdered, her killer Harris Blanchard, a local college student, not only escaped justice, but his well-connected family made Emily out to be the villain of her own tragedy. Camille learns that Harris is being given a humanitarian award at his school, and the consequences of her attendance at that ceremony makes her something of an internet celebrity, for all the wrong reasons. 


The situation serves to perpetuate her anxiety, distress and rage, and Camille feels there is no one out there who truly understands the constant pain she feels knowing her daughter’s killer is not only free, but enjoying his life to the fullest. She quickly learns through mysterious means that not only are there others out there struggling with the same emotions, they are poised to do something about their pain and exact revenge on those who have done their families wrong. 


Camille eagerly joins the group, which uses a hive mentality to its advantage. Everyone has a specific job to do, and both the jobs and the collective as a whole are shrouded in secrecy for everyone’s safety; however,  as Camille slowly learns, that may not actually be the case for all of its members. Alison Gaylin’s writing is exceptional, and the plot is incredibly well thought out and executed as the reader moves through the story. The only change I would have liked to see would have been a bit more suspense in the ending. It was good, but I felt a bit more detail and subterfuge leading up to the finale would have made it great. 


Final rating: ★★★★☆ (rounded up to 4.5)
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