Thornbird

By E. Kennedy
** Publication Date 30 June 2026 **
​4 stars




A serial killer is usually one who takes the life of multiple people in an unrelated incident. Ryan knows this definition all too well. Her father, Gabriel Thorn, was convicted of killing multiple women, including her mother, ten years ago when Ryan was seven years old..


After the murders were discovered, Ryan was whisked off to her grandmother in Pennsylvania. Her name was changed. She lived in relative anonymity for ten years. People searched for Gabrielle Thorn, but no one could find her. Meanwhile her father lived behind bars.


But now Ryan’s grandmother has passed, and Ryan has to move back to Starling, Tennessee, to live with her mom’s sister and her uncle, and her twin cousins Jazzy and Connor, who are 16. Ryan doesn’t want to go back. Too many memories of the night her mother was murdered. The town is still wrapped up in the memory of the murders. Ryan needs to maintain her cover, with a new last name, Shipley, so that no one in town finds out who she really is.


This YA novel is fabulous. E. Kennedy was well known for her romance novels, and this is her first foray into the new genre. I never read anything by her before, but goodness, this one was excellent. Suspenseful and intriguing, it carries us through Ryan’s time living with the Shipley’s while trying to keep cover from her real identity. 


Ryan is a compelling lead character. She’s relatively tough and spunky, but also likes to keep to herself. Her cousin Jasmine is the complete opposite. While the novel centers around Ryan’s experiences, there is plenty of character development in the supporting characters. Every teen can identify with someone in this novel, as all the usual cliques are represented. There are shocking discoveries along the way and plenty to keep the pages turning. 


Definitely recommend this one to adults and older teens alike.