One of the most prolific authors in the world has to be the American writer James Patterson. Over the years he has built a reputation for fast-paced thrillers with gripping narratives with the Alex Cross and Women’s Murder Club series and many many more. With over 400 million books sold and more than 200 titles bearing his name, Patterson’s reach extends far beyond adult crime fiction. He has also written for the young adult market, which includes the Crazy House series, co-authored with Gabrielle Charbonnet. The Crazy House series is a two book dystopian collection that blends action, rebellion and emotional depth. While the first book in the series, Crazy House, left me with lingering questions and a sense of incompleteness, its sequel, The Fall of Crazy House, delivers a more satisfying and cohesive continuation that ties up many of the loose ends.
Set more than a century into the future, the series introduces young adult page turners to a bleak and tightly controlled society ruled by a regime known as The United. Its citizens live in isolated “cells,” with their lives micromanaged by the government – everything from assigned jobs and mandatory schooling to licensed childbirth and enforced curfews. In Crazy House, we followed 17-year-old identical twins Becca and Cassie Greenfield as they were abducted and imprisoned in a brutal facility for teenagers. There, they endure psychological manipulation, combat training and deadly trials, culminating in a daring escape. However, the first book ends abruptly, leaving readers with more questions than answers.
The Fall of Crazy House picks up where its predecessor left off, continuing in the same fashion, and thankfully, it delivers the clarity and momentum the series needed. Becca and Cassie are now 18 and have been re-captured, only to uncover shocking truths about the Crazy House and the regime that governs their world. Surprisingly, they become allies with Ms. Strepp, the once-feared warden of the prison, and join a resistance movement determined to dismantle The United. As the twins undergo even more training, they hone the skills needed so that a full-scale rebellious uprising can begin. The sequel dives deeper into the origins of the brutal dystopian regime, which provides that much-needed explanation into why the girls were targeted and how the cells came to exist.
Overall, The Fall of Crazy House is an entertaining read, simply written with short fast-paced chapters and plenty of action to keep the attention of teenagers and young adult readers. You do need to read both books together, one after the other, to fully enjoy it. It has relentless pacing and energy: readers will explore themes of power, corruption, rebellion, identity and family bonds, all against a backdrop of government oppression and surveillance.
As this story has progressed, you can clearly see how the characters have developed and grown, having more depth and feeling to them. Although Becca and Cassie might be identical in their appearance, as the story has progressed they are evolving into distinct individuals that have their own unique personalities, each with their own diverging views and emotional responses. Even the distasteful Ms. Strepp has undergone a complete transformation; she has changed from a nasty and evil antagonist into an unexpected ally, adding that extra complexity to the plot.
The Fall of Crazy House nicely completes the series, transforming it from a fragmented dystopian thriller into a more complete and compelling pulse-pounding story. While, for me, it may not reach the literary heights of Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games or the eerie grandeur of Stephen King’s The Stand, it offers a thrilling ride for YA readers who enjoy stories of resistance and survival. To fully enjoy the story you do need to read Crazy House first and I would recommend reading both books back-to-back, as a single, extended novel to fully enjoy the story. Together as a complete story, they form a fast-paced, action-packed tale that’s sure to resonate with teenagers drawn to dystopian fiction about fighting back against the odds.
Rating: 4/5
RRP: £15.99 (Hardback) / £6.99 (Paperback) £3.99 (Kindle)
For more information, visit www.jamespatterson.com. Available to buy from Amazon here.
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