A Very Bad Thing: A Rollercoaster That Misses a Few Loops
From the moment I caught wind of J.T. Ellison’s A Very Bad Thing, I knew I was in for an enticing thrill ride. The combination of a glamorous author, her emerging superstar status, and a dangerous mystery had my curiosity piqued. With over twenty bestsellers under her belt, Ellison herself is no stranger to the world of high stakes and celebrity, which adds an intriguing layer to the narrative.
At the heart of the story is Columbia Jones, a character who embodies the glitz and glamour of the literary world. As she embarks on a book tour surrounded by her adoring fans, her life takes a tragic turn that left me shocked—she collapses in front of a crowd and, tragically, is later found dead in her hotel room. The premise leads us to the aftermath of her death, with her daughter, Darian, and journalist Riley at the forefront of a tangled web revealing secrets from Columbia’s life. This setup had all the makings of a captivating read, yet I found myself grappling with the disjointed pacing and character development that followed.
From the outset, Columbia is a vibrant, larger-than-life figure, which makes her fate all the more disappointing. There’s something deeply gripping about a character who seems to have it all, only to be stripped of her essence so early in the story. And though there are other characters—Darian and Riley among them—who have their moments, the initial spark that drove my interest fizzled out as the layers of family drama and search for truth unfurled.
Ellison utilizes a "book within a book" device that can either enhance a narrative or detract from it, and in A Very Bad Thing, it often felt like the latter. While it offers glimpses into Columbia’s past, the running commentary through these excerpts sometimes stole the spotlight from the unfolding present mystery. I found myself speculating too much about what would happen next, rather than getting swept away in the story.
One of my biggest gripes is the unwieldy length of the book. Clocking in at nearly 500 pages, I often wished for tighter editing. Rather than thickening the plot with twists, the extra pages felt padded, dragging the tension down. A more nimble pace could have elevated the thrill without sacrificing depth.
Despite these shortcomings, Ellison’s writing style remains sharp, and she has an undeniable talent for crafting engaging dialogue and setting atmospheres that pop. The glimmer of insight into the darker sides of fame adds a layer of seriousness that keeps readers intrigued, even amidst the pitfalls. There’s a moment where a character muses about the pressures of public life that really resonated with me, reminding us that with fame comes its own set of entrapments.
In conclusion, A Very Bad Thing has a compelling premise, rich themes, and that tantalizing mix of mystery and familial discord, but it may not deliver the thrill ride it promises. If you’re drawn to stories of celebrity, family secrets, and the darker sides of fame—woven with Ellison’s engaging prose—you might find worth in this tale. Just be prepared for a rollercoaster that doesn’t quite soar as high as you’d hope. For me, it landed a solid 3.5 stars, rounded down from 4, simply because sometimes in books as in life, after a very bad thing, you might just find yourself yearning for a better sequel.