Rating: 4 stars

Becca Fitzpatrick changes genre with her newest release “Dangerous Lies.” Fitzpatrick wrote the series “Hush, Hush,” a romantic young adult hit which debuted on the New York Times bestseller list. “Dangerous Lies” is a young adult thriller in which the main character, Stella Gordon, is in the witness protection program.

She leaves her home and her mother (who is in rehab) to live with a former cop in Thunder Basin, Nebraska, a small town in the middle of nowhere. Stella is used to excitement, and living with a strict and uptight woman is not her cup of tea. She also left behind her boyfriend, who is also in the witness protection program.

Stella is a typical teenager. She takes unnecessary risks to contact her boyfriend, knowing that it’s dangerous. She gets a job, but stands up to the town bully, which the readers just know is going to lead to problems. She is attracted to the boy-next-door (literally) while knowing that the relationship can’t go anywhere.

But the read is filled with action and character building. It’s not great literature, but it doesn’t pretend to be. It’s a great escape book to read in one sitting. It would be a good choice for reluctant readers or for those who like action stories. Some of the surprises are hinted at and readers might guess at the twists and turns ahead of time, but it doesn’t detract from the reading.

Please note: This review is based on the final hardcover book provided by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers for review purposes.