Melody burning by Whitley Strieber

Melody McGrath is the current It Girl of music, a rapidly growing star who is working on the second album and concert that could lift her to greater heights or make her crash and burn.  Her mother is concerned about her music, but also about her image - it is all about the best, the biggest, and the brightest.  That means that only place they can possibly live is the behemoth tower that is called the Beresford.  Intersecting with her life is the life of a boy who has grown up in the Beresford after his father was thrown from the building.  He has long forgotten his real name and has no idea of real life beyond the world of the Beresford - he lives his life through the people in the building, and through the TV that he enjoys when the tenants are away.  It is a life he is comfortable with, one that he knows, and one that brings him close to Melody McGrath. 

Their lives are about to collide in a most unexpected way.  There is a sinister plot building around the Beresford, one that could cost them everything.  The owner of the building has plans, and no one says no to him - not if they want to avoid the unpleasant consequences.  One of the people curently under his thumb is Frank, the building superintendent.  Frank has a record and a past, and he has no qualms about dealing with a squatter in the Beresford, but does he really have the stomach for the job?

Melody burning was an interesting read, but not for the reason you might think.  I didn't particularly like the book, I found the writing to be a little off putting, a little too unbelievable, but the story itself was fascinating.  Beresford in particular makes this story, he has the strongest voice of the two main characters, but even Frank has a strong voice when he comes to the fore.  Melody is quite frankly annoying, but she thankfully develops a little over the course of the story and becomes bearable.  I didn't like the book, but I am also glad I finished it, which is an odd position to be in for me who either usually loves a book and reads it, or dislikes the characters/story/setting and discards it almost immediately.  It will not appeal to everyone but if you give Melody burning a chance like I did you may also enjoy it.

If you like this book then try:

• The other side of dark by Joan Lowery Nixon
• A door near here by Heather Quarles
• The killers cousin by Nancy Werlin
• Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
• Locked inside by Nancy Werlin
• Variant by Robison Wells

Reviewed by Brilla