Summary of The Cousins by Karen M. McManus

By C.B. Publishers

The Cousins by Karen M. McManus is a gripping young adult mystery novel that follows the intricate lives of three estranged cousins—Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah Story. The story unfolds when the cousins are unexpectedly summoned by their wealthy and mysterious grandmother to work at her resort for the summer. As they navigate family secrets, betrayals, and a history of dark scandals, the cousins become entangled in a web of deception that threatens to unravel their lives. The novel explores themes of trust, loyalty, and the complexities of family dynamics, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with unexpected twists and turns. McManus skillfully weaves a tale of suspense and mystery, creating a compelling narrative that explores the consequences of the past on the present and the lengths people will go to protect the ones they love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: C.B. Publishers
• Release date: Nov 16, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215988749

C.B. Publishers

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OVERVIEW

Karen M. McManus, a renowned author featured on the New York Times bestseller list, has penned captivating novels such as One of Us Is Lying, Two Can Keep a Secret, and One of Us Is Next. McManus is recognized for her skill in crafting high-paced, suspenseful murder mysteries that revolve around the lives of adolescents. Employing flashbacks and multiple first-person narrators, she weaves intricate tales of avarice, retribution, and startling familial revelations.

Situated on a diminutive, imaginary island off the shores of New England, The Cousins unfolds in contemporary times with intermittent glimpses into the year 1996. This narrative grants readers access to the concealed, dark truths harbored by a prosperous and long-established family. The source material for this manual is the ebook edition published by the Delacorte Press imprint under the aegis of Random House Children’s Books.

The narrative of The Cousins revolves around the affluent Story family and the enigma that fractured their bonds two and a half decades ago. Mildred Story married Abraham Story and resided with him on Gull Cove Island alongside their offspring: Adam, Anders, Allison, and Archer. Following the demise of Abraham, Mildred, in an inexplicable turn of events, estranged herself from her college-aged children.

Mildred's abrupt disownment was shrouded in mystery, accompanied only by a cryptic missive from her legal representative containing a single sentence: You know what you did.

Fast forward to the contemporary era, and three of Mildred's progeny have families of their own. Milly, the offspring of Allison; Aubrey, a descendant of Adam; and Jonah, or JT, the offspring of Anders. Unexpectedly, the grandchildren receive an unusual summons from their grandmother to spend the summer on Gull Cove Island. Against their instincts, they agree, complying with the wishes of their parents.

However, upon arrival, they discerned that Mildred wasn't the instigator of the invitation. Her surprise at their presence is evident, and her lawyer is fervently attempting to expel them from the island.

Unveiling a startling twist, Jonah is exposed as an imposter dispatched by the genuine JT, who sought to evade a summer on Gull Cove Island. Jonah's objective is revenge, triggered by Anders Story's deceit, which left his family destitute.

He is determined to ensure that Anders never inherits any wealth. Milly and Aubrey, both contending with strained relationships with their parents, discover that their Uncle Archer, concealed on Gull Cove Island, grapples with alcoholism. The entire Story family bears the scars of the events from 24 years ago, with each member harboring a degree of trauma from the aftermath.

Through a sequence of retrospections, the reader is enlightened about Allison's summer of 1996, marked by an unplanned pregnancy following a one-night encounter with a local named Matt Ryan. Unfortunately, Matt, opting not to pursue a relationship with Allison, chose Anders's former girlfriend, Kayla. Despite Allison experiencing a miscarriage, Adam and Anders deemed it necessary to hold Matt accountable for sullying the family's reputation.

In a manipulated turn of events, Anders, taking advantage of Matt's inebriated state, convinced him that Kayla was in distress at a beach party. Matt heroically dove in to rescue her, resulting in his tragic drowning. Allison, complicit in covering up his demise, became entangled in the web of deceit.

The Story Grandchildren unearth a shocking revelation: the individual posing as Mildred is, in fact, Theresa Ryan, Mildred's erstwhile assistant, and Matt's mother. Mildred passed away two decades and four years ago. Collaborating with Donald Camden, Theresa assumed Mildred's identity, severed ties with Mildred's offspring to avoid detection, and orchestrated a grand masquerade. Aubrey, however, discerns the absence of Mildred's distinctive birthmark on Mildred's hand, exposing the charade.

Driven by a desire for retribution for her son's demise, Theresa, in a vengeful act, sets the Story family residence ablaze. Succumbing to smoke inhalation, she perishes, leaving Aubrey and Archer as the sole survivors. The grim truth emerges that Theresa and Donald squandered the entirety of the Story family's fortune. The once-prosperous family is left destitute.

In the aftermath, Milly commences a healing journey, forging connections with her mother, while Aubrey finds solace and guidance in the form of her Uncle Archer. The Story family, grappling