Set during the 1920s, The Diviners is a race against the clock to stop a serial killer who is terrorizing New York City. After 17-year-old Evie O’Neill’s parents send her to live with her uncle in the city, she uses her power to read objects to help her uncle and the police catch the killer. As the murders escalate in their brutality and the visions Evie receives become more intense, she risks more and more to get to the bottom of the case.

Through a compelling cast of characters, some of whom have their own Diviner powers, Libba Bray brings the life of the ‘20s in New York City alive. In this way, Bray’s extensive research of the time period really shines. Not only does she capture the atmosphere of the ‘20s, Bray also balances the paranormal and horrific elements of the murder storyline with the levity of teen romance.

Although Evie is a big personality that might turn off some readers, the supporting characters and twists and turns of the plot well make up for her over-the-top nature. Not to mention that the reality of the city’s dark side forces Evie to make sacrifices of her own and contend with her place in the world. Even when she’s irritating you, it’s hard not to root for her!