If you grew up in the ’90s, you can probably still hear the sounds of AOL dial-up internet and remember an embarrassing chatroom username or two. Those elements give Joshua Corin’s Assume Nothing, a fun murder-mystery novel, its unique flavor.
Set in the ’90s, Assume Nothing follows Kat McCann, a teenage girl whose mother was killed ten years earlier. Kat’s father was convicted of the crime, leaving her to be raised by a strict aunt and uncle.
To make matters more interesting, Kat is famous because of the murder, but not just because of the sensational story. Her favorite author, known for writing thrilling murder mysteries, wrote a novel inspired by the case — a case that was solved by her muse, renowned detective Alik Lisser.
Kat’s obsession with reading that author’s novels leads her to make friends in the introverted way any ’90s teenager did — in an AOL chat room. And meeting one online friend in person, one who shares her obsession leads her to meet that very detective.
Lisser is the real life version of the lead character in all of Kat’s favorite books, so to see him speak is a dream come true. Or so she thinks.
From meeting one of her online friends in person and then meeting one of her idols, she puts herself on a path that makes her become directly involved in a murder mystery — and she questions everything she ever knew about the death of her mother.
It’s a story full of twists and turns, and if there’s one thing I can say about the mystery of this story, it’s that nothing turns out the way you expect. The title of the novel really sets the theme of the book overall — you should assume nothing.
As Kat becomes involved in some amateur sleuthing, she learns some things about herself and has her worldview shattered. The death of her mother and the trauma of everything she saw affect her in particular ways.
She’s introverted, doesn’t like crowds, and doesn’t really much care for being out of the house. Yet she pushes her limits when she has to in this story.
Unfortunately, the novel’s antagonist is underwhelming. The key villain is one-dimensional and veers into cartoonish territory. He lacks detail and character development that would make him more believable and, maybe, even more terrifying.
The story is also hindered by Kat’s narration, which can be grating at times. Her teen angst, arrogance, and tendency to break the fourth wall with pointed comments pull focus away from the otherwise engaging plot.
Still, it’s a fun, quick read that keeps the reader guessing, and you can’t help but root for Kat McCann. It’s also a treat to become immersed in conversations that take place in ’90s chatrooms and the like.
There’s a meta element to all of this, too. This murder mystery is tangled in stories written by a fictional author, and that author’s popular following becomes important to the story as well. Let’s just say that one of this novel’s key themes is this: “Never meet your heroes.”
Ultimately, even though Assume Nothing is flawed, it’s an enjoyable ride for fans of mysteries and anyone nostalgic for the early internet era.
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Ashley Bissette Sumerel
Ashley is the Editor-in-Chief of Eulalie Magazine. Favorite Movies: Sunset Boulevard, Garden State, Modern Times. Favorite TV Shows: Gilmore Girls, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Grey's Anatomy. Favorite Books: Interview with the Vampire, Dracula, City of Glass.
