While this book started out slow, I became truly invested around chapter 10, and finished within a few sittings. This book was as funny as it was tense, with high but manageable stakes and realistic but hilarious attempts to evade the stakes by pairing up their parents. That charade was quite predictable as was the charade of the next book at about 75% of the way through, but predictability simply means good planning and follow through for the plot. I have a few qualms about the slow beginning and some convenient plot armor, but overall a very enjoyable read.