The Body Finder

March 1, 2010
Derting's first novel demonstrates unusual skill in weaving together contemporary teenage preoccupations with its paranormal plot twist. Violet is starting 11th grade with a beatup Honda, a vow to get to class on time, and a crush on her longtime best friend, Jay. She's also learned to cope with an eerie skill inherited from her grandmother—the ability to hear the “echo” left behind by those who have died violently. Usually this means chucking the cat outside if it's killed a mouse, but when the bodies of girls turn up, Violet turns away from concerns about the upcoming homecoming dance and becomes determined to use her ability to find the murderer. The third-person narration views Violet and the events of the book with a removed, thoughtful quality (“Coincidence
. Chance
. These were the words she counted on to create a veil of deceit, to keep her 'gift' a secret”), but Violet's thoughts and words feel true to her age and personality. Short, interspersed sections from the perspective of the killer add a creepy, page-turning quality. A strong debut from a promising author. Ages 14–up.

October 15, 2009
Grades 7-12 Violet Ambrose can find dead bodies. Their aura of sound, color, or even taste imprints itself on their murderers, and Violets extrasensory perception picks up on those elements. Its an invaluable but deeply troubling talent, especially since a serial killer is plying his trade throughout her small community, and her ability marks her as the next possible victim. Violet finds escape in her growing crush on her longtime childhood friend, Jay, but the tenderness that she finds with him is threatened by terror and doubt as she searches for the killer. First-time novelist Derting has written a suspenseful mystery and sensual love story that will captivate readers who enjoy authentic high-school settings, snappy dialogue, sweet romance, and heart-stopping drama. A real page-turner, this will have readers checking behind themselves and refusing to go anywhere alone.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)

May 1, 2010
Gr 9 Up-This story begins with an intriguing and promising premise: violent deaths leave a unique imprint on the victim and the killer, and Violet Ambrose can sense them. Add in the facts that her uncle is the local police chief and that a serial killer is on the loose, and you have the makings for an exciting suspense/horror novel. Unfortunately, "The Body Finder" never lives up to its potential. Instead, most of the book deals with the relationship between Violet and her lifelong best buddy, Jay, who has suddenly blossomed into the junior-class hottie. Does he know that she is attracted to him? Does he feel the same about her? Is he really oblivious to all of the girls throwing themselves at him? Could they, should they, will they be more than friends? These questions are mulled over ad nauseam. And when they are finally answered, the writing devolves into near-bodice-ripper style. "She surrendered to the onslaught of his deep, fervent kisses..."; "She heard herself moan and could feel the throbbing of her own pulse flickering hotly through her veins." There is a mystery and some suspense here, but the compelling scenes are too few and far between to redeem the book. Melissa Marr's "Wicked Lovely" (HarperTeen, 2007) and Rachel Vincent's "My Soul to Take" (Harlequin, 2009) are much better choices."Anthony C. Doyle, Livingston High School, CA"

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2010
Since Violet's childhood, psychic imprints have drawn her to the bodies of the murdered as well as their killers. Now Violet sets aside her struggle with her ability and a confusing crush on best friend Jay to focus on finding the serial killer stalking her town. The romantic thread is borderline melodramatic, but Derting effectively creates an atmosphere of psychological horror.

(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)