The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
Released: March 16, 2010
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Age Group: Young Adult
*2010 Debut Author Challenge
Overall Rating: 3 and 1/2 stars
Here's the summary from the front flap of the book:
~~Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies - or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in this world... and the imprints that attach to their killers.
Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat left for her. But now that serial killer is terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, Violet realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.
Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet find the murderer --- and Violet is unnerved by her hope that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer . . . and becoming his prey herself. ~~
Okay! Now time for my review.
Plot: The plot was great! Honestly it seemed to me that it was a very unique idea and there were really some nice twists that kept you wanting more.
Pacing: Pacing is a very big deal for me. How the story plays out and how it effects the reader really depends on how well paced it is. If its too fast the reader doesn't really develop any emotional connection and the meaning is lost. If it's too slow the reader gets bored and can't concentrate. With The Body Finder overall I was very pleased with the pacing. In the hunt for the serial killer and the discovery of different bodies everything was very well spaced out so that it made sense and it still made an impact. My only little complaint was the pacing with Jay and Violet seemed a little hurried. Yes I understand they've been friends for years and now they're kinda starting to want more, but how suddenly it comes on, at least for Violet, kinda makes it a little unbelievable. The way it's described one minute Violet and Jay are just friends and the next she's madly in love with him. But later on as the dive deeper into their relationship things begin to move at a better pace.
Characters: Overall the Characters played their part very well. Yes I thought Violet was making some stupid choices and different parts but thats to be expected since she is 16. Dimension-wise of course the most dimensional characters where Jay and Violet, and I'd even venture to say the killer was as well. But I kinda wanted more from the friends and family. They didn't really stick as much as I would've liked. For example I felt like Jay and Violet were the only 3D models and the rest were kinda just cardboard cut outs. Besides that though all the characters seemed pretty enjoyable. Oh, and I loved Jay, but I always love the protective guy.
Writing: The writing was pretty good for a first novel. I especially loved the chapters that looked through the killers POV. I actually think those were some of my favorite parts (besides the sweet Jay and Violet moments) because they're were really interesting. Also they added depth to the story and made some parts really creepy. The writing wasn't the best writing I've ever read but it served it's purpose in telling a very exciting story and it really wasn't lacking.
**Overall I think this was a pretty darn good book. The plot was exciting and kept me wanting to find out what would happen next. I could relate pretty well to the characters, and the writing was pretty good. Like many first novels I can see a lot of potential from this and I can't wait to see what Kimberly Derting is going to write next.
Read this! If you want some excitement mixed with a little romance and a good bit of suspense then this is for you!
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