The Body Finder
by Kimberly Derting

    THE BODY FINDER by Kimberly Derting
    Category:  Paranormal
    Age Recommendation:  Grades 9+
    Release Date:  3/16/10
    Publisher:  HarperCollins
    Reviewed by:  Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"
    Rating:  5 Stars


    Bear with me for a moment as I gush fanatically about how much I loved THE BODY FINDER like some crazed
    Twilighter who has just caught a glimpse of Robert Pattinson.  I loved this book.  Absolutely, totally, completely
    loved it.  I want to, as I used to say when I was seven, marry this book.  If I could, I would erase it from my memory
    and go back and read it all over again, just to experience it anew.  And, right this minute, I would gladly give up
    either of my children to have another book featuring Violet and Jay to read right...this...minute.

    Okay, end of maniacal gushing about how awesome this book is.

    THE BODY FINDER has to be one of the most unique YA books I've ever read.  It deals with a serial killer, which
    I've never run across before in a book marketed to teens and young adults.  Since reading about serial killers is one
    of my favorite pastimes (no cruel jokes about my tormented psyche here, please), I knew before I even began
    reading the story that it was probably going to be great.

    It also deals with a teen who can sense death.  A sound, a smell, a feeling, a presence - somehow, ever since she
    was little, Violet Ambrose could find things that had died.  It started out as finding dead animals, but one particularly
    horrifying experience at age eight had Violet discovering the body of a young girl.  So far, Violet has never been
    overly-traumatized by her special ability.  She has the full support and understanding of both her parents and her best
    friend, Jay Heaton, so she's never had to deal with this talent all alone.

    This year, though, things are about to change.

    First, she's having some definitely non-friendly feelings towards Jay.  Somehow, she's begun to notice not just how
    funny and smart he is, but also how hot and sexy he is.  The more she tries to convince everyone around her that she
    doesn't have a thing for Jay, the harder it is to convince herself of the same thing.

    Secondly, someone is abducting and killing young girls in the area around where Violet lives.  With the ability to
    sense not only those that have recently died, but the lingering effects of death on those that have caused it, Violet is
    determined to figure out who is wreaking havoc on her town.  With or without Jay's help, she plans to follow her
    senses wherever they take her, hoping that they'll lead her to the killer so that she can point him out to her uncle, who
    happens to be the sheriff.

    But as almost always happens in cases like this, Violet and Jay find themselves up against something - or someone -
    a whole lot more crafty and cunning than they could have imagined.  If they're not careful, they could end up being
    the next victims of this vicious killer.

    Okay, just a little bit more gushing.  Not only is the storyline of THE BODY FINDER amazing, so are the characters
    and the dialogue.  I have to give Kimberly Derting the highest praise for writing a story that never, ever patronizes its
    intended readers.  I have had problems in the past with a few YA titles, due only to the fact that certain authors feel
    the need to tone or water down their writing, since they're not writing for adults.  Ms. Derting doesn't do that - her
    story is scary, sexy, emotional, and downright riveting at all times; she never "writes down" to the teen or young adult
    who will pick up the book.

    Pre-order THE BODY FINDER now, today, right this second.  And please, Ms. Derting, pretty please, I'm begging
    you here, write another story featuring Violet and Jay.  These are two of my favorite new characters, and I really,
    really need to read another story featuring them!!