The Body Finder, Kimberly Derting

• Reading level:       Young Adult
• Hardcover:            336 pages
• Publisher:              HarperTeen,  March 16, 2010

Bookmarks:          3

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 the 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 had tired of playing with. But now that a serial killer has begun terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he’s claimed haunt her daily, she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet on her quest to find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved to find herself hoping 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.

I liked this book, didn't love it.  There were really some moments of brilliance within these pages, and  Kimberly tells a good story and she really shines when we're in the head of the serial killer.  She leaves nothing untouched and really creates a bad person who you really want to be caught because his crimes are so gruesome.

I found myself questioning the actions of Violet at times.  Knowing that she has this gift to find 'dead' people, why would a teen feel it is her problem to find the killer?  Yes, she's able to see the 'echoes' that a killer would leave, but it's still probably safer to get the police involved.

I really liked Violet's relationship with Jay, until they became romantic.  I liked the idea that she had a best friend who was a guy.  I thought the sexual tension was pitch perfect, but once they finally give in, I found myself a bit bored.  Jay was presented as a great person and I saw that in the pages.  He cares deeply for Violet (in fact, I think he's crushing on her before she's crushing on him).

The overall story is strong and satisfying.