Review: The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

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 left for her. But now that a 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.

Review:

I have waited way too long to read The Body Finder- it was a completely fabulous and edge-of-your-seat debut that left me anxious to read the sequel as soon as possible.

Violet was a great main character who never let anything stand in her way. She was determined to do the right thing. Violet was a relatable character because she was just an average high school girl. Although one thing really separated Violet from regular teenagers- she could sense the bodies of murder victims. Mainly animals, but at age eight she discovered the body of a young girl- murdered and buried in the forest near her home. The epilogue truly set the tone for the book and once reading that I knew I wouldn’t be able to put it down.

It isn’t until years later that Violet’s ability again leads her to discover the body of a human being. As more and more young girls in Violet’s town and the towns surrounding hers go missing, Violet realizes she may be the only person who can stop the murderer. One of the most disturbing parts of the novel was reading the story from the POV of the murderer. His sections were horrifying and cringe worthy, but added so much to the story.

Not only was this a mystery and suspense novel, but also a romance. In the midst of all the terror going on around Violet, she discovers her feelings for her best friend, Jay, are turning into something more. I loved Jay- he was sweet, kind, and oblivious to the attentions of practically every girl in his high school. Watching his and Violet’s relationship develop was so sweet- they were perfect for each other but neither of them was able to come straight out and say it. Jay also saved the day many times and helped Violet out of many tough situations.

There was endless suspense and the ending, while I did see some of it coming, was exciting and had me clinging to the book, dying to know how things would turn out.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Body Finder, it was a well written and original debut and I’m anxious to see what’s next for Violet and Jay in Desires of the Dead.

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

March 16, 2010/HarperTeen/329 Pages/Young Adult/Book One

Source: Trade/Gift

Other books in the series: Desires of the Dead