Review: The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

Title: The Body Finder
Series: The Body Finder
Author: Kimberly Derting
Publisher: Headline
Publication Date: 11 Nov 2010

Source: Library




Synopsis: From Amazon
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, 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, but now that a serial killer is terrorizing her small town 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 in love, Violet is getting closer to discovering a killer...and becoming his prey herself.

Review:
WARNING: This book is seriously high octane all the way through, my heart did not stop pounding for a single second, either from the tension, suspense or the passion emanating from the pages. This is one terrific book, I have been recommending it to everyone in the school library so much that they have joined the public library in order to reserve it *grins*


Written in 3rd person narrative but focalized from Violet’s point of view giving it an intimate feel. At 16, Violet has the ‘special gift’ of being able to locate murdered animals/people. Only her immediate family and best friend are aware of her unique ‘talent’. They have all come to terms with it, yet they are all aware that this is something that should not be made public, protecting Violet and bringing a sense of normalcy to her life.

The idea that all living things possess a unique signature or aura is developed brilliantly within the narrative. The writing is richly descriptive providing almost full sensory involvement.

The inclusion of chapters written from the perspective of the killer, in first person narrative and written in italics, providing a means of distinguishing the characters voices visually while adding impact to the storyline.

All the characters are superbly well rounded. The portrayal of Violets parents especially fascinated me, they were polar opposites yet their personalities worked so well together and with Violet. Making the interactions and plot realistic. Talking of characters - Jay *mops brow* - WOW - he is definitely going on my list of hot male protagonists. Their relationship from friendship, to crush, to budding romance was sweet to follow yet contained so much passion I had steam coming from my ears.

The use of the 3rd person narrator allowed for some subtle misdirection within the plot, keeping me on my toes, always second guessing myself as to the direction of the storyline and occasionally close to tears. The plot twists were surprising, nothing could be taken for granted. Remember I am good with twists so this was a shock for me not to be able to figure out the direction in which it was headed. The action was well paced and the way in which the romantic aspect and the suspense wove together within the prose was a stroke of genius.

I always see the words ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR and I have never really understood what could make a book stand out so much from all the other wonderful books that are available, I can tell you with this book I completely understand. It really is a MUST READ. So if you haven't read it yet what are you waiting GO GET IT.

A really different yet completely brilliant book [ : D ]