The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

Book Summery:
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. -goodreads.com

Book Trailer:



Book Review:
From the minute I started this book, I had great difficulty setting it down. I basically read this is 2 days, taking time off between for work and quality time with the boyfriend. We are first introduced to Violet's gift at the very beginning of the story. A very powerful way to begin the book. Fast forward to several years later, when Violet is in high school and determining her new found feelings for her long-time best friend Jay. While Violet is sorting things out, so to speak, a string of murders take place. What I like most are the small sections placed strategically throughout the book in which we are inside the killer's head. When Violet starts finding the missing girls bodies, things really heat up. I loved the relationship between Violet and Jay. He is a great source of strength for her without being overpowering or over-dominant. She definitely has no qualms talking back to him, or sticking up for herself. I also loved Violet's strong sense of family, which again weren't too overpowering. There are a few plot twists that took me by surprise. All in all, this was a fantastic, quick and suspenseful read. I am very much looking forward to the upcoming sequel, Desires of the Dead.

Favorite Quote:

"...It was Chelsea that broke the stunned silence. 'I swear Claire-bear, I am going to call your mom and tell her that you need to start riding the short bus. You really need to start practiving your bitchy comments. What are you gonna do when we're not here to get your back?'

Claire rolled her eyes, too oblivious to be insulted, which was why she was the perfect friend for Chelsea, who was too insulting to be oblivious, 'Geez, Chels, I don't even ride the bus.' " (p. 303)

Cover Art Commentary:
I love the colors of this cover. The bright blue flower against the black backdrop is as powerful as one of Violet's echos.

Overall Rating: