The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

"It had the same greasy sheen as oil, casting a rainbow of hues across the plane of the water as it was rippled gently by the waves. But there was something different about it, something she couldn't quite put her finger on."

My Rating: 10/10

Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication: March 2010
ISBN: 978-0-06-177981-7
Page Count: 327 pages
Age: Young Adult (940L from Lexile Reading Level)

I am never one for a murder mystery novel, but The Body Finder grabbed readers as soon as the 2nd paragraph was read. "And then there was another sound. Something she couldn't identify. Yet."

Kimberly Derting had successfully written the perfect narrating voice for the perfect mystery story. I was hooked from the first page--perhaps it was the unusual style of writing (to me personally anyway); how it was beautiful and different but also purely intriguing with conflicts.

Violet Ambrose is the main character in The Body Finder. She's in high school, but the prologue started when she was 8, when Violet first discovered a 14-year-old girl's body.

It was always animals' corpse, that Violet found. But she just sense them--it's just there, in the back of her tongue, ringing in her ears. Violet calls them the echoes.

Violet is best friend with Jay, who has been with her ever since 1st grade. They were inseparable ever since. Over the summer, Jay has been idolized because he transformed into a hunk. Violet, who resists her thoughts that she wants to be with Jay more than friends is in deep conflict with herself.

Then one day Violet and Jay (and basically the rest of the school) gathered around the lake for a party. Jay and Violet drove one of the boats until Violet was attracted to something. Violet knows there's a body down there. But is she ready to find out whose it is, knowing the mental-breakdown she's about to face after wards?

Then Violet tries to find the killer. Jay would never let anything bad happen to Violet...

What I love about this book: This book has easily gained its place in my heart as one of my all-time favorites. The voice Kimberly Derting used as an author was exceptional; my words couldn't describe how much I love this book right now. I started reading at 1:34 and I finished a little after 4:30. I seriously couldn't put it down. I like how she actually used the 3rd person perspective and made it work (I usually prefer reading 1st person, really--because what is a story without the character's mind?). I also like how Kimberly wrote the perspective of the killer. It was really a thriller.

What I dislike about the book: Absolutely nothing. I enjoy everything, from the first page to the end. :D

This is highly recommended! Even if you dislike mystery, just try. Because in some aspects, this book has its humor. ;)

Kimberly Derting's Official The Body Finder page