Review: The Body Finder

“Everything had just changed for Violet. Knowing this girl . . . and knowing what she was capable of doing to help, even if it was futile, and even if it turned out to be dangerous, she knew she could no longer just sit around and wait to see if--or when--they found Hailey.Violet was done waiting around for someone else to find the pyschopath who was preying on these girls. She was going to do something, even it she had to sneak around to get it done.”

Title: The Body Finder
Series: The Body Finder #1
Author: Kimberly Derting
Source: Library
Date Finished: January 23rd, 2011
Rating: A+ - Rarely given, only when a book could possibly make it into my top ten of the year.

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Summary of Book:
Violet Ambrose is starting her junior year in high school and faces problems shared by many teens. She is madly in love with Jay Heaton, her best friend since first grade, but does not know if he feels the same. She is trying to do well at school, but classes do not always hold her interest. Unlike others, however, Violet has the ability—or perhaps the curse—of sensing violent deaths around her. Every demise leaves a hint screaming to be discovered: sometimes a sheen of colors, other times a chorus of bells or even a specific smell. When Violet was eight, she discovered a girl's body in the woods behind her house. This same killer is now striking her community again, kidnapping and murdering teenage girls. He even seems to be getting closer to Violet with every kill. She must deal with her emotions for Jay at the same time as she tries to stop this vicious murderer before it is too late for both. Derting's first novel provides the reader with both Violet's and the killer's perspectives. Violet's fear is palpable and rises as her attempt to find the murderer leads her close to death and as she confronts her feelings for Jay. 

Review: 

Characters: Violet and Jay are names that you see every day, but no one EVER sees fit for character names. And it was a gutsy move for Derting to use those character names. But, in this story, they were brilliant! Violet was outgoing and she didn't care that she could find dead bodies(humans and animals). She was amazing, in a way. Jay was hot and smart. And...a guy! He was funny and sweet. Always caring about Violet. It was cute to read about!

Plot: I have to say this, and this is me actually admitting something, on Goodreads, I like to read the little stories they have on there. Everyone posts a story(their idea of a book) and I like to read them and criticize. And this book reminded me of so many different stories that I've read on there. All the stories were their steps towards becoming an author, and all the stories seemed simple. Original, even. And the love story in this book is a re-make of all of them. The girl loves the boy, and they're friends. She can't tell him, in case he doesn't like her, but it's always the same. He loves her. But, even being the romancey that I am, I couldn't concentrate on that. I just couldn't get my mind off how she was able to find dead creatures. I mean, I've NEVER read a book like this. It was absolutely marvelous! It's not an original, but it's just...different. In a good way. No, wait! Scratch that, in a great way.  Derting wrote an amazing novel, and I can't wait to read Desires Of The Dead.

"Haunting..It made me stay a wake and finish it. . .Hiding under my covers, as well." -Hannah