The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

Title: The Body Finder (Book 1)
Author: Kimberly Derting
Pages: 336
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: March 16, 2010

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.

Echoes. Do you hear them? Do you smell them? Do you taste them? Do you see them? If you do, you're like Violet. She keeps her ability a secret to everyone except those closest to her...including her best friend Jay Heaton. After an uneventful summer, she is faced with dead girls' bodies, a murder on the loose, and a growing romance with her best friend. Violet is the only one who can catch the killer. But time is running out. Soon, she won't be sensing other people's echoes, but rather, she'll be getting her very own.

The Body Finder is an original, edgy read that will pull readers into a convincing and authentic world of passion, romance, and suspense. Derting's prose is sharp, magnetic, and detailed. Fitting this with The Body Finder's enigmatic plot creates a solid and concrete semblance and ultimately captivates readers with its many innate elements. The idea of an 'echo' only adds to the curiosity and intrigue of The Body Finder and once readers are introduced to Violet's strong and genuine narrative, they will eventually connect with her on a more in-depth level.

Throughout the entirety of The Body Finder, readers will always have a feeling of unwavering intensity and passion. The whole book is one big climax, and when the real climax actually happens, it creates an even bigger boom of action. The same tone is potent between Violet and Jay. The tension between them builds up as they start to realize their feelings for each other. And when they do, there is a great sense of revelation and realization, but the depth and emotion is never lost. Their chemistry is apparent from the very start, and their background as friends only makes their romance more believable. Jay's fierce protectiveness of Violet is completely justified, but so is Violet's stubbornness. This clashing and conflict towards each other is what fuels the tension and the building excitement between them.

The Body Finder alternates between Violet's and the killer's perspective and provides a deeper look into the psyche of two very different people; a teenager, and a killer. Having the killer's point of view evokes more enigma and mystery, while Violet's narrative is made an opportunity to show teenage realism and the grappling struggles of teens whilst still pertaining to Violet's ability. Derting skillfully balances everything and perfectly combines touches of reality with fantasy.

Kimberly Derting's debut novel is sure to amaze readers with its unique, perceptible ideas that is completely balanced by the reality and fluctuating thoughts of a convincing narrator. The Body Finder is a passionate and engaging read that readers will never forget. It's a fusion of suspense, mystery, romance, and major drama. Let's just say that The Body Finder will never have its own echo...it'll never die out! The Body Finder has left me breathless with anticipation for its sequel, Desires of the Dead, coming in 2011. A+ =)

The Bottom Line: It's the face of TUBL! What other proof do you need for its awesomeness?

---Report Card---
Originality: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Plot: 10/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 10/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 10/10
Total Score: 100/100 (A+) !!!This is one of the NINE books that hold the title: The Holy Grail - Beholder of the Perfect 100!!!