(The Body Finder, #1)
By: Kimberly Derting
Release Date: March 16th, 2010
Genre(s): YA Paranormal/Mystery/Romance
My Review: (4/5 stars*)
Straightaway I knew The Body Finder was going to be an intriguing story and it was. I found it engaging and I especially enjoyed the romantic aspect of it. Generally I tend to like books told from first-person but the third-person narrating was easily followed. You get Violet's point of view and than the murderers so that was pleasantly entertaining. I liked the main character but I couldn't really connect with her which was a little disappointing. Violet's best friend Chelsea seemed really shallow at times which also threw me off just a little bit. The main heroine is very brave and especially courageous because she takes the initiative to do something to apprehend the killer and I was pleased to see that. But like all teenagers she makes a few mistakes along the way which isn't unusual because we all do. But it didn't wow me in the way that I was expecting it to however I did enjoy it nonetheless. Violet's ability is incredibly useful and inventive - I'm excited to see how it develops in the next books. Kimberly Derting's writing is enthralling I couldn't get enough of Violet's story so I went ahead and bought the rest of the series immediately after finishing this one! Although it wasn't exactly what I had expected it was a great read with a nice teenage romance and an interesting enough mystery.
Violet Ambrose is your normal sixteen-year-old that is except for the dark secret she's been harboring her entire life. She can sense where dead remains are—be it human or animal—she's not alone in knowing her best friend Jay, her parents, and uncle all know she has a special gift. Violet can only find the bodies of those who have been murdered and she does so by seeing and feeling their imprints that are left behind. They are all unique to each individual and it draws her to their corpses as well as to their killers. It's like a calling card for death. When some local girls go missing and their bodies keep being unearthed Violet's uncle who is a police chief takes the lead and gets Violet involved to find the killer. Only things get slightly more complicated when the killer ends up finding her instead...
What I would have liked to have seen is more background on Violet's inherited gift. Unfortunately The Body Finder scratches the surface on all further analysis of her ability. I did like the fun nature and deep friendship between Violet and Jay although their feelings for each other were very obvious. Their inseparable relationship is sweet and I was satisfied with the unfolding romance. At times it did seem to overtake the story and stray from the plot but still managed to get back on track. Anyone who likes a blend of mystery with paranormal elements and romance will like this book because it has all of that. Just don't expect too much from the mystery and crime part of it because it's predictable and the resolution too easily solved. The Body Finder creates an interesting story that's both fast-paced and teen-friendly. Although the premise would suggest this book is creepy, and full of mystery and suspense it falls short as two thirds of the book focuses on the feelings Violet develops for her long time best friend Jay Heaton and vice versa. Overall a decently written book with an uncommon paranormal component that will either keep you reading on or make you lose interest—fortunately I'm sticking with this series!
Violet Ambrose is your normal sixteen-year-old that is except for the dark secret she's been harboring her entire life. She can sense where dead remains are—be it human or animal—she's not alone in knowing her best friend Jay, her parents, and uncle all know she has a special gift. Violet can only find the bodies of those who have been murdered and she does so by seeing and feeling their imprints that are left behind. They are all unique to each individual and it draws her to their corpses as well as to their killers. It's like a calling card for death. When some local girls go missing and their bodies keep being unearthed Violet's uncle who is a police chief takes the lead and gets Violet involved to find the killer. Only things get slightly more complicated when the killer ends up finding her instead...
What I would have liked to have seen is more background on Violet's inherited gift. Unfortunately The Body Finder scratches the surface on all further analysis of her ability. I did like the fun nature and deep friendship between Violet and Jay although their feelings for each other were very obvious. Their inseparable relationship is sweet and I was satisfied with the unfolding romance. At times it did seem to overtake the story and stray from the plot but still managed to get back on track. Anyone who likes a blend of mystery with paranormal elements and romance will like this book because it has all of that. Just don't expect too much from the mystery and crime part of it because it's predictable and the resolution too easily solved. The Body Finder creates an interesting story that's both fast-paced and teen-friendly. Although the premise would suggest this book is creepy, and full of mystery and suspense it falls short as two thirds of the book focuses on the feelings Violet develops for her long time best friend Jay Heaton and vice versa. Overall a decently written book with an uncommon paranormal component that will either keep you reading on or make you lose interest—fortunately I'm sticking with this series!
Synopsis:
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 that 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 the 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.
Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find the 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.
The cover was so pretty I immediately picked this up but I'm now thinking perhaps not for me. The feelings thing isn't what I enjoy in a book so thank you for saving my time :D
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You may yet still enjoy it. I've just finished the second book Desires of the Dead which turned out to be more about Violet and less about the romance but more focus on the mystery/crime. I feel like the sequel should have been the first book because it was better and wasn't as predictable with a lot more twists and turns. The story finally finds its balance and makes you want to read on. It's totally understandable if you'd rather not check this one out. I'll be posting my thoughts on books #2-4 soon! Glad I could help you make a decision though.
DeleteHappy reading, and have a good week!
-Seirra
The book sounds really good. I'll have to take a look at it. I just finished the Emperor's Soul and it was such a good but short story so now I'm looking for something else to read. Thank you ^~^
ReplyDeleteNo problem :) It was a pretty good read, I really enjoyed the sequel even more! I'm excited to see how everything will work out in this series, so far its heading in a very interesting direction. I just looked into Emperor's Soul and I added it to my Goodreads, haha so thank you!
DeleteBest,
-Seirra
I'm glad you enjoyed this book! I really thought it was different and I think the series overall is pretty good and still holds my attention. I agree with you though, the only part of the book was the crime/mystery aspect of it. I was really hoping for more there, but that was my only problem, other than that I loved it.
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