The Body Finder [Hardcover]

Kimberly Derting (Author)

Book Description

Series: Body Finder | 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.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up—This story begins with an intriguing and promising premise: violent deaths leave a unique imprint on the victim and the killer, and Violet Ambrose can sense them. Add in the facts that her uncle is the local police chief and that a serial killer is on the loose, and you have the makings for an exciting suspense/horror novel. Unfortunately, The Body Finder never lives up to its potential. Instead, most of the book deals with the relationship between Violet and her lifelong best buddy, Jay, who has suddenly blossomed into the junior-class hottie. Does he know that she is attracted to him? Does he feel the same about her? Is he really oblivious to all of the girls throwing themselves at him? Could they, should they, will they be more than friends? These questions are mulled over ad nauseam. And when they are finally answered, the writing devolves into near-bodice-ripper style. "She surrendered to the onslaught of his deep, fervent kisses..."; "She heard herself moan and could feel the throbbing of her own pulse flickering hotly through her veins." There is a mystery and some suspense here, but the compelling scenes are too few and far between to redeem the book. Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely (HarperTeen, 2007) and Rachel Vincent's My Soul to Take (Harlequin, 2009) are much better choices.—Anthony C. Doyle, Livingston High School, CA
(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Review

“Derting’s first novel demonstrates unusual skill in weaving together contemporary teenage preoccupations with its paranormal plot twist. … A strong debut from a promising author.” (Publishers Weekly )

“…several twists and turns keep the pages flipping.” (Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) )

“The romance and the mystery in THE BODY FINDER were so intense that I didn’t know whether to hold my breath or scream. I did know I wouldn’t be getting anything done until I read the whole book.” (Melissa Marr, author of WICKED LOVELY )

“First–time novelist Derting has written a suspenseful mystery and sensual love story that will captivate readers who enjoy authentic high–school settings, snappy dialogue, sweet romance, and heart–stopping drama. A real page–turner, this will have readers checking behind themselves and refusing to go anywhere alone.” (Booklist )

“You’ll be drawn in by the love story—and kept up all night by the suspense.” (Claudia Gray, New York Times bestselling author of Stargazer )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 14 and up
  
• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1 edition (March 16, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061779814
• ISBN-13: 978-0061779817
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (209 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,220 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #94 in Books > Teens > Mysteries

More About the Author

Kimberly is the author of the BODY FINDER series (HarperCollins) and THE PLEDGE trilogy (Simon & Schuster). She lives in the Pacific Northwest, the ideal place to write anything dark or creepy...a gloomy day can set the perfect mood. She lives with her husband and their three beautiful (and often mouthy) children who provide an endless source of inspiration.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The love story here is tender & sweet, the threat pulse-pounding & terrifying, & the supernatural elements utterly believable, March 17, 2010

By 

All Things Urban Fantasy (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Body Finder (Hardcover)

Review courtesy of AllThingsUrbanFantasy.[...]

I was fortunate enough to win an ARC of The Body Finder through a
giveaway that Kimberly Derting held on her blog earlier this year, and I had no idea just how fortunate I was until I read it. This book raised the hair on the back of my neck one chapter (there was a point while reading this book where I audibly gasped), then sent my pulse racing the next. If you're looking for a scary and sexy read, consider it found.

I typically loath reading books with chapters written from the perspective of serial killers, but in this case I'm actually glad I didn't know that there were serial killer POV chapters in The Body Finder as I probably wouldn't have read it. Don't let that fact frighten you off. Kimberly Derting does a wonderful job of providing readers with just enough insight in to the mind of a monster without forcing an unwanted intimacy with his depravity. This glimpse added to the trepidation and real dread felt throughout the story.

I also really appreciated the well crafted balance between Violet's very realistic feelings for Jay (who I just loved! He was the kind of best friend/crush that every girl should get to have), and the equally real threat of a killer in this story. Had more emphasis been given to either one it would have greatly diminished the impact of the other. As it is, the aspects of love and death in this story serve to bolster the realism of both in a truly beautiful way.

Go read this book. The love story here is tender and sweet, the threat pulse-pounding and terrifying, and the supernatural elements utterly believable. The Body Finder surprised me in the best possible way; it didn't exceed my expectations, it shattered them. The sequel, Desires of the Dead, is due out in 2011.

Sexual Content: (YA titles receive a more thorough breakdown) Kissing, a scene of mild sensuality, references to a sex act, references to homosexuality, implied sexual assault/rape.

My Rating: 5 out of 5

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, March 17, 2010

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Body Finder (Hardcover)

Gold Star Award Winner!

Bear with me for a moment as I gush fanatically about how much I loved THE BODY FINDER like some crazed Twilighter who has just caught a glimpse of Robert Pattinson. I loved this book. Absolutely, totally, completely loved it. I want to, as I used to say when I was seven, marry this book. If I could, I would erase it from my memory and go back and read it all over again, just to experience it anew. And, right this minute, I would gladly give up either of my children to have another book featuring Violet and Jay to read right...this...minute.

Okay, end of maniacal gushing about how awesome this book is.

THE BODY FINDER has to be one of the most unique YA books I've ever read. It deals with a serial killer, which I've never run across before in a book marketed to teens and young adults. Since reading about serial killers is one of my favorite pastimes (no cruel jokes about my tormented psyche here, please), I knew before I even began reading the story that it was probably going to be great.

It also deals with a teen who can sense death. A sound, a smell, a feeling, a presence - somehow, ever since she was little, Violet Ambrose could find things that had died. It started out as finding dead animals, but one particularly horrifying experience at age eight had Violet discovering the body of a young girl. So far, Violet has never been overly-traumatized by her special ability. She has the full support and understanding of both her parents and her best friend, Jay Heaton, so she's never had to deal with this talent all alone.

This year, though, things are about to change.

First, she's having some definitely non-friendly feelings towards Jay. Somehow, she's begun to notice not just how funny and smart he is, but also how hot and sexy he is. The more she tries to convince everyone around her that she doesn't have a thing for Jay, the harder it is to convince herself of the same thing.

Secondly, someone is abducting and killing young girls in the area around where Violet lives. With the ability to sense not only those that have recently died, but the lingering effects of death on those that have caused it, Violet is determined to figure out who is wreaking havoc on her town. With or without Jay's help, she plans to follow her senses wherever they take her, hoping that they'll lead her to the killer so that she can point him out to her uncle, who happens to be the sheriff.

But as almost always happens in cases like this, Violet and Jay find themselves up against something - or someone - a whole lot more crafty and cunning than they could have imagined. If they're not careful, they could end up being the next victims of this vicious killer.

Okay, just a little bit more gushing. Not only is the storyline of THE BODY FINDER amazing, so are the characters and the dialogue. I have to give Kimberly Derting the highest praise for writing a story that never, ever patronizes its intended readers. I have had problems in the past with a few YA titles, due only to the fact that certain authors feel the need to tone or water down their writing, since they're not writing for adults. Ms. Derting doesn't do that - her story is scary, sexy, emotional, and downright riveting at all times; she never "writes down" to the teen or young adult who will pick up the book.

Pre-order THE BODY FINDER now, today, right this second. And please, Ms. Derting, pretty please, I'm begging you here, write another story featuring Violet and Jay. These are two of my favorite new characters, and I really, really need to read another story featuring them!!

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars 3.5 stars - It was a fast, easy read, but too watered-down for my taste, April 10, 2010

By 

Mrs. Baumann - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Body Finder (Hardcover)

Plot Summary: Violet Ambrose inherited a rare family gift - she can sense dead bodies, whether human or animal. As an eight-year-old girl, she discovered the body of a murdered child in the forest, and at the age of 16 she finds another victim. With a serial killer on the loose, Violet is determined to use her ability to track him down, and she needs help from her long-time best friend, Jay Heaton. Only things have been strange with Jay lately, because Violet finds herself attracted to her friend, along with every other girl at school.

Before a mob with torches and pitchforks shows up on my front lawn, I want to state upfront that I thought The Body Finder was pretty good, but no, I'm not in the camp that thinks this is a five-star book (I'm thinking 3.5 stars). Please consider this an opinion from the minority. Kimberly Derting has written a solid young adult thriller, and I'm super impressed that this is her debut. The Body Finder is like `serial killer lite.' It's a watered-down version of the adult thrillers that I enjoy, and I think it's wholly appropriate for teen readers.

I had a few "Twilight" flashbacks while reading this book. There was the porcelain-skinned heroine tramping (and tripping) through the soggy forests of the Pacific Northwest, lots of high school scenes, and a lurking menace. However this time, it's the heroine who gets the special ability, which enables her to find dead bodies. Don't get me wrong, Violet is no Bella, but there are just enough similarities to make me think that Twilight fans could really like this book.

The reason I'm not raving is because the story lacked sophistication. The heroine was wrapped up in the most loving family a girl could hope for, there was no real mystery regarding the serial killer because there were no clues, and although the romance was sweet, it never rose above the standard high school crush. I thought it was rather odd that no details were provided about what happened to the girls taken by the serial killer. Sure, we know they were killed, but there were no clues about how it happened, or whether there was any rape. Call me crazy, but that's usually the first question that comes up when a female body is found. Perhaps Ms. Derting was trying to avoid these disturbing details because this is a YA novel, but that lack of authenticity bothered me.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book for a teen reader, but I don't think this story packs enough punch for adult suspense fans. It was certainly a fast, easy, entertaining read, but it was too diluted to satisfy my expectations for a thriller.