Customer Reviews

The Body Finder

5 star:		(129)
4 star:		(54)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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

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"

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.

Where to start with this review? You know, I am not even sure! This book is such a jumble of everything all mixed up together; a huge mystery, a paranormal twist like I have never seen before and a love story that just enveloped me from the first few pages - You would be hard pressed to find a "genera" not represented with in the pages of The Body Finder.

And with so much going on, you might wonder - how do you keep up? The answer to that is simple - the excellent writing, of course. I know this is Kimberly's first novel but what a first novel! It's exceptionally written, in a way that I never felt lost as a reader, like I honestly expected I might be. I never once wondered what was going on, or where I was with in the book, if that even makes sense.

Kimberly has written this novel in such a way that I might compare it to a person spreading jam over an English muffin. The muffin has lots of nooks and crannies where the jam might fall, that is, IF it were something less substantial (something like butter). The prose written here are much the same, thick, yet juicy - Kimberly uses meaty words, getting to the heart and soul of the story. She has beautifully created characters in which I cried for, yelled at (once again, I can sit here telling you honestly that I YELLED at this book), and rooted for.

Our main protagonist Violet is as strong as she is brave - I have no idea how I would handle a gift such as the one she has, but I can tell you it would be with far less grace and strength than she displays, I can just about guarantee that! She's brilliant, likable and extremely unique, and yet she still rings very "real" above all else.

Jay is also a wonderful character, he's the character some might say is much to cliché, for such an otherwise very unique story - however, I didn't feel that way, not at all. Jay for me was much more than a clichéd perfect boyfriend, he's much to real for that. He is after all a teenage boy, there's a few times when he does things that set him below what one might call "perfect" - however, because of these "flaws" (if you will) he becomes more real. He brings so much life to The Body Finder, with his gentle spirit, glowing personality and quick wit, I found myself falling in love, just a little bit.

There are also several characters which supported the story - from Violet's friends, to her parents, all of which rang real to me...I mean you had the boys always talking about cars and sports, the girls worrying about make-up and gossiping, there's also tons of witty banter - which added such a light touch to this otherwise heavy novel. And the parents - yes, you read that right there's actually parents with in the pages of The Body Finder! Not only that but they are supportive, loving and attentive. It was nice to see a novel in the YA genera, where the parents are not part of the problem, but rather part of the solution (mostly, no one's perfect).


Bottom Line - This book is an intense ride, I picked it up and finished it in about 7 hours, though I did not want it to end, I just had to know what would happen next...and the ending, nothing I can say short of WOW, it's intense!

With it's authentic characters, it's brilliant story line, and a love story that's like no other - Kimberly Derting has, what I can only assume will become a best seller on her hands, I can't wait to read much more from this author!

Violet has always felt the echoes of the murdered, both human and animal, around her, and for as long as she can remember they have haunted her until she found them and gave them a proper burial. Only five people know about her morbid ability: her parents, and her aunt and uncle, and her best friend, Jay. When it becomes evident that a serial killer is at large in her community, Violet is certain that she can find the killer and bring him to justice. But even with Jay and her family trying to protect her, it may not be enough to keep her from the killer.

Kimberly Derting's debut novel about a girl attempting to use her unusual gift for good while caught in the throes of danger and first love is memorable and suspenseful. Derting's writing is sharp and detailed, and the frequent chapters from the unknown killer's point of view keep the story tense. Violet is a good, strong character who really will appeal to teen readers because of her well described emotions. Her fear of the serial killer is palpable, but her determination and sense of duty and justice even more tangible, and her confused and love struck feelings for her best friend Jay make her even more relatable and likable to the average girl. Derting will keep you on edge long after the final page with this action-packed romantic drama.

Cover Comments: I like the black and blue color scheme, and this blue flower. It's a very nice combination of eeriness and beauty, and the simplicity of the cover is just great. Very nice!

My positive remarks about this book happen to be many. The romance is actually healthy, in that it isn't a love at first emotional abuse situation. Violet and Jay slowly fall into love from friendship, which is quite refreshing. Also, the killer is actually convincing. Derting presents his sections of the story in a manner that was intriguing and knowledgeable without becoming ridiculous or campy. Violet is dense, but likable and easy to relate to. Jay doesn't really creep me out. All good things, obviously.

The problems seem to be debut novel quirks relating to developing writing and my complete lack of interest in Violet and Jay's drama. I began skimming about a third of the way in, feeling as though the whole book was overlong for its premise. There's only so long two best friends can obviously ignore the fact that they are in love, and when they finally get the message it's only thanks to some random drama that felt forced and unnecessary.

Also, while the premise is interesting, I can't help but wonder why Violet can sense dead animals. And why would animals, who theoretically do not care where their bodies decompose, cease sending Violet little death echos after their burial? If she can sense the death echos of all animals, what about all those insects who should therefore be filling the air with little shrieks every split second? Maybe I would have taken this more seriously had she only been able to sense human remains, because as is the book just brought up too many silly questions that couldn't be answered.

Romantic, intense, and suspenseful! Those are the first three words that come to mind when describing Kimberly Derting's impressive debut novel, The Body Finder. Part heart-pounding suspense and part heart-racing romance, readers will find themselves unable to put this book down! Set in a small town in western Washington, this romantic thriller seamlessly blends romance and mystery as a teenage girl uses her unusual paranormal ability in an attempt to trace the imprints left by a serial killer before he strikes again. A word of warning: Don't start this book at bedtime if you intend to get any sleep because you won't want to set it down until you reach the last page.

What I Liked:
- The playful and flirtatious romance! Since this book is about a girl who senses dead bodies and gets entangled in a serial killer investigation, I expected creepy suspense from this novel (and it delivered). But I did NOT expect the completely intoxicating romance! Violet's crush on her best friend leaves her distracted by his casual touch, flustered by his comforting, familiar scent, and blushing at his every teasing grin. The romance is sweet, sexy, and believable. If you adore best-friend love stories, this book is definitely for you!
- Violet is a well-rounded teenager. She isn't defined solely by her unique body-finding ability or by her relationship with Jay. She interacts with her parents, goes shopping with friends, babysits for her aunt and uncle, feels the sting of social rivalries at school, and finds herself frustratingly focused on her changing feelings toward her best friend. She also handles her paranormal talent well, deals with social pressures responsibly, and stands up to her best friend when he seems over-protective or demanding. She makes her own decisions at every turn.
- Violet has a healthy self-image. To pull a line directly from the text (p.122): "She never wanted to be one of those girls who looked for flaws, picking themselves apart with unjust criticisms." I really enjoyed that about Violet's personality. She isn't arrogant and she isn't totally free of insecurities, but she is self-confident and relatively comfortable in her own skin.
- Jay is a good guy. He is kind and thoughtful. He genuinely cares about Violet and is not afraid to show it. He is funny and sweet, and he and Violet have basically been inseparable since the first grade. Since Jay has been her constant companion for so long, it makes sense that he feels and acts protective at times, and Violet's specific situation truly does warrant a lot of caution. I found Jay's protective nature endearing, and I like that he listens to Violet (who isn't shy about calling him out on his missteps & won't tolerate being bossed around). I seriously adored Jay!
- The chapters from the killer's point of view are used to excellent effect and will leave readers nervous to be out alone at night.
- This is a romantic thriller that can be enjoyed by teens and adults alike. Although it involves disturbing abductions and murders, it is never gory or graphic. The romantic scenes are steamy enough to have readers running to turn up their air conditioners, but they are not graphic either. Both the suspense and the romantic tension remain PG-13, yet the frightening moments are still chillingly scary and the romantic moments are still deliciously sexy.
- Violet's parents care about her and are present in her everyday life. That may sound like an unusual thing to comment on, but it is surprising how often a YA protagonist's parents are dead, drug-addicted, missing, abusive, totally oblivious, or otherwise excluded from the plot.
- The overall high school atmosphere rang true, as did the intensity and all-consuming nature of Violet's newly-discovered feelings for her best friend. Readers will feel Violet's excitement and nervousness & will fall for Jay right along with her.

What I Wished:
- This is probably only because I've read too many mystery novels and watched too many suspenseful thrillers over the years, but I wanted the manhunt and the investigative aspect of the plot to take center stage a little more often. In the final third of the book, I wondered what the police and FBI were discovering while we were following Violet, and I wanted a few more twists and turns in the investigation.
- I wanted more. I have no complaints about the way this novel ended, and I was pleased to see the suspenseful elements of the plot thoroughly wrapped up. But I wasn't quite ready to close the book on the main characters yet. I look forward to re-reading The Body Finder, and I wish we didn't have to wait until next year to read Desires of the Dead, the next book in this exciting new series.

If you are looking for a fast, suspenseful read with believable characters and a sweet romance, I would definitely recommend The Body Finder. I was impressed by the well-paced balance between the frightening serial killer mystery and the sweet love story. It is pretty rare to find a book that is just as likely to give you pleasant, romantic dreams as it is to give you terrifying, serial killer nightmares. Readers who enjoy romantic YA novels like Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl's Beautiful Creatures, Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely, and Claudia Gray's Evernight should pick up Kimberley Derting's The Body Finder. Fans of paranormal mystery novels like Charlaine Harris' Grave Sight (Harper Connelly Mysteries, Book 1), may also be interested in reading The Body Finder. I look forward to reading Kimberly Derting's next book, Desires of the Dead, which is due out in 2011.

Violet has the strange ability to sense an "echo" from people (and animals) that have been killed. The echo is unique for each killing although it matches the echo given off by the killer. Usually, this "talent" is a nuisance - Violet can't even go near her cat because he kills mice. But when a serial killer starts offing teen girls in her area, Violet's power might just come in handy.

If that premise sounds enticing to you, take note: the actual novel is 1 part thriller to 6 parts teen romance. Now, on paper, such a set-up shouldn't work for me, since I don't seek out romance as a genre. And, truthfully, I was a bit worried at first. Once Violet's ability is established and the serial killer makes his first snatch, the plot concentrates on Violet's super-crush on her best friend of many years - once just Jay, now the hottest guy at school. Everyone but Violet can see that Jay carries a major torch for her, and there are a bunch of high-sexual-tension and avoidance scenes that make you scream "get it on already you two!"

But let me tell you, once those two best friends finally connect romantically, the resulting fireworks are totally worth it. I am a very emotional rater and this one got a big fat satisfied 5 star rating from me for the emotional impact alone.

5 stars for a book that had a character taking foolish risks to fit the plot (a pet peeve of mine)? Yep, it was THAT emotionally engaging that when all was said and done, I came away able to overlook certain deficits (such as the at times strange pacing and some logic problems concerning the serial killer part), and just revel in the experience of reading.

For as long as she can remember, Violet Ambrose has experienced what can only be called a compulsion to seek out the bodies of those that have been killed - animal or human and especially those that came to a violent end. Not only does the body 'call' to Violet through her senses (sound, color, taste, smell etc.) but she can also 'see' the traces on those that have killed. For years, Violet has spent her free time roaming through the woods near her house with best-friend Jay digging up small, broken animals to re-bury in order to bring both herself and the animals some peace. Having been best friends since elementary school, Violet and Jay have always shared everything - even her special ability - but at the outset of their Junior year, Violet suddenly finds herself experiencing some decidedly non-platonic feelings for Jay which she just can't share. Confused and unsure, Violet's primary fear is that she's going to lose her best friend until several teens begin to disappear in her small town and the police suspect that a serial killer is targeting teenage girls. With danger striking so close to home and the police floundering to uncover the culprit, Violet knows her ability may be the only only way to stop such a hardened killer once and for all.

I really wanted to like Kimberly Derting's debut novel. Truly, I did. I've heard from numerous reviewers how much they enjoyed it, but something about The Body Finder did not sit quite right with me. The concept of someone being able to hear 'echoes' from the dead and their killers is an extremely compelling idea, one with much potential. However, the idea didn't translate very well in Violet's case. Don't get me wrong: she was a very likable character although a little dense at times (but what teen isn't? I often was), but her narrative was often repetitive - such that I can only describe it as being overwritten. Especially with her constant obsessions over her relationship with Jay. And how can I describe my feelings for Jay? I thoroughly enjoyed Jay's character for the first half of the book in his supportive, teasing role but once he became Mr. Alpha Protector and Obsessor over Violet did he turn me off. Feel free to also add "The Body Finder" to the fast-growing ranks of nonexistent, oblivious parents of a single child in a YA novel. At the point when I thought Violet's parents would want to place more restrictions on her (since a SERIAL KILLER targeting TEEN GIRLS was on the loose) they basically exited stage left with nary a parting word. Boggles the mind.

Above all, one major issue I had with "The Body Finder" was the inclusion of periodic chapters from the viewpoint of the killer. These were odd, creepy and threw me out of the story every time one popped up. Personally, I do not want to be in the head of a psychopath. So much so that I felt that this book was trying to turn itself into a YA friendly romantic-suspense novel sans the actual sex. I'm not a huge fan of the romantic-suspense genre in the best of circumstances and "The Body Finder" didn't do much to change my opinion in that regard either.

Wow! I was not expecting to like this book as much as I did. I don't normally like to read murder mystery books, but I bought this because of the romance. I was not disappointed. I loved it! The romance between the two friends was so sweet! The hero is so good to the heroine through the whole book. The murder mystery was exciting and scarey without being too much, this is a YA book after all. The idea that the heroine could sense murdered animals and people was unique and interesting. I like the family dynamics in this novel too. So many times in YA novels family life is portrayed as lacking or abusive in some way. It was nice to read about a supportive family. The friendship between the heroine and the other girls added some humor to lighten the heavy subject. I was always interested and never bored with the plot or the pacing. All in all, I loved this book, and I can't wait to read the next book in this series.