Skin Deep: A Body of Evidence Thriller [Unabridged] [Audio Cassette]

Christopher Golden (Author), Julie Dretzin (Author)

Book Description

"A girl is dead, and one of your best friends got his head cracked with a shovel, because some white guy didn't want to see them kiss."

When Jenna and Damon first began dating, neither worried too much about the other's skin color. After all, Somerset is a pretty liberal college environment. But when a black couple is attacked by a white man on campus, race relations become cause for frenzied peace rallies, protests, and debate for the entire student body. Suddenly Jenna has her hands full investigating the attack -- and defending her interracial romance....

Then a white student turns up dead at the hands of a black assailant.

As racial tension reaches a fever pitch on campus, the crimes continue, growing increasingly brutal. Strangely, in each case no two witnesses can form the same description of the perpetrator.

The police are looking for two young men. Until one assailant, pronounced dead at the crime scene, disappears....

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 & Up--It may be a new century, the 21st, and in liberal Boston, but racial prejudice and tension are alive and rearing an ugly head in Christopher Golden's thriller (Pocket Pulse, pap. 2000). While white Jenna dates her black boyfriend, someone begins a series of murders on their college campus. With much detail, the bodies, sometimes white and sometimes black, mount despite conscientious effort on the part of the police. Jess works in the Medical Examiner's office, researches significant clues, and then volunteers for a dangerous role in the final unmasking. Actress Julie Dretzin reads at a fast pace to keep the story from bogging down as the descriptions seem more graphic orally. As narrator, she doesn't allow the frightening descriptions to color her narration, letting the author's words speak for themselves. She is better at reflecting the emotions of the characters than changing for their sex or race. A good choice for fans of mystery and horror.
Claudia Moore, W.T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

Publishers Weekly on Body Bags Demonstrates Golden's sense of the truly morbid and his knack for uncomfortably realistic medical dialogue. -- Review --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Recorded Books; Unabridged edition (November 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402509987
• ISBN-13: 978-1402509988
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,654,290 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

CHRISTOPHER GOLDEN is the award-winning, bestselling author of such novels as The Myth Hunters, Wildwood Road, The Boys Are Back in Town, The Ferryman, Strangewood, Of Saints and Shadows, and (with Tim Lebbon) The Map of Moments. He has also written books for teens and young adults, including Poison Ink, Soulless, and the thriller series Body of Evidence, honored by the New York Public Library and chosen as one of YALSA's Best Books for Young Readers. Upcoming teen novels include a new series of hardcover YA fantasy novels co-authored with Tim Lebbon and entitled The Secret Journeys of Jack London.

A lifelong fan of the "team-up," Golden frequently collaborates with other writers on books, comics, and scripts. In addition to his recent work with Tim Lebbon, he co-wrote the lavishly illustrated novel Baltimore, or, The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire with Mike Mignola. With Thomas E. Sniegoski, he is the co-author of the book series OutCast and The Menagerie, as well as comic book miniseries such as Talent, currently in development as a feature film. With Amber Benson, Golden co-created the online animated series Ghosts of Albion and co-wrote the book series of the same name.
As an editor, he has worked on the short story anthologies The New Dead and British Invasion, among others, and has also written and co-written comic books, video games, screenplays, the online animated series Ghosts of Albion (with Amber Benson) and a network television pilot.

The author is also known for his many media tie-in works, including novels, comics, and video games, in the worlds of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Hellboy, Angel, and X-Men, among others.

Golden was born and raised in Massachusetts, where he still lives with his family. His original novels have been published in more than fourteen languages in countries around the world. Please visit him at www.christophergolden.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Racial Propaganda...is there a reason for it all?, November 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Skin Deep (Mass Market Paperback)

In this, the 6th book in Christopher Golden's Body of Evidence series, the heroin, Jenna Blake, discovers herself within the depths of another gruesome puzzle. The evidence from the latest series of murders all points at racial crimes. Jenna is affected by the hellish acts not only because of her job description but her relationship with Damon Harris. After all, he is a black man, and she--a white woman. As the murders bring her relationship with Damon to a stressful and evident close, her relationship with Danny gets a tad bit less professional and becomes personal when Jenna decides to play baite.

In my personal opinion (and as an author and reader) this book was the best in the series for the simple reason of being the most well-written. Ideas were clear and the points that were made were excellent and definately worth reading. It was especially well-done becuase the author was not biased about the issue of race-only opinionated about the value of hate groups. In essence there is no value to them. The people in them are mislead and ignorant. I like the way showed this.

An incredible read. For the adults- don't be fooled by the Teen Fiction appearance. I've been reading books by authors like Anne Rice since I was 10 and at 14 now and always in the middle of book, I can honestly say that this book was worth my time and anyone elses for the moral lessons it reminds us of.

5.0 out of 5 stars Gets you thinking......., May 21, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Skin Deep (Mass Market Paperback)

I have read this book twice. Once on my own and again for a school assignment. I used this book because we had to get a book that was universally appealing which this book is. It speaks to many people about one of the most serious conflict that we face in this world. It thought it was an extremely great book that everyone can learn from. It has a scientific appeal to it that makes the reader interested as it did me. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to be on their seat while reading this.

5.0 out of 5 stars More than just a murder mystery, April 8, 2001

By 

"nsync_2gether_me_equalsus" (Columbus, OH, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Skin Deep (Mass Market Paperback)

I have followed Christopher Golden's Jenna Blake Series for all seven books now. I can definitely say that Skin Deep was my absolute favorite. The mystery was intriguing yes, but what really hooked me was the social issue it dealed with. Racism, black and white inter-racial dating. This is something many teens deal with today and, just as the story, opinions about such a thing are strong. I like the way Golden presented both sides of the issue, black and white. It was commendable how he got under each race's skin, even though he is white himself. I loved the voices he gave everyone. I'm sad Damon was so weird though, cause I liked Damon. Oh well, LoL. Point is, get this book if you're looking for some action, high emotions and while you read it... this book might just get you thinking about why race has to be such a big issue in our lives.