Review: The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

Title: The Body Finder
Author: Kimberly Derting
Series: The Body Finder #1
Genre: YA
Release Date: November 25, 2010
Publisher: Headline
Edition: Paperback
Source: Publisher
Blurb:

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 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.

I don't think there are enough words to describe how much I loved this book. Violet has a gift for seeing and hearing the echos of the dead. Saying that, there wasn't much paranormal touches in the story. Mostly this has Violet trying to solve the murders of a few local girls and while her ability is important, I felt like it wasn't the focus of the book, which was refreshing and made me love the novel a lot.

One of the best things of the book or more accurately my favourite parts of the book were the ones that involved the relationship between Violet and Jay. Theirs is an unusual one in YA fiction. I loved that they were best friends since they were kids and that because of that they knew each other so well. Jay has always known about Violet's gift, which was also a nice change from other books, and I especially liked how he always took care and wanted to protect Violet without making her feel useless or inferior. It was so much fun seeing them go from friends to something more and truth be told those probably were my favourite scenes of the book. Jay is a total sweetheart and he has become my favourite male YA character.

As for the plot, the author had me guessing who the bad guy was. There were a lot of twists that at times kept me at the edge of my seat and at the end I didn't really know who the bad guy was until it was revealed.

All in all, this was an unputdownable book with an awesome murder-mystery plot and incredible set of characters. The Body Finder was one of the best YA books I've ever read. I can't wait to read the sequel.

Memorable Lines:
"I just don't want anything bad between us," she offered by way of an explanation.
"I know." He reached out, capturing her hand in his. He laced his fingers casually through hers.
Violet leaned against him and the calm finally came, settling over her peacefully.
And the he kissed her. Gently. Softly. Not on the lips, as she'd imagined so many times before, but on her forehead.
The gesture was sweet and a little possessive.
Violet hoped, maybe, it was a start.

Next Book:
2. Desires of the Dead (February 15, 2011)

Rating: