Pretty Dead Queens by Alexa Donne

After the death of her mother, Cecelia must go live in the small California town of Seaview with her grandmother Maura, a well known mystery novelist. Maura's first novel was based on a real murder in the town, and the subsequent movie was even filmed there. Since then, Maura's fame has attracted fans from all over the world to Seaview. Cecelia barely knows her grandmother and has never read any of her books. 

Cecelia is quickly befriended by the top tier people in her new school and learns much about the town's history. Being the granddaughter of the most famous resident gives her surprising notoriety. Sadly, one the girls in her new circle is murdered in a near copy cat of the first murder. In both, the high school girls were found in the school swimming pool on the night of homecoming. One had been crowned homecoming queen and the other wanted to be. 

Cecelia becomes obsessed with finding the murderer even at the risk of getting in trouble with the sheriff. She also begins to doubt if the real killer was found in the first murder. 

This small town known for murder is full of deception and secrets. Cecelia checks motives and alibis and finds almost everyone in town is a suspect including her friends.  It's a fascinating story with twists and surprises. I keep reading teen suspense books, and I really liked this one. 

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site. 
 

The Ivies by Alexa Donne

If you attend Claflin Academy and want to apply for an Ivy League school - think again. Unless you are one of the Ivies. The group of ambitious young women (now seniors) have done whatever is necessary to hobble the competition. That's probably too polite - they sabotaged their classmates so they be in charge of groups and have the highest test scores. The Ivies did anything to make sure they had their choice of schools. 

Within the group, each girl has to choose a school. The Ivey Leagues would never choose more than two or three people from each school, so no two Ivies can apply for the same one. Harvard belonged to Avery. She's a legacy coming from a wealthy family. No way her mom will settle for Avery going to any where other than Harvard. 

Olivia wants to go to Harvard, but she accepts Penn because that's the the rules of being an Ivy. She's never been completely sure why she was accepted into the group. She is on scholarship, so she doesn't have money and luxuries like the others. Despite her insecurities, she has always been grateful to have been included. 

Just a few issues: Olivia applies for Harvard anyway (unbeknownst to anyone), and one of the Ivies is murdered. I may be telling you too much already. Suffice it to say that Olivia is desperate to find who killed her roommate. Knowing how ruthless Avery and the other Ivies can be, no one can be trusted. 

It may be difficult to have much sympathy for Olivia knowing her part in hurting others, but above all else you want to know who the killer is (like we do). Aside from the police, she is the person doing the most to find out. Suspenseful and intriguing. 

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.