Black Queen by Jumata Emill

Nova is her school's first black homecoming queen. Tinsley thinks it is unfair - she should be homecoming queen. It is practically her birthright. Her mom, grandmother, and sister were all crowned. Black students are outnumbered by the white students, so a new rule states that every other year a black girl will be named queen.  

On the night of her coronation, Nova is murdered. Tinsley is the most obvious suspect. She had an argument with Nova, and everyone knows how much she wants to be queen. Nova's best friend, Duchess, is sure Tinsley did it. She is determined to not let Tinsley get away with it. She is furious at her father, the police officer in charge of the investigation, for not seeing that Tinsley obviously did it. 

When things don't quite add up, Duchess reluctantly agrees to team up with Tinsley (who wants to clear her name) to find the real killer. They are a contentious pair but they are also the only two driven to find the truth. 

The story of Nova, Tinsley, and Duchess is a compelling mystery that explores racism, politics, and relationships. The issues are central to the plot and ultimately prove vital to the characters' actions and development. Highly recommended for fans of the current trend of teen murder mysteries. 

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

 

Girl Forgotten by April Henry

I love books where a teen (usually a girl) tries to solve a murder. There are trends (subgenres of you will) in the many books of this type. One is the teen investigates an unsolved murder from several years ago. A subgenre of that is a podcast giving the teen the forum to announce their intentions and results of their investigations to anyone who cares to listen. And usually people are upset about it. 

Piper is new to her small town. On one of her first days there, she comes across the grave of Layla Trello who died at 17 (the same age as Piper). Layla's murder has never been solved, so for her senior project Piper decides to create a podcast chronicling her investigation of the case. If she can find the killer, all the better. 

Piper knows nothing about podcasting (other than being an avid true crime listener). Her teacher pairs her with Jonas who has his own sports themed podcast. Jonas does not like the subject of murder and is reluctant to help. He also has secrets that intrigue Piper. 

As is often the case with these stories, some people are not happy that painful memories are being brought up or that accusations are being made. Even the school administration is not so sure Piper should continue with her podcast. She feels so close to finding the answer that she does not want to give up even if she is in danger. 

I don't know why I find these stories so fascinating, but I do. This one is good and everything you want it to be with this type of story. 

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

She's Gone by David Bell

Hunter doesn't remember what happened the night his girlfriend Chloe disappeared. He knows they went to the homecoming dance and there was a car accident. They were the only two in the car. And then Chloe vanished. Kidnapped? Ran away? Murdered? That's what the police and everyone in town wants to know. Hunter suffered a concussion and can't remember anything. Some people aren't convinced he's telling the truth.

Hunter and Chloe were truly in love. He wants so bad to remember what happened that night. It looks bad for him, but he cannot recall anything. Eyewitness accounts and other evidence pile up against him. He begins to wonder if he did do something. 

Hunter is not alone. He has his outspoken younger sister and his workaholic father who has never been emotional and became even more detached after the death of their mother. He also has a few friends. Finally, Mr. Hartman, a teacher he has always been close to, is the only person he can confide in. 

The unending barrage of bad news for Hunter is almost too much to take. There is no glimmer of hope. I planned to keep on reading, but wasn't truly enjoying the story. It redeemed itself as it neared the end. The suspense is unrelenting in the last several chapters. It is not perfect - one character is seriously underdeveloped. Still, it is a good read if you are looking for a thriller. 

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

How to Survive Your Murder by Danielle Valentine

Alice has a chance to stop her sister's murder. She gets to go back to that moment in the corn maze on Halloween night a year ago. Alice was a witness and knows who the killer is. This time she can stop him. 

Since her sister's death, Alice's life has fallen apart. Her parents divorced. Her dreams of studying forensics and scholarships have dried up. Her friends have drifted away. That guy she might have dated seems like someone else now. Horror movies are the only left from her life before. You'd think witnessing her sister's death would be enough to put her off of gruesome movies, but they are one of the few things that give her comfort.  

Unfortunately, Alice often thinks in terms of how the characters in a horror movie would respond. For example, she asks whether she should run into the dark woods knowing how that usually turns out. She thinks in terms of the 'Final Girl', the one who survives by outsmarting the killer/monster. That's what she hopes to be. 

By going back to the night of the murder, Alice finds that the truth is much more complicated than she thought. Who is responsible for her sister's death? She is so sure it is the school janitor. Who attacked the other student in the maze? Seemingly, everyone in her life becomes a suspect making her second time through this Halloween night a dangerous one. 

I don't watch horror films, but I enjoyed this suspenseful story with Alice and all of her unanswered questions. 

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

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. 
 

People Like Us by Dana Mele

Another story about horrible events at a private boarding school. A death, a mystery to solve. Accusations, friendships shattered, nasty behavior, bullying. This one has at all. 

Kay is one of the 'in' crowd - that group of admired, but abusive girls who can get away with anything. She decided to reinvent herself when she came to the school as a freshman by literally making a big splash. As a senior, Kay is trying to get a soccer scholarship (her parents put so much pressure on her to perform). Things are going along fine until she and her friends find the body of a classmate floating in the lake. It gets messy from there. 

Through an email supposedly from the dead girl, Kay is blackmailed into outing the worst behavior of her friends. Kay has her secrets, too. She had done enough terrible things to others that she feels like she has no choice but to do what the email instructs. 

Kay is ostracized, accused, and betrayed. Weighing on her mind through all of this is her cheating ex-boyfriend who she still feels connected to, her total infatuation on her best friend Brie (who may feel the same), and the death of her brother and best fried. 

Nothing is straight forward in this story as Kay is pulled back and forth between her loyalties. Sometimes the people who seem the most guilty are the only ones who are nice to her and vice versa. It is an interesting and entertaining tangle for the reader. 

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

 

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

Who killed Andie Bell five years ago? Most people in town think it was her boyfriend, Sal Singh. But there was no arrest or trial because Sal was found dead a few days later - ruled a suicide. Or was it? Pippa decides to solve the murder and clear Sal's name as part of her senior project (not telling her teacher her true goal). She knew Sal when he was younger, and believes he was not a murderer. 

The problem is not everyone likes Pippa asking questions and snooping around. The people involved are not saints - some sell drugs and have assaulted people. One may even have had a relationship with teenager. The closer Pippa gets to the truth and the more she pushes people, the more danger she risks for herself and family. 

Pippa shares her findings (most of them, anyway) on a podcast which grows in popularity. The podcast adds to the tension as everyone knows who possible suspects are and learn of their questionable actions.  

I have read several teen suspense books recently - this is the best one so far. Pippa is a driven young woman who hesitates but never turns away from finding the truth. Her drive moves the story forward at a quick pace. Danger lurks in so many places with the reader never really knowing what the consequences will be. This is edge of your seat stuff. 

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog.

The Mary Shelley Club by Goldy Moldavsky

Rachel has a secret, and she wants to keep it that way. She is starting over at a ritzy private school in New York. She is not wealthy like most of the other students which sets her apart. Wanting to belong, she becomes intrigued by the rumors of an unknown prankster who takes revenge on people who deserve it. 

It doesn't take Rachel long to figure out that there is a group who pull the pranks. It turns out they like horror movies which Rachel also loves. She became fascinated with such movies after the thing happened...you know, the secret that caused Rachel and her mom to move. 

Not everyone wants her in the group. They are a mix of people you never see together at school, and they feel very exclusive. The guy who fights for her inclusion is interesting to her. He is not rich either and a kind of cute. 

The club is all about a competition to pull off the best fear test on someone outside the group; find their biggest fear and create a situation that will get them to scream. It's a scary, dangerous game for all concerned. Even though Rachel was hoping the group could help her deal with her past, it may be the worst thing for her. 

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

14 Ways to Die by Vincent Ralph

Jessica's mother was murdered by the serial killer the Magpie Man. She was his first victim. Several years later, Jessica is now a teenager and lives with her father in the same house they have always lived in located not far from the crime scene. Her dad inhabits the house but doesn't really live anymore. Her mom's pictures are everywhere. And the killer is still out there. 

Jessica wants to find him - for her mom but also just to stop him from killing. He's killed every nine months starting with Jessica's mother. So Jessica does something totally out of character - she applies to be on an online reality show that follows the lives of five teens, each one for a whole day once a week. Maybe someone with more information will come forward or maybe the killer will see the show and face what he's done. 

To Jessica's surprise, the show is a competition. Is her story compelling enough to get enough views? What if she is kicked off before she gets any usable information? That along with the new found fame adds a lot of pressure. And someone is definitely watching her.

This fast paced story with short chapters moves quickly. Jessica discovers things she never expected. Trust is difficult when so many become suspects. I would say more, but I don't want to give too much away. 

I really enjoyed this one. 

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library website.

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. 

My Life Before Me by Norah McClintock

Cady was ready to run away, but when the orphanage burns down she doesn't have to do it in secret. Upon leaving, she is given a clue to her history: an old photograph of a vandalized grave in a small Indiana town. It is the only link she has to her parents. With dreams of becoming a journalist (not an easy profession for women in the 1960s), Cady leaves Canada with idea that this could be a story worth publishing. So she heads south to the rural town of Orrenstown. 

The people of the town do not like outsiders asking a lot of questions particularly about the grave of a black man who was convicted of murder so long ago. Cady meets a lot of resistance and sometimes fears for her safety. Luckily, she finds some sympathetic people to her situation. She starts to uncover things about the man and how he died that many would rather leave undiscovered. 

Cady's secret history is ours, too. The vial actions of the townspeople is a true reflection of the times in Indiana and so many other places. The horrors brought upon people reverberate to this day and make this story all too relevant for young readers. Cady plows ahead to uncover the mystery with a determination we all need to deal with the ongoing issues that plague our country still. 

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog. 
 

All Eyes On Her by L.E. Flynn

Did Tabby push her boyfriend Mark off the cliff? That's the question that pervades this story. That is what everyone is talking about. Was Tabby a good friend or a manipulative schemer? It all depends on who you ask. 

We get to hear from all the people who know Tabby: Elle, her best friend; Bridget, her younger sister; Keegan, best friend of Mark; Lou, classmate who has not liked Tabby for awhile. We also get to see police interrogations, news reports, diary entries, texts, and blog posts. Through each, we see a different Tabby. 

Tabby was dating Mark, star swimmer at Princeton, while she was in high school. She had previously dated Beck who was now seeing Lou. Rumors spread that Tabby was cheating on Mark with Beck. People saw Mark and Beck confront each other at a party. Mark and Tabby were often seen fighting, although they were affectionate just as often. Tabby thought Mark was cheating on her when he was away at college. 

Mark and Tabby hike in the woods to the well known dangerous cliff edge. Only she comes out. Some say Tabby didn't like the outdoors let alone hiking. So why did she go? Some say she planned the hike months in advance and that it was not a last minute idea. Only two people really know what happened. One is dead, and the other may never tell. 

Sorting out the truth is almost impossible. Everyone sees things from a different perspective. I found myself going back and forth between believing Tabby was innocent or guilty. It makes for complex and fascinating story. 
 

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

Now Entering Addamsville by Francesca Zappia

Zora sees dead people. Ghosts linger all around her small Indiana town of Addamsville. Some died in the coal mine. Some died of disease. And some died in the tragic fires that have put Addamsville on the map. The deliberately set fires have captured the attention of people, particularly those interested in the paranormal.

Zora's abilities come from her mother (who walked into the woods five years ago and never came back). Her mother was training her to be a hunter. A hunter of ghosts? No, ghosts mostly hang around and do not bother the living. Zora and her mother hunt firestarters, the demons actually responsible for the murders.

Many people believe that Zora is responsible for the latest fire that killed the school janitor. She was present at a big fire a few years ago (when she lost two of her fingers). Zora's mother swore her to secrecy about the firestarters, so she can't tell that she was fighting one at the time.

How does an 18 year old high schooler fight the possible return of a demon, keep her older sister for locking her in their trailer (for getting in trouble) while the whole town blames her for something she didn't do? Well, Zora has a tough time of it. Her family has always been outcasts. Her mom's behavior was strange and then her dad went to prison for conning a bunch of towns people out of their money.

In addition to the latest fire, the arrival of a television crew to film an episode of a well known paranormal show lights the fuse (if you will) for a showdown between Zora and the firestarter (and the town and her family's past). It is a tense ride sometimes with good characters and some humor thrown in. Good stuff.

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

It Ends With You by S.K. Wright

Eva is missing. Her boyfriend Luke is suspect number one. They were at Rob's party together the night she disappeared. Luke has anger issues, and he was so obsessed with Eva. And what did she see in him? They both attend an exclusive private school, but Eva is a beautiful girl from a wealthy family. Luke is a scholarship student who lived with his mom in the poor part of town. Of course, Luke is responsible.

Luke says he had nothing to do with Eva's disappearance, but no one will believe him (except his best friend Rob). The police are quick to find all the evidence they need against Luke. For the lead detective on the case, it is over. The detective's daughter, Carolina, is so eager to find the damning evidence, but is not so sure once her dad wraps up the case.

Through the intertwined perspectives, it becomes clear that the case is not so straight forward. We hear from Luke, Rob, Eva's friend Siobhan, Carolina, Eva's diary, Rivka's text messages, a blog that seems to have all the inside details of the case and a few other connected voices.

It is a wrenching story of suspects and changing suspicions from all the people involved. Can justice be served with so many questions still unanswered?

Check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog for more info.

You Owe Me a Murder by Eileen Cook

Think Alfred Hitchcock with angsty teens. I mean literally Hitchcock since the premise is very similar to the movie Strangers On a Train.

Kim is on a two week trip to London with other Canadian students to visit sites of art and culture. On the plane, Kim meets Nicki, a Londoner heading home. While drinking a pilfered bottle of vodka, their conversation turns to how much Kim is upset at her ex, Connor who (by no coincidence) is also on the trip and how much Nicki hates her mother. Nicki proposes the perfect murder: Nicki will kill Connor and Kim will kill Nicki's mother. As strangers to the victims, they have no connection so they won't be suspected. Kim passes it off the musings of two people who have had a little too much to drink. Nicki is serious.

When something happens to Connor, Kim does not immediately connect it to Nicki. It quickly becomes clear that Nicki is not to be ignored. Nicki will do whatever she feels is necessary to force Kim to kill her mother.

Kim's only distraction is an attractive guy who is also on the trip. He steps up to be her partner on the various excursions around England. His closeness to Kim may not be good for his own safety.

Kim's trip is a suspenseful nightmare making her question he own sanity. It is a well done story.

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

Every Moment After by Joseph Moldover

For Matt and Cole, everything change the day a shooter entered their first grade classroom and killed their classmates. Matt was sick at home and feels guilty for not being there. Cole was rescued by the police chief, a moment that was captured in a photograph that became famous. And their friend, Andy...he didn't survive. Matt and Cole are now graduating from high school and must decide what to do with the rest of their lives.

The shooting is never far from their minds. How could it be living in the same small town where it happened. Matt and Cole tell their stories in alternating chapters. Cole is trying to work up the courage to tell Viola (who moved into town way after the shooting) how he feels about her. He thinks an end of summer grand gesture is the way to go. He is depending on Matt to get the money needed to pull it off which unfortunately may lead to doing questionable things (like selling Cole's dad's old pain medication).

Matt is forever questioning whether he should even by alive. He escaped the shooting because his diabetes kept him home that day. He still regrets it, and it has made him more impulsive than Cole. He feels left out of the dominant conversation of his life. He looks for answers in sex, in indifference to his glucose levels and in physically pushing himself to the brink of death.

I have read more than few books about school shootings, but they usually cover the tragedy itself. This one delves into the long, painful aftermath: the survivors, the permanently injured, the parents of the victims, the children of the heroes, the broken families and even the childhood home of the shooter. It excruciatingly relevant in the time we are living. A shooting happens somewhere and the world moves on. For those directly affected, the trauma never truly ends.

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

#MurderTrending by Gretchen McNeil

Would you watch a brutal execution online? If you knew the person being killed was a convicted murderer, would that make a difference? If the government decided to build a 24 hour reality 'show' around inmates trapped on an island (Alcatraz 2.0) where they could be killed at anytime by one of the sanctioned executioners, would you watch? If the executioners all played a character who kills in their own unique style, would you? In this story, millions do watch. In this story, Dee never watched the show but she ends up on the island fighting for her life.

Years after Dee was kidnapped and escaped, her sister was killed in their home. Dee was wrongfully convicted of the murder and finds herself waking up in the maze of Prince Slycer, one of the executioners on Alcatraz 2.0. How did this nightmare come to life?

The Postman, the mysterious unseen man who created the prison and show with the full cooperation of the Justice Department, controls everything: who is killed when and by whom. The inmates live openly but are surrounded by cameras recording their every move. The executioners and inmates have online followers. No one dies off camera.

When Dee survives her first encounter with a killer, she becomes an instant celebrity and the person on the island with a target on her back. No one is supposed to survive a face off with one of the killers. That's not how Alcatraz 2.0 works. Can Dee trust the other inmates to help her survive until she can prove she was framed for her sister's murder?

A little mystery, some graphic violence and a little romance make for a quick read. Recommended for the twisted premise if for nothing else.

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

Surface Tension by Mike Mullin

Jake loves being on his bike. He lives for it. He is an amateur competitive cyclist and is hoping to make the USA team and go to Belgium. Jake also has a beautiful girlfriend. So his life is pretty good. Until...

Jake is riding one morning on what are normally deserted roads when he encounters a group of tanker trucks. It is his misfortune that the trucks are part of a terrorist attack that brings down an airplane leaving the nearby airport. Without giving too much away, let's just say that Jake wakes up in the hospital with no memory of what happened.

Betsy's life is pretty good, too. Her mother disappeared along time ago, but her dad has given her goals. She wants to become the first female member of the Sons of Paine, a patriotic group who want to make the United States a better place. Her dad is an important member and gives her a task to prove herself - killing the only witness to the plane crash, a guy about her age named Jake who managed to escape.

The author has written a suspenseful tale of a young man who is in danger at almost every turn. The terrorists want him dead, and the FBI wants him for questioning. It becomes difficult for Jake to know who he can trust. And since so many people think his head injury is causing him to hallucinate or remember things that never happened, no one really trusts him.

We also get the viewpoint of Betsy, a young women who has grown up learning to hate Muslims and thinks nothing of killing innocent people for the end goal of finally eradicating them from the United States. But all is not what it seems even for a young women willing to commit terrorism.

A bonus for me is that this story is set in Indianapolis and mentions many places. I know the city well, so I enjoyed having the characters go to so many specific locations.

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

To Catch a Killer by Sheryl Scarborough

Erin's mother was murdered. And Erin was there when it happened. She was just a toddler and was left in the house for days while her mother's body lay on the floor in a puddle of her own blood. But Erin survived.

Erin was raised by her mother's best friend, Rachel, who has always been overly protective. Rachel will not discuss Erin's mother or what happened. But it doesn't stop Rachel from wondering. Erin is drawn to forensics like her Uncle Victor whom she has never met. He works for the FBI and has written about his experiences in books that Erin has practically memorized.

Ultimately, Erin wants to solve her mom's murder, but she can only do so much as a student. She is fortunate to have an encouraging biology teacher, Miss Peters, who helps her dabble in forensic science. Erin was delivering some important materials to Miss P's house the night she finds her lying dead on the floor. Two dead bodies is too much for one lifetime.

That night Erin saw Journey Michaels near Miss P's house, too. Erin has been fascinated by Journey for a while, but what if he killed her favorite teacher? Her best friends Spam and Lysa have never understood Erin's attraction to Journey. They also worry about Erin's obsession with her mom's murder case.

So many questions to answer about the two murders with Erin the only obvious connection. There is much to keep the reader guessing, but it is well worth it.

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

This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

School assembly. The auditorium is full of students and teachers. The doors are chained shut. Tyler enters with a gun in his hand. For some it is the end. For others it is the beginning of a nightmare.

This story is told from four different perspectives. Claire, Tyler's former girlfriend, is excused from the assembly for track practice. She is outside with her fellow runners when the shooting the starts.

Autumn is Tyler's sister. She is in the auditorium. Since their mother died, Tyler has been acting differently, but she never foresaw this. Tyler had supported her dancing even as she hid it from their father. Dancing reminded their dad too much of their mother's tragic death.

Sylv is Autumn's friend. She is in the auditorium with Autumn. She was threatened by Tyler for getting too close to Autumn and 'corrupting' her. Sylv has avoided Tyler ever since. Is she the reason Tyler is here?

Thomas is Sylv's brother. He and his best friend, Fareed, are breaking into the principal's office during assembly. As the only unconfined people in the school, can they save anyone else? Thomas confronted Tyler and slammed him against the lockers over hurting his sister. Is Tyler looking for Thomas?

Opportunity is a small town. Everyone knows about everyone else. At least they think they do. Some saw the cracks forming after Tyler and Autumn lost their mother, but no one saw how deeply it affected Tyler. As we go minute by minute through this tragic event, we can only ask who will live and who will die and why.

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