The Darkest Lie

May 30, 2016
In a romantic thriller that unfolds in the aftermath of profound loss, CeCe Brooks's mother, Tabitha, has allegedly committed suicide, following rumors that she was sleeping with the high school quarterback. Hounded by students and reporters, CeCe tries to keep a low profile during her senior year. Dunn (Forget Tomorrow) believably conveys Cece's anger, shame, and growing distrust, and the mystery intensifies when CeCe's father reveals that he doesn't believe Tabitha killed herself or slept with the student. The answers may lie at the crisis hotline where she worked, so CeCe volunteers there to investigate. New student Sam wants to help, but CeCe worries that he's trying to dig up dirt to win a journalism scholarship. When CeCe is threatened, she wonders whether a killer may be on the loose, and the suspects multiply. Layered on top of the mystery is romance, with CeCe torn between her feelings for Sam and Liam, a fellow crisis center counselor. While Dunn's writing can be overwrought at times, CeCe's attempts to preserve her mother's reputation keep the story's emotional stakes high. Ages 14âup. Agent: Beth Miller, Writers House.

June 1, 2016

Gr 9 Up-CeCe is left reeling after her teacher mother committed suicide following a student's claims that he was having an affair with her. CeCe feels abandoned and betrayed by her mother. She is also slut-shamed when her mom's story comes out. When her despondent father admits that he doesn't think her mother committed suicide and that there might be clues at the crisis hotline she started and worked at, CeCe faces the horrifying reality and sets out to learn the truth and possibly clear her mom's name. Meanwhile, a mysterious texter tries to keep her from digging too deep, and an adorable, geeky new kid and teen reporter, Sam, keeps bumping into her to report on her mother's death. The stakes are high, the allegations are damning, and the romance is hot. The tone may be overly dramatic and too weighed down with lackluster similes for discerning teens, yet the suspense is fast-paced and entertaining. While CeCe's self-image issues are a little tedious, readers will find her likable and enjoy the interplay between her and the other characters, even if they are archetypal. VERDICT An exhilarating read; most suspense fans will be able to overlook the melodramatic writing. Purchase where thrillers fly off the shelf.-Rachel Reinwald, Lake Villa District Library, IL

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2016
Grades 9-12 CeCe Brooks is having a hard time forgiving her mother. Six months ago, Tabitha Brooks committed suicide after being accused of having a relationship with a high-school sports star. CeCe just wants to fade into the background and be invisible. Unfortunately, new boy Sam thinks something is fishy with Tabitha's death and decides to investigate in the hopes that his expose, if he does find anything, might win him a journalism scholarship. When CeCe begins to work at the teen crisis hotline her mother founded and agrees to help Sam, she receives threatening texts telling her to mind her own business. Could it actually be possible that her mother was murdered? Dunn manages to take what sounds like another run-of-the-mill teacher-student relationship story and turn it into a dark conspiracy. Mystery fans will race through the pages trying to find out what really happened the night Tabitha Brooks died. Recommend for fans of other who do we trust mysteries, such as the works of Michele Jaffee, Natalie Richards, and Hannah Jayne.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)