Truly, Madly, Deadly

May 27, 2013
Adult author Jayne (the Underworld Detection Agency Chronicles) moves from urban fantasy to YA thrillers with this tense psychological piece. High school junior Sawyer Dodd is still reeling from her boyfriend’s death in a drunk driving accident when she receives a note from an “admirer” that simply reads, “You’re welcome.” Meanwhile, Sawyer’s former friend Maggie is making her life at school miserable, and her parents want her to attend therapy. When a second person is killed, Sawyer realizes that her admirer/stalker is closer than she suspected and knows everything about her life. With suspicion falling on her, can she thwart her stalker’s murderous intentions before tragedy strikes again? Jayne delivers a healthy dose of paranoia amid the story’s growing tension, as Sawyer’s life crumbles around her. The skillful buildup leads to a somewhat muddled climax, however, and the stalker’s identity and motivations come out of left field (also, Sawyer’s ability to attract both trouble and troubled personalities seems disproportionately high). A solid effort that doesn’t quite make the grade. Ages 13–up. Agent: Amberly Finarelli, Andrea Hurst & Associates Literary Management.

May 15, 2013
In a fast-paced thriller, a teen whose boyfriend died in a drunken driving accident finds that a killer is targeting her enemies. Suspense begins in the first chapter, when Sawyer opens her locker to find a copy of the newspaper article about Kevin's death along with a note that simply reads, "You're welcome." Kevin, readers learn, had become increasingly violent toward Sawyer during their relationship, and Sawyer's mixed feelings and desire to keep Kevin's violence a secret are handled with grace. After a disturbing incident in which a teacher sexually harasses Sawyer, the murderer strikes again. Sawyer is reluctant to tell anyone about the mysterious notes she's received, and readers will wonder if some of the novel's gruesome events could have been avoided had she simply come clean. Nevertheless, Sawyer's fear and emotional distress are realistically portrayed, and knowing that the medication she takes can produce hallucinations heightens the tension: Is she imagining the noises she hears in her empty housing development, or is somebody following her? Sawyer doesn't do much detective work, but readers can speculate about a platoon of possible culprits. Some readers may put together enough clues to guess the ending, but plenty of others will be surprised. An engaging balance of atmosphere and action. (Suspense. 14-18)

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August 1, 2013

Gr 8 Up-In this fast-paced thriller, Jayne crafts a suspenseful tale of vengeance and misguided love. Dating star football player Kevin Anderson has its perks, including instant popularity for junior Sawyer Dodd. Their relationship seems perfect, but what nobody knows about is the abuse Sawyer suffers at the hands of her controlling boyfriend. When Kevin dies in a car accident, Sawyer is filled with a mix of sadness and relief, certain that her terrible secret will remain just that. She receives a cryptic note that simply states, "You're welcome," and Sawyer questions its meaning until people around her begin to die. Someone is willing to kill for Sawyer but is setting her up to take the fall. She determines to uncover the identity of the murderer and clear her name before she becomes the next victim. Sawyer is depicted as the ultimate victim-of physical abuse, sexual assault, bullying-who has real motives for revenge against those who have hurt her, yet the subjective third-person narrative suggests that she isn't the perpetrator, even when Sawyer doubts her own innocence. Peppered with red herrings, the plot has twists and turns that will have the audience guessing, and while the ending isn't completely unexpected, it still feels anticlimactic after Jayne's intense buildup. Other than a few instances in which important details are overlooked, including a noticeable change in the way a character dies, the story seems plausible and will keep readers engaged. Teens who enjoy R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike are the likely audience for this gripping mystery.-Audrey Sumser, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Mayfield, OH

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