Flashes

August 1, 2015
An English girl sees "flashes" of murders from victims' eyes but can't get anyone to believe her in this detective mystery. Charley, 17, lives in Cornwall with her father, her mother having committed suicide years before. She's learned to keep her visions to herself. Just two days after burying her best friend, killed in an accident, she has a new vision, of a girl named Kerry being dragged to her death on railroad tracks. Newly minted police constable Tom, 19, doesn't believe that Kerry's death is as straightforward as his belligerent fellow detectives do, so when Tom and Charley meet, and Charley tells Tom her secret, he tries to use her visions to find the killer. Charley's father disapproves of their relationship, while Tom runs afoul of his new superintendent when he admits his activities. Meanwhile, more clues point to an actual serial killer on the loose. O'Rourke, himself a former policeman, writes with confidence, but both characters and story are fairly uncomplicated. Although much of the dialogue strains credulity, the author includes enough clues and red herrings to keep readers guessing. A simple but suspenseful and entertaining mystery for readers who can't get enough. (Paranormal mystery. 12-18)

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October 1, 2015

Gr 9 Up-Charley is a seemingly ordinary 17-year-old girl. She has "flashes": painful and vivid images of people dying. Since the tragic death of her best friend-the only person who ever believed her about her visions-the flashes have gotten worse. And now they could be leading her down the path of a killer. Whom should she trust? Tom, the detective assigned to the case who says he believes her flashes are real? Her father, who loves her but thinks she needs to see another doctor about her "condition"? Or the flashes of dead girls leading her forward? Well written and fast paced, this title will immerse readers in a crime that may not be a crime at all. Charley is likable and believable. Secondary characters, though important, are less developed. Although set in England and originally published in the UK, the novel has great international appeal, as readers will recognize their teen selves in the emotions and actions of Charley. The friendship between Charley and Tom is genuine, if slightly inappropriate, due to his position as a police officer. VERDICT An interesting and well-written addition to young adult collections.-Elizabeth Speer, Weatherford College, Weatherford, TX

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2015
Grades 9-12 Charley sees things, and she's sure they are real, intangible clues to grisly murders. Her father, long widowed, doesn't believe that she's psychic, but rookie police officer Tom Henson does. How else could Charley know intimate details about the victims? Both Charley and Tom are fighting for respect and justice, and they are thrown together when a young girl is murdered. The two cross paths at the site of at least one death, and as they investigate from both sides of the incident, they start to fall for each other. As her flashes get more frightening and more threatening, will Charley be able to save another victim? And if she can, will her father finally believe her? Though the descriptions of Charley's visions are sometimes jagged, O'Rourke is nevertheless a very detailed writer, and his descriptions of scenes encourage readers to invest all of their attention to anything that might be a clue. Mystery fans will likely be drawn in by his scene building, as will readers who prefer their protagonists on the grittier side.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)