Betrayal

August 15, 2012
Taylor and Hayley Ryan, the twin girls who can connect to and sense past events are again involved in mysterious events in Port Gamble, Wash., in this second Empty Coffin tale. In their debut, Envy (2011), the girls uncovered the truth about a recent death, but the death they're involved with now is clearly murder. Adult characters are more defined than in many novels for teens, with S'Kallam Tribal Police chief Annie Garnett and Mindee the hairstylist at the forefront. The third-person narration allows Olsen to cherry-pick events to keep the suspense going and the mystery intriguing. The paranormal abilities of the girls are just understated enough to make them almost believable, as are the many forensic details of autopsy and crime scene investigation. It's a disappointment when the murderer makes a telling comment about two-thirds of the way through, and it seems like a purposeful delaying tactic when the girls chase information about their family's past, which is clearly irrelevant to the core mystery. That secondary plot aside, there is plenty of action, as well as many snide remarks and unlikable characters, to keep readers' attention. Despite the paranormal element, this is more a police procedural than anything else, albeit one that's on the fluffy side. (Paranormal mystery. 12-16)

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October 1, 2012

Gr 9 Up-A brutal stabbing at a Halloween party leaves a foreign-exchange student dead and sets off a frightening chain of events in this compelling crime novel. Olivia Grant, an English teen staying in Port Gamble, Washington, is murdered. Brianna behaves oddly for someone who has just discovered a dead girl in her bed, but does that mean that she and her boyfriend are to blame? Or was it Beth, whose family hosted Olivia? The two girls argued early in the evening, and Olivia died with part of Beth's costume stuffed in her mouth. The author notes that this aspect of the story was inspired by the case of Amanda Knox, whose murder conviction in Italy was eventually overturned. Meanwhile, a subplot involves telepathic twins Haley and Taylor, who survived a bus crash as children and are now trying to unravel the truth despite their mother's reluctance to discuss it. Their story is sometimes a distraction from the primary murder mystery. Many of the characters were featured in Envy (Sterling, 2011), and while this one can stand on its own, it may be easier to follow as part of a series. Readers see the novel's events through the eyes of many different characters-Drew, Brianna, Beth, Haley, Taylor, and quite a few adults-and it's difficult to care about such a large cast. Still, the frothy tone, many pop-culture references, and fast pace compensate for the lack of a central character. Readers in search of a crime novel, mystery, or quick, light read will enjoy this one.-Miranda Doyle, San Francisco Public Library

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