Title: The Body Finder (The Body Finder #1)
by Kimberly DertingPublishing Info: March 16, 2010 by HarperCollins
Source: Anderson's Bookshop
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult
Find it on the web: Buy from Amazon // GoodreadsDate Completed: October 21, 2012
Related Posts: The Pledge (The Pledge #1)
Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes that the dead leave behind in the world... and the imprints that attach to their killers.
Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find the dead birds her cat had tired of playing with. But now that a serial killer has begun terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.
Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet on her quest to find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved to find herself hoping that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer... and becoming his prey herself.
I really enjoyed THE BODY FINDER — but the one thing that really sticks out in my head is I noticed that it wasn’t un-put-down-able (that is so not a word, but just work with me here). I know that as much as we love blogging and reading, we all have other things going on in our lives and for some reason, my other things tended to take presidence while I was reading this. That being said, I still really enjoyed it! I just didn’t find that I was racing to finish it or I couldn’t stop reading it.
Firstly, I love the concept of this book/series! A girl who picks up echoes of the murdered was so utterly fascinating to me. It made for some super creepy story lines when we start tracking a serial killer too. Another thing is that I really enjoy books where we see inside the killer’s head or get to read their POV. I think it makes it that much creepier to hear these thoughts first hand, and I think it takes a lot of talent to be able to write from that perspective and also keep the identity of the killer from the reader until the big reveal.
I’d have to say my favorite thing (as I’m sure it is for MANY others) is the blossoming romance between Violet and Jay. Guys, one of my favorite things EVER in a book is that best-friend-turned-romance thing and Kimberly Derting knocked this one out of the part. There’s tension, there’s fighting, there’s kissing – That relationship is so well done!
I really did enjoy THE BODY FINDER! I think I might have just been in a bit of a reading slump when I picked it up because I’m definitely quite interested to continue the rest of the series!
Violet: Violet is definitely a BFF kind of girl! I absolutely loved her as a character and I felt like we kind of had similar personalities. Although I do have to say, I’m with Jay on this one – She gets herself into way too many dangerous situations! I understand that it’s for good purposes, but still – I would never have the guts to hunt down a serial killer on my own!
Jay: Oh, Jay. I love you! As I mentioned before, I love best-friend-turned-boyfriend romances. It just gives me such butterflies! I loved the tension between Jay and Violet and it really was written so perfectly.
Buy it!
I really, really enjoyed this one. I can’t wait to start the rest of the series! I absolutely loved the ending!
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8 thoughts on “The Body Finder (Body Finder #1) – Kimberly Derting”
Great review! I’ve had The Body Finder on my wishlist for a while now and I’ve heard so many amazing things about it! I lovee that it involves a serial killer and Jay and Violet’s relationship sounds so sweet! ^.^
Mine too. The friendship-romance-blossoms is one of my favorite things. Derting doesn’t disappoint.
I love the word un-put-down-able. It’s very fitting for many books so the reverse also works.
This sounds like one I’d like – I’ll have to go check the library to see if they have it 🙂
Interesting fact: Barnes & Noble actually created the word “unputdownable”, so it is, in fact, a word! It’s not a very pretty word, imo, but there you go. 🙂
I keep seeing this book mentioned around and am not sure if I should go ahead and read it or not. I have so little time to read that I really need something that’s going to hook me; that’s pretty much the only thing that overcomes my exhaustion any more!
This sounds like a good book overall. Shame about it not being hooking enough to keep you reading all the time, but sounds like you have a lot of love for the characters.
Lovely review as always! 🙂
I know what you mean about this one not being unputdownable. I liked it pretty well at the time but never picked up any of the sequels. Curious to see what you think of the next book to see if I should give it another try.
I loved the tension between Violet and Jay. Oh my gosh, it made my heart beat faster, and I could definitely understand Violet’s frustration about not wanting to ruin their friendship. And, like you said – “Oh, Jay. I love you!”
I want to read the rest of the series, but at the same time, I don’t want to read about Jay and Violet having issues with their relationship so I am a bit hesitant.
I love the way you format your reviews! It is really easy to read and it’s clear how you felt about a book! This sounds like a good one!