It’s the summer of 1958, and the body count is mounting. Connecting them all is the lack of blood left in the bodies or at the murder scenes. When 15 year old Marie Catherine Hale is found at a murder scene, standing amongst the bodies but dripping in blood, she is taken into custody. Authorities have many questions for Marie, but she refuses to speak with anyone other than Michael, the local sheriff’s son.
YA novels are lacking in murder mysteries, and Kendare Blake’s (Amazon affiliate link) All These Bodies fills a hole in that respect. Adding to its uniqueness is the fact that the story, told in first person voice, is not told from the point of view of Marie but is instead told from Michael’s point of view. This is the set up for a great novel. Unfortunately, the book has a tendency to drag and the ending is lackluster at best – an ode to popular YA genres and a letdown for the story’s potential.
Available September 2021
Disclaimer: An advance copy was provided by HarperCollins Children’s Books.
Novel Obsession 
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