Christopher Killer: Forensic Mystery 1
Grade 9 Up–When aspiring forensic pathologist Cameryn Mahoney convinces her father, the county coroner of Silverton, CO, to hire her as his assistant, she has no idea that one of the first deaths she will investigate will be that of her friend, Rachel Geller. Rachel is the fourth victim of a serial killer who strangles his victims and leaves a St. Christopher medal on their bodies. The teen must put aside her emotional response to the murder in order to evaluate the information clinically. In her relentless pursuit of the truth, Cameryn puts herself in danger of becoming the fifth victim of the Christopher Killer. Teachers and librarians who are trying to reach their television-junkie reluctant readers should look no further; this novel reads like an episode ofCSI. Each scene lends itself to a mental picture straight from some crime-fighting show. The narrative gallops through a story line that is as engaging as it is implausible. Suspension of disbelief is made easy by the well-researched scientific tidbits sprinkled throughout the text, lending an air of credibility. There is the sense that this is a pilot episode with people that readers will see again as the series progresses, so the characters feel introduced rather than fully developed. Despite these flaws, this is an enjoyable read that teens will appreciate.–Heather M. Campbell, Philip S. Miller Library, Castle Rock, COCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.