To Catch a Killer: A Novel (Erin Blake, 1) - Softcover

Scarborough, Sheryl

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0765381923 ISBN 13: 9780765381927

Publisher: Tor Teen, 2018

Synopsis

“A twisty, cold-case mystery custom made for fans of Sara Shepard, PLL and Veronica Mars! The edge-of-your-seat plot, sinister backstory and smart, brave and irreverent main character made this whodunit unputdownable.”―Justine Magazine

In To Catch a Killer, a contemporary mystery by debut author Sheryl Scarborough, a teenage girl uses forensic science to solve the cold-case murder of her mother. Erin Blake has one of those names. A name that is inextricably linked to a grisly crime. As a toddler, Erin survived for three days alongside the corpse of her murdered mother, and the case―which remains unsolved―fascinated a nation. Her father's identity unknown, Erin was taken in by her mother's best friend and has become a relatively normal teen in spite of the looming questions about her past.

Fourteen years later, Erin is once again at the center of a brutal homicide when she finds the body of her biology teacher. When questioned by the police, Erin tells almost the whole truth, but never voices her suspicions that her mother's killer has struck again in order to protect the casework she's secretly doing on her own.

Inspired by her uncle, an FBI agent, Erin has ramped up her forensic hobby into a full-blown cold-case investigation. This new murder makes her certain she's close to the truth, but when all the evidence starts to point the authorities straight to Erin, she turns to her longtime crush (and fellow suspect) Journey Michaels to help her crack the case before it's too late.

About this title

About the Author:

Sheryl Scarborough worked as a writer, story editor, and series developer in children's television before receiving her MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adult from Vermont College, where she studied under Rita Williams-Garcia, Tom Birdseye, Susan Fletcher, and A.M. Jenkins, among others. She lives and works in Kalama, Washington. To Catch a Killer is her debut.

From School Library Journal:

Gr 7 Up—Teenager Erin Blake is a novice forensic enthusiast and an orphan. Ever since her mother's murder 14 years earlier, Erin has tried to live a normal life with her legal guardian, Rachel, who had been her mother's best friend. Erin doesn't know her father's identity. When Erin discovers the dead body of her biology teacher, her life is thrown into chaos. As Erin and her friends Lysa and Spam follow clues to track down the killer, it becomes apparent that their teacher's murder is directly linked to the death of Erin's mother. Against her friends' wishes, Erin enlists the help of her longtime crush and fellow classmate, Journey Michaels. As Erin and Journey delve deeper into the unsolved cases, it seems that all the evidence points straight to them. Desperate to prove their innocence, they decide to catch the killer themselves. Unfortunately, the closer they get to the truth, the more danger they find themselves in. Erin and Journey need to track down the murderer fast—before they become the next victims. Scarborough's debut YA novel contains stilted language, static imagery, and underdeveloped characters, but the fast-paced plot and Veronica Mars—esque protagonist make this book a good fit for avid mystery readers. VERDICT While this title may appeal to mystery fans, it is most suitable as a secondary purchase.—Ariel Birdoff, New York Public Library

About this edition

• Publisher: Tor Teen
• Publication date: 2018
• ISBN 10: 0765381923
• ISBN 13: 9780765381927
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 336