14 Ways to Die

April 15, 2021
A teen sleuth tries livestreaming to catch a murderer. Seventeen-year-old Jessica Simmons lost her mother a decade ago, the first victim of the Magpie Man, a serial killer now on victim No. 13, who has struck in locations around the U.K. Her father's life is still in shambles and her former friends are long gone, but Jessica's decided to publicize her tragedy. One of five contestants on YouTube's "The Eye"--an unscripted, livestreamed reality show--Jessica asks her viewers to help identify the serial killer. But inviting the world into her home and school brings unwanted attention, perhaps even from the Magpie Man, whose body count keeps climbing: Sleuthing-related drama and peril ensue. Jessica's friends and family are economically rendered yet believable, and Ralph renders grief beautifully and devastatingly, as something that evolves but doesn't end. As in the story, the bulk of the action occurs when the cameras aren't rolling, and eventually, the reality show premise and its minimally developed contestants are more a distraction and transparent deus ex machina than an integral part of Jessica's journey. More intriguing--and with real-life precedents--is the possibility of crowdsourcing a murder investigation. Although the fast-paced finale can't quite overcome the slow start and overlong middle, the tale reaches a dramatic, satisfactory conclusion. Characters follow a White default. An unsettling but easy-to-read blend of social media savvy and gritty gumshoe work. (resources, author interview) (Thriller. 14-18)

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May 1, 2021

Gr 8 Up-When 17-year-old Jessica Simmons applies to be a contestant on The Eye, a YouTube reality show featuring the daily lives of five young adults, she isn't searching for internet fame. She's searching for justice. Jess's mother was murdered by the Magpie Man when Jess was seven. Now, only guaranteed four episodes on the show, the teen has a limited amount of time to use her new platform to catch a serial killer. She needs to hook viewers' interest to bring in ratings and remind the world that the killer is still out there. But drawing attention to the unsolved murders means drawing the attention of the killer himself, and Jess quickly learns he may be closer than she thought. An indirect exploration of the effects of Jess's reliance on social media makes this a timely novel for young adults living so much of life online. Short chapters create and maintain an urgent mood and swift pace, while also allowing for pauses to consider Jess's grief, guilt, anger, determination, and healing. Though most side characters are one-dimensional, Jess's relationship with her father is both candid and touching, allowing readers to look past some of the more implausible aspects of the novel, such as her father's half-hearted attempt to stop her from joining The Eye and the teen's tendency to place herself in dangerous situations. Characters' races are unspecified. VERDICT A solid choice for reluctant readers interested in crime thrillers.-Maggie Mason Smith, Clemson Univ., SC

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