To Catch a Killer

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.