Show Me the Evidence

Lauren, 17, is worried about her friend Janaan, whose baby brother apparently died of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Ever since the baby died, Janaan has had even more that her usual share of trouble with her strict father, and she doesn't want Lauren's help or advice. Then comes the awful day when Lauren and Janaan are babysitting together and another baby dies, also apparently of crib death. The police suspect that Janaan has murdered at least two babies, maybe more. Only Lauren believes in her friend's innocence. Then the police discover that the babies' bodies have disappeared from their graves, and Lauren realizes that only she and Janaan can solve the mystery. This fast-paced story calls to mind Eve Bunting's novels. The suspenseful build-up of events compensates for the mystery's fairly implausible resolution. Ages 12-up. (Mar.)