cover image Love Me Deadly

Love Me Deadly

Blossom Elfman. Fawcett Books, $2.95 (0pp) ISBN 978-0-449-70298-7

Attractive, athletic Ally, 16, has a crush on Mike Sloane, the smartest guy in her class. But Mike isn't interested in Ally, because she appears unintelligent and apathetic about school. Martindale, their tiny hometown, is in an uproar when the school secretary is murdered and the English teacher is arrested. Mike and Ally both know that Mr. Emerson is innocent and join forces to solve this complicated murder mystery. Elfman poorly merges the murder's history (it originated during World War II) with the present time. In fact, the book would have been far more intriguing as a straight procedural of the mystery itself. These two dull protagonists only get in the way. Ages 12-up. (Apr.)