Shade Me

In this gritty thriller, first in a series, 17-year-old Nikki Kill is plunged into a web of lies when a classmate she barely knows is attacked and left for dead, having contacted Nikki as her last act. Nikki has synesthesia: words, numbers, and emotions all have colors for her, and it has turned her into a rebellious outcast. But she is inexplicably drawn to the mystery of Peyton Hollis, daughter of a powerful Hollywood producer, and to Peyton’s fractious, secretive family. As Nikki slowly unravels the clues behind Peyton’s assault, she discovers a seedy world in which nothing related to Peyton is as it seems, including the disgruntled members of her garage band; her manipulative half-sister, Luna; and her sly, seductive older brother, Dru. Complicated and tense, this dark tale runs long amid its many red herrings and revelations, but it hits all the hallmarks of a traditional hardboiled mystery, full of dirty secrets and potential betrayals. Brown (Torn Away) skillfully uses Nikki’s condition to put a fresh spin on time-honored noir conventions. Ages 14–up. Agent: Cori Deyoe, 3 Seas Literary. (Jan.)