Veronica Mars: The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line

Die-hard fans of Thomas's noirish whodunit TV series, whose passion led to a successful Kickstarter campaign for a movie continuation, will be delighted that Veronica's story continues in print. Veronica is one of the unique recent additions to the genre: a young, but eminently capable, female gumshoe, who, in the film, gave up the chance for a different life as a New York City attorney at a high-powered firm to return home to Neptune, Calif., and to her real calling as a PI. With the local sheriff both corrupt and incompetent, she's hired by the Chamber of Commerce when 18-year-old Hayley Dewalt disappears during spring break. The city's leadership is concerned that allegations that foul play was involved will negatively affect tourist dollars. Dewalt was last seen at a party that turns out to have been hosted by some very bad people, and the case becomes harder when a second teenager, who has a surprising connection to Veronica herself, also vanishes. Thomas and Graham do an effective job of translating Veronica into yet another new medium, one that will only increase the ranks of Marshmallows. (Mar.)