Truly, Madly, Deadly

Adult author Jayne (the Underworld Detection Agency Chronicles) moves from urban fantasy to YA thrillers with this tense psychological piece. High school junior Sawyer Dodd is still reeling from her boyfriend’s death in a drunk driving accident when she receives a note from an “admirer” that simply reads, “You’re welcome.” Meanwhile, Sawyer’s former friend Maggie is making her life at school miserable, and her parents want her to attend therapy. When a second person is killed, Sawyer realizes that her admirer/stalker is closer than she suspected and knows everything about her life. With suspicion falling on her, can she thwart her stalker’s murderous intentions before tragedy strikes again? Jayne delivers a healthy dose of paranoia amid the story’s growing tension, as Sawyer’s life crumbles around her. The skillful buildup leads to a somewhat muddled climax, however, and the stalker’s identity and motivations come out of left field (also, Sawyer’s ability to attract both trouble and troubled personalities seems disproportionately high). A solid effort that doesn’t quite make the grade. Ages 13–up. Agent: Amberly Finarelli, Andrea Hurst & Associates Literary Management. (July)