FICTION

Dial Em for Murder

288p. ebook available. Merit. Nov. 2016. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781440595851.
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Gr 7 Up—Emmy Danvers is working on her latest romance novel at Starbucks when a seemingly senile old man approaches her. After warning her that she and her father are in danger, he tackles her to the ground and then dies. Emmy is shaken, but full-on panic sets in when she learns that the old man was murdered while protecting her and that she was the original target. Suddenly, Emmy is swept up in a cat and mouse game that brings her to a prestigious boarding school, Emptor Academy, the home of the deceased old man and his grandson, Sebastian St. James. Emmy has no choice but to trust Sebastian as she races to unlock a high-tech tablet loaded with confidential information about her father, all before an elusive killer stops her. After the strong opening, the promising premise falls flat. The plot quickly devolves into a confusing series of events that lack connection, the inconsistent pacing fails to successfully maintain suspense, and the characterization relies too heavily on tropes—sexy bad boy, beautiful but nasty rich girl—to provide real depth.
VERDICT Too many loose ends, weak characterizations, and an anticlimactic conclusion will not entice readers. Pass.

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