Desires of the Dead (Body Finder #2) by Kimberly Derting

Genre: paranormal mystery
Series and Book #: Body Finder #2
Pages: 355
Synopsis:

The missing dead call to Violet. They want to be found.

Violet can sense the echoes of those who’ve been murdered—and the matching imprint that clings to their killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life.

As Violet works to keep her morbid ability a secret, she unwittingly becomes the object of a dangerous obsession. Normally she’d turn to her best friend Jay, except now that they are officially a couple, the rules of their relationship seem to have changed. And with Jay spending more and more time with his new friend Mike, Violet is left with too much time on her hands as she wonders where things went wrong. But when she fills the void by digging into Mike’s tragic family history, she stumbles upon a dark truth that could put everyone in danger.

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I read The Body Finder back in May, and I didn't enjoy it. I had said that I may read the sequel, and when I happened upon it in the library, I decided, Whatever, I might as well give it a chance. And I'm somewhat glad that I did.

I still have problems with the sequel. I felt as if Kimberly enunciated words way more than she needed to, and I was tired of there being so much force behind the simplest words. And despite what the summary says, the story wasn't really about the little boy Violet found or the FBIs awareness of Violet's ability. It was about a person who was silently threatening Violet, trying to scare her, and that was the mystery. But it was a great mystery. Kimberly dropped hints suggesting who was threatening Violet, but she added the tiniest details that had you questioning who it really was. Once she told you who it had been, there was still a lingering mystery that held Violet's interest, and I was so intrigued by the story.

Unlike my concerns in The Body Finder, I don't think that Violet and Jay's relationship covered the mystery. I felt that the book was more about the threats than their relationship. There was still the subplot of Jay and Violet's love life, but I didn't think it was completely taking over the story.

Overall, much better than The Body Finder. I felt as if Kimberly had more mystery instead of romance. My favorite character was Chelsea, Violet's friend. I also thought that the new kids Mike and Megan were a brilliant add to the novel. I'm excited for The Last Echo, the next installment in the Body Finder series.

The Cover: Not as great as the first. I think the pink defeated the darkness that I think the book really is about. But I love the flower. It again reminds me of the echoes of the dead.

Preview and Cover Reveal: The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting

Violet kept her morbid ability to sense dead bodies a secret from everyone except her family and her childhood-best-friend-turned-boyfriend, Jay Heaton. That is until forensic psychologist Sara Priest discovered Violet’s talent and invited her to use her gift to track down murderers. Now, as she works with an eclectic group of individuals—including mysterious and dangerously attractive Rafe—it’s Violet’s job to help those who have been murdered by bringing their killers to justice. When Violet discovers the body of a college girl killed by “the girlfriend collector” she is determined to solve the case. But now the serial killer is on the lookout for a new “relationship” and Violet may have caught his eye....

Thanks to Diana from The Lovely Getaway! I learned about this from her.

I've read Kimberly Derting's The Body Finder (click for review) and I'll soon be reading Desires of the Dead. I wasn't thoroughly impressed with The Body Finder, and I'm hoping for a better experience in Desires of the Dead. I can't wait to find out what happens to Violet in Desires of the Dead, and The Last Echo!

The Last Echo will be released April 17, 2012

The Body Finder (Body Finder #1) by Kimberly Derting

Genre: teen mystery
Series and Book #: Body Finder, book 1
Pages: 336
Synopsis: Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feeling for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies--or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world...and the imprints that attach to their killers.

Violet never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat left for her. But now that a serial killer is terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, Violet realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet find the murderer--and Violet is unnerved by her hope that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer...and becoming his prey herself.

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Although everyone said that The Body Finder was a fantastic read, I didn't quite agree. Although I loved the plot line, and the concept, I didn't like Derting's writing. I felt it was drawn out and that there was too much enunciation in the words. I also felt she should have focused more on the murders than Jay and Violet's relationship.

The Body Finder was a very creative book. A girl that could sense echoes of the dead? I was hooked. But when it turned out to be more of a love story than a mystery novel, I quickly lost interest. Although towards the end, when the climax finally started to peak, I found myself wanting to read it more and more.

Overall, I thought that The Body Finder didn't quite live up to my expectations. I expected more action, with a awesome romance tied in. The side characters were cute, funny, and very interesting. I found myself enjoying Violet's interactions with her friends more than her moments alone or with Jay. Not one of my favorites, but I may pick up the sequel.

The Cover: I think it catches the novel perfectly. The flower blooming makes it seem like it's an echo of a dead body. I think the eerie blue against the black was perfect.