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Beyond Suspicion
Her mom’s remarriage has been hard on fifteen year old Shelby. Roger is strict and treats her like a child. At least they’re letting her go to her first boy-girl party. That is until she gets home from school and finds that Roger has changed his mind—he wants Shelby to babysit her year-old brother Josh. It’s so unfair! Fuming, Shelby takes Josh in his stroller to the park. After all, it’s not his fault. Someone sets off fireworks, distracting Shelby. When she turns around—Josh is gone.
Shelby tells the police she’s seen a white van cruising the neighborhood lately, and she thinks she saw it at the park as well. But to her horror, the police are not interested: Pointing to angry texts to her girlfriends about getting back at Roger, they accuse her of causing Josh’s disappearance! The police focus on the woods around the park, driving Shelby wild with fear and anger that the kidnappers will get away. With TV reporters all over the front yard, Shelby sneaks out the back to find her brother, any way she can.
So begins Shelby’s race against time—and against a world that has turned on her. And yet she finds help along the way. There’s mysterious Matt, who says he wants to help, but doesn’t seem to want anyone to know it. And there’s Jess, who watches out for Shelby as, against the odds, she tracks down the kidnappers down just as they are leaving town.
Shelby tells the police she’s seen a white van cruising the neighborhood lately, and she thinks she saw it at the park as well. But to her horror, the police are not interested: Pointing to angry texts to her girlfriends about getting back at Roger, they accuse her of causing Josh’s disappearance! The police focus on the woods around the park, driving Shelby wild with fear and anger that the kidnappers will get away. With TV reporters all over the front yard, Shelby sneaks out the back to find her brother, any way she can.
So begins Shelby’s race against time—and against a world that has turned on her. And yet she finds help along the way. There’s mysterious Matt, who says he wants to help, but doesn’t seem to want anyone to know it. And there’s Jess, who watches out for Shelby as, against the odds, she tracks down the kidnappers down just as they are leaving town.
- GenresYoung Adult
234 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2015
1 person is currently reading
219 people want to read
About the author
Catherine A. Winn
3 books13 followersCatherine A. Winn is a former elementary teacher living, gardening, blogging, and writing in Texas.
Being an avid reader of mysteries, suspense, and thrillers, she naturally dove into that genre when becoming a writer.
Her craft articles have been published in Pack-o-Fun magazine and her short fiction for adults and children have been published in online magazines.
YA Mystery, BEYOND SUSPICION (May, 2015) The Poisoned Pencil: YA imprint of Poisoned Pen Press.
http://www.poisonedpenpress.com/beyon...
Being an avid reader of mysteries, suspense, and thrillers, she naturally dove into that genre when becoming a writer.
Her craft articles have been published in Pack-o-Fun magazine and her short fiction for adults and children have been published in online magazines.
YA Mystery, BEYOND SUSPICION (May, 2015) The Poisoned Pencil: YA imprint of Poisoned Pen Press.
http://www.poisonedpenpress.com/beyon...
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 18, 2015
Review: BEYOND SUSPICION by Catherine A. Winn
Every parent's nightmare--every sibling's worst fear--the abduction of a young child, in broad daylight, without clues. Author Catherine Winn develops this scenario skillfully, delivering a knockout punch immediately to the heroine, who is accused of masterminding the disappearance of her year-old baby brother. With police attention focused on Shelby, no one is searching nor following her information, so Shelby determines to find Josh herself, putting herself directly in danger's path.
Every parent's nightmare--every sibling's worst fear--the abduction of a young child, in broad daylight, without clues. Author Catherine Winn develops this scenario skillfully, delivering a knockout punch immediately to the heroine, who is accused of masterminding the disappearance of her year-old baby brother. With police attention focused on Shelby, no one is searching nor following her information, so Shelby determines to find Josh herself, putting herself directly in danger's path.
April 21, 2015
I received an Arc copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley, thank you so much for letting me read this exciting story. My Rating 5stars.
Shelby is a typical 15-year-old teenager, she wants to have fun with her friends. Not so easy when your mum has remarried and has a new baby to the stepfather.
Shelby is not keen on her stepfather Roger at all, but she does love her baby brother Josh, normally babysitting for him is not an issue but after her mum telling her she could attend her first boy/girl party, and buying her a new party outfit, then her new "stepfather Roger" changes his mind and insists Shelby babysits that night as he has an important business function to attend with Shelby's mom.
Upset and angry at both of them, Shelby puts Josh in his stroller and heads out to the park, spooked suddenly by firecrackers going off, Shelby watches them and not the stroller, but she does catch a glimpse of that same white van she has seen parked on her street, with a strange man and woman inside who creeped her out. Shelby returns to the stroller to find it empty, and that's where her hell begins. Nobody believes that her brother has been kidnapped by some stranger, they actually think Shelby has done something to him, after all she did send messages to her friends raging over him and not being allowed to go to the party.
Shelby is questioned over and over she is traumatised by the kidnapping, but she knows whilst they are investigating her the real culprits are getting further away and it will become less likely they will find little Josh safe.
Vicious posts on her favourite social media sites, hate mail, accusing her of being a murderer, this young girl has to endure a lot but, she does with determination, she has to find her brother, she has to get him back for her mother is suffering badly without her son. It will also help prove to everyone that Shelby is innocent, however, how is she going to find her brother?
Well I read the whole book start to finish and really enjoyed this, you can sympathise with Shelby the poor kid is being subjected to some terrible questions, she is not even sure if her parents believe her, she knows her bests friends don't as they have told her they are not allowed to hang around with her anymore.
Shelby meets a young man called Matt, who offers to help her, she is suspicious of his motives but he seems nice and is rather "hot" so she accepts his help. He drives her around looking for the white van, but they spot it but lose it, so head home disheartened.
This girl has more guts than most adults would have, she sets off on her own to track down someone she suspects of being involved in the kidnapping and finds herself snatched too. Can she escape? can she take the baby? Will she live or die? You have to read the book to find out all the little twists and turns that appear throughout a very well written story..
Shelby is a typical 15-year-old teenager, she wants to have fun with her friends. Not so easy when your mum has remarried and has a new baby to the stepfather.
Shelby is not keen on her stepfather Roger at all, but she does love her baby brother Josh, normally babysitting for him is not an issue but after her mum telling her she could attend her first boy/girl party, and buying her a new party outfit, then her new "stepfather Roger" changes his mind and insists Shelby babysits that night as he has an important business function to attend with Shelby's mom.
Upset and angry at both of them, Shelby puts Josh in his stroller and heads out to the park, spooked suddenly by firecrackers going off, Shelby watches them and not the stroller, but she does catch a glimpse of that same white van she has seen parked on her street, with a strange man and woman inside who creeped her out. Shelby returns to the stroller to find it empty, and that's where her hell begins. Nobody believes that her brother has been kidnapped by some stranger, they actually think Shelby has done something to him, after all she did send messages to her friends raging over him and not being allowed to go to the party.
Shelby is questioned over and over she is traumatised by the kidnapping, but she knows whilst they are investigating her the real culprits are getting further away and it will become less likely they will find little Josh safe.
Vicious posts on her favourite social media sites, hate mail, accusing her of being a murderer, this young girl has to endure a lot but, she does with determination, she has to find her brother, she has to get him back for her mother is suffering badly without her son. It will also help prove to everyone that Shelby is innocent, however, how is she going to find her brother?
Well I read the whole book start to finish and really enjoyed this, you can sympathise with Shelby the poor kid is being subjected to some terrible questions, she is not even sure if her parents believe her, she knows her bests friends don't as they have told her they are not allowed to hang around with her anymore.
Shelby meets a young man called Matt, who offers to help her, she is suspicious of his motives but he seems nice and is rather "hot" so she accepts his help. He drives her around looking for the white van, but they spot it but lose it, so head home disheartened.
This girl has more guts than most adults would have, she sets off on her own to track down someone she suspects of being involved in the kidnapping and finds herself snatched too. Can she escape? can she take the baby? Will she live or die? You have to read the book to find out all the little twists and turns that appear throughout a very well written story..
August 6, 2015
A teenaged girl (Shelby) takes her year old step brother (Josh) to the park and he ends up missing. The police and the community target her as he culprit as she resented always being forced to babysit by her parents. It all becomes a media spectacle as she becomes a virtual prisoner in her own home. She eventually feels forced to take the investigation into her own hands to clear her name and bring Josh back home. This is a mystery geared to the young adult audience and will resonate with them.
December 7, 2015
3.5 stars
In the opening pages of Beyond Suspicion, we learn that Shelby is a typical high school girl, one you could find just about anywhere. She's 15 and everything is ultra-important, especially the crush she has on Jace, a boy at school, and her very first boy-girl party, happening that night at Valerie's house. Unfortunately, her mother and stepfather have other plans for Shelby's evening, demanding that she stay home and look after her baby brother, Josh, while they go out. Before the night is over, Josh will vanish and Shelby will be accused of doing something terrible to get back at Roger and her mom; she'll have to do whatever she can to get Josh back even if it means putting her own life in jeopardy.
I liked Shelby a lot and sympathized with her disenchantment with both Roger and her mom, particularly her mom who is so focused on Roger and Josh that she has pretty much pushed Shelby aside. She and Roger make it very clear that Shelby's feelings matter little to them and it's no wonder she can't stand Roger considering his attitude towards her. Any teenager would have trouble coping and it's harder for Shelby because her father, whom she was so close to, abandoned them to pursue his own interests.
I did find the actual plot to be something of a stretch of credulity. I don't question the police initially believing that Shelby must be guilty and the media is unsurprising in its relentless hounding but she has the worst best friends ever. Her actions to get Josh back really aren't all that realistic, though, nor is the reason behind the kidnapping. Still, this was a pleasant way to spend a few hours and Ms. Winn is an author I'd like to try again.
In the opening pages of Beyond Suspicion, we learn that Shelby is a typical high school girl, one you could find just about anywhere. She's 15 and everything is ultra-important, especially the crush she has on Jace, a boy at school, and her very first boy-girl party, happening that night at Valerie's house. Unfortunately, her mother and stepfather have other plans for Shelby's evening, demanding that she stay home and look after her baby brother, Josh, while they go out. Before the night is over, Josh will vanish and Shelby will be accused of doing something terrible to get back at Roger and her mom; she'll have to do whatever she can to get Josh back even if it means putting her own life in jeopardy.
I liked Shelby a lot and sympathized with her disenchantment with both Roger and her mom, particularly her mom who is so focused on Roger and Josh that she has pretty much pushed Shelby aside. She and Roger make it very clear that Shelby's feelings matter little to them and it's no wonder she can't stand Roger considering his attitude towards her. Any teenager would have trouble coping and it's harder for Shelby because her father, whom she was so close to, abandoned them to pursue his own interests.
I did find the actual plot to be something of a stretch of credulity. I don't question the police initially believing that Shelby must be guilty and the media is unsurprising in its relentless hounding but she has the worst best friends ever. Her actions to get Josh back really aren't all that realistic, though, nor is the reason behind the kidnapping. Still, this was a pleasant way to spend a few hours and Ms. Winn is an author I'd like to try again.
May 8, 2015
Catherine A. Winn in her new book, “Beyond Suspicion” published by Poisoned Pencil introduces us to Shelby.
From the back cover: Her mom’s remarriage has been hard on fifteen year old Shelby. Roger is strict and treats her like a child. At least they’re letting her go to her first boy-girl party. That is until she gets home from school and finds that Roger has changed his mind—he wants Shelby to babysit her year-old brother Josh. It’s so unfair! Fuming, Shelby takes Josh in his stroller to the park. After all, it’s not his fault. Someone sets off fireworks, distracting Shelby. When she turns around—Josh is gone.
Shelby tells the police she’s seen a white van cruising the neighborhood lately, and she thinks she saw it at the park as well. But to her horror, the police are not interested: Pointing to angry texts to her girlfriends about getting back at Roger, they accuse her of causing Josh’s disappearance! The police focus on the woods around the park, driving Shelby wild with fear and anger that the kidnappers will get away. With TV reporters all over the front yard, Shelby sneaks out the back to find her brother, any way she can.
So begins Shelby’s race against time—and against a world that has turned on her. And yet she finds help along the way. There’s mysterious Matt, who says he wants to help, but doesn’t seem to want anyone to know it. And there’s Jess, who watches out for Shelby as, against the odds, she tracks down the kidnappers down just as they are leaving town.
If the great director Alfred Hitchcock was still alive he would be interested in this story to direct. This is his kind of movie. First Shelby was going to the party then Shelby is not going to the party because she has to babysit. To calm down she puts him in his stroller and heads out to the park. That is where everything goes wrong. While a fireworks display distracts her someone abducts her brother. The problem is no one believes her. Everyone believes she did something. Now, not only does she have to prove them wrong, but she has to do it in a hurry before they do something to her brother. “Beyond Suspicion” is going to keep you on your toes as you race along trying to keep up with all that is going on. Let me assure you that once you get started with “Beyond Suspicion” you are not going to want to stop until you finish so I recommend you start early.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Partners In Crime. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
From the back cover: Her mom’s remarriage has been hard on fifteen year old Shelby. Roger is strict and treats her like a child. At least they’re letting her go to her first boy-girl party. That is until she gets home from school and finds that Roger has changed his mind—he wants Shelby to babysit her year-old brother Josh. It’s so unfair! Fuming, Shelby takes Josh in his stroller to the park. After all, it’s not his fault. Someone sets off fireworks, distracting Shelby. When she turns around—Josh is gone.
Shelby tells the police she’s seen a white van cruising the neighborhood lately, and she thinks she saw it at the park as well. But to her horror, the police are not interested: Pointing to angry texts to her girlfriends about getting back at Roger, they accuse her of causing Josh’s disappearance! The police focus on the woods around the park, driving Shelby wild with fear and anger that the kidnappers will get away. With TV reporters all over the front yard, Shelby sneaks out the back to find her brother, any way she can.
So begins Shelby’s race against time—and against a world that has turned on her. And yet she finds help along the way. There’s mysterious Matt, who says he wants to help, but doesn’t seem to want anyone to know it. And there’s Jess, who watches out for Shelby as, against the odds, she tracks down the kidnappers down just as they are leaving town.
If the great director Alfred Hitchcock was still alive he would be interested in this story to direct. This is his kind of movie. First Shelby was going to the party then Shelby is not going to the party because she has to babysit. To calm down she puts him in his stroller and heads out to the park. That is where everything goes wrong. While a fireworks display distracts her someone abducts her brother. The problem is no one believes her. Everyone believes she did something. Now, not only does she have to prove them wrong, but she has to do it in a hurry before they do something to her brother. “Beyond Suspicion” is going to keep you on your toes as you race along trying to keep up with all that is going on. Let me assure you that once you get started with “Beyond Suspicion” you are not going to want to stop until you finish so I recommend you start early.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Partners In Crime. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
May 3, 2015
Disclaimer: I received and advance review copy from the publisher as part of a giveaway.
Shelby's mother's remarriage and life with her new stepdad and their son hasn't been easy. Shelby feels like she's asked to take on more than she should have to and that her presence is often taken for granted. After being told she can't go to a friend's party that has been planned for weeks because she needs to stay home and take care of her brother, Josh, Shelby is quite angry. After initially lashing out at her parents, she decides to take her brother for a walk and cool down. But what she doesn't expect is that her brother won't make it home--he is taken in the park while she is momentarily distracted. The circumstances surrounding Josh's disappearance are definitely suspicious. Shelby has a theory that Josh was kidnapped based on a suspicious vehicle she remembered seeing, but the police have their own theory--Shelby was fed up with babysitting and made her brother disappear. The stress of her brother's disappearance, the fact that she's been accused, and a sudden isolation from her friends almost proves too much for Shelby until she meets Matt, a young man who comes to her rescue and then offers to help her find her brother. But can Shelby trust Matt? Then again, can anyone really ever trust another person? And can Shelby track down who took her brother before anything bad happens to him?
Mystery. Suspense. And a few unexpected twists. That's what one can expect here. There are some intriguing family dynamics that didn't endear me to Shelby's mother in the slightest, but did make it easier to connect to and root for Shelby, so I guess that all works out in the end. I had figured out the answer before it was revealed, which sometimes bugs me when I'm reading a mystery, but I think case I thought it was okay. There was enough story after the reveal to make it not seem like I'd worked out the whole of the plot. Shelby's heroics at the end seem a bit farfetched, especially considering her clumsiness and naïveté at the beginning of the book. That said, one can suspend disbelief enough, especially considering the intended young adult audience, and do so rather easily.
Shelby's mother's remarriage and life with her new stepdad and their son hasn't been easy. Shelby feels like she's asked to take on more than she should have to and that her presence is often taken for granted. After being told she can't go to a friend's party that has been planned for weeks because she needs to stay home and take care of her brother, Josh, Shelby is quite angry. After initially lashing out at her parents, she decides to take her brother for a walk and cool down. But what she doesn't expect is that her brother won't make it home--he is taken in the park while she is momentarily distracted. The circumstances surrounding Josh's disappearance are definitely suspicious. Shelby has a theory that Josh was kidnapped based on a suspicious vehicle she remembered seeing, but the police have their own theory--Shelby was fed up with babysitting and made her brother disappear. The stress of her brother's disappearance, the fact that she's been accused, and a sudden isolation from her friends almost proves too much for Shelby until she meets Matt, a young man who comes to her rescue and then offers to help her find her brother. But can Shelby trust Matt? Then again, can anyone really ever trust another person? And can Shelby track down who took her brother before anything bad happens to him?
Mystery. Suspense. And a few unexpected twists. That's what one can expect here. There are some intriguing family dynamics that didn't endear me to Shelby's mother in the slightest, but did make it easier to connect to and root for Shelby, so I guess that all works out in the end. I had figured out the answer before it was revealed, which sometimes bugs me when I'm reading a mystery, but I think case I thought it was okay. There was enough story after the reveal to make it not seem like I'd worked out the whole of the plot. Shelby's heroics at the end seem a bit farfetched, especially considering her clumsiness and naïveté at the beginning of the book. That said, one can suspend disbelief enough, especially considering the intended young adult audience, and do so rather easily.
January 16, 2016
Woohoo! A huge Two thumbs up! This book was "Beyond good"! Am I correct - Is this the author's first book? Amazing. I will definitely be looking forward to reading more! I thought this book was fantastic!
It was very suspenseful, kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through. I couldn't wait to find out what had really happened. I was hooked right from the very first chapter. There were lots of twists and turns, and a few OH MY GOSH! moments I did suspect a few things and kind of was correct on one of them, but not totally. One person I suspected ended up totally wrong! So the ending was still a surprise.
I thought the whole book was executed very well. Although this was very suspenseful it was also a very emotionally charged book. It tugged at my heart strings more than a few times and I ended up in tears. Even when I was telling my daughter about it, I ended up in tears again! One of my biggest fears when my daughter was born (26 yrs ago) was that she would be abducted. I was crazy with that fear and it became a phobia causing me to sleep on her bedroom floor at night. So this book really spoke to my heart!
There was excellent character development! I loved Shelby! Absolutely loved her! What a brave young girl, I can't even imagine what she went through. My heart really felt for her! I thought the parents were also great, although they did make me mad in the beginning, they won me over in the end.
And speaking of the End - wow! What an ending! Fantastic! It was action packed, believable, and fun. They whole time I felt like I was watching an episode of SVU or Castle or something.
This will definitely be an author to watch in the future - I'm sold!
Thank you "Partners in Crime Tours" for sending me this book and introducing me to this fabulous author for my honest review!
It was very suspenseful, kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through. I couldn't wait to find out what had really happened. I was hooked right from the very first chapter. There were lots of twists and turns, and a few OH MY GOSH! moments I did suspect a few things and kind of was correct on one of them, but not totally. One person I suspected ended up totally wrong! So the ending was still a surprise.
I thought the whole book was executed very well. Although this was very suspenseful it was also a very emotionally charged book. It tugged at my heart strings more than a few times and I ended up in tears. Even when I was telling my daughter about it, I ended up in tears again! One of my biggest fears when my daughter was born (26 yrs ago) was that she would be abducted. I was crazy with that fear and it became a phobia causing me to sleep on her bedroom floor at night. So this book really spoke to my heart!
There was excellent character development! I loved Shelby! Absolutely loved her! What a brave young girl, I can't even imagine what she went through. My heart really felt for her! I thought the parents were also great, although they did make me mad in the beginning, they won me over in the end.
And speaking of the End - wow! What an ending! Fantastic! It was action packed, believable, and fun. They whole time I felt like I was watching an episode of SVU or Castle or something.
This will definitely be an author to watch in the future - I'm sold!
Thank you "Partners in Crime Tours" for sending me this book and introducing me to this fabulous author for my honest review!
May 18, 2015
Shelby is close to her mom, Marianne, and she loves her baby brother, Josh. It’s her step-father, Roger, she doesn’t care for. She feels abandoned by her own father. The party she has been planning to go to for a month is now off – she has to babysit Josh. Still mad and hurt, she makes the best of the situation and takes Josh to the park. She hears fireworks and takes a look. Now Josh is gone and she’s frantic. Her story about having seen a white van is all but ignored and the police consider her their number one suspect. Even her classmates are now saying the most hurtful things imaginable on social media. Then Matt, a senior in her high school, befriends her. She begins to feel like he is the only friend she has. And, bonus plus, her mom and step-father like him.
Sometimes I see a movie and I think ‘over-dramatic’. In a couple of instances that is what I thought when I read this story. First, Shelby’s parents took advantage of her. Her mom was well aware that she’d been planning for a month to attend a party and her mom was onboard with it. But when she came home from school on the day of the party, all of a sudden she needed to babysit her brother and just get over it. Also, it’s not impossible, but I felt it was very unlikely that the police would actually come right out and accuse a fifteen year old girl of murdering and hiding the body of her baby brother. She had absolutely no run-ins with the police in her past, so it was just over the top to me. And yet, my rating remains rather high because the novel is very well-written and immediately grabbed my interest. The story stayed engaging throughout. This is a Young Adult novel and I’d say it is appropriate for 14 and up. Rating: 4 out of 5.
Sometimes I see a movie and I think ‘over-dramatic’. In a couple of instances that is what I thought when I read this story. First, Shelby’s parents took advantage of her. Her mom was well aware that she’d been planning for a month to attend a party and her mom was onboard with it. But when she came home from school on the day of the party, all of a sudden she needed to babysit her brother and just get over it. Also, it’s not impossible, but I felt it was very unlikely that the police would actually come right out and accuse a fifteen year old girl of murdering and hiding the body of her baby brother. She had absolutely no run-ins with the police in her past, so it was just over the top to me. And yet, my rating remains rather high because the novel is very well-written and immediately grabbed my interest. The story stayed engaging throughout. This is a Young Adult novel and I’d say it is appropriate for 14 and up. Rating: 4 out of 5.
May 29, 2015
AWESOME!
What could be worse for a fifteen year old girl than missing the biggest party of the year?
If you’d asked Shelby Parker that a few days ago she’dhave said absolutely nothing but when a walk in the park with her brother, Josh, ends in him being kidnapped Shelby quickly reassesses.
Now, because of the things she said when her parents cancelled her party plans st the last minute, she’s being accused of getting rid of Josh.
Will Shelby be able to prove her innocence and find Josh before he’s lost to them forever?
Hott Review:
At first I thought reading Beyond Suspicion was going to be difficult. The first chapter is very much like being fifteen again. But as we got into the mystery there was less high school drama and an amazing story emerged.
I took Beyond Suspicion with me to read on a long car trip but found it really hard to put down when we arrived! Even when I wasn’t actively reading, I was thinking about the plot and boy I couldn’t let my kids out of my sight!
Beyond Suspicion is a real pageturner made extra special because it’s suitable for all audiences! There’s no foul language, no uncomfortable scenes, and no gore. It’s a great suspense for everyone!
What could be worse for a fifteen year old girl than missing the biggest party of the year?
If you’d asked Shelby Parker that a few days ago she’dhave said absolutely nothing but when a walk in the park with her brother, Josh, ends in him being kidnapped Shelby quickly reassesses.
Now, because of the things she said when her parents cancelled her party plans st the last minute, she’s being accused of getting rid of Josh.
Will Shelby be able to prove her innocence and find Josh before he’s lost to them forever?
Hott Review:
At first I thought reading Beyond Suspicion was going to be difficult. The first chapter is very much like being fifteen again. But as we got into the mystery there was less high school drama and an amazing story emerged.
I took Beyond Suspicion with me to read on a long car trip but found it really hard to put down when we arrived! Even when I wasn’t actively reading, I was thinking about the plot and boy I couldn’t let my kids out of my sight!
Beyond Suspicion is a real pageturner made extra special because it’s suitable for all audiences! There’s no foul language, no uncomfortable scenes, and no gore. It’s a great suspense for everyone!
June 5, 2015
Shelby is having a rough enough time adjusting to a new step father, but now there is a baby brother as well. Not just a baby in the house, but a baby that she is expected to babysit for - often at the expense of her time with friends. I mean really, who wouldn't resent the whole situation?
Shelby has to give up a party to babysit for her baby brother. She's angry, feeling very put upon - taken advantage of. She takes her eyes off her brother for just a minute, and he's gone!
The police are looking at her in a way that seems to imply that she has somehow harmed her brother. Even her parents are angry with her - think she has put her brother in danger. She is hurt, angry, frustrated, and to vindicate herself(and because she actually loves this little person), she decides to search and find him herself.
Who was in the mysterious van? Will she find him in time?
Who is this person who took her brother?
Catherine Winn uses her years of experience with young teens as a teacher to get into the mind of this young girl as she searches for her brother, and as she searches for truth.
Great story, very easy read, and I would recommend it to every young mystery lover - and a few of us old mystery readers as well!
Shelby has to give up a party to babysit for her baby brother. She's angry, feeling very put upon - taken advantage of. She takes her eyes off her brother for just a minute, and he's gone!
The police are looking at her in a way that seems to imply that she has somehow harmed her brother. Even her parents are angry with her - think she has put her brother in danger. She is hurt, angry, frustrated, and to vindicate herself(and because she actually loves this little person), she decides to search and find him herself.
Who was in the mysterious van? Will she find him in time?
Who is this person who took her brother?
Catherine Winn uses her years of experience with young teens as a teacher to get into the mind of this young girl as she searches for her brother, and as she searches for truth.
Great story, very easy read, and I would recommend it to every young mystery lover - and a few of us old mystery readers as well!
July 17, 2015
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
Shelby is a high schooler and was really wanting to go to a party, her mom and step dad need her to stay home and baby sit her brother. She relents because deep down she truly loves him and while out in her care he is kidnapped. She is blamed for the kidnapping but she thinks she knows a few of the clues as to who took him.
Shelby was a great sleuth. Not only was she connected to the crime, but a person of interest and she was out collecting clues without a drivers license! I loved how she was completely into collecting clues and finding out who dun it. And I loved the final perp, the twists and turns were great and although I may have guessed it a little early, I still loved how it all came together in the end.
Shelby is a high schooler and was really wanting to go to a party, her mom and step dad need her to stay home and baby sit her brother. She relents because deep down she truly loves him and while out in her care he is kidnapped. She is blamed for the kidnapping but she thinks she knows a few of the clues as to who took him.
Shelby was a great sleuth. Not only was she connected to the crime, but a person of interest and she was out collecting clues without a drivers license! I loved how she was completely into collecting clues and finding out who dun it. And I loved the final perp, the twists and turns were great and although I may have guessed it a little early, I still loved how it all came together in the end.
July 21, 2015
The main character, Shelby, finds herself in a horrible situation when her baby brother is kidnapped while in her care. Everyone turns on her when they all think she has something to do with it but all Shelby can think about is trying to find the real kidnappers. This story is heart wrenching at times for what Shelby has to go through, not only with all the emotions of being accused but also worrying about what happened to her little brother. This book kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end.
January 30, 2016
Fifteen-year-old Shelby hates her new stepfather, and wishes her real dad would come back into her life. Ever since her mom married Roger all she does is attend social functions and expect Shelby to babysit her little brother Josh. Shelby is excited to have been invited to her best friend Valerie’s Sweet Sixteen party, and welcomes the chance to hang with her friends. Read the rest of the review on my blog: https://shouldireaditornot.wordpress....
May 1, 2015
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.
So when can this book be made into a movie that will do it justice? I am in love with the book. The characters are so realistic and believable. I enjoyed the plot. Probably one of my favorite books ever.
So when can this book be made into a movie that will do it justice? I am in love with the book. The characters are so realistic and believable. I enjoyed the plot. Probably one of my favorite books ever.
May 21, 2015
I do love a good mystery. And this one has a great lead character - Shelby - to root for. Very well written.
May 29, 2015
I was hooked after the first chapter. Great book. Very suspenseful, exciting and it kept your attention. Thank you Poisened Pen for the free ARC.
Penney
Penney
August 20, 2015
Review available as as Tuesday 25 August on www.saharsreviews.com!
October 28, 2015
The moronic characters had me pretty suss by page 1, but I had to stop at 4% after the sentence "Valerie's... pink-butterfly earrings set off her topaz-blue eyes". Honestly, wtf?!
March 18, 2018
Actual rating: 2.5 stars. Besides the fact that some of Shelby's dialogue doesn't sound like a 15-year-old's, this book was okay. It wasn't really bad, but it didn't have a lot going for it either. I picked up the book because I thought the concept was interesting. And it was, but I felt like Winn didn't lean into the various story threads enough. We don't see the aftermath of the whole incident which, considering sooooo many people blamed Shelby, including makes the ending feel a bit lackluster. When it's revealed that , there's no emotional gut punch since we haven't really seen a connection between them both. Also, some bits stretched the limits of believabilty. Even though the cops are convinced that Shelby did it, there's no way they would question a minor without a parent present. If she did confess, a lawyer would get it thrown out in a heartbeat.
February 7, 2016
YOUNG ADULT FICTION
Catherine A. Winn
Beyond Suspicion: A Whispering Springs Mystery
The Poisoned Pencil
Paperback, 9781929345106 (also available as an ebook), 230 pgs., $10.95
May 5, 2015
High school sophomore Shelby Palmer has been looking forward to her first boy-girl party, one of her best friend’s sweet sixteen, for a month. She’s got the new dress, the shoes, the makeup — and her “super-cute-walking-electric-shock” crush is going to be there. But when she gets home from school her mother tells her that she and Roger, Shelby’s stepfather, are going out and Shelby will have to babysit her baby brother, Josh. Again.
Shelby takes Josh to the park, one of their favorite spots, trying to take her mind off of her troubles. Shelby is momentarily distracted by a commotion in the park and when she looks back for Josh, he has disappeared. The police don’t believe Shelby when she tells them about the white van she’s seen too many times in her neighborhood. The media doesn’t believe her either, and they set up camp in the front yard of her home. Her friends jump on the bandwagon and trash her all over social media. Since the police aren’t looking for the kidnappers, Shelby will just have to do it herself.
Beyond Suspicion: A Whispering Springs Mystery is Catherine A. Winn’s debut novel, a young adult thriller, the first in a planned series. Overall it’s a good first effort but uneven. Winn does a great job with the sometimes difficult dynamics of blended families and the fickleness of teenagers, but her caricatured portrayal of the police and their overwrought dialogue falls short. On the other hand, Winn has the “tabloid mentality” national media frenzy, “like someone dumped chum in the ocean for sharks,” complete with a Nancy Grace–type talking head, pegged perfectly. Winn’s characters are believable and sympathetic, if not overly complex, and she deftly handles Shelby’s character development, not an easy feat with teenagers. Several shady types muddy the waters, well placed to keep you guessing as to the identity of the culprit(s).
The plot is simple but with plenty of twists and the pacing is brisk, designed to hold the attention of its intended audience. The action accelerates into the final showdown and races to an exciting and satisfying conclusion. Beyond Suspicion shows promise for Winn. Teenagers will identify with Shelby and zip right through Beyond Suspicion, then wait impatiently for the next installment in the series.
Published in Lone Star Literary Life.
Catherine A. Winn
Beyond Suspicion: A Whispering Springs Mystery
The Poisoned Pencil
Paperback, 9781929345106 (also available as an ebook), 230 pgs., $10.95
May 5, 2015
High school sophomore Shelby Palmer has been looking forward to her first boy-girl party, one of her best friend’s sweet sixteen, for a month. She’s got the new dress, the shoes, the makeup — and her “super-cute-walking-electric-shock” crush is going to be there. But when she gets home from school her mother tells her that she and Roger, Shelby’s stepfather, are going out and Shelby will have to babysit her baby brother, Josh. Again.
Shelby takes Josh to the park, one of their favorite spots, trying to take her mind off of her troubles. Shelby is momentarily distracted by a commotion in the park and when she looks back for Josh, he has disappeared. The police don’t believe Shelby when she tells them about the white van she’s seen too many times in her neighborhood. The media doesn’t believe her either, and they set up camp in the front yard of her home. Her friends jump on the bandwagon and trash her all over social media. Since the police aren’t looking for the kidnappers, Shelby will just have to do it herself.
Beyond Suspicion: A Whispering Springs Mystery is Catherine A. Winn’s debut novel, a young adult thriller, the first in a planned series. Overall it’s a good first effort but uneven. Winn does a great job with the sometimes difficult dynamics of blended families and the fickleness of teenagers, but her caricatured portrayal of the police and their overwrought dialogue falls short. On the other hand, Winn has the “tabloid mentality” national media frenzy, “like someone dumped chum in the ocean for sharks,” complete with a Nancy Grace–type talking head, pegged perfectly. Winn’s characters are believable and sympathetic, if not overly complex, and she deftly handles Shelby’s character development, not an easy feat with teenagers. Several shady types muddy the waters, well placed to keep you guessing as to the identity of the culprit(s).
The plot is simple but with plenty of twists and the pacing is brisk, designed to hold the attention of its intended audience. The action accelerates into the final showdown and races to an exciting and satisfying conclusion. Beyond Suspicion shows promise for Winn. Teenagers will identify with Shelby and zip right through Beyond Suspicion, then wait impatiently for the next installment in the series.
Published in Lone Star Literary Life.
May 20, 2018
Dang good read! Hits on reality so well without even thinking about it while reading! Highly recommended book!
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