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Disbelieved
Anelise sees crimes before they happen, but no one believes her.
Joe solves crimes. But the police don’t believe him either.
When Anelise sees a cyclist plunging into a quarry she rings 999, but when help arrives there’s no cyclist and no bike. The following week the accident happens for real. The cyclist survives, but did someone mean to kill him – and why?
Forensics-mad Joe investigates, only to discover a deadly nest of drug dealers who’ll stop at nothing to shut the cousins up.
Disbelieved is the riveting new YA action thriller from Beth Webb, author of the Star Dancer quartet. Packed with science, deceit, and too much sugar, Disbelieved will keep you guessing till the very last page
Joe solves crimes. But the police don’t believe him either.
When Anelise sees a cyclist plunging into a quarry she rings 999, but when help arrives there’s no cyclist and no bike. The following week the accident happens for real. The cyclist survives, but did someone mean to kill him – and why?
Forensics-mad Joe investigates, only to discover a deadly nest of drug dealers who’ll stop at nothing to shut the cousins up.
Disbelieved is the riveting new YA action thriller from Beth Webb, author of the Star Dancer quartet. Packed with science, deceit, and too much sugar, Disbelieved will keep you guessing till the very last page
290 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 24, 2018
Disbelieved, by Beth Webb, is YA crime fiction with a touch of the supernatural. Its protagonists are fifteen year old Anelise Skinner and seventeen year old Joseph Bonne, cousins whose peers refer to them disparagingly as Skin and Bone. Anelise’s mother is dead and her father is working abroad so she lives with her Aunt Genevieve, Joe’s mother. Genevieve Skinner is a professor of forensics, currently assisting in a criminal trial. Joe’s father no longer appears to be involved in their lives.
Joe is fascinated by forensics and has access to his mother’s lab at their home. Anelise is a troubled young girl, coping with her demons by dying her hair different, garish colours and snacking on highly sugared foodstuffs.
The story opens above an abandoned quarry where Anelise is out walking. She sees a fast moving cyclist lose control of his bike and plummet over the edge into the undergrowth below. Horrified she phones for help, summoning emergency services. They search the area but find no sign of the cyclist. Anelise is chastised by the police for wasting their time.
The following weekend Joe takes his cousin back to the quarry in an attempt to find a rational explanation for what she saw as it is still bothering her. They witness the same cyclist as he crashes through the fence and into the quarry. This time they can both see him after the event, lying still and bleeding below.
Anelise’s apparent premonition upsets her further and causes the police to treat her with suspicion. It also gives a local reporter something juicy to write about. Joe meanwhile is carefully sweeping the scene, taking photographs and gathering samples as potential evidence. What the cousins saw and heard suggests this may not have been an accident. The police do not take their concerns seriously, regarding them as bothersome children.
The two teenagers soon fall foul of another witness, a man who seems keen to keep them away from the damaged bike. This soon disappears but not before Joe collects traces of white powder from the frame. They recognise that if drugs are involved what they are doing could be dangerous.
Undeterred they set out to uncover who may have wished to harm the cyclist and why. He was a blogger, employed by a bike shop to promote and deliver their wares. Donning disguises they investigate in key locations. With Genevieve away or busy with work they seek help from sources who treat them as the problem.
The plot is well structured, fast moving and with plenty of tension as befits crime writing. The vivid portrayal of the key moments of crisis suggests this would make fine television. My only quibble was with the denouement, a twist that was signalled but I couldn’t quite rationalise. This did not spoil my enjoyment of the story.
Young people have long relished tales in which adults are absent or do not take them seriously and are then proved wrong. Anelise may need to hone her unusual gift, and find a way to cope with it that does not require such regular sugar hits, but I would like to see this pair further developed. They have the potential to be an alluring addition to the crime fiction canon.
Joe is fascinated by forensics and has access to his mother’s lab at their home. Anelise is a troubled young girl, coping with her demons by dying her hair different, garish colours and snacking on highly sugared foodstuffs.
The story opens above an abandoned quarry where Anelise is out walking. She sees a fast moving cyclist lose control of his bike and plummet over the edge into the undergrowth below. Horrified she phones for help, summoning emergency services. They search the area but find no sign of the cyclist. Anelise is chastised by the police for wasting their time.
The following weekend Joe takes his cousin back to the quarry in an attempt to find a rational explanation for what she saw as it is still bothering her. They witness the same cyclist as he crashes through the fence and into the quarry. This time they can both see him after the event, lying still and bleeding below.
Anelise’s apparent premonition upsets her further and causes the police to treat her with suspicion. It also gives a local reporter something juicy to write about. Joe meanwhile is carefully sweeping the scene, taking photographs and gathering samples as potential evidence. What the cousins saw and heard suggests this may not have been an accident. The police do not take their concerns seriously, regarding them as bothersome children.
The two teenagers soon fall foul of another witness, a man who seems keen to keep them away from the damaged bike. This soon disappears but not before Joe collects traces of white powder from the frame. They recognise that if drugs are involved what they are doing could be dangerous.
Undeterred they set out to uncover who may have wished to harm the cyclist and why. He was a blogger, employed by a bike shop to promote and deliver their wares. Donning disguises they investigate in key locations. With Genevieve away or busy with work they seek help from sources who treat them as the problem.
The plot is well structured, fast moving and with plenty of tension as befits crime writing. The vivid portrayal of the key moments of crisis suggests this would make fine television. My only quibble was with the denouement, a twist that was signalled but I couldn’t quite rationalise. This did not spoil my enjoyment of the story.
Young people have long relished tales in which adults are absent or do not take them seriously and are then proved wrong. Anelise may need to hone her unusual gift, and find a way to cope with it that does not require such regular sugar hits, but I would like to see this pair further developed. They have the potential to be an alluring addition to the crime fiction canon.
May 26, 2019
Excellent, quirky, funny and smart. Brilliant writing.
October 14, 2018
'Disbelieved' is a proper page turner with characters to care about.
Is it because her mum’s dead and her dad’s away chasing giant snails in the jungle? Is it her crazy consumption of coloured sprinkles and sugar in general? Anelise is a bright teen who has enough trouble in her life what with bereavement and struggling to eat “normally”. Then she starts seeing crimes before they happen. But even her bff cousin Joe, more like a big warm brother, struggles to believe that. And then life and trouble rocket out of control.
Anelise Skinner and Joe Bonne – Skin and Bone – must team up to defy their age, school and the police to tackle vicious drug dealers who will kill to get their way. It’s even more weird and disturbing when this all happens in the apparently sleepy English west country. Luckily, Anelise is living with cousin Joe and Aunt Genevieve – who just happens to be one of Britain’s top professors of forensics. With a home laboratory stuffed with investigation kit. That Joe knows exactly how to use… Despite all their intelligence and expertise, Anelise and Joe are disbelieved by the police until it’s almost too late. They’re on their own. With near fatal consequences.
From the first paragraph, this book hauls you into a thrilling, action packed, roller coaster ride that veers between loving family humour, spine chilling realities of the criminal world and really uncomfortable psychic powers.
* You ought to know that I know the author. But she and all my writer friends know I’m horribly hard to please! Beth Webb is an established author with 15 titles to her name. Skin & Bone is a new, contemporary concept for Beth, who is definitely in tune with teen readers. She knows her CSI stuff, too, being advised by someone in the trade! I very much hope the Skin & Bone series will take off from here.
Is it because her mum’s dead and her dad’s away chasing giant snails in the jungle? Is it her crazy consumption of coloured sprinkles and sugar in general? Anelise is a bright teen who has enough trouble in her life what with bereavement and struggling to eat “normally”. Then she starts seeing crimes before they happen. But even her bff cousin Joe, more like a big warm brother, struggles to believe that. And then life and trouble rocket out of control.
Anelise Skinner and Joe Bonne – Skin and Bone – must team up to defy their age, school and the police to tackle vicious drug dealers who will kill to get their way. It’s even more weird and disturbing when this all happens in the apparently sleepy English west country. Luckily, Anelise is living with cousin Joe and Aunt Genevieve – who just happens to be one of Britain’s top professors of forensics. With a home laboratory stuffed with investigation kit. That Joe knows exactly how to use… Despite all their intelligence and expertise, Anelise and Joe are disbelieved by the police until it’s almost too late. They’re on their own. With near fatal consequences.
From the first paragraph, this book hauls you into a thrilling, action packed, roller coaster ride that veers between loving family humour, spine chilling realities of the criminal world and really uncomfortable psychic powers.
* You ought to know that I know the author. But she and all my writer friends know I’m horribly hard to please! Beth Webb is an established author with 15 titles to her name. Skin & Bone is a new, contemporary concept for Beth, who is definitely in tune with teen readers. She knows her CSI stuff, too, being advised by someone in the trade! I very much hope the Skin & Bone series will take off from here.
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November 11, 2018A delightful story for those who love suspense, mystery and intrigue…and the odd sprinkle of yummy sugar! Enjoy the friendship and wee romance, grit yourself with the bullying and drug-dealing, and visit the quarry, bike shop, and plenty more! From the first page to the last, this story has twists and turns that’ll keep you guessing! (I certainly was!) A recommended, page-turning treat.
September 12, 2021
This was well written and exciting with likeable characters who are clever, flawed but brave and loyal…ideal role models for YA readers. It’s a fun plot and not as far-fetched as you might initially think, as those of you who work with young people exploited by County lines gangs will know. I also loved the setting, it’s very Somerset although the place names are changed. If you have a teen looking for an adventure story that’s a bit grittier than most of the usual YA novels, they will love this.
November 4, 2019
INSPIRING
You want a quirky, unique, contemporary novel with insightful and realistic characters? Real and witty dialogue? Fantastic structure and pace? Featuring an enviable friendship and shockingly well done research into the fascinating world of forensics?
Read Disbelieved by Beth Webb.
Overall? A brilliant YA crime thriller. Will be recommending.
You want a quirky, unique, contemporary novel with insightful and realistic characters? Real and witty dialogue? Fantastic structure and pace? Featuring an enviable friendship and shockingly well done research into the fascinating world of forensics?
Read Disbelieved by Beth Webb.
Overall? A brilliant YA crime thriller. Will be recommending.
May 22, 2019
Love the mix of "serious science" and mythical. Once started couldn't put it down because I wanted to find out the end-so many twists I didn't get it
August 26, 2022
This is Beth's best writing since Star Dancer, vivid, exciting and a real page turner. More please!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews