YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

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 feelings 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 that the dead leave behind in the world... and the imprints that attach to their killers.

Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find the 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, she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet on her quest to 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.

The Body Finder Series by Kimberly Derting will be one of our GBRs for July 2023.

Please read at your own pace, and hide any spoilers ☺ You are welcome to join at any time during the month ☺

Happy Reading Everybody!

Pre-Reading Questions -

Anybody got any thoughts on this one before we start?

Has anyone read anything similar to this before?

Anybody read anything else by this author previously?

GBR reviews - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Book one first quarter - what a skill to be burdened with. The view of the person carrying out these crimes is genuinely creepy.

Book one second quarter - still no closer to knowing what’s happening, and now her best friend has gone missing in action.

New to me author (I think).


The Body Finder 19% (view spoiler)[Body in the water. Yeah you'd never forget that. no thanks... (hide spoiler)]

Book one - third quarter. It would have been unexpected for it to not throw up a blip. However, now she’s at risk…the tension level has picked up a little.

Jamie wrote: "New to me author (I think).


The Body Finder 19% [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I know she's had years to adjust to her special skill, but it's remarkably blasé in the way it's talked about by those who know. (hide spoiler)]

Book one. Finished. Review on home page. But if a quick jump at the end.

Book two first quarter. There’s no let up for Violet. Considering the skill she has, I’m not surprised that people are starting to ask questions.

Book two second quarter. Not surprising that people are curious about her skill. Unsure, but I’m assuming the mystery voice this time is Mike’s sister.

Book two third quarter. A little angsty but at least Jay and Violet are talking again. Now, how long will it take them to slot this together?

Book two. Completed. Review on home page. An interesting development, though Violet really could benefit from thinking before she acts!

Book three first quarter. A slightly slower start, the focus on Violet’s work with Sara. The presence of the man at the station suggests a potential problem.

Book three second quarter. (view spoiler)[ Hardly surprising that she’s put herself in the radar of the young killer and the one they call the collector. Sure she’ll survive this after she does something stupid! (hide spoiler)]

Book three third quarter. Unfortunate timing and Violet will need to be careful. Hopefully this is a scare tactic rather than a genuine threat.

Book three. Completed. Review on home page. Increasingly frustrating as Violet makes silly decisions, nobody’s looking out for her and the focus on her gift is becoming increasingly unnecessary.

Book four first quarter. I know Violet’s parents worry over her, but they still allow her to get into these crazy situations. Wonder who’s behind this scene.

Karen wrote: "Book one first quarter - what a skill to be burdened with. The view of the person carrying out these crimes is genuinely creepy."

I like it when books do this. It is part of how I loved The Naturals series.

The Body Finder 48% (view spoiler)[I really hope he doesn't catch onto her stalking him... He might find things too odd or something about her behavior (hide spoiler)]

Book four second quarter. There’s a slower quality to this. We still don’t know who is responsible or why it’s been done, but I’m assuming it’s linked to the voice talking us through events of the past.

Book four third quarter. It’s a shame there’s been more deaths, but at least the group are starting to head in the right direction. Not sure Chelsea knowing will be a good thing.

Book four finished. Review on home page. Sticking to the formula, but giving even less this time and leaving undeveloped the potentially interesting link to the past. Can’t believe it ends like that-definite whimper rather than a bang!

Jamie wrote: "The Body Finder 48% [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Having read the series (such as it is) I find it weird that these people who've got away with murders seem to mess up once Violet is aware of them. (hide spoiler)]

Karen wrote: "Book one. Finished. Review on home page. But if a quick jump at the end."

That it did. Those last 30 pages or so...
(view spoiler)[I got a bit tired of all the romance at the 75 % mark so it was a nice reprieve. (hide spoiler)]

What did you all think about these books? Maybe I'll join you for the buddy

Aly wrote: "What did you all think about these books? Maybe I'll join you for the buddy"

Okay but not impressive. Currently on book 2 and I doubt I'll be giving it more than a 3 star rating.

Desires of the Dead Bk 2, Ch 7 (view spoiler)[So the new killer is a teenage girl or are we getting non-killer povs?. (hide spoiler)]

Jamie wrote: "Aly wrote: "What did you all think about these books? Maybe I'll join you for the buddy"

Okay but not impressive. Currently on book 2 and I doubt I'll be giving it more than a 3 star rating."

Good to know, thanks

These were a quick read, started well but fizzled. I persevered as I hate leaving things unfinished.

Oh dear now I really wonder if I should continue. 1st was decent but already bored with book2.

Desires of the Dead Bk 2, Ch 15 (view spoiler)[I wondered when she would question Sara not talking to her parents or at least uncle first! Yeah, anyone who tries that crap, stay away from! Although why she isn't going to her family is beyond me. (hide spoiler)]

Karen wrote: "Book two second quarter. Not surprising that people are curious about her skill. Unsure, but I’m assuming the mystery voice this time is ..."

(view spoiler)[It all feels obvious there but what about the body if the boy. Any deeper connection. Is Megan trouble or scared? (hide spoiler)]

Karen wrote: "Book two third quarter. A little angsty but at least Jay and Violet are talking again. Now, how long will it take them to slot this together?"

At least something finally happened! LOL this one is moving so slow...

Desires of the Dead finished. (view spoiler)[Her gift is going to get her killed if she doesn't learn to think more! Although it doesn't help how strong the compulsion seems to be to unearth these bodies. She needs to learn to control that too, especially since she goes a bit out of it while "hunting" for these echoes. (hide spoiler)]

The Last Echo Ch.2 + Attraction

(view spoiler)[Okay, this guys is a major creep. A real sicko!! Stragne time jump with new characters too it seems. (hide spoiler)]

Karen wrote: "Book three first quarter. A slightly slower start, the focus on Violet’s work with Sara. The presence of the man at the station suggests a potential problem."

(view spoiler)[I don't get how her parents allow this. This new teamwork she is doing is such a change from the previous two books. (hide spoiler)]

The Last Echo CH 8 + Intimacy

(view spoiler)[Eww, eww eww....I am NOT okay with that the creep is doing while she "sleeps".. (hide spoiler)]

The Last Echo Finished

(view spoiler)[That epilogue... Oooh I knew I didn't like how this company operates but now....Girl, you trouble... (hide spoiler)]

Dead Silence Prologue (view spoiler)[Oh my, intense start! Is the annoying Chelsea going to be taken forever away from Violet?!. (hide spoiler)]

Karen wrote: "Book four first quarter. I know Violet’s parents worry over her, but they still allow her to get into these crazy situations. Wonder who’s behind this scene."

I never did get that myself. Through either of the last two books. I mean, HOW many times does she nearly get killed for them to say enough?

Dead Silence CH 7 (view spoiler)[I don't like that her two worlds are colliding. Secrets get harder to keep then... (hide spoiler)]

Karen wrote: "Book four finished. Review on home page. Sticking to the formula, but giving even less this time and leaving undeveloped the potentially interesting link to the past. Can’t believe it ends like tha..."

Yeah...(view spoiler)[That was an ending?! I know it said epilogue but that felt like like suck a strange ending, with no real resolution. Not sure how I feel about Chelsea pulling through either. Not that I wanted her to die, but that intro held such potential for something to really shake Violet up, and then.. it falls flat. (hide spoiler)]