The Body in the Woods (Point Last Seen #1)
Author: April Henry
Average Rating: 3.52/5.0
Personal Rating: 4.0/5.0
Page Count: 263
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Release Date: 17 June 2014
According to Goodreads:
In this new series told from multiple perspectives, teen members of a search and rescue team discover a dead body in the woods.
Alexis, Nick, and Ruby have very different backgrounds: Alexis has spent her life covering for her mom’s mental illness, Nick’s bravado hides his fear of not being good enough, and Ruby just wants to pursue her eccentric interests in a world that doesn’t understand her. When the three teens join Portland County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, they are teamed up to search for a autistic man lost in the woods. What they find instead is a dead body. In a friendship that will be forged in danger, fear, and courage, the three team up to find the girl’s killer—before he can strike one of their own.
Alexis, Nick, and Ruby have very different backgrounds: Alexis has spent her life covering for her mom’s mental illness, Nick’s bravado hides his fear of not being good enough, and Ruby just wants to pursue her eccentric interests in a world that doesn’t understand her. When the three teens join Portland County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, they are teamed up to search for a autistic man lost in the woods. What they find instead is a dead body. In a friendship that will be forged in danger, fear, and courage, the three team up to find the girl’s killer—before he can strike one of their own.
This first book in April Henry’s Point Last Seen YA mystery series is full of riveting suspense, putting readers in the middle of harrowing rescues and crime scene investigations.
My Opinion:
Reading The Body in the Woods was a lot of fun for me, because this past school year I took a Forensics class. So, I was able to understand terms such as rigor, livor, and algor mortis and how to search a crime scene, etc. I enjoyed watching Nick, Ruby, and Alexis strengthen their friendship as they tried to solve the crime. Each chapter was told from the perspective of Nick, Ruby, or Alexis. I loved how each of them had a completely different story from the others. You have Alexis who is from a poorer lifestyle and has to be the adult, because her mother isn't mentally capable at times to do so. Then you have Nick who is constantly trying to make his father, a military member, proud. He constantly strives to be a hero just like his father. Ruby is a lover of all things crime and murder. You could almost say it's an obsession. She is an only child with two protective parents, who are constantly concerned about her interest on those two topics.
I felt there was a strong balance between the case the teens are trying to solve and their personal life. There is a hint of romance between two characters (one is part of the friend group the other is not), but I barely noticed it. The book is meant to focus primarily on the case, so I was happy that a romance didn't overtake the whole point of the book.
I would recommend The Body in the Woods to anyone who loves crime, mystery, or anything to do with forensics/criminology. It's not a textbook for forensics, but there are terms and techniques that are described more than the usual young adult crime book.
Purchase Links:
Great review!
ReplyDeleteI actually just read this one and enjoyed it. I've read several books by April Henry and really like them all. It's funny that you took a Forensics class for school this year, because I did too!
Olivia @ Fluttering Pages
How did you like the class? I enjoyed it a lot, especially since my teacher was so excited for every little topic and activity we covered. After reading this one I do want to check out some of her other books. Which one is your favorite so far?
DeleteSounds wonderful and great review :-)
ReplyDeleteAditi @Book Stop Corner
It was a tame book, but suspenseful :) Thank you!
Delete