The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
Published by Harperteen in March 2010
336 pages.
Reviewed from Library copy
from the back cover-

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 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 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.
I love discovering new authors, especially when they can write like this. It's hard to believe that this was a debut novel for Kimberly Derting because the writing was so exceptional. Filled with twists and turns, and suspense I was compelled to read it in one sitting.
Violet is a wonderfully written character, juggling life as a teenager with a strange and (scary) ability. She strives to do whats right, & use her gift to save others even though it eventually puts her in harms way and she becomes the target.
Jay her dearest friend struggles to be by her side through it all and the chemistry between them surprisingly rivals Bella & Edward.
Definitely one to add to your "to read" list-I can't wait for the next one "Desires of the Dead" -but sadly I'll have to wait until December..