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Book Nook: Murder investigations by teens, psychopaths

Teens attempt to solve murder mysteries and one of them is even a psychopath in several new thrillers.

A young journalist is intrigued by a teen girl who is found amid a murder scene covered in blood that isn’t hers and is determined to find out the real story behind the crimes in “All These Bodies” by Kendare Blake.

Michael, son of the local sheriff, is pulled into the Carlson family murders — the family slaughtered, but no blood found in them. Instead, there is blood all over 15-year-old Marie Catherine Hale. Befriending the girl, Michael starts to care for her, and starts to want to help her — and Marie says she will only tell the story of the murder spree she was a part of to Michael. But the story she tells is outlandish and involves someone drinking blood. Is she a deadly murderess telling him a tale or is she telling the truth?

Based on two real murder cases — less vampire-y though — this is a good blend of true crime and horror, with two characters that pull you into the story and don’t let go until the end.

“All These Bodies” is published by HarperCollins Children’s Books.

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A wickedly smart story of one psychopath in the path of a killer is told in “Never Saw Me Coming” by Vera Kurian.

Chloe seems like just another girl-next-door, but in reality has gotten into college as part of a clinical study on psychopaths. And Chloe has also followed Will Bachman, a former childhood friend that she has plans to kill. But when a body turns up and it’s not Will’s, Chloe soon realizes she’s not the only psychopath on campus who has murderous desires on their mind. Soon Chloe has to decide who she can trust — if anyone — and which of her fellow psychopaths is hunting the others. Or is a previously undiagnosed psychopath running around campus killing?

This is a wickedly smart thriller that will keep readers guessing with a heroine who might not be exactly likable, but readers will enjoy nevertheless.

“Never Saw Me Coming” is published by Park Row Books.

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A ghost and a haunted boy amidst the back drop of the 1893 World’s Fair is the subject of “The City Beautiful” by Aden Polydoros.

Alter has done nothing but try to fit in at his new home in Chicago. Not only as a Jewish immigrant, but also as a gay boy. He works hard at a printer’s in hopes of making enough money to one day bring his sisters and mother to America from Romania.

When his best friend and not-so-secret crush Yakov is found murdered, Alter is disturbed and wants to find out who did it, but it seems no one seems to care that Jewish immigrants are going missing. With the help of a young would-be journalist and Alter’s ex-friend and ex-love interest, he begins investigating Yakov’s murder — and soon finds himself haunted and perhaps even possessed as well by Yakov’s spirit. Can Alter free himself of Yakov and solve his murder before he takes over his body?

This is a taunt historical thriller, with plenty of twists and a storyline of love forbidden at the time. It’s haunting and will stick with readers.

“The City Beautiful” is published by Inkyard Press.

Amy Phelps can be reached at aphelps@newsandsentinel.com.

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