Dead Connection by Charlie Price (Young Adult)

First time author Charlie Price has written an engrossing whodunit novel called Dead Connection. The story revolves around the disappearance of a high school cheerleader while the chapters of the book alternate between the points of view of a number of diverse and unrelated characters. There is a teenage loner from a broken dysfunctional family who spends all of his spare time in the local cemetery literally talking with the dead. His unique connection with the dead gives him useful information pertaining to the missing cheerleader, but who would believe him?

A 22-year-old recovering drug addict with a loose grip on reality may have been a witness to the disappearance, but he has serious memory problems. An even more disturbing character is the corrupt police detective with an increasing number of alcoholic blackouts and little respect for women. The cemetery caretaker, his daughter, and the Deputy in charge of the investigation bring fullness to the cast by adding insight and humanity to the story.

Charlie Price has spent years working with kids in at-risk schools and psychiatric hospitals giving him a unique understanding of the types of characters that people his book. The events leading up to the disappearance slowly clear through the suspenseful rollercoaster ride full of twists and turns Price has created. This fast-paced book is an excellent choice for the beach. I look forward to more books by this author.

Val Tate                              

Village Book Store