Girl Forgotten

by April Henry

Libby audiobook 6 hours

read by: Tessa Netting

Published: 2023

Genre: YA murder mystery

 

"Seventeen years ago, Layla Trello was murdered and her killer was never found. Enter true-crime fan Piper Gray, who is determined to re-open Layla's case and get some answers. With the help of Jonas - who has a secret of his own - Piper starts a podcast investigating Layla's murder. But as she digs deeper into the mysteries of the past, Piper begins receiving anonymous threats telling her to back off the investigation, or else."

 

This book bothered me more than I anticipated. I've read other April Henry books and I know I'm not her target audience, but some of the issues raised seem to be too easily dismissed.

 

Podcasting, journalistic integrity, research, innuendo, rumor, inaccurate info, sensationalism, perspective . . . especially when dealing with the true crime genre and real people's lives . . . it just didn't seem to address these questions very well. 

 

The killer was not who I anticipated. I liked Jonas, except for being so upset with Piper for her untruth.  

The Body in the Woods

by April Henry

Libby audiobook 7 hours

read by Amy McFadden

Published: 2014 (audio 2016)

Genre: YA murder mystery

 

This reminded me a little of NCIS or Criminal Minds. Alexis, Nick, and Ruby have very different back stories and home situations, but all three volunteer with the Portland County Search And Rescue (SAR).  When they come across a dead girl while searching for a missing autistic man, their lives are upended. 

I made a few notes while listening to this one. 

While Alexis is searching for her mom (who is mentally ill), she has a conversation with a homeless young man who teaches her about homelessness. The teens who pose are referred to as "Oogles" and they hang out with homeless populations because they are bored.

Alexis' conversation with the hooded guy didn't go where I thought it would.

I kept thinking that the serial killer was one character, then another. It was interesting to see how the story developed. (I'm glad it wasn't the one I thought it would be!)

There were actually some really important lines in this book about choices and life, but when listening and driving, it's hard to make note of everything. Overall, though, it was a creepy serial killer story. I liked both Alexis's and Ruby's back stories better than Nick's. He bugged me.

Girl, Stolen

by April Henry
Hennepin County Library hardcover 213 pages
genre: YA adventure - kidnapping & danger

Book's blurb: "Sixteen-year-old Cheyenne Wilder is sleeping in the back of the car while her stepmom fills a prescription for antibiotics. Before Cheyenne realizes what's happening, the car is being stolen. Griffin hadn't meant to kidnap Cheyenne, but once his dad finds out that Cheyenne's father is the president of a powerful corporation, everything changes - now there's a reason to keep her. How will Cheyenne survive this nightmare because she's not only sick with pneumonia - she's blind."

The book isn't edgy enough to make you wonder if Cheyenne will make it - clearly she will survive and get back home. The question for me was always about Griffin and his future. Short, easy-to-read, interesting. I'll definitely buy this for my collection. A little bit hoky, but it works okay.