Head Games - Softcover

When Jenna Blake returns home from college for Christmas, she is horrified by the brutal murders committed by three high school classmates. Convinced that there is a pattern and common cause to the homicidal rages, Jenna struggles to work with authorities on the case and comes to a bizarre conclusion. Julie Dretzin's smooth, sophisticated narration keeps this suspenseful story flowing. Light inflections of voice differentiate characters well. Dretzin knows how to read the most thrilling parts for maximum impact without losing a beat in the cadence of the story, making this a riveting thriller for teens. J.M.P. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Grade 9 Up-Christopher Golden's Body of Evidence series of murder mysteries continues with unabated gruesome detailing and plot-driven intensity in this novel (PB, 2000). Jenna has managed to survive her first semester of college (featured in Body Bags and Skin Deep), and has a professional affiliation with the local coroner. During Christmas vacation, she helps him solve the murder of the college town's mayor, and at the same time has to cope on her own with the multiple violent episodes of her hometown friends murdering their families. The fittingly vulgar vocabulary and self-conscious diversity of Jenna's acquaintances are littered almost as liberally as the mayhem. There is definite appeal here to the crowd of teen readers who like gore and are willing to suspend all disbelief to get it. On the realistic side, there are a number of romances featured here, between teens and between mature adults, that are as engaging as the murder scenes are repulsive. Julie Dretzin's reading suits Jenna's personality nicely, while realizing the tones of other members of the cast enough to bring each one to life.
Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.