Ask the Dark

February 16, 2015
A juvenile delinquent must provide for his family when his disabled father and pregnant sister can’t keep up with the bills. Faced with raising $48,000 in three months to keep his family’s house, 15-year-old Billy Zeets will do whatever it takes, but running errands and doing odd jobs isn’t nearly enough. A $100,000 reward to find a missing schoolmate is perfect, especially since Billy thinks he has a lead. However, there’s a serial killer stalking the area, and by investigating the local disappearances, Billy has just made himself a target. Billy’s uneducated, roughshod perspective is littered with grammatical errors, idiosyncrasies, and tense shifts, making for a compelling, offbeat tale. “The fact is, I ain’t no hero, and I aim to prove it. What I done, if I done anything, was get my daddy a fruit stand,” he begins. “And to tell this right you gotta know about that, and other things too.” This particular style won’t be for everyone, but Turner’s grim debut exerts a strong pull, and Billy’s is a real struggle with real consequences. Ages 14–up. Agent: Daniel Lazar, Writers House.

February 1, 2015
An unlikely hero saves missing boys in this debut thriller.From his hospital bed, 15-year-old Billy Zeets recounts his part in the mysterious disappearances of teenage boys from his small town. "I ain't no hero, and I aim to prove it," he declares in his haunting, first-person dialect. Once a juvenile delinquent who vandalized and stole from his neighbors, Billy has since reformed, but his reputation still precedes him. When his single, out-of-work father faces the loss of their house, the teen takes up odd jobs to try to raise enough money to keep them in their home. This coincides with the disappearances of several local boys, one of whom is found murdered. Tempted to go back to thievery in order to make money fast, Billy inadvertently uncovers clues that may lead him to the killer. Due to his reputation, this teen outsider knows he must track down the killer on his own, prove his guilt and hopefully find the missing boys in the process, because no one will believe the word of a former lying thief. Flawed but observant and courageous, Billy and his taut storytelling will engage readers of all stripes. (Thriller. 14 & up)

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February 1, 2015

Gr 9 Up-In this gritty, atmospheric mystery, 15-year-old Billy Zeets tells readers in his own words how he caught a murderer menacing his neighborhood. Billy's narration is heavily peppered with curse words, which are often followed with a sheepish, "Scuze my language." He's a known troublemaker in his town, but when a dead kid turns up by the stream, and then another boy disappears, Billy takes it upon himself to figure out who is responsible, and how to stop him. His checkered history as a juvenile delinquent gives him the tools he needs to solve the mystery, and his good heart shines through even when he admits to wrongdoing. Turner uses restraint when depicting gore, but otherwise the book deals with intense issues around family, violence, and class. The plot builds slowly, and savvy readers will want to urge Billy to figure it out sooner-the eventual climax feels almost understated. The characters, setting, and plot are all compelling, but as a whole, the novel lacks a certain urgency and emotional weight. VERDICT An additional purchase that may appeal to thriller fans.-Kyle Lukoff, Corlears School, New York City

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2015
Grades 9-12 Here is a suspense novel where the ending is revealed in the first chapter by Billy Zeets, the teenage narrator. He reveals the ending because, as he points out, it is almost inconsequential to the explanation of how and why he ended up where he did. With the ending out of the way, he can proceed with the nitty-gritty of the story and all of its ramifications. It's a compelling way to set up a thriller that is suspenseful, dark, and violent. The driving force behind the story is Billy himself, a part-time delinquent who is perceptive, straightforward, and focused as he fights against a seemingly inescapable conclusion based on social standing and hard-luck circumstances. Billy's voice consists of a strong regional dialect and generous use of f-bombs ( scuze my language ), and it has an unexpected lyricism as he pieces together the trail left by a predator unnoticed by all but him. A memorable protagonist and page-turning plot combine to make this a strong debut.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2015
Street-smart Billy Zeets is desperate to save his family's home from foreclosure. When a serial killer starts targeting boys in his neighborhood, Billy plays detective to earn a big cash reward. Billy recounts his investigation in his own words; his unique, colloquial voice is strong but potentially off-putting ("Yhe] prob'ly didn't like me 'cause'f how I'm in trouble all the time"). Readers who can follow along will find a straightforward, fast-paced, and occasionally harrowing thriller.

(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)