The Killer's Cousin

Werlin, Nancy. The Killer's Cousin. Delacatore Press: New York, 1998.

Annotation

A high school senior is acquitted of murder, but the drama continues as she moves into his aunt and uncle's house and faces the same demons he was trying to run away from.

Justification for Nomination

David was acquitted of murder, but he felt he had to get away from the media and the surroundings that kept an eye on his trial. Through David's first person narrative this story is laid out for the reader. As David moves to his aunt and uncles he tries to live a normal life, whether it's starting a new school to prepare for college, or having to deal with a family who's daughter died four years before Davids arrival. The book captures realness, and the suspense continually builds, but you never see it coming. David is facing demons of his own. His younger cousin Lily seems to be aggravating the components of Davids life that he is trying to escape. The book reaches a point where the bottle opens, and the message leaks out. You think the situation is resolved, but as the book closes the story is put together in an ironic, but very believable manner. After each event happens, don't sit and think about it, keep reading and see where David takes you.

Genre: Mystery, Suspense.