WHAT THE RIVER BURIES

Hirajeta’s debut YA mystery finds a teenager determined to unmask an apparent killer who’s anonymously threatening her.

For 17-year-old Natalie Bishop, sketching in the Acres—a secluded, woodsy spot in her small American city of Marton—provides solace. The high school senior has a lot on her mind, from a failed photography class project to the four-year anniversary of her father’s death. But these pale in comparison to what she sees in the woods one night: a masked man disposing of a body. She flees, shaken, and soon wonders if maybe she was mistaken about what she saw. Then someone drops something at her front door: the sketchbook she left in the woods. A scribbled note inside it assures her that she’ll be left alone—if she stays quiet about what she witnessed. Going to the cops might not be the best idea, as the author of the note also boasts of “friends in high places.” This drives Natalie to track down the writer herself, drawing on two important clues: a tattoo she glimpsed on the masked man’s neck and a wallet she found at the scene. But she’ll definitely need help, especially once the apparent killer’s threats escalate. Hirajeta’s tale thrives on the believability of the amateur investigation; Natalie makes several mistakes and even commits a crime or two, including driving someone else’s car sans permission. Although some of her decisions seem based on wild guesses and flimsy evidence, she also readily acknowledges her naïveté. The teen sleuth is surrounded by an outstanding cast of characters, namely her empathetic mother and her bighearted and more pragmatic best friend, Marisa. Animated descriptions enliven the pages, too, as when Natalie’s anxiety makes her heart a “tape on fast-forward” and her close proximity to a potential murderer makes her feel as if she’s in a “walk-in freezer.” Although Natalie’s suspect list is relatively short, her prey remains evasive, which generates a hefty amount of suspense. The final act wraps up things perhaps a bit too easily, but it’s a gratifying ending nonetheless.

A taut and entertaining whodunit with an appealing amateur detective.