TWISTED SUMMER

When Cici and her family arrive at Crystal Lake, where they've spent every summer except the previous one, they hear terrible news. An older boy, Brody, is in prison for the murder of Zoe, the resident flirt. Neither Brody's younger brother, Jack, nor his mother believe he's guilty, and Cici thinks there are too many holes in the story that convicted him, so she decides to investigate. Her discoveries make her a target for a blackmailer and, possibly, the real murderer. As a complicated story of lies and cover-ups comes to light, Cici learns more than she ever wanted to know about her family and friends. She puts her childhood behind her and hopes that Jack, on whom she's always had a crush, will see her for the young adult she has become. Old pro Roberts (The Absolutely True Story, 1994, etc.) has come up with a suspenseful story that will keep readers turning pages until the bitter truth is exposed. The element of menace she inserts into the idyllic lakeside community is quite believable; there are enough red herrings along the way to keep even mystery sophisticates from guessing the outcome. (Fiction. 12+)