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The Body Finder

 

2011 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults selection
2011 Chicago Public Library Best of the Best for Teens

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"This creative mystery has it all...the heart of a romance novel wrapped
up in pages that almost crackle with the electricity of suspense."

   —Justine Magazine

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Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes that the dead leave behind in the world... and the imprints that attach to their killers.

 

Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find the dead birds her cat had tired of playing with. But now that a serial killer has begun terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

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Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet on her quest to find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved to find herself hoping that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer... and becoming his prey herself.

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Desires of the Dead

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"Interweaving suspense, steamy romance, supernatural elements, and themes of jealousy, anger, and other deadly sins, this fast-paced, compelling read features a multifaceted protagonist and intriguing supporting characters. Wholly absorbing, this will leave readers hoping for future titles about talented Violet."
   —ALA Booklist

 

Violet can sense the echoes of those who've been murdered--and the matching imprint that clings to their killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life.

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As Violet works to keep her morbid ability a secret, she unwittingly becomes the object of a dangerous obsession. Normally she'd turn to her best friend, Jay, except now that they are officially a couple, the rules of their relationship seem to have changed. And with Jay spending more and more time with his new friend Mike, Violet is left with too much time on her hands as she wonders where things went wrong. But when she fills the void by digging into Mike's tragic family history, she stumbles upon a dark truth that could put everyone in danger.

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The Last Echo

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"The suspenseful ending will have readers tucking under blankets and imagining horror-movie scenarios. Tell them not to read this one right before bed."
   —School Library Journal

 

Violet kept her morbid ability to sense dead bodies a secret from everyone except her family and her childhood-best-friend-turned-boyfriend, Jay Heaton. That is until forensic psychologist Sara Priest discovered Violet's talent and invited her to use her gift to track down murderers. Now, as she works with an eclectic group of individuals—including mysterious and dangerously attractive Rafe—it's Violet's job to help those who have been murdered by bringing their killers to justice. When Violet discovers the body of a college girl killed by "the girlfriend collector" she is determined to solve the case. But now the serial killer is on the lookout for a new "relationship" and Violet may have caught his eye....

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Dead Silence

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"If you're in the mood for some psychological thrillers, evil masterminds, strong heroines and hot heroes, then I'd definitely pick up the Body Finder series."
   —USA Today

 

Violet thought she'd made peace with her unique ability to sense the echoes of the dead and the imprints that cling to their killers...that is until she acquired an imprint of her own. Forced to carry a reminder of the horrible events of her kidnapping, Violet is more determined than ever to lead a normal life. However, the people who run the special investigative team Violet works for have no intention of letting her go.

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When someone close to Violet becomes a suspect in a horrific murder, she finds herself pulled into a deadly hunt for a madman with an army of devoted followers. Violet has survived dangerous situations before, but she quickly discovers that protecting those closest to her is far more difficult than protecting herself.

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The Body Finder series has been praised as a "delectable blend of mystery and romance" (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books), a "fast-paced, compelling read" (ALA Booklist), and as "imaginative, convincing, and successful suspense" (Kirkus Reviews). With a perfect blend of romance, intrigue, and suspense, Dead Silence continues this gripping series, delivering unexpected twists that will keep readers guessing until the very last page. 

THE BODY FINDER by Kimberly Derting Book 1
DESIRES OF THE DEAD, by Kimberly Derting Book 2
THE LAST ECHO, by Kimberly Derting Book 3
DEAD SILENCE, by Kimberly Derting Book 4

Skin Contact (Short Story)

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It was just a doll...

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...just a dream...

 

Except, Rafe knew the truth.

 

Before Rafe met body-finding Violet Ambrose and joined her team at the Center, there was another girl. Sophie was everything to Rafe. She was different from any girl he'd ever known. And Sophie was on the run from a dangerous past.

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Now, if Rafe can make it to the remote Montana house in time, he might have the chance to save the girl he loves. But to do so means revealing the ability he's been hiding from everyone, even those closest to him.

 

"Skin Contact" was originally published in the anthology Enthralled.

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SKIN CONTACT, by Kimberly Derting Short Story
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