HOW TO EXPERIENCE DEATH FOR BEGINNERS

In this debut YA paranormal novel, a
clairvoyant teenage girl tries to hunt down a serial killer.

Ten years ago, when Casey Darling
was 7 years old, she was overwhelmed with a sudden, vivid vision of her father
dying in a car accident. Not only that, she experienced her dad’s terrifying
death with him, together with his final memories and last regrets. Ever since,
Casey has unwillingly experienced others’ final moments in the same striking
way. Her twin sister, Christina, coped with the trauma of their father’s death
by developing selective mutism, and their mother spiraled into alcoholism,
leaving Casey to take on many family responsibilities. Casey avoids all but a
small group of close cohorts, so when Cameron, a new student in their
Cartersville, Georgia, school, pursues her friendship, her first concern is how
to make him stop, despite his California golden-boy looks and confidence. But
when her clairvoyance shows Cameron cutting his own wrist—the first time her
ability doesn’t display a death—she wants to help him. At the same time, Casey
begins experiencing terrifying murders committed by a masked serial killer with
cold blue eyes—and one of his victims is a friend. Casey’s attempts to
track the culprit bring her under suspicion, but she’ll need to gain the trust
of law enforcement to stop him. Meanwhile, old family secrets come to light. In
her novel, Branton combines YA romance, the paranormal, and a
madman-on-the-loose plot to good dramatic effect. Casey and her circle of
friends are well-drawn, with an effective balance of personalities, including a
popular and confident bisexual boy. Christina becomes important to the story in
unexpected ways that add interest and suspense. Nevertheless, the author does
sometimes overdo the melodrama: “December appeared, shaking the trees into
their shocking state of bareness.” And some plot obstacles don’t work well:
Casey’s refusal to disclose her ability drags on a bit; teenagers make bad
decisions even for teenagers; and no one would go to jail for leaving the scene
of an accident while being pursued by a psycho killer.