Christopher Pike is a genious with plotting. Always has been, whether I was reading these as a teenager eons ago, or whether as a jaded adult I sit and read his stuff now. This nontraditional story started at the police station with two detectives interviewing two teenage girls. (p.1 - Sharp was the young sexy one, Riles the doughnut eater pushing the fabled fat forty.) A teenage boy is dead, another missing. The mystery is twisted with small changes and misdirections throughout. A quick read that flies by, seriously, and it's hard stuff to put down. The cops walk into the room with preimagined scenaros that they're forced to change when new facts reveal. Mary and Hannah aren't likeable heroines, but this just helps make them interesting. I adored Charlie, from his amusing words later to his sweet actions earlier. The differing detectives added charm. The corononer was amusing as can be with his morbidity, humor, and delight in vile things. As always, Pike weaves his writing wand expertly - I love his short descriptive phrases that sum things up so simply, so clearly, and usually with humor and creativity.

The mystery wasn't the richest since there weren't many culprits, but by adding small twists along the story, even if you already guessed who did it in the end, you don't really care because the journey is so fascinating. ( )

The device of having a lot of the action told in flashback from the police interviewing room was pretty interesting. Other than that, it's your basic YA Horror/Mystery without Pike's usual signature paranormal element. ( )