Gr 9 Up–Micah and Lindsey Hamilton are impressive athletes. Micah is a pitcher with a “rocket arm” and Lindsey, a track-and-field star, is on pace to compete in the London Olympics. Both feel the pressure involved in their athletic success and lean on each other in order to push on. On January 12, 2011, Lindsey goes missing. Micah has no memory of half of the day but is left with some clues: Lindsey’s handprint in paint on his shirt and a note from her in the back pocket of his jeans. When the police arrive to tell the family that she has been murdered, Micah must put the puzzle pieces of his suppressed memory together. Deep down, he fears the dark memory that places him with Lindsey when she dies, but his father and the police pressure him to remember. To cope with this new stress, Micah has created a device from twisted nails that he uses to prick his fingertips in order to feel a tension-releasing pain. He also tries a night of coping with Jack Daniel’s. As his memory slowly comes back and clues are revealed, Micah’s suspicions lead readers to different suspects, including the siblings’ father, Micah himself, Lindsey’s coach, and her current and ex-boyfriends. Phillips sets an immediate, steady pace that explodes through the finish. The somewhat thin page count and tight plot will leave a broad range of readers satisfied.–Adrienne L. Strock, Maricopa County Library District, AZ
When Lindsey is found dead, Micah is made the prime suspect. Olympic-bound runner Lindsey had a promising future; she was also Micah's sister and staunch ally. Why would he hurt her? His parents, the police, and Lindsey's coach presume only Micah can answer that question--but he can't remember what happened. Snappy dialogue and believable, dubious characters make this creepy mystery tantalizing.
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