Starred Review When Imogene's father, a famous author of detective novels, disappears, she agrees to let the police do the investigating. But she has held back some crucial clues, and she secretly starts digging deeper into her father's absence, as well as the years-old mystery of her missing mother. Imogene, whose worldview has been shaped, for better or worse, by mystery novels featuring troubled, solitary detectives with brilliant investigative skills, bristles when well-­meaning friends and her stepmother try to help, choosing instead to make sometimes foolhardy choices when tracking down her parents. With so much heartache in her past, it's not surprising that Imogene is a little gruff and cold, and Podos gradually and compellingly unspools Imogene's preoccupation with her mother, who seems to be at the heart of her father's depressive episodes, as well as her deeply held beliefs about her own capacity to love and be loved. The noirlike tone of Imogene's first-person narrative is a perfect match for the gray, chilly New England winter atmosphere, and her frequent referencing of detective novels is not only a key component of her character but also a charming nod to the genre. Sharp plotting, unexpected twists, dynamic characters, and a sensitive treatment of mental illness make Podos a writer to watch.

Gr 8 Up-Imogene Scott's father, famous crime fiction novelist Joshua Scott, walked away from his home, leaving Immie and her stepmother with a lot of worry and even more questions. What follows is a complex family drama as 17-year-old Immie takes it on herself to bring her father home. Believing that her father left her clues to find him, she embarks on road trip after train ride after bus trip to get to the answers. While Immie is loathe to disclose her instincts with her stepmother, she does enlist her best friend, Jessa, to trek around New England scrabbling for clues. Unexpectedly, her search brings her in touch with the mother who abandoned her when she was two. This suspenseful mystery will keep listeners fully engaged. That Immie believes so passionately that she can save her father is testament to her heart and intelligence. While this novel does deploy the child-who-keeps-secrets-from-adults-so-that-the-protagonist-can-do-the-unrealisticItrope, Immie is an amazingly resilient teen and the plot technique actually works. Emma Galvin has the perfect voice for Immie, reading her as dry, serious, and reflective. VERDICT An excellent addition to any teen collection, this novel threads issues of mental illness, loyalty, and resiliency. Recommended. ["Elements of magical realism and a stark Massachusetts backdrop add atmosphere to this sometimes choppy mystery with a diverse cast of characters": SLJ 11/15 review of the Balzer + Bray book.] Suzanne Dix, The Seven Hills School, Cincinnati, OH

Seventeen-year-old Imogene Scott clings to her father's oft-told bedtime story like a priceless gem: an elderly woman, Imogene's grandmother, lies dead on an autopsy table, and the forensic pathologist, Imogene's father, discovers a hard stone where the old lady's heart should be. Her father backs up the fanciful tale with the stone itselfa geode with glittering crystals inside. Imogene discovers the same rock on her bedside table the morning her father disappears. She realizes it is a clue to his whereabouts, and she uses it like a map to find her mother, who abandoned her when she was baby, and the man whose love for her has been an abiding mystery her entire life.The novel begins with the exquisitely magical story of the rock inside Imogene's grandmother's chest. Unfortunately, nothing else quite reaches the same level of artistry. Through the remainder of the story, Imogene follows clues that are virtually nonexistent to find her mother, whom she believes will lead to her father. Along the way, she gets help from her model-perfect best friend, Jessa; avoids her stepmother; and deals with her crush on Jessa's gorgeous older brother. The novel lacks fireworks but will appeal to dedicated readers who do not mind that the heroine does not get the guy, sometimes children's relationships with their parents are complicated, and a girl does not have to be drop-dead gorgeous or a ninja to be worthwhile.Cheryl Clark.