Notes From Ghost Town by Kate Ellison

Goodreads
336 pages, YA Mystery Thriller/Paranormal
Standalone
Release Date: February 12th
My rating: 5 stars

Synopsis

They say first love never dies...

From critically acclaimed author Kate Ellison comes a heartbreaking mystery of mental illness, unspoken love, and murder. When sixteen-year-old artist Olivia Tithe is visited by the ghost of her first love, Lucas Stern, it's only through scattered images and notes left behind that she can unravel the mystery of his death. 

There's a catch: Olivia has gone colorblind, and there's a good chance she's losing her mind completely--just like her mother did. How else to explain seeing (and falling in love all over again with) someone who isn't really there?

With the murder trial looming just nine days away, Olivia must follow her heart to the truth, no matter how painful. It's the only way she can save herself.

My 2 cents

WOW!  I have chills right now from this book!  In fact I had chills through most of the story!  As well as laughter and tears!  This is one of the best murder mysteries I have ever read!  I can't believe it was a YA!

So Olivia's best friend and secret love, Stern is murdered 1 week after their first kiss and she goes away to her art boarding school.  The synopsis leaves out who is the main murder suspect: Olivia's mother, who is schizophrenic, and whom everyone believes has a major crazy episode.  Her mom is also Stern's piano teacher, and was helping him on a recital piece to get him into Julliard.  

Its now a year later, and its 10 days until Olivia's mom's hearing.  At this point, its just a formality--everyone is sure Miriam (Olivia's mom) did it.  Meanwhile, Olivia has gone color blind since Stern's murder, and hasn't told anyone.  She thinks she might turning into her mother.  But then she gets a surprise appearance from Stern, who can't really remember anything from his life--except Olivia, and that he is sure Miriam did not kill him.

At first, Olivia thinks she must be going crazy, but eventually things start to happen, and she questions what is really going on.  But the clock is ticking for her mom, and no one seems to want to help her at all.  It was so frustrating at times to read!  I was so totally in Olivia's head from page 1 of this story.  It was a great first person narration.  And the characters all felt so ALIVE!  Even Dead Stern! 

The suspense was incredible!  I had no idea what was going to happen next.  At times, Olivia really was acting crazy, and at other times I didn't really know if what was going on was all in her head, or if she was the only smart one to look at things twice.  It really was a great mystery.  I had a hunch on the killer, but I had no idea WHY.   Nothing was making much sense until the end!

If you love a good murder mystery, and also a good ghost story, you need to go and buy this book when it comes out on February 12th!  It is so worth the read!