Four years after the murder of her brother, Marion joins forces with Jefferson Shields to discover which of two hitchhiking girls was responsible for the killing.
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Readers who saw the movie Heavenly Creatures, about a long-ago murder committed by mystery writer Anne Perry and a young friend, will find many parallels in Carlon's book. Two young Australian girls--quite different in temperament, background, and personality--set out on an innocent holiday hitchhiking adventure. Peta Squire attempts to take the younger and more inexperienced Sandra Kilby under her wing, but Sandra is appalled to discover that Peta likes taking "souvenirs" from the travelers who offer rides to the two girls. When Peta steals a pretty pillbox, neither of the girls can know the horrifying consequences of their little game, but the ultimate result is a tragic murder and a stigma that will haunt Peta and Sandra for the rest of their lives. Carlon's story is not the usual action thriller. Her focus is far more subtle, showing how little lies and small misdeeds can cause a sudden shift in the delicate balance between good and evil, how innocence can quickly turn to guilt, and how childlike guile can become hidden deceit. An understated, absorbing, intelligent novel. Emily Melton
YA?A first-rate mystery set in Australia that involves two teenage hitchhikers and a man who has been stabbed to death in a blind, brutal rage. Was the guilty party Peta Squire, a self-reliant and seemingly experienced 16-year-old? Or Sandra Kilby, a novice at being on the road, a quiet, delicate girl who yearned for acceptance? Four years later the murder is still unsolved. Whoever views the evidence faces the fact that one of the girls is lying and has the strong backing of her family. The case is brought back to prominence through the instigation of a young woman who expects to marry into Peta's family, hoping for her fiance's sake to resolve the guilt and doubts. YAs are sure to get caught up in the book's issues of hitchhiking, pilfering, and culpability.?Frances Reiher, King's Park Library, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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