Book Review by Aarene Storms: Confessions of a Murder Suspect

Confessions of a Murder Suspect by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

Tandoori "Tandy" Angel and her brothers aren't sure that they loved their super-rich, super-demanding, super-strict parents Malcolm and Maud Angel.

Maybe they did, maybe they didn't.

They aren't sure their parents loved them, either.

Either way, Malcolm and Maud are dead.

There are only a few suspects in the murder case. Tandy is one of them. And she's not entirely sure she's innocent.

This is a quick-moving narrative with Patterson's signature short chapters. Lots of suspicicious behavior and lots of red herrings make a page-turning murder mystery with plenty of teen appeal. Although the author's website lists Confessions as a stand-along book, there are enough left-over clues on the final page to keep a series running for a few years.

Rating:

Sexual situations are implied and entirely off-page. On-page violence is mostly minor (a ten year old boy uses a baseball bat as a weapon). Cussing is mild and infrequent. A fun, fast read for ages 12 to adult.

The events may not have happened; still, the story is true. --R. Silvern

Aarene Storms, youth services librarian
Richmond Beach and Lake Forest Park Libraries, KCLS