The Strawberry Picker

Gr 10 Up—When the book opens, the "Necklace Murderer" has already raped and killed several young women in the German countryside, stabbing each of them seven times, cutting their hair short, and taking their necklaces as trophies. The story unfolds from the viewpoints of the police investigator, potential victims, and the killer himself. Readers are clued in early to "the strawberry picker's" identity and motivation, alleviating the mystery. As another girl is murdered and her roommate/friend begins to fall for Nat, the suspense compels readers to the climax, anxiously trying to determine whether or not Jenna, whose mother is a famous crime writer, will survive. With complex characters and a suspenseful plot, the book will appeal to fans of thrillers, true crime stories, and television shows like Criminal Minds.—Jessica Miller, New Britain Public Library, CT