The Circle of Blood

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, I read Alane Ferguson’s The Circle of Blood. Okay, the book has nothing to do with Ireland, but Cameryn Mahoney’s grandmother (mammaw) is Irish. (Also, I wanted to acknowledge some-time contributor Wanna-Be Lit on her birthday.)

Circle is the third book in Ferguson’s young adult “Forensic Mystery” series. Cameryn is a senior in high school and works with her father, the local coroner. She dreams of becoming a medical examiner, but these dreams are put into jeopardy when she investigates the death of a young drifter. Cameryn believes her mother may be involved and compromises her professional integrity to help her.

I hate when female characters make stupid decisions, and it seems to happen in almost every book and movie. At times, Cameryn makes choices that are clearly dimwitted. However, she is 17 years old, and 17-year-olds (both male and female) can be very stupid.

Cameryn can also be frustrating, particularly in her relationship with Justin, the sheriff’s deputy. If I were her, I would be all over hottie Justin, but I guess successful romances don’t make for dramatic young adult novels.

Despite my criticisms, Circle’s last few pages—though not necessarily logical or consistent with the rest of the book—gave me the creeps: the good kind that sends a thrill of chills through your body.

I can hardly wait for the next book in the series.