Book 38 (set in high school): Dancing with a Dead Horse by Danielle DeVor

Dancing with a Dead Horse by Danielle DeVor

Publisher: Eirelander Publishing
Page Count: 193
Fiction Genre: YA, Horror, Thriller, Mystery 
Dates Read: July 30-August 1, 2015
 
Summary
Jason wasn't exactly excited about going to school today, but nothing could have prepared him for finding the most popular girl dead in the boys restroom.  Now everyone is convinced he's responsible.

Review
UGH!  This was just bad.  Just because it's YA does not mean you can throw all reason and logic out the window.  Basically this is how the book starts:
Jason - I'm going to the restroom.  Oh no, there's a dead girl here.  Crap! *calls 911*
Principal - Jason, I know you killed her because you called 911 instead of getting a school administrator.
Jason - Nu-uh.
Principal - Uh-huh.
Jason - Nu-uh.
Principal - Uh-huh.
Jason - Nu-uh.
Principal - Uh-huh, and I'm telling the police.
Jason - You just don't like me.
Detective - Jason, we know you did it because your principal told us you did.
Jason - Nu-uh.
Detective - Ya-huh.
Jason - Nu-uh.
Detective - Ya-huh.
Jason - You're all against me.

This was just painful to read.  I have learned that I really hate books where characters seem to have a personal vendetta against them for no apparent reason.  That is all this book was.  From the moment the body was found, and Jason calls 911, everyone assumes he's the murderer, yet they have no basis for this reasoning (at least none that DeVor shared with us).  How does this amke any sense?  Jason has an alibi for the time of death, yet that is not good enough for the principal or detective.  They cannot get past the idea that Jason is the only person who could have killed her.  I guess DeVor has never seen ANY episode of Law & Order.

*I rolled my eyes so hard I gave myself a migraine*

Ratings (based on a 10 point scale)
Quality of Writing - 3
Pace - 2
Plot Development - 2
Characters - 2
Enjoyability - 3
Insightfulness - 3
Ease of Reading - 4
Photos/Illustrations - N/A
Overall Rating - 1 out of 5 stars

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