The lonely dead by April Henry

Palgrave, 2020. ISBN: 9781250233769. 240pp.
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Adele is walking through the woods when she sees Tori, the girl she had a fight with at a party. She realises to her horror that Tori is a ghost and has been murdered. Adele has always been able to see the dead, a talent passed down in her family and even though she has been diagnosed with schizophrenia she knows that she has this ability. Now with a murderer on the loose, she must try to find out who it is without becoming a victim herself.
This is a quick easy read for fans of mystery and the paranormal. It is easy to relate to Adele who has been on medication for years but who feels so much better when she isn't taking them. However when suspicion of the murder turns to her, the fact that she hasn't been taking her meds makes her a more likely suspect. Her relationship with Charlie the nephew of one of the detectives investigating the murder adds interest to the story.
A lot of information about the effects of drinking and how overindulging can lead to blackouts, is also a timely warning of the physiological effects of alcohol, and Adele's inability to remember much about when she left the party is also a useful device for getting the reader to wonder if perhaps she did really murder Tori.
At 240 pages, The lonely dead is sure to please readers who want a stand-alone that is entertaining and engrossing.
Themes: Mystery and suspense, Paranormal, Ghosts, Psychic ability, Murder, Reluctant readers.
Pat Pledger