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The Angel of Death: A Forensic Mystery    by Alane Ferguson Amazon.com order for
Angel of Death
by Alane Ferguson
Order:  USA  Can
Puffin, 2008 (2008)
Paperback

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* * *   Reviewed by Ricki Marking-Camuto

The Angel of Death is the second book in Alane Ferguson's Forensic Mysteries. Although a YA series, the Forensic Mysteries are highly detailed and a nice mix of several mystery genres.

High school senior Cameryn Mahoney is following her dream of becoming a forensic scientist by helping her father, Silverton's coroner. One day while her father is out of town, the young and handsome deputy, Justin, calls her out to view a body. It turns out to be a dead dog on the side of the road whose eyes look like they have been blown out. A few hours later, a similar body is found, but this one is all too human.

Brad Oakes, a teacher at Cameryn's school and Scout Master, is found dead in his bed, cooked from the inside out. The whole town is buzzing about what could have killed him. Kyle, the Eagle Scout who found Mr. Oakes, has a theory of his own – one that Cameryn decides to follow. As Cameryn and Kyle get closer and the impending arrival of her runaway mother is anticipated any day, Cameryn pulls farther away from her family and friends – which is just what the killer wants.

The Angel of Death is not for the squeamish, but for fans of crime dramas, this is the perfect book. Cameryn is a strong protagonist who is going through what every other teenager is going through, and handling it the same way as every other teenager. Because of this, even though the story is obviously fiction, readers instantly connect with Cameryn, and feel like they are right by her side.

Also, while I figured out early who the killer was, the method of death is novel. Ferguson has done a great amount of research to craft a unique killing. The details she goes into far exceed what's found in any other YA mystery, and even some adult ones. The Angel of Death is a good page-turner and Alane Ferguson has found her niche with Cameryn Mahoney and the Forensic Mysteries.

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