It Should Have Been You

by Lynn Slaughter

Overview

“A solid whodunit for genre fans.” —Kirkus Reviews

Living in her sister's shadow has never been more dangerous.

Five months ago, Clara Seibert’s twin sister was murdered. Struggling under the weight of newfound and unwanted attention, the only thing that makes Clara feel normal is ghostwriting an advice column for her school’s newspaper—until she starts receiving threatening emails in her staff inbox.

“It should have been you...but soon."

Convinced that her email stalker blames her for her sister’s death and is out for revenge, Clara undertakes her own investigation to clear her name and avoid a similar fate. Can she solve the murder before it’s too late?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781624145353
Publisher:	Page Street Publishing
Publication date:	01/30/2018
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	1,110,597
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.30(d)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Lynn Slaughter has a passion for dance and music—from Frank Sinatra to Chopin—and her first book, While I Danced, was a finalist in the 2015 EPIC competitionin the Young Readers category. After a long career as a professional dancer, she earned her MFA in writing popular fiction from Seton Hill University. She and her husband live in Louisville, Kentucky. You can visit her at www.lynnslaughter.com and follow her on Twitter @lslaughter2.

Editorial Reviews

10/30/2017
This solid mystery from Slaughter (While I Danced) opens with the murder of Clara Seibert’s twin sister, Moura, a piano prodigy. Plenty of people think Clara did it—including the girls’ mother—since the sisters were heard arguing before the murder, and Clara was the only one home at the time of the killing. As Clara’s family falls apart and her reputation suffers, the only thing keeping the high school senior sane is her work as an advice columnist for her school newspaper. After Clara starts receiving anonymous threats at school from someone who thinks that she was responsible for Moura’s murder, she reaches out to her sister’s friends and music rivals, hoping that she can figure out who could have wanted the talented Moura dead—before they come for Clara, too. Clara’s voice and internal conflict feel authentic, and the contentious relationship between the sisters is equally believable. Although the novel doesn’t push the envelope much, Slaughter successfully highlights the dangers of abusive relationships; fans of the genre will find much to enjoy in this thriller. Ages 12–up. Agent: Katie Shea Boutillier, Donald Maass Literary. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

Spine-chilling… .For teens who enjoy thrillers, mysteries, and romance.” —School Library Journal

"...Slaughter successfully highlights the dangers of abusive relationships; fans of the genre will find much to enjoy in this thriller." —Publishers Weekly

“A tidily constructed murder mystery.” —Booklist

“From the first sentence, through all of the twists and turns to the surprising ending, this book will hold you in its grasp and not let go.”
—V.M. Burns, author of The Plot is Murder


“It Should Have Been You will keep you guessing right up until the final twists. Readers will relate to the teen heroine who must clear her name, protect herself, and come to terms with complicated family relationships. A compelling addition to the YA mystery pantheon.”
—Beth Fantaskey, author of Buzz Kill and Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side


“Gripping and relevant, It Should Have Been You captivates readers with its authentic voice and well-crafted mystery. At once innocent and wise, Clara is a protagonist worth rooting for as she searches for the truth about her sister’s death. Important issues like domestic abuse and survivor’s guilt are handled with a well-tuned sensitivity that is never dogmatic or depressing. A fast-paced, sometimes harrowing, ultimately satisfying story you won’t forget.”
—Jessica Freely, author of All the Colors of Love


“A compulsively readable mystery full of suspense and laced with romance, as well as an important warning for teen girls.”
—Christina Hoag, author of Girl on the Brink


“It Should Have Been You takes readers on a compelling psychological journey of obsession and its effects. Readers will benefit from advice-columnist Clara’s girl-power attitude as they turn the pages to uncover the real villain. Issues of identity, fame, and artistic talent add depth to a compulsively readable mystery. Lynn Slaughter has written a winner!”
—Lee Tobin McClain, Ph.D., bestselling author of Sizzle


“To be a teen suspected of murder is bad enough. To be a twin suspected of the brutal slaying of your talented sister is the other side of alienation. Join Clara on her quest to find Moura’s killer and prove her innocence.”
—Barb Miller, author of The Impostors

From the Publisher

12/01/2017
Gr 9 Up—Five months ago, Clara Seibert's twin sister, Moura, was murdered. The only thing that makes Clara's grief-filled life feel semi-normal is being an anonymous advice columnist for her school newspaper. That is, until someone starts sending threatening messages. The emails allude to her being the one who has killed her sister. Clara reaches her breaking point and decides to take the crime investigation into her own hands since the police have yielded nothing in their search. She begins interviewing people who were in Moura's life, including her piano teacher and another piano student. While looking through Moura's belongings, Clara believes she has uncovered an affair between Moura and her piano teacher's husband, Joel Rasher. Clara thinks she has caught the killer until other details emerge. The whodunit's logic flounders at this point of the narrative. The writing style is very captivating and ideal for teens who like thrillers and mysteries. Clara has a sweet romance that teen readers will enjoy. While there are parts of this book that drag, the spine-chilling climax and ending almost make up for the unnecessary parts. Slaughter makes most of the sensationalism of this book believable and keeps her readers turning the pages. VERDICT Purchase for teens who enjoy thrillers, mysteries, and romance.—Jill Baetiong, formerly of Morris Area Public Library, IL

School Library Journal

2017-09-18
Five months ago, high school senior Clara Seibert's twin sister, Moura, was murdered in their home.The killer hasn't been caught, but many people remain convinced Clara murdered her sister in a fit of jealousy. After all, the nonmusical Clara lived in her famed pianist sister's shadow, even when it came to their parents' attention. When Clara begins receiving threatening emails from someone blaming her for Moura's death, she sets out to uncover her sister's killer before the mystery emailer follows through on their promise to kill Clara. The white teen discovers many possible suspects: Moura's rival and friend, a pianist named Alex Kwon; Moura's secret girlfriend or the boy she publicly dated as a beard; or perhaps one of the many people Moura reportedly manipulated on her way to the top. The deeper Clara digs, the more danger she puts herself in, but all that matters is getting to the truth of what happened to her sister. A subplot in which columnist Clara interviews teen dating violence victims for the school newspaper sometimes comes across as a public service announcement, but it is honestly raw in its intensity. Aside from Alex, the primary cast is an almost all-white one. Clara is a rather bland character, but her determination will endear her to readers, who will find her attempt to connect emotionally with her parents to be especially touching.A solid whodunit for genre fans. (Mystery. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews