Thirty Seconds at a Time

by Tracy Bilen

Overview

The last thing Kate's father said before he died was protect his secret. But when a package arrives with a reminder to stay quiet, she must search for answers with the only clue she has left: everything she promised her dad she would forget.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781643974033
Publisher:	BHC Press
Publication date:	10/08/2024
Pages:	236
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.69(d)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

Tracy Bilen writes romantic thrillers for young adults. She is the author of WHAT SHE LEFT BEHIND (Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster) which VOYA called "truly a remarkable story of resilience." Her second novel, WHISPER (Mirette), was named a Notable 100 Book in the 2021 Shelf Unbound Best Indie Book Competition.Tracy is a high school French teacher in Michigan where she lives with her husband, children, and mini Bernedoodle. She studied at the Sorbonne in Paris and loves biking, traveling, and red velvet cake. Tracy enjoys talking about the writer's journey with teens and is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), International Thriller Writers (ITW), and Greater Detroit Romance Writers (GDRW).

Editorial Reviews

2024-08-03
A Michigan girl takes on her father’s unsolved murder in this romantic thriller that begins and ends with a bang.

After bullets shatter her living room windows, killing her police officer father, high school junior Kate’s life changes forever. As he lies dying, Dad gives her a piece of paper, issuing a cryptic warning: “Don’t read it…Don’t show anyone. Burn it.” Kate does get rid of the paper—but only after reading it. When she and her mom are allowed back in the house to collect some possessions, she stumbles upon $250,000, stashed in her guitar case. Fearing that her father was a thief, she hides the cash in a safe place. When Kate’s mom is offered a spring semester teaching position at a private school for competitive athletes in Vermont, the change feels like a respite from the trauma. Kate quickly settles into her new environment and even falls for a handsome skier named Ryan. But when people involved in her dad’s murder investigation wind up dead, Kate realizes that she’s in grave danger and must act. The novel’s pacing is a bit bumpy, ranging from slow to frenetic, but the payoff at the end is worth it. The characters are sympathetic and likable, and the development of the protagonists, who are coded white, is solid. Kate and Ryan’s whirlwind relationship is a testament to the power of first love.

An appealing choice for readers who like their mysteries with a side of romance.(Mystery. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews