The murdered victims leave behind echoes, each one distinctive, and the murderer leaves identical imprints. Violet can sense these traces when she’s nearby, which puts her in grave danger, especially when her curiosity draws the attention of serial killers.
Title: The Body Finder
Author: Kimberly Derting
Genres: Fantasy > Paranormal & Thriller
Read Format: Kindle Edition
Total Pages: 1,484
Reading Date: 23rd April 2025 – 07th May 2025
The reading order – How to Read the Body Finder Series by Kimberly Derting
- 1 The Body Finder
- 2 Desires of the Dead
- 2.5 Skin Contact
- 3 The Last Echo
- 4 Dead Silence
The Body Finder
Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her “power” to sense dead bodies-or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world… and the imprints that attach to their killers.
Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat left for her. But now that a serial killer is terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he’s claimed haunt her daily, Violet realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.
Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet find the murderer-and Violet is unnerved by her hope that Jay’s intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she’s falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer… and becoming his prey herself.
My thoughts…
No cliffhanger thanks to the epilogue!
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in The Body Finder series. It’s so engaging that I couldn’t put it down! I’m so happy that I gave Kimberly Derting another chance after being disappointed by the Pledge and the Taking series.
This thriller with a supernatural story really packs a punch! My heart raced as I read the serial killer’s POV. I felt so afraid for the victims. I also like how Kimberly presented the story of the best friend turned lover. I could deeply feel the emotions: the frustration, the anger, and the love.
Violet and Jay’s relationship stood out to me. It’s sweet, and their interaction feels effortless, and what could be described as the perfect match. It reminds me of Barry Allen and Iris from the Flash series, which I’m currently watching!
Meanwhile, Violet’s ability to sense dead bodies is unsettling, but her compassionate need to search for the deceased animals and bury them near her house shows a lot of courage.
However, what if others, such as an animal activist, misunderstand her intentions with all the graves? Could this put her in trouble? Maybe it won’t come to that, after all, this is just a fictional story, right? And we don’t need to add another drama to her already complicated life😁.
Desires of the Dead
The missing dead call to Violet. They want to be found.
Violet can sense the echoes of those who’ve been murdered- and the matching imprint that clings to their killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy, she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life.
As Violet works to keep her morbid ability a secret, she unwittingly becomes the object of a dangerous obsession. Normally, she’d turn to her best friend, Jay, except now that they are officially a couple, the rules of their relationship seem to have changed. And with Jay spending more and more time with his new friend Mike, Violet is left with too much time on her hands as she wonders where things went wrong. But when she fills the void by digging into Mike’s tragic family history, she stumbles upon a dark truth that could put everyone in danger.
My thoughts…
The second book explores deeper into the love story between Jay and Violet, presenting realistic and relatable challenges and struggles in relationships. If you’re in deep with them two, be prepared for the ups and downs!
While the thriller aspect is toned down a notch compared to the first book, and the identity of the villain and stalker is predictable, it also introduces an intriguing possibility of Violet utilizing her abilities to aid in catching more bad guys in the future🤞.
I’m looking forward to seeing Violet collaborate with Rafe, a new character introduced in this book, and meeting others with special abilities through Sara’s organization! Before diving back into the main series, however, I plan to explore Rafe’s ability in the short story Skin Contact first. I’m really intrigued by this mysterious character!
Skin Contact
Kimberly Derting returns you to the world of The Body Finder with her short story, “Skin Contact.”
It was just a doll…
…just a dream…
Except Rafe knew the truth.
Before Rafe met body-finding Violet Ambrose and joined her team at the Center, there was another girl. Sophie was everything to Rafe. She was different from any girl he’d ever known. And Sophie was on the run from a dangerous past.
Now, if Rafe can make it to the remote Montana house in time, he might have the chance to save the girl he loves. But to do so means revealing the ability he’s been hiding from everyone, even those closest to him.
Note: This story was originally published in the anthology, Enthralled, edited by Melissa Marr and Kelley Armstrong.
My thoughts…
We first meet Rafe in book two of the Body Finder series, Desires of the Dead, but his abilities have remained a secret—until now. The story not only reveals his capabilities and his relationship with Sara but also delves into his heartbreaking backstory, which undoubtedly shaped him into the character we’ve come to know.
It’s a shame the story is so brief because I want to know what happens next to Rafe and if the villain gets what he deserves. Hopefully, the main book will provide more insight into it🤞!
The Last Echo
In the end, all that’s left is an Echo.
Before, Violet’s morbid ability to sense the dead led her to uncover dark murders and long-buried secrets in her small town. Now that she’s working with a special investigative team, Violet hopes she can help even more people—whether by saving a life or catching a killer.
Although she’s relieved to finally be honest about what she can do, her instant connection with her mysterious partner, Rafe, is both confusing and unsettling, and their unique bond creates tension with her boyfriend, Jay. When she discovers the body of a college student murdered by “the collector,” Violet refuses to give up on the case.
With her own relationship on the line, Violet doesn’t realize that the serial killer is looking to add to his collection and that she may have caught his eye. Will the life Violet has to save be her own?
My thoughts…
Having just finished reading the Skin Contact story about Rafe, I already knew his background, but one thing I wasn’t sure about was whether they caught the perpetrator. Luckily, this book provided the answer, and I’m glad it did.
Going back to the third book’s storyline, the romance aspect might upset fans of Team Jay because Rafe’s arrival shakes things up. Violet seems confused right now, and I’m curious to see how things will unfold for them.
As for me, I’m torn between Team Vijay and Team Viraf. On one hand, I lean toward Vijay because Violet and Jay were each other’s first love and best friends, sharing a deep understanding, and they undeniably make an adorable couple.
But then there’s Rafe and Violet, who share a special spark, and both are kind of “freaks” in similar ways. Sadly, it seems like one of them might have to step aside or die for Violet to make her decision.
Because Violet can’t avoid Rafe by quitting, thanks to a mind-blowing plot twist in this book that I didn’t see coming. It looks like Violet also can’t escape her role of being the body finder! Now I’m desperate to uncover who’s behind the organization and why they’re so relentless about keeping her on the team.
Before we get to the final book, I just want to mention that the part with the psychopath’s point of view was fantastic, and it becomes chilling and haunting when Violet is the victim. It’s absolutely gripping. I’m curious to see if we’ll encounter more psychopaths in the final book.
Dead Silence
Sometimes the Dead Can’t Be Silenced.
Violet thought she had made peace with her unique ability to sense the echoes of the dead and the imprints that cling to their killers… until she acquired an imprint of her own. Forced to carry a reminder of the horrible events of her kidnapping, Violet is more determined than ever to lead a normal life. However, the people who run the special investigative team she works for have no intention of letting her go.
Violet will do whatever it takes to keep her loved ones safe, even if it means lying to her boyfriend, Jay. But when an echo calls to her, she stumbles upon a murder scene unlike anything she’s ever witnessed. The murders are frenzied and twisted, and the killer left a disturbing calling card for all to see, a brimstone cross sketched in blood on the wall. And Violet finds herself pulled into a deadly hunt for a vicious madman with an army of devoted followers.
Violet has survived dangerous situations before, but she quickly discovers that protecting those closest to her is far more difficult than protecting herself.
My thoughts…
Honestly, I was a bit let down by the ending. The mysterious setup surrounding the organisation didn’t lead to anything significant, and there was no real resolution regarding who was behind it all.
That said, I enjoyed this series more than the Taking and the Pledge series. The premise was intriguing and unique, and I particularly loved the blend of paranormal elements with crime and murder mystery.
However, I couldn’t help but feel like I needed more closure. Who exactly runs the organisation? Do Rafe and Chelsea get together in the end? The way Rafe fixed Violet’s problem with the imprint was much better than how Jay handled it. For that reason, he deserves to get his own happy ending!
