It Should Have Been You

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.)