I Didn’t Do It

Gonzalez Rose (Marisol Acts the Part) pairs a tender romance with a murder investigation in a story about a Latinx teen who feels that her life is quietly unraveling. Dina Soto’s father has recently been convicted of murder, her mother is overbearing, and the small town they live in has turned the Soto name into shorthand for scandal. The lone bright spot is Dina’s bond with transgender Afro-Latino classmate Kai Thompson, whose easy warmth toward Dina feels as surprising as it is welcoming. When Kai invites her to spend a weekend at his family’s secluded lake house, Dina jumps at the chance to escape town and spend more time with him. Kai’s sister and a group of friends round out the guest list, and it soon becomes clear that some may have ulterior motives for attending. Before long, the power goes out, the phone signal disappears, and the group finds itself cut off from the outside world. After someone is murdered, Dina must reckon with the secrets surrounding her own family if she hopes to both stop the killer and survive. Short, brisk chapters alternate between direct first-person narration and snippets of news articles, text messages, voicemail transcripts, and more presented as evidence from the murder trial that follows the events of the story. Measured pacing and familiar plot turns dilute much of the suspense, making for a mystery that’s more cozy than thrilling. Ages 14–up. (July)