American Girl

An autistic teen impedes a homicide investigation to protect her friends in this cunning thriller from Walker (What Remains). Seventeen-year-old Charlie Hudson is intent on leaving her small hometown of Sawyer, Pa. Already accepted to MIT, she just needs to earn enough money making sandwiches at the Triple S to afford tuition. Everyone in Sawyer despises the Triple S’s odious owner, Clay “Coop” Cooper, so few are surprised when he’s found murdered on a street near his home. Police believe Coop was killed elsewhere and then moved, however, and their suspicions seem to be confirmed by surveillance footage that shows a terrified Charlie hiding under the Triple S’s counter one night after closing. Charlie refuses to divulge what she witnessed—several people she loves have motives, and while she isn’t sure who offed Coop, she won’t risk implicating any of them. But if the culprit isn’t someone she knows, Charlie’s silence could be putting her in grave danger. The twisty tale unfolds in urgent first-person-present narration, and Charlie initially keeps as many secrets from readers as she does authorities, instilling an air of uncertainty that fosters tension and momentum. The exquisitely rendered and emotionally complex characters add depth. Nita Prose fans, take note. Agent: Dan Conaway, Writers House. (Oct.)