What Doesn't Kill You — Jan Grape

Nothing ever happens in this one-horse Texas town, sixteen-year old Cory Purvis tells her platonic boyfriend, Ty-Ty . . . until the two of them find a body in the haunted old Whalen house a few miles outside of Bent Bell. Half-naked, tied up and very dead, the victim is Vickee Allen, a missing classmate of Cory's. Ty-Ty knew the dead girl all too well, and that plus his half Native-American ancestry makes him the top suspect until Cory starts nosing around. Sharp, observant, and unafraid of much, Cory is determined to clear Ty-Ty and find justice for Vickee. She forges ahead despite tough opposition from those with secrets to hide, including a deeply flawed sheriff with something to prove. Even when someone poisons her beloved horse, Miss Dumpsie, Cory won't give up. Through its scrappy, youthful heroine, this brooding, atmospheric coming-of-age mystery reminds us that what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. Jan Grape's Austin City Blue was nominated for an Anthony for Best First Novel, and she received a special Shamus Award from the Private-Eye Writers of America in 2002. Other awards include an Anthony for Best Short Story and a McCavity for Best Nonfiction. Jan has also published a short-story collection, Found Dead In Texas (2003) and Dark Blue Death, the second in the Austin policewoman series (2005). Along with Barri Flowers, Jan co-edited an anthology of original stories by members of the American Crime Writers League, for which she currently serves as president. Jan lives in the Texas Hill Country with her black cats, Nick and Nora, and travels whenever possible.