School Library Journal Review
Gr 8 Up-Maddie is a 16-year-old girl who sees specific death dates written on the foreheads of everyone she sees, whether in person, on television, or in photographs. After suffering the tragic loss of her father at a young age, Maddie and her mother eke out an existence in suburban New Jersey with Maddie doing "readings" for clients to supplement their income. But when children for whom Maddie has predicted the death date disappear, she becomes a prime suspect in the FBI's investigation. How can she prove that she wasn't involved in their deaths when she knew about them beforehand? The suspenseful plot is perfectly paced, the characters are well rounded, and the story line is unique. Narration, provided by Whitney Dykhouse, adds to the appeal of the novel with distinctive voices and lively inflection throughout. VERDICT A delightful listen overall, this audiobook is a great recommendation for reluctant readers as well as a strong new addition to any library, teen or adult.-Tara Hixon, Piedmont High School, OK © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
Maddie, who can predict people's death dates, becomes a suspect when one of her clients is the first in a series of brutal murders. Maddie's unstable home life escalates as she tries to save future victims while staying under the radar of suspicious FBI agents. Intriguing questions of fate and free will plague a sympathetically embattled heroine in this thriller, Laurie's YA debut. (c) Copyright 2015. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
If you could know the date of your death, would you? For Maddie, there's no choice: For her whole life, she's had the ability to see the date of anyone's death, hovering just over the forehead. But her gift hasn't helped her muchit didn't prevent her police-officer father from being killed in the line of duty, and it hasn't stopped her grief-stricken mother from descending into alcoholism. Now, Maddie does her best to blend in, uses her ability to make some extra money for herself and her mother, and spends time with her best friend, Stubs. But then a client's son disappears and is later found dead on the date that Maddie predicted he would die. Suspicion falls squarely on Maddie, especially when another teenager is murdered in similar fashionand Stubs becomes caught up in the investigation too. The tension inexorably mounts as Maddie faces heartbreaking choices. Readers will root for Maddie not only to find the killer, but to gain a little happiness, too. Laurie's debut for teens is quite an accomplishment: Maddie's voice rings true, and her character development is handled well. Some adult characters are less well-rounded, yet the compelling plot overcomes these flaws. The character development is just as riveting as the plot in this well-constructed thriller. (Paranormal thriller. 12-18) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
