Sunflower

Pocket, 2000. Very Good. A police detective, and her 11-year-old daughter Meg are newcomers in the s mall city of River Oaks, WI. Sheila finds herself investigating a series of murders of girls her daughter's age, victims of a serial killer who kills and then rapes them. The murderer appears to have the trust of his victims; in fact, all signs point to someone living in the community who is fond of sunflowers, since sunflowers or their seeds have been found at several of the crime scenes. However, practically everyone in the town grows sunflower s; in fact, plans are under way for the annual sunflower festival. Then, Sh eila finds a pile of seeds on her own doorstep and sends Meg away to her gr andmother for safekeeping. At last there are some solid leads, and the list of suspects narrows. Then comes a horrifying phone call from Sheila's moth er: Meg is missing. This gripping drama grabs readers from the very first p age and keeps the suspense building, with occasional glimpses into the kill er's twisted mind and realistic depictions of modern investigative techniqu es. YAs will identify with this caring and sensitive, yet tough and insight ful heroine as she risks her own life to save her daughter.