Jim DeVita

You'd think with a title like this and a setting in a town named Winsome, this might be a cozy mystery, but really, it's more of an anti-cozy. No darling, quirky characters (well Mangan is quirky, but not in a darling way) and very little humor; instead, grief, suffering and brutality abound (which makes sense in a book about murder, but it still hit me pretty hard).
I liked the detective and his partner a lot. I would read more mysteries with that team. I don't know if he plans to write more or not, but in the meantime I'll happily check out the young adult books he's written.
His descriptions are fresh and vivid. The first passage that I found striking was his description of Deborah Ellison's self discovery:

So she knew, even then, that she was different. This difference walked before her like another person whom only she could see, leaving herself always trailing slightly behind. She wanted to catch up to her own self someday, to be the person in front of her, the person she'd been trying to pretend wasn't there.

I knew this guy was a talented actor. Now I know he's a talented writer as well.
This is a well-written book, but brace yourself for darkness before you pick it up.… (meer)

The book immediately reminds one of the slew of other dystopian novels that are being published now. Marena and Dex sneaking off the compound felt parallel to Katniss and Gayle. This book however stays closer to traditional Orwellian novels. There are not explosions or violence, but while reading the book, one feels the look of big brother at all times. The author's note at the ends adds another touch of realism because he based the book on Sophie Scholl a young college student who met all the requirements of living under Hitler's regime. She would have been safe if she kept silent, but she chose to protest because she believed she did not have a right to remain silent. The choice cost her life, but the white roses she used to protest gave hope to many.… (meer)