“Beyond Suspicion” Catherine A. Winn

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. Ebook. Poisoned Pen Press. Published May 5, 2015.

Fifteen-year-old Shelby hates her new stepfather, and wishes her real dad would come back into her life. Ever since her mom married Roger all she does is attend social functions and expect Shelby to babysit her little brother Josh. Shelby is excited to have been invited to her best friend Valerie’s Sweet Sixteen party, and welcomes the chance to hang with her friends.

She is devastated when her mom insists she has to babysit Josh so she could attend a gathering with Roger, refusing to allow Shelby to go to the party. Shelby loves her brother, but doesn’t want to miss the chance to go to her first boy-girl party. Shelby is furious when her step father steps in and orders her to watch the baby, so she decides to take him for a walk in the park to cool down and to plot revenge against Roger.

In a moment of distraction at the park, someone kidnaps Josh. The police don’t believe Shelby’s insistence that she’d seen a suspicious looking couple in a white van at the scene. It doesn’t take long before the entire town believes Shelby killed her brother in a fit of anger over having to miss Valerie’s party.

No one is willing to believe her story of what happened, so Shelby decides she will have to find Josh without the police. With the help of a cute senior named Matt, Shelby embarks on a desperate mission to save her little brother before it’s too late. As each clue leads her closer to the kidnappers Shelby discovers a raw strength and courage she’d never known but, with time running out, it may not be enough for little Josh.

Despite the “ho hum” cover, “Beyond Suspicion” is filled with action and suspense. It kept me glued to its pages to find out what happened to baby Josh, and was filled with surprises.

Recommended for ages 14 and older.