The executioners three

The year is 1999, and though Lance Bass hasn't been blamed for ritualistic murder before, there's a first time for everything. After all, it was only after Freddie Gellar took possession of the lucky NSYNC keychain she shares with her best friend that she finds herself not just with a crush on a boy from the rival high school, but also applying her chronic Nancy Drew tendencies to the eerie occurrences that are building up in her tiny town after a mysterious hanging. It does take Freddie (who is more Scully than Mulder) time to fully buy into the supernatural element, but once she's convinced, supernatural forces don't stand a chance. The high-stakes overarching plot is well-balanced with Freddie's complicated social life--one that is bolted firmly to its '90s setting with plentiful references to novelties like Nokias and ICQ that are likely to intrigue readers who refer to the era as "the late twentieth century." Ultimately, an atmospheric ghost story perfect for fall and guaranteed to be creepy fun for teens.

Strange sounds in the woods near 17-year-old Frederica "Freddie" Gellar's historic hometown, City-on-the-Berme, prompt her to call the police--which results in a party bust and the arrests of several students from Allard Fortin Preparatory School, including Theo Porter, a "Very Bad Human Indeed." Freddie's low profile at her own Berm High School changes overnight when her popular Prank Squad classmates dub her the Prank Wizard and invite her to join their escalating prank war with Fortin Prep. When Freddie finds a dead body in the woods, however, she realizes the strange sounds she heard that night may not have been the drunken shouts of local teenagers but something much more sinister. Now, Freddie has a mystery to solve, a reputation to uphold, and a nemesis to avoid, even if that nemesis makes her heart flutter. After a second body, this time decapitated, is discovered, Freddie connects the deaths to a poem that's linked to the lore behind City-on-the-Berme. As the threat grows, Freddie must uncover the truth to protect her friends and family, even if it means asking Theo for help. Humorous banter fuels the growing spark between Freddie and Theo in this campy, action-packed thriller by Dennard (The Hunting Moon). Pop culture references from the 1990s anchor the novel's setting. The protagonists cue as white. Ages 13--up. Agent: Joanna Volpe, New Leaf Literary. (Aug.)

Creepy supernatural executioners roam the woods at night in Dennard's latest. On the cusp of the year 2000, Freddie Gellar, a high school senior and self-proclaimed Answer Finder, untangles a plot worthy of a professional detective. After she reports hearing screaming in the woods and accidentally gets students from rival school Fortin Prep arrested, Freddie becomes a member of the Berm High Prank Squad. Suddenly, popular classmates--like the attractive Kyle Friedman and class president Laina Steward--notice her. With her best friend, Divya Srivastava, by her side, Freddie navigates teen life and her unexpected physical attraction to Theo Porter, who's Fortin's prank master. Meanwhile, grisly goings-on ensue as murdered bodies with deep ties to village lore appear in the woods. Freddie, a fan ofThe X-Files, channels her inner Scully and Mulder to solve the mystery--but as she seeks answers, she finds more than she bargained for. Allusions to the '90s, including Nokia phones and boy bands, realistically frame the gory content within the setting. Sensual scenes add romantic appeal, and Freddie's narrative voice echoes the emotionally intense refrains of adolescence as she navigates coming-of-age themes. Freddie and Theo are cued white, and the supporting cast contains broad ethnic diversity as well as queer representation. This high-suspense thriller hits all the marks with its slow reveal and cross-genre appeal. (map)(Supernatural thriller. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.