The May Queen Murders

Starred review from February 15, 2016
A teenage girl faces the darkest secrets of her secluded Missouri Ozarks village in an assured debut suffused with Gothic tension and atmosphere. Ivy Templeton’s kin have lived in Rowan’s Glen for centuries, a remote community full of ancient traditions and superstitions. Shy herself, Ivy shares an unbreakable bond with her spirited, danger-flaunting cousin, Heather. When dogs start turning up dead around Rowan’s Glen, everyone blames Birch Markle, who killed a local woman 25 years ago and disappeared into the forest. For the first time since the infamous murder, the Glen decides to celebrate May Day, crowning Heather as queen, but she disappears on the night of the celebration. Jude’s characters exude authenticity, and the suspense stays palpable through the final pages, as Ivy and a childhood crush seek to right wrongs—even if that means disrupting the delicate balance of a town built on false legends. Despite the story’s dark core, Jude brings her affecting, off-the-beaten-path coming-of-age tale, and its heroine, into the light. Ages 14–up. Agent: Miriam Kriss, Irene Goodman Literary Agency.

May 1, 2016
Grades 9-12 For her entire life, half-Mexican Ivy has lived in Rowan's Glen, an isolated farming community in the Ozarks. She's also spent her whole life hearing tales about twisted Birch Markle, the sadistic man blamed for a decades-old murder, who supposedly haunts the surrounding woods. When mutilated dogs start appearing all over town, everyone assumes it's Birch, and strict curfews go into effect. But Ivy's effervescent best friend, Heather, won't heed them, risking her safety for a mysterious person. Even careful Ivy considers flouting the restrictions, if it means spending more time with handsome Rook. A May Day celebration seems like just the thing to lift the Glen's spirits, but when a gruesome murder occurs, Ivy's investigation unearths horrifying secrets. Debut author Jude vividly describes the pastoral community, cultivating a sensual sense of atmosphere with descriptions of smells, textures, and sounds. Though the details of the investigation and its twisty conclusion get a bit lost amid the lush scene-setting, teens will still be drawn in by the eerie community, foreboding secrets, and steamy romance.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)

April 1, 2016

Gr 9 Up-Jude's dark and atmospheric debut novel features a secluded traditional community filled with superstition and secrets in the Missouri Ozarks. Ivy and Heather are cousins even though they don't resemble each other at all with Ivy's half-Mexican heritage and Heather's red as fire hair. They have been best friends their whole lives, but lately Ivy can feel Heather pulling away from her and their community's customs and folklore. As secrets tear them apart, their community deals with the possible return of Birch Markle, a murderer who has been living in the woods since before Ivy was born. Now, animals are turning up gruesomely killed, and the town is fearful that history will repeat itself and another girl will be murdered. Flowery prose and the distinct setting give this story a classic Gothic feel without becoming too heavy. It will appeal to readers of traditional horror titles as well as the more casual fan looking for an exciting, creepy read. The macabre descriptions sprinkled throughout are haunting and edgy and will thrill readers who like to be spooked. Unfortunately, the convoluted ending isn't as successful as too much information is uncovered too quickly. VERDICT A solid choice for rabid horror fans.-Jenna Friebel, Deerfield Public Library, IL

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2016
Shy, quiet, and content with the simple way of life in Rowan's Glen--a back-to-the-land commune in the Missouri Ozarks-- teen Ivy Templeton is the exact opposite of her cousin Heather, and Ivy resents the growing separation between herself and the girl she once called a sister and best friend. When the Glen revives the May Day celebration after 20-plus years, Ivy, whose father is white and mother is Mexican, isn't surprised when Heather is chosen to be the new May Queen. And some of the Glen's elders are even less surprised when Heather vanishes after the celebration, which eerily echoes the disappearance and murder of the last May Queen. This present-day mystery is ripe with superstition and serves up an atmospheric, authentic-feeling setting, but it suffers in the characterization department. Too many of the villains have flat, uncomplicated motives, and teen readers might have difficulty relating to Ivy in particular. Her narrative voice doesn't ring true, and her behavior is inconsistent: she is by turns a shy, stuttering girl and a swearing, blunt woman who is not bashful about sex and drug use. In the end, the book reads much more like an adult romance and/or mystery novel than a novel for teens. While the book holds an appeal for adult readers of teen books, it might be hard-pressed to find fans in its target audience. (Mystery. 14 & up)

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July 1, 2016
Sixteen-year-old Ivy lives in superstition-fueled Rowan's Glen in the Missouri Ozarks, where, twenty-five years ago, Birch Markle killed the queen of the May Day celebration; he's rumored to still roam the woods. When decapitated animals start appearing, everyone knows Birch is back--and Ivy's cousin, Heather, is the new May Queen. Macabre atmosphere and terror abound in this thrilling, bloody mystery.

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)