All These Bodies

YA chiller 

     You probably haven't heard of the Andy Griffith Show which ran from 1960-68.  It was a then nostalgic sitcom set in an oh gee whiz innocent small town, a reprieve from the realities of war, rebellion, and changing sexual mores.  The main characters were the sheriff, his wide eyed, wholesome son, and the inept cousin who is his deputy.

     If the Andy Griffith Show and Stephen King's Salem's Lot had a love child it would be Kendare Blake's All These Bodies.

    "The night that the Carlsons were killed I was over at my best friend, Percy's place.  It was a warmish night for September and we'd gone out to their falling down barn so Percy's could grab a smoke without catching a glare from his stepmom, Jeannie.

     The year is 1958.  Michael is the son of the sheriff of Black Deer Falls, Minnesota.  He has a vague ambition towards being a journalist.  But his only connection to the field is his job delivering the Black Deer Falls Star.  Its editor, Matt McBride, is his mentor.

     In neighboring states all hell is breaking loose.  A bizarre murder spree is going on.  Corpses are found totally drained of blood.  Some victims seem not to have put up a fight.  No trace is found of the killer or killers.  Of course nothing like that could happen in good old Black Deer Falls,Minnesota...

     ...until it does.  A couple and their high school son, Steve, are discovered dead, every drop of blood drained out of them.  Only there's a major difference from the other murders.  A dazed teenage girl covered in blood, Marie Catherine Hale, is in the house with the corpses.  She's taken to the town jail.

     Everyone wants to know her story.  A Nebraska district attorney wants to make sure she gets the death penalty.  A lot of law enforcement people, sure a girl couldn't commit such gruesome murders, are anxious to track down her accomplices before they strike again.  Townspeople want to be the first in the know.

     "Tell the truth and shame the devil.  I always thought that would be easy.  But what do you do when the truth that you're faced with also happens to be impossible?"

     Amazingly Michael is the only one Marie will talk to.  At first he's sure that it's a major step in the right direction career wise.  

     "After it was over I could attend any journalism program that I wanted, and the college would probably pay for it.  Not bad for a kid from Nowhere, Minnesota."

     Only the interviews he conducts don't live up to his expectations.  Instead of the solid who, what, when, where, and how he's looking for he keeps hearing stories centered around blood drinking.

     So exactly what is going on? Can a teenage boy who has come to care to care about his interview subject get at the truth before the adults, some with less than pure motives, take over?

     There's only one way to find out.

On a purrrsonal note, it looks like the sunny 🌞 weather we've been enjoying will give way to some rain.  Just in time for the weekend.  Eugene says we'll probably go to camp, maybe even go out for breakfast.  It's a good thing I went to the library today.  I have plenty of books 📚 to pack.  (Jules)

I'll watch the house 🏠 while they're away.  (Tobago)

A great big shout out goes out to the librarians who keep me well supplied with great books 📚. 

Tobago and Jules Hathaway 

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