Title: Useless Bay
Author: M.J. Beaufrand
Publishing Date: October 18, 2016
Publisher: Amulet Books
Pages: 240
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
A gritty, psychological thriller about a mythic set of sixteen-year-old quintuplets searching for a young boy.On Whidbey Island, the Gray quintuplets are the stuff of legend. Pixie and her brothers have always been bigger and blonder than their neighbors, as if they were birthed from the island itself. Together, they serve as an unofficial search-and-rescue team for the island, saving tourists and locals alike from the forces of wind and sea. But, when a young boy goes missing, the mysteries start to pile up. While searching for him, they find his mother’s dead body instead—and realize that something sinister is in their midst. Edgar-nominated author M. J. Beaufrand has crafted another atmospheric thriller with a touch of magical realism that fans of mystery and true crime will devour.
Chapter 3
Pixie
When the police finally came, it was Dean who was led away for questioning.
It was a Sunday night. The wind was blowing the Douglas firs sideways, and the eagles were air-surfing the gusts above the bluff.
In our living room, the sofas and chairs had been pushed aside and cushions placed at sharp edges on the floor. By the fireplace. Around the coffee table.
Lawford was practicing his takedowns from Criminal Justice. On me.
When he was done throwing me around, he expected me to Taser him.
Lawford took a Criminal Justice course after school at the police academy on the mainland, for kids who were interested in going into law enforcement. Next week he was going to have to resist a takedown and get Tasered for real, and he was really excited about it.
Which would be weird if you didn’t know my family.
We were seventeen years old. Sibling rivalry didn’t begin to cover it.
The doorbell rang.
Splat! Lawford threw me. My head smacked the area rug, and my legs purled over the sofa.
I heard Mom answer the door. “Hey, Rupe. What brings you out? I was just making chili for the boys. Can you come in for a bite?”
As soon as I got to my feet, Lawford had me in a choke hold, so I flipped him and went to see what Mr. Shepherd was doing at our house on a Sunday night. He should be gone by now. He and his family were weekenders. He owned all the land below our bluff, which included the lagoon and the bay. They let us walk around in it but made it clear it was his.
It was strange they were here on a Sunday night. Especially since I knew Henry’s dad earlier had to take a helicopter back to Medina because he’d forgotten he had a meeting with the Kid Trying to Save Africa with Electricity. Why had he come back, just to get on the ferry? It didn’t make sense. Something was going on.
Mary Jane grew up in Gresham, Oregon. She’s a graduate of Wellesley College and has an MFA from the Bennington Writing Program. Currently she lives in Seattle with her husband, two children, and dogs. In the eighties she had a bad perm.
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Good luck with your book!!!
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