We Were Kings

A twenty-year-old crime, an accelerated death penalty, and an elitist family cover-up: Nyla races against the death row clock to save a woman the world is rooting for . . . and against. Which side will you choose?Twenty years ago, eighteen-year-old Francis Quick was convicted of murdering her best friend, Cora King, and sentenced to death. Now the highly debated Accelerated Death Penalty Act has passed giving Frankie thirty final days to live. Surprising everyone, one of the King family members sets out to challenge the woefully inadequate evidence and potential innocence of Frankie Quick.The at-first reluctant but soon-fiery Nyla and her unexpected ally-handsome country island boy Sam Stack-bring Frankie’s case to the international stage through her YouTube channel, Death Daze. They step into fame and a hometown battle that someone’s still willing to kill over. But who? The senator? The philanthropist? The pawn shop owner? Nyla’s own mother?Best advice: Don’t go to family dinner at the Kings’ estate. More people will leave in body bags than on their own two feet. And as for Frankie Quick, she’s a gem . . . even if she’s guilty.Praise for We Were Kings:“We Were Kings is the best kind of mystery novel-intelligent and bursting with heart. As Nyla untangled her family's secrets, the twists left me breathless.” -Brittany Cavallaro, New York Times bestselling author“Bingeable. Atmospheric. A book that grabs hold and doesn’t let go. We Were Kings offers a delicious mystery perfect for fans of We Were Liars and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. I savored every word from beginning to end.” -Caroline George, author of The Summer We Forgot Young Adult suspense with some romance Stand-alone novel Includes discussion questions for book clubsFrom School Library JournalGr 9 Up-Nyla Wagner's mother has spent 20 years arguing the innocence of Frankie Quick, who was convicted of murdering Cora King when the girls were teenagers. Now the passage of a new law gives Frankie only 30 days before she will be executed, which prompts reporters to show up at Nyla's door and expose her mother as Cora King's sister. Confused and determined to find answers, Nyla embarks on her own investigation of the murder and her tangled family web. As she's done in previous novels, Stevens explores small-town atmosphere and politics very well. The mystery and suspense build consistently as Nyla searches for answers through her affluent family's secrets and lies. While there are some reveals that seem a bit obvious, others are clever and twisty enough to pick up the slack. Nyla is a likable and relatable protagonist, as is her relationship to Sam Stack, the son of Cora King's former boyfriend. Easily consumable with a fast-paced plot, this is a quick and enticing read for fans of murder mysteries and family dramas. Characters' race and ethnicity weren't stated. VERDICT Stevens delivers a cunning tale that will appeal to existing fans and could attract some new readers. A solid addition to any YA collection.-Kaitlin Malixi?(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.Review'Stevens deftly weaves multiple threads, including diamonds, meth, national politics, and human trafficking, into a riveting narrative of betrayed friendships and fraught family ties. Pairing old-fashioned amateur sleuthing with a decidedly on-trend, online true crime investigation, this taut mystery unspools with a chillingly calibrated pace, and the violent, stunning payoff is sure to surprise even the most genre-familiar reader . . . readers looking for their next addictive page-turner can mine this well-crafted whodunit for every worthy twist.' -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books'Stevens explores small-town atmosphere and politics very well. The mystery and suspense build consistently . . . While there are some reveals that seem a bit obvious, others are clever and twisty enoug