THIRTY SECONDS AT A TIME https://ift.tt/ZMibGVB

After bullets shatter her living room windows, killing her police officer father, high school junior Kate’s life changes forever. As he lies dying, Dad gives her a piece of paper, issuing a cryptic warning: “Don’t read it…Don’t show anyone. Burn it.” Kate does get rid of the paper—but only after reading it. When she and her mom are allowed back in the house to collect some possessions, she stumbles upon $250,000, stashed in her guitar case. Fearing that her father was a thief, she hides the cash in a safe place. When Kate’s mom is offered a spring semester teaching position at a private school for competitive athletes in Vermont, the change feels like a respite from the trauma. Kate quickly settles into her new environment and even falls for a handsome skier named Ryan. But when people involved in her dad’s murder investigation wind up dead, Kate realizes that she’s in grave danger and must act. The novel’s pacing is a bit bumpy, ranging from slow to frenetic, but the payoff at the end is worth it. The characters are sympathetic and likable, and the development of the protagonists, who are coded white, is solid. Kate and Ryan’s whirlwind relationship is a testament to the power of first love.

from Kirkus Reviews https://ift.tt/POQgtwd