Every Breath

Every Breath by Ellie Marney is a cracking read. The pace is faultless, the plot twists and turns like a hedge maze, and the characters are layered, complex and oh so engaging. Unlike recent television remakes that place Conan Doyle's characters in a modern city (be it London or New York), Ellie Marney has created an entirely new cast of characters. We see the story unfold through the eyes of Rachel Watts, a seventeen year old country girl transplanted into the inner suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. She comes with her own baggage, but it seems minor in comparison to the back-story of the energetic and enigmatic James Mycroft her neighbour and classmate, himself a transplant, but this time from London. Mycroft is a bit of a tortured genius and a whiz at forensics. Why does he live with his anti-social Aunt Angela? What happened to his parents? And how did he earn the scars that cover his body?

The story takes off when Rachel and Mycroft stumble onto the scene of a murder. Convinced the police are on the wrong track, Mycroft takes it on himself to solve the crime. Let the amateur sleuthing begin! But not everybody is happy with two teenagers poking around a murder investigation, least of all the police, and things don't always go according to plan. The pair have to deal with obstacles never faced by Holmes and Watson: angry teachers, disapproving parents, the threat of suspension or expulsion, and the very real risk of being grounded.

Every Breath is a fabulous mix of gritty YA and the time-honoured murder mystery. Marney's crisp prose crackles with wit and vivid imagery, and the romantic tension is so taut it hums like harp strings.