Hearts, Dead and Alive

When fifth grade teacher Kimberly Wayland finds a human heart in the middle school dumpster, she has some explaining to do. Like why she was in the dumpster in the first place, and why she didn't tell the police about her gruesome find. But after giving the police a fake alibi, explaining is the last thing Kim wants to do. Instead, with the help of her friends -- hot "best friend" Becca, co-worker "lesbian wanna-be" Annie, and lawyer "stickler-for-rules" Lucy -- Kim sets out to solve the mystery of the missing heart. Along the way, she unexpectedly solves another mystery, the mystery of her own heart.

Hearts, Dead and Alive was released March 10, 2012 by Regal Crest Enterprises.

By the way, the dog-napping scene that takes place in this book is fictional, but it is based on the true story of how I acquired Neffie. I'm pretty sure the statute of limitations has run on "My Nefarious Deed." After Neffie's rescue, she lived with me for thirteen long and happy years. RIP Neffie.

Reviews:

Showing up with a severed heart is not the best way to proclaim one's innocence. "Hearts, Dead and Alive" follows fifth grade teacher Kimberly Wayland as she finds a heart in a dumpster. Not immediately turning it in, she lies to the police when they come to question her, but as she digs herself into a deeper hole, she finds she has to be the one to find the origin of said heart. "Hearts, Dead and Alive" is a strong pick for general fiction and mystery collections.

--The Midwest Book Review, Reviewers' Bookwatch, May 2012