Wow, I love the cool and futuristic vibe of this book! Do you remember the movie Minority Report? (The futuristic film with Tom Cruise in a specialized police department, who apprehends criminals based on foreknowledge?) Walk A Mile by Joey Paul is something of a lighter YA version with a lovely 18-year old Hetti as the police officer who starts to have doubts about the accused’s guilt. 

The story is set in the year 2050, where a quiz you take at the age of 16 determines your future career and where the popular Walk A Mile (WAM) software makes it possible, literally, to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes by putting on a special WAM accessory.

Fresh out of the police training college her quiz determined, 18-year-old Hetti joins the police force alongside her best friend Layla. Already on her first day, Hetti is drawn into a series of murders that don’t make any logical sense. All murderers are dazed and confused and claim their innocence. The only link Hetti can find between the cases is the WAM accessory found at all crime scenes. Could it be a malfunction in the WAM software or that someone is using it to turn people into murderers? Being a rookie though, Hetti lacks the confidence to voice her gut feeling. Not until her friends and family are put at risk.

I really recommend this book! It’s a fast-paced adventure mystery story with a unique and refreshing plot line and with characters that you immediately root for. And the twist at the end! I so did not see that one coming… which is exactly what you want from a great mystery book!

​Find out more about the books and the author here: Joey Paul

My reading tips this week is the lovely and intriguing Dying Thoughts – First Touch by Joey Paul. This is the first book in the Dying Thoughts series which follows a teenage girl with a very unique ability; she gets visions of how people died just by touching something of theirs. Such an intriguing and fresh story line! But that’s not all. There’s also mystery and suspense in the mix, and a very strong and sassy main character, that makes this book almost impossible to put down.

I love Joey Paul’s writing, it’s very personal, witty and so fast paced. The story just draws you in! And I love how she’s able to write from a teenager’s perspective with such great authenticity. Tara, the main character is so well portrayed that you really feel like you know her. I love the rebel in her, how she never tries to please anyone else and her self-depreciating dry humor, and also all her flaws. The “gift” (I really wouldn’t call it that though, more a curse…) makes it hard for her to have normal relationships and the way she’s socially awkward is described in such a realistic way that I believe a lot of young readers will really relate to.

The YA book is a very fast paced read (I read all of it in one sitting) and easy to get into, so it’s a great read for readers as young as Middle Grade, but also for older teens.

I would like to say a huge thank you to Joey Paul for giving me the opportunity to read her book. I can’t wait to continue with the rest of this series!

Find out more about the books and the author here: Joey Paul