Her torso was wrapped in a moldy blanket. Her head was tilted to the side, her neck swollen with red welts and bruises. Her normally sleek blonde hair was now brown, caked with mud and strewn across her face like a dirty mop. Her eyes were blindfolded with a black scarf... 
 It's been 3 months, 19 hours, and 21 minutes so far that Bea has been sober. She has just been released from rehab where she will be starting her senior year with people she doesn't know, weeks after the start of the semester. 
 Bea has been an addict for so long, and she still yearns to use again even in the midst of her new stint with sobriety. Seen as somewhat aggressive and isolated by her peers, Bea sees herself as an artist, although lately her talent has been tainted with a curse that she can't understand. When she looks into someone's eyes, she is overcome with the need to immediately draw -- without being fully conscious of what exactly is being transmitted from the pen to the paper. Bea soon discovers that her drawings are reflecting the secrets and thoughts of those around her, which suddenly leaves her terrified and desperate to return to the drugs that made her feel safe. 
 But lately, a series of strange rapes and murders hit a little close to home, and one of Bea's classmates soon becomes the first victim to actually escape. Although popular cheerleader Willa denies having seen the face of her attacker, Bea is able to read her mind and sketch a drawing of the dangerous predator that has been stalking young women, one by one. Of course, the police don't believe her story, and Willa refuses to admit to the police that Bea has stumbled upon a clue that might help break the case. Can Bea find the murderer and save the day without returning to the comfort of her addiction, or will her fears win out in the end, leading her back down the road that is most familiar in her life? 
 SKETCHY was really an unexpected little gem, one that was a quick, exciting read from start to finish. I really enjoyed Bea's character because she had a realistic depth to her personality, and she was tough and determined without seeming completely unflawed or unstoppable. I always enjoy reading about characters who have overcome huge psychological obstacles, and Bea's descriptions of her addiction and her longing to return to the past made her a fascinating character indeed. 
 Her uncanny artistic powers added a thrilling twist to the murder mystery, although at times it did make things a little too easy when it came to finding the predator in question. The end really just left us hanging, which makes me wonder (and hope) that this is first in a series that will be continuing soon. I'm sure that Bea's skills would allow for a range of other storylines, and I'm curious to see where things go with her and the cop... 
 Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to preview a galley copy of SKETCHY. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I recommend this novel to anyone who wants a quick, intense thrill read from the YA genre.