When Christopher takes a job in the local medical examiner's office (read: morgue) he thought he would learn some embalming tricks and anatomy... imagine his shock when the first body he sees has 5 bullet holes in it -- and is pronounced a suicide! Chris joins forces with a hot, ambitious cub reporter, Tina, to solve the mysterious death and cover-up. Well-paced mystery.

Author Ford juggles lots of balls on this mystery -- a few red herrings, a detailed but traceable plot, a side-bar romance (plus the hint of sexual escapades --unfulfilled!) and a kidnapped younger brother -- and manages to keep them all in the air. The characters, pacing, and dialogue are dandy. Aside from the obvious violence and the siren qualities of reporter, Tina, there is nothing objectionable. Weaker readers may have trouble following the plot, but those who persevere will find a satisfying resolution. ( )

Christopher's summer job is a bit unusual: he works in the city morgue, which is how he stumbled on a murder conspiracy. A man shot five times was declared a suicide, and the coroner had thousands of dollars in cash right afterward. Christopher knows something is seriously wrong here, and sets out to uncover the truth. A young reporter looking for her big break, Tina, gets in on the action and together they try to unravel the mystery. A well-paced mystery that keeps readers guessing, with just enough romance, intrigue, and humor to make it a worthwhile read. ( )

"Petoskey, where nature smiles for seven miles," as quoted by the city limits sign, is a description that reflects the character of the town where the story takes place. Petoskey is a small town on the shores of big Lake Michigan. The praised bluffs of the town were destroyed for a golf course, which is where the cover-up and bribery begin. Christopher Newell lives in Petoskey and gets a summer job at the local morgue. His first week on the job is not what he expects. He sees a dead body with several bullet wounds, but knows the death certificate reads that the man committed suicide. He also finds a large sum of money in the medical examiner's office drawer. He knows he is witnessing a murder cover-up. He then befriends Tina, a newspaper reporter, who helps Christopher unravel the clues to the murder. As the investagation goes on, the two of them discover Christopher's best friend, poltical officials, police and lawyers may also be negativly involved. Christopher encounters many obsticles while attempting to solve the crime. He and his brother are both kidnapped on seperate occasions, he and Tina are pursued by the murders, and Christopher must confront his best friend who is somehow involved in all of the madness. Read all this and more in John C. Ford's The Morgue and Me. ( )

Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

A summer job at the morgue? It's not for everyone, but it's just right for Christopher. Mystery, intrigue, and some day working as a spy are what fill his thoughts.

When Christopher overhears his boss agreeing that a recent death at a local motel was the result of suicide, he doesn't think too much about it. That is, until he gets a peek at the body. There are five gunshot wounds in the guy's chest. That's hardly what most medical examiners would rule a suicide.

There's a mystery to be solved, and Christopher is on the case. When he tries to take the evidence he's found to the local newspaper, he meets up with a reporter named Tina. Not only is she interested in the case, but she's pretty hot, too. Together, they are determined to find out the truth.

THE MORGUE AND ME is a real whodunit kind of mystery. The two amateur detectives find themselves wrapped up in a complicated scenario that involves local business people, a couple of lawyers, the sheriff, and more. Not only are Christopher and Tina in danger, but so also is Christopher's kid brother. Can they find the evidence they need to convince the authorities that the would-be suicide was actually the victim of murder?

Both teen readers and adults will find this quirky mystery filled with plot twists and turns a satisfying read. ( )

If you liked "Acceleration" by Graham McNamee, you might enjoy this one. Great book for guys. ( )