This is a fascinating book, with an amazingly developed protaganist. Olivia Dale is a complex and intense character who will stop at nothing to get the story. A crime reporter in Memphis, Olivia comes upon the case of a dead young woman who looks like her, is her age, and for all intents and purposes, could just as easily have been her or any other young woman in the city. Wanting to get to the bottom of what happened, how, why and by whom, Olivia begins living as the victim might have. She tries to piece the puzzle together by recreating the victim's life and experiences. We watch this woman transform as a person and reporter, and learn a great deal about herself. What are human boundaries, and how far are we willing to extend them in different circumstances? A highly recommended, page turning, thriller.

Body of a Girl is so wonderful I can only urge you to order it and read it as soon as possible. Allison Avery is the perfect 'girl.' Beloved by friends and family. Her murder opens up her life... a secret life that may have led to her brutal murder. Olivia Dale is a young reporter who covers the story for her Memphis newspaper. Olivia bears a resemblance to Allison and soon the murdered girl's family and friends open up to her, giving her insight into Allisons life. Olivia is drawn into this shadowy and dangerous world, fascinated by the wild side hidden inside her. Leah Stewart is a wonderful writer . I never thought anyone could hold a candle to Ruth Rendell, but here she is! This book is what a crime novel should be...literate, insightful and most importantly, great fun to read. I look forward to the next book!

I loved this book. It has wonderful writing, strong pace, and a fascinating main character -- a reporter who risks herself to get the story of her life, about a young murder victim who looks like her.

She penetrates the dead woman's world and dresses like her and goes to the nightclubs where she went and interviews her family and friends as she digs up the dirt. The character and personality of the dead woman haunt the narrative. Her fascination with this crime victim is the engine that drives the story. The dead woman's presence is riveting.

This is not your typical hard-boiled mystery, thank heaven. It reads like a mainstream or even literary novel and comes closer to "The Secret History" that to the genre stuff of Robert B. Parker. It swept me up in its world. As a writer myself, I had very few nitpicks, which is unusual. I recommend it highly.