Welcome to Salt River High, where gang-like cliques run the school, teachers happily take bribes and roof top snipers keep the peace. Sean Beaudoin's You Killed Wesley Payne centers on Dalton Rev, a seventeen year old detective who transferred to Salt River to find out who killed Wesley Payne, a popular student found hanging from a goalpost on the football field. To solve this case, Dalton must wade into the murky world of high school politics while fending off the advances of the two ruling factions, the jocks and the rockers, who are happy to use their fists to make sure Dalton knows his place. As if this is not enough, Dalton must also contend with meddling teachers, misguided parents, a corrupt principal and an aggressive police force. Not to mention pretty girls and the hormonal urges they inspire. You Killed Wesley Payne is modeled on the noir style of many great detective novels, with short, crisp sentences. This is a fast paced novel that is hard to put down. Beaudoin slyly incorporates a lot of the history taught in high school into twisted inside jokes. His hilarious slang glossary, included near the end of the book is a clever and imaginative must-read. The book’s one big weakness is that it may embrace the conventions of noir too thoroughly, resulting in underdeveloped female characters and limited moral reflection. Although it may target readers of hardboiled detective fiction, this novel will also appeal to fans of mysteries and thrillers and anyone who would appreciate a satire of high school culture. Recommended for ages 14 and up.

While this book is not normally the type I read, I found it was worthwhile and I enjoyed it. Very satirical about high school and teenagers in general with a good, strong plot that moves the story along very nicely.

Loved the stylized reality and over-the-top high school cliques. This story balanced empathy for the teenage experience with satirical commentary about it.