Alexis, Nick, and Ruby have very different backgrounds: Alexis has spent her life covering for her mom's mental illness, Nick's bravado hides his fear of not being good enough, and Ruby just wants to pursue her eccentric interests in a world that doesn't understand her. When the three teens join Portland County Sheriff's Search and Rescue, they are teamed up to search for a autistic man lost in the woods. What they find instead is a dead body. In a friendship that will be forged in danger, fear and courage, the three team up to find the girl's killer―before he can strike one of their own. This first book in April Henry's Point Last Seen YA mystery series, The Body in the Woods is full of riveting suspense, putting readers right in the middle of harrowing rescues and crime scene investigations. This title has Common Core connections. “Henry has created not only a gripping mystery, but rich and detailed characters as well . . . The action starts right away, and does not stop until everything comes to a head at the end of the novel.” ― VOYA “The fast-paced plot, mirroring familiar TV crime procedurals, make this a good choice for reluctant readers, especially as it's impossible to follow the clues and identify the killer before the final showdown.” ― Booklist “Henry realistically portrays these kids thrust into a real-life horror. Their doubts and fears, as well as their strengths, all ring true and teens will be able to identify with one of the protagonists . . . Give this series opener to fans of character-driven mysteries.” ― School Library Journal “Quick pacing, an easy-to-follow mystery, and a smidge of real danger make this a likely choice for TV crime drama fans.” ― BCCB “A fast moving and well-constructed mystery . . . astute readers will be able to solve the puzzle before the final, high-stakes climax.” ― Kirkus Reviews ILA Young Adults' Choices List Selection Oregon Book Award Master List Selection Oregon Spirit Book Award Master List Selection Iowa Teen Book Award Finalist Missouri Truman Award Finalist A YA PW Bestseller in Oklahoma An Oregon Battle of the Books Contender Oregon Battle of the Books Contender Oregon Battle of the Books Contender April Henry is the New York Times bestselling author of many acclaimed mysteries for adults and young adults, including the YA novels Girl, Stolen ; The Girl I Used to Be , which was nominated for an Edgar Award; The Night She Disappeared ; and Body in the Woods and Blood Will Tell , Books One and Two in the Point Last Seen series. She lives in Oregon. CHAPTER 1 TUESDAY BLOOD For Alexis Frost, Nick Walker, and Ruby McClure, it all started with a phone call and two texts. It ended with fear and courage, love and loathing, screaming and blood. Lots of blood. * * * When the classroom phone rang in American history, Alexis Frost straightened up and blinked, trying to will herself awake as the teacher answered it. She managed to yawn without opening her mouth, the cords stretching tight in her neck. Last night had been another hard one. “Alexis?” Mrs. Fairchild turned toward her. “Yes?” Her heart sped up. What was it this time? The possibilities were endless. None of them good. “Could you come up here, please?” Mrs. Fairchild was looking at Alexis as if she was seeing her in a new light. Had it finally happened, then, the thing she both feared and longed for? Had something happened to her mother? * * * Nick Walker’s thumbs were poised over the virtual keyboard of the phone he held on his lap. He was pretending to listen to Mr. Dill, his English teacher, while he was really texting Sasha Madigan, trying this angle and that to persuade her to study with him tonight. Which he hoped would mean lots of copying (on his part) and lots of kissing (on both their parts). The phone vibrated in his hand. Mr. Dill was busy writing on the board, so Nick lifted it a little closer to his face. It wasn’t a reply from Sasha but a message from his Portland Search and Rescue team leader. Search in Forest Park. Missing man. Meet time 1500. His first SAR call-out! He jumped to his feet. “Nick?” Mr. Dill turned and looked at him over the top of his glasses. “What is it?” Mr. Dill had a lot of rules. He had already complained about Nick’s habit of drawing—only Mr. Dill called it doodling—in class. Nick held up his phone while pointing at it with his other hand as if he had been hired to demonstrate it. “I’m with Portland Search and Rescue, and we’ve been mobilized to find a man missing in Forest Park. I have to leave now.” “Um, okay,” Mr. Dill said uncertainly. Someone in Wilson High’s administration had had to sign off on Nick being allowed to join searches during the school day, but maybe the information hadn’t filtered down to his teachers. No matter. Nick was already out the door. He just hoped someone from class would tell Sasha. A text wouldn’t do it justice. Nick Walker, called out on a lifesaving mission. * * * Ruby McClure felt her phone bu