Death Spiral, the first release from The Poisoned Pencil, is an edgy tale introducing sixteen year old Faith Flores. Faith Flores is a work in progress. She wants to go to college and study science, but she’s not exactly college material. Thanks to her junkie mom, Faith has never known a stable life. But when her mom drops dead, Faith is the only one who cries. The cops say it was an overdose, but Faith doesn’t buy it. Her search for the truth leads Faith from the drug houses and methadone clinics of North Philly to the million-dollar science labs of the pharmaceutical industry.

First Place Winner of the National Federation of Press Women Fiction Award 2014

First Place Winner of the New Mexico Federation of Press Women Fiction Award 2014

Honorable Mention in the Eric Hoffer Book Awards for young-adult fiction 2014

Reviews

Publishers Weekly
Sharp characterization and deft descriptions make this a solid addition to the amateur detective shelf.

School Library Journal
The story moves quickly and incorporates interesting discussion involving topical science issues. –Eliza Langhans, Hatfield Public Library, MA

Midwest Book Review
A deftly written mystery that will especially appeal to young adult readers, author Janie Chodosh demonstrates her mastery of the genre with a compelling and thoroughly entertaining debut novel.

Mysterious Reviews
Death Spiral is first rate in nearly every respect and is highly recommended. Faith is the core of this novel. She’s independent and has resolve, but she also has all the insecurities that most 16-year-olds have.

Fresh Fiction
Death Spiral by Janie Chodosh is a superbly crafted, gritty YA mystery that gives us a new kind of investigator in Faith Flores. –Jennifer Barnhart

Bergers Book Reviews
Death Spiral is a wild ride from start to finish and I couldn’t put it down.

Rich in Color
Death Spiral has a nice balance of friendship, mystery, humor, and danger.

Science Thrillers
Author Janie Chodosh passes the science test. Death Spiral is a mystery that can only be solved by getting answers to the science questions. I love that.