Among the best writers of the crime genre, period

I've always admired Nancy for being something of a genre-bender: she can write, and write well, and it doesn't matter what one calls it, or even necessarily what one's tastes are. Good writing is good writing.

Of course there's been a lot of praise heaped on her lately for her two recent romantic fantasies, first Impossible and now Extraordinary (the latter due out in September), but among all that, it's nice to hear a shout-out for Nancy in her erstwhile niche, crime/suspense.

Sarah Weinman, one of the most influential reviewers of crime fiction, offers her take on John Grisham's Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer, for Barnes & Noble, and in that review she says of Nancy:

I should mention my favorite young adult mystery writer, Nancy Werlin. Her books offer strong plotting, multi-faceted characters and a keen eye for social issues that speak directly to her readers. At her best, as with the National Book Award nominee The Rules of Survival and Edgar-Award winner The Killer's Cousin, she's among the best writers of the crime genre, period.

See? It's not just me. If you're relatively new to Nancy's stuff, and don't mind shifting gears, you should start in on her back list...