Reviews for Miracle Myx

from Mary Frances Wilkens, Booklist Magazine

In the Massachusetts town of Miracle lives Myx Amens, only 14 years old but a key player in the Miracle police force. Heck, Myx has already died twice, so what’s a little danger in the line of duty?

His first death (by lightning) left him with a photographic memory. His second death (at the hands of a bully) left him unable to sleep and his senses discombobulated: he can smell sounds, feel tastes, and hear feelings. This unusual affliction is called synesthesia, and with a doctor’s help Myx has learned to live with it.

When corpses start turning up with odd parts missing, the cops reluctantly call on bionic Myx to use his particular skills to help investigate the crimes (hearing feelings comes in pretty handy when you’re asking questions). Myx, whose sleepless nights allow him ample time for sleuthing, proves especially adept at drawing people out, especially the beautiful, grieving mother of one of the victims.

What makes this debut novel exceptional is Diotalevi’s clever use of Myx’s sense-mingling; more than a mere plot device, the character’s synesthetic gift enables the author to wax poetic one minute ("her hand smelled pink with carved curls of green") and comic the next ("her breasts talked to me, but I’m keeping their conversation private").

A wickedly funny, surprisingly moving genre-bending tale of small-town secrets, lies, and revenge.

--Mary Frances Wilkins

from Jeremiah Healy, author of TURNABOUT and RESCUE

"It's not often that a debut protagonist can be accurately characterized as 'unique.'

However, Dave Diotalevi has done just that in creating Myx Amens, a fourteen-year-old living (but never 'sleeping') in a small Massachusetts town. The author has woven just enough back-story into the first few chapters to clue the reader that Myx has already 'died' twice, and then enough current, twisty-turny action to demonstrate the 'gifts' that his deaths have provided him. MIRACLE MYX is a sure contender for all the "best-rookie' awards."
-- Jeremiah Healy

from Robert Fate, author of the Baby Shark series

How can a debut novel be this good? Miracle Myx, Dave Diotalevi’s tale of murder and deceit and—yes—hidden treasure, is finely tuned seduction. What a treat it is to be in the mind of Myx Amens, the clever, capable, twice-dead, protagonist of a story that surprises and satisfies throughout. A mystery told with wry, intelligent humor. More Myx, Mr. Diotalevi, and soon.

--Robert Fate

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