Book Review: Veronica Mars: The Thousand Dollar Tan Line

Veronica Mars: An Original Mystery - The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line by Rob Thomas and Jennifer Graham
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Vintage (March 25, 2014)

Not even two weeks after the movie was released, the first Veronica Mars novel was published.  They are considered as canon so any future films would likely make reference to the events that transpire in the novels.  A second book is scheduled for release later this year.

The novel takes place a short time after the end of the movie but most potential readers will likely have seen the film before opening up the book.

Set ten years after graduating from high school, Veronica Mars has relocated from New York back to Neptune.  The land of sun, sand, crime, and correction.  Instead of pursuing a career in law, she's gotten back her license to serve as a private investigator.

Mars Investigations is struggling to pay the rent and employee paychecks.  That is until a girl goes missing from a party.

With Sheriff Lamb inept as ever to do the job, the Neptune Chamber of Commerce turns to Veronica to keep money flowing in to Neptune from students on spring break.  With a girl gone missing, students are canceling their trip--which means hotels and restaurants are losing revenue.

As the beach and boardwalks are transformed into a week-long party by college students, Veronica investigates the missing person's case.  The house she vanished from?  It's owned by someone with criminal ties.  Veronica is soon plunged into this dangerous underworld as she tries to find out what happened.

Soon thereafter, another girl goes missing but this time, it hits close to home with a connection to Veronica's past.

Thomas keeps the classic Mars snark intact as he writes this first novel.  While reading, I could imagine all the characters voices in my head reading the test aloud as I kept turning page after page.  The plot is sharp and the shocking twists that nobody sees coming will keep readers turning page after page until they finish.

That said, given where Logan is when the movie ended, there's not much material there for Thomas and Graham to work with.  He's serving overseas and is only available during Skype chats.  In the meantime, Veronica does what she does best.