"We've got him and he knows it. Sooner or later he's going to confess"

New in town, sixth-former Jon Crier finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. He is arrested for the murder of a young woman. Coincidences can happen to anyone, but the evidence begins to mount. Friends and family turn against him. As the plot twists and turns Jon finds it hard to tell fact from fiction. Someone is out to get him - but who?

The most complex and compelling murder mystery yet from the author of Love Lessons and The Beat series. David Belbin is the UK's best-selling author of crime fiction for young adults. He is also the author of City Of Crime, available from Five Leaves.

"A gripping thriller..." - Achuka

"This novel is pacey and direct and will appeal to readers who like a fast-moving and gripping murder mystery. The characters are well-drawn and the dialogue unpretentious and lively. Belbin has a long track record of hard-hitting books for teenagers, and it's good to read another" - Carousel

"I found this book a compelling read... Highly recommended."
- Reading Matters

Shortlisted for the 2001 North-East Book Award.

David Belbin is one of Britain's best selling young adult crime writers and is the author of Last Virgin, Love Lessons, and Festival.

"The headteacher's body lay sprawled across the desk. Her head was soaked in blood... "

In Dead Teachers Don't Talk Beechwood Grange school is full of secrets - nothing is quite what it seems. And the shootings have only just begun...

Here's what the reviewers said about David Belbin's last Five Leaves' title Dead Guilty (which was shortlisted for the 2001 Waterstone's North East Book Award, and is still available):

"An enjoyable whodunit which plants some red herrings and leaves the real surprises for the end" - Books for Keeps

"This novel is pacey and direct and will appeal to readers who like a fast-moving and gripping murder mystery" - Carousel

"A gripping thriller" - Achuka

"Highly recommended" - Reading Matters

Xenophobia... and all stops in between.

David Belbin is a long-established name in young adult fiction. He also writes regularly for magazines including Secondary English and teaches young adult fiction at Nottingham Trent University.

"Adhering strictly to the unflinching candour of the folk tale... The Golem of Old Prague is a beautiful and unfortunately timely book" -Times Educational Supplement

"...in this gentle but powerful book the stories become approachable with a life and dynamic of their own. They illustrate the life of Jews and Christians in a medieval city... characteristic and authentic"
- The Friend

In the Frame is one of a set of anthologies being published to celebrate the tenth birthday of Five Leaves Publications.

The thirteen stories address the transitional moment when we pass from the last stage of our childhood into the first stage of our adulthood. The stories illustrate how a key event in our lives can force us to change our understanding of the world.

Amongst the stories on offer Berlie Doherty gives us a glimpse of the start of a murder mystery. B K Mahal shows the way people cope in places alien to them as well as to us. Gwen Grant gives us the reactions when we are witness to others secrets. David Belbin's character finds that being gay brings an unexpected danger. Nick Mann frames adult hypocrisy for us all to see.

With Chris D’Lacey we are taken on the ride of our lives. Sylvia Hall shows us the moment when the tormented turns and faces off the bully.

Each story gives a voice to the feelings we experience when changing from child to adult.


Contributors:

Gill Vickery, Linda Kempton, Chris D'Lacey, Nick Manns, Sylvia Hall, B.K.Mahal, Gwen Grant, Pauline Chandler, Lynne Markham, Berlie Doherty, Bette Paul, Caroline Pitcher.