SOLVED. YA Fantasy. Girl with ability to read objects, hands and tongue cut off, historical throwback. [s]

[Ozdaae]

I'm looking for a book possibly from the 1990s or early 2000s about a girl with the ability to pick up an object and 'read' the history of the owner -- she picks up a button and reads the history of a girl locked in an old theatre who had her hands and tongue cut out by the murderer and who wrote his name on the wall in her own blood.

Meanwhile, the best friend of the protagonist "who dyed her hair black the same day I dyed mine fire engine red" is in a play at the same theatre called 'Tears For Lara' ("as if anyone is called Lara these days") and I think a series of accidents/warnings happen during rehearsals because of some superstition/curse associated with play -- possibly that it retells the story of the girl who was murdered?

The paperback *might* have a blue and/or black cover? Stupid how I can remember exact quotes but have no memory of the title, author or character's names.

Thanks for any suggestions!

[Rainbowheart]

Wolf?

Cassy is sent from her Nan's house to stay with her weak mother in London, no explanation given. She distracts herself by getting involved in a travelling theatre show called WOLF. Soon wolves haunt her and a stranger seems to be stalking her.

[Ozdaae]

Thank you for the suggestion but it's definitely not that book!

[Rainbowheart]

What country were you in when you read the book?

Where do you think it was set?

[Ozdaae]

I was in Australia, but I'd be fairly confident it was at least initially published in the USA (it may have had an Australian print run later) and set in the USA.

[Rainbowheart]

Bloodlace?

[Ozdaae]

YES! That's the book! Oh my gosh, thank you SO MUCH!

...and, how embarrassing, it's Australian?! (Explains why I had a copy as a child, I suppose).

[Rainbowheart]

Awesome! I'm so glad that was the right one. I was searching Worldcat for "theater" and "Australia," and it popped up on the first page.