Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday

Hartley doesn't want to believe the rumors, but after breaking into her boyfriend Josh's locker and finding a condom wrapper, she knows she can't deny it. He's cheating on her. Not only that, but he's cheating on her with the president of the chastity club, Courtney Cline.

After breaking into Josh's house to confront him, Hartley and her best friend Sam find Courtney's dead body--in Josh's closet. Josh is on the run and begging Hartley to help clear his name. She reluctantly agrees, and relies on the help from the school newspaper editor, Clint for help. After another dead body surfaces, Hartley begins to wonder if they're in over their heads. And if she should be helping Josh clear his name or trying to save her own life.

A good murder and suspense novel. I enjoyed the plot and sarcasm from Hartley and her friends. I did guess at who the killer was about 2/3 of the way through the book--and found out I was right!

Lark by Tracey Porter

Lark was kidnapped, raped, then left tied to a tree to die. Nyetta, a young girl Lark use to baby-sit, sees Lark's ghost now. Lark only has so much time before the tree traps her soul. In order to be free, someone has to acknowledge her wounds and what happened to her--Lark has chosen Nyetta for this 'honor'.

Eve was Lark's best friend, and she is also haunted, but by her own guilt. They had a fight and couldn't work past it.

The three of them are lost and not sure where to turn. Lark's time is running out but Nyetta can't do what she wants. And Eve is tormented by her guilt and knows she needs to do something.

Short and sweet, but serious. The story is told in alternative voice and very well-done. Each character, while not fully formed, has a strong enough voice it keeps the pages turning. Emotional but not overkill.

She Said/She Saw by Norah McClintock

Tegan was in the backseat of Clark's SUV when someone walked up and shot both Clark and Marvin, both in the front. She wasn't looking at the shooter, she was looking at Marvin, so when the police ask her for a description of the shooter, she can't tell them anything.

But no one believes she didn't see anything. Not her friends, who are shunning her, not her family, who want her to tell the truth, and not Clark and Marvin's families, who are convinced she's scared for her own life and can't be concerned with her two best friends.

Kelly, Tegan's sister, believes Tegan at first. It's entirely possible she didn't see anything. Then she finds out that Marvin, who had a crush on Kelly, told Tegan. And Tegan convinced Marvin to get drugs for the party they were at, even though he had gone clean. Not sure what to believe, Kelly also shuns Tegan.

Until Tegan decides the only way to tell the truth is to flush out the killer herself.

The story is told from Tegan and Kelly's points of view and could have been a much longer book. I found the concept pretty amazing, and enjoy the way McClintock builds suspense and doubt. Both main characters are likable but have their moments.

I Am Not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells

John Wayne Cleaver is fascinated by serial killers. He studies them and knows what makes them tick. It's a passtime for him, but so much more. John knows he could easily become a serial killer, but he doesn't want to. So he studies them and sets up rules for himself to avoid following that path.

Then someone is murdered in their little town of Clayton. John immediately believes it's the work of a serial killer, but it takes two more deaths to convince others he knows what he's talking about. And since he knows serial killers, he feels he's the best qualified to figure out the guy's next move.

But what he finds he could never have anticipated. And in order to defeat the killer, he may have to let his own monster loose.

A little grotesque, but pretty good. John is a great narrator. I would recommend not eating at the beginning of the book--the embalming process is explained. Enough happens even when it seems like nothing is happening to keep you interested.

Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves

Ok, this is one of the strangest books I've read in a long time. Nothing is explained right away, so it's hard to describe without giving too much information away.

Fancy and her older sister Kit live with their mom in a town named Portero. Their father, known as the Bonesaw Killer, is currently in jail due to the people he murdered, hacked up, and hid all over town. Portero isn't just any town however. It bridges a gap between our reality and others, so there are all sorts of creatures who come out to play--monsters. There are also doors that lead other places and those doors can be dangerous.

Back to Fancy and Kit. The two of them share a love of killing things, just like their father. When the first embark on their rampage, they decide to limit their killings to people who deserve it. Fancy worries about getting caught, so she is granted a wish of having a place where the bodies will never be found. This opens a door to the 'happy place' where everything is under Fancy and Kit's control. But soon that's not enough for Kit...in fact, she loses some of her taste for murder as she gets more interested in boys.

And Fancy never foresaw the repercussions of doing something 'good' for their fellow townspeople.

A very strange book. Some romance but mostly blood. Not really fantasy, but not really realistic fiction either. I did enjoy it, but really very strange.

Vesper by Jeff Sampson

Emily Webb has one leg out of her second story window when her best friend calls to tell her a classmate has been shot and killed not more than 3 blocks from Emily's house.

Shocked, Emily realizes just where she is..and what she's wearing. She has no memory of changing clothes or why she was climbing out her window. Unfortunately for her, this is only the first night this happens. Suddenly she's jumping from her second story window, chasing cars, beating up guys, and hitting on all the available guys in her path.

This is very unusual behavior for Emily. One she worries about. Why does it only happen at night? What causes it? Then another classmate is shot and Emily realizes she might be next.

This is the first in a series, so naturally, not everything is explained. Emily is on the hunt for a mate, which I could find almost offensive, but the rest of the story is interesting, and trying to figure out what's going on and what she'll do next keeps the book moving. I enjoyed the story, and I'm looking forward to the next one.

Virals by Kathy Reichs

Tory Brennan is adjusting to life with her dad. Just a year ago her mother passed away and she and her dad got the shock of their lives--they learned about each other. Now Tory is living on an island off the coast of Charleston, South Caroline, with Hi, Shelton, and Ben as her only friends.

The foursome spend a lot of time on Loggerhead Island, the research institute where most of their parents work. That's where Tory finds a set of dog tags that lead them on a search to find a missing person, then a murderer. Not to mention the change it makes to all of them.

The book starts off a little slow, but picks up quickly. The science can get heavy at times, but it rarely takes away from the pace of the book. There's lots of action and adventure to go with the science. I'm waiting for the next one to come out.

The Strawberry Picker by Monika Feth

Jenna is 18 and on her own for the first time. She lives with Merle and Caro, two of her closest friends. When a young woman is found murdered, the girls are concerned but continue their lives.

Until Caro goes missing. Before her body is discovered, in the same way as all the other girls, Jenna and Merle start to question what was going on with Caro's new boyfriend. And their determination to find him.

Nate is sure he's been careful, but he is worried the police are on to him. Caro seemed like the perfect girl but she disappointed him. And now he has new prey...Jenna.

The book was originally written in German, then translated to English. It took a while to get into, the perspective changes from various characters often, and it switches from 3rd person to 1st. About halfway through it picks up, but I'm not sure how much it will appeal to teens.

Spirit Seeker by Joan Lowery Nixon

Holly's life is full of small stresses. The strain on her from her parents' marriage, school, friends, and just being a teenager.

Then Holly's father--a police detective--comes home to tell her Cody, her boyfriend, is a suspect in the murder of his parents.

Holly must race the clock in order to prove Cody's innocence--even though all the evidence points at him. And she needs to open herself up to the abilities she's tried to ignore.

Some paranormal aspects in the story. Holly is a sympathetic character, and although a lot of the situations need a heavy suspension of disbelief, the action, mystery, and solution are well done. The reader is left questioning Cody's guilt and Holly's belief right to the end.

Down the Rabbit Hole by Peter Abrahams

Ingrid, thirteen, has a habit of zoning out while reading, ignoring math homework, and attempting to emulate her idol, Sherlock Holmes. So when she finds out Cracked-up Katie was murdered the same day Ingrid was at her house, she is unsure of what to do. Should she step forward to the police and tell them what she knows (not much)? Or should she try to find out more information?

Ingrid opts for more information, once again in the wrong place when she returns to the scene to get back her cleats. Now the police chief is suspicious, two men Ingrid knows are innocent sit in jail, and the real killer is still out there and knows about her investigation.

All this on top of practicing for an upcoming play Alice in Wonderland. What's a young Holmes to do?

Ingrid is a likable character with an interesting thought process. There is a little romance here as well, but most of the story is concentrated on figuring out who killed Katie Kovac and watching Ingrid figure out clues. A nail-biting ending concludes this story, but not the series--this is book 1!

Vampire Rising: Alex Van Helsing by Jason Henderson

I believe this is the first book in the Alex Van Helsing series.

Alex has been sent to yet another boarding school after an incident at the last one. As he's walking through the woods one night (yeah, he breaks the rules sometimes), he hears a scream. He finds a dead body and what appears to be a vampire. Not sure how, he stakes her and watches as she turns to dust. Convinced he was hallucinating, he returns to school and what he hopes is his sanity.

No such luck. Alex starts to wonder if the stories about Van Helsing are true. And if there really are vampires, is he destined to fight them? His friends are kidnapped and he knows he has no choice in the matter. He must charge into the lair of the vampires to save his friends.

An interesting premise and story. The story does waiver a little, but the action is solid and pretty believable. No romance here, just vampire hunting and plenty of it!

The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause

Zoe struggles with her mother's cancer, her father's attitude, and the fact her best friend is moving away. Not to mention the headlines lately--murders are happening and getting closer to her home.

Simon has been alone for centuries, tracking his brother across countries. In all that time, no one has caught his attention. Until Zoe.

Zoe doesn't know what to make of Simon--especially after she realizes he's been following her. But she is still drawn to him and he helps her deal with the pain of her mother's illness and father's indifference. And Zoe resolves to help him stop his brother, no matter the cost.

The story is good but a little rough. It isn't a long story, but you still feel for Zoe and Simon. They are realistic and their pain is genuine. The copy I read also had two short stories, one about Simon years before he meets Zoe, and one about Zoe after she meets Simon.

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Sophie is a witch and in big trouble. No matter the reason, every time she casts a spell it goes horribly wrong. She is finally sent to Hectate Hall, where all witches, shapeshifters, faeries, and other creatures go when they fail to fit into a 'normal' existence.

Hex Hall isn't so bad--Sophie's found a good friend in Jenna, her vampire roommate, and a huge crush on Archer, the school's resident hottie. Not that it's all sunshine--some of her fellow witches are showing up dead and Sophie is seeing a girl in green wandering around. Sophie can't help but wonder why her power seems so different from everyone else's and if she can learn how to control it.

I really enjoyed this story. Sophie is a great character, full of smarts, spunk, and her own sense of self. There are instances where the story twists in unexpected ways. If you liked Harry Potter, you'll probably like this one too.

The Guardian by Julius Lester

Down in the south, segregation is a part of life. It's 1946, and even though African Americans have been free of slavery, not everyone things they should be. They certainly aren't treated the same.

Ansel has been friends with Willie his whole life. They both work in Ansel's dad's store, but Willie only works there because of Esther Davis. Otherwise, Bert-Ansel's dad-would have never hired Willie. He wants nothing to do with "their kind."

Then a girl is murdered and the boy who did it goes free after accusing Willie's dad. And in that instant, everything Ansel thought he understood disappears and life for him will never be the same.

This is a powerful story but confusing. The prologue talks about the trees used for hanging people and the last chapter talks about the survivors being guardians to pain, shame, and murder. The book is about lynching, so no easy topics discussed here. A short, painful, and necessary book.

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

Seen True Blood on HBO? Read the book that started it all!

Dead Until Dark is the first of the Sookie Stackhouse series. Sookie is telepathic and lives in Bon Temps, a small town in Louisiana. Since vampires made themselves known two years ago, she's been hoping one would stop in town. She gets her wish when Bill shows up at Merlotte's one night. She can't believe it. Not only is there a vampire in the bar, but she can't hear his thoughts either! She's not the only one that notices the vampire, and before the night is over, she's rescued him from the Rattrays, a couple determined to drain his blood.

Sookie and Bill start dating, much to the joy of her grandmother and the dismay of everyone else in town, including Sam, Sookie's boss. So many things happen at once that Sookie isn't sure what to think or believe. Women known to go around with vampires start showing up dead and while Bill isn't a main suspect, yet, other vampires are. Sookie's life might be in danger, and in more ways than one.

A fantastic novel! If you've read Twilight you'll see some parallels (but this book came out first). The HBO show doesn't quite do justice to the book, but the story lines are close. I loved the book and enjoyed reading about Sookie's strange abilities and her romance with Bill.

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

Violet is just beginning her junior year of high school and concerned about her growing feelings for her best friend, Jay. She's not sure if he feels the same way about her, but she's pretty sure he doesn't--he never acts like it.

But that's not all Violet has to worry about. Violet has a special gift. She feels a pull or an echo, to find murdered creatures. In the forest behind her home, that usually means animals that have been eaten or killed. She's only found a human once--when she was eight she found the body of a murdered little girl.

That all changes on Labor Day weekend, when she's out on a jet ski with Jay. She feels a pull towards the shore where she finds the body of a teenage girl.

Now girls are disappearing with more regularity and Violet can't help but think she needs to help find the killer. Each echo leaves an imprint on the murderer, and she knows she's the only one that feel it, just by seeing the killer's face.

What she doesn't know is she may be the next victim.

A thriller with some romance thrown in for balance. An excellent and exciting novel. The murderer's point of view is offered every few chapters as he picks up new victims. Violet's story is well-written and terrifying. Let's just say, I didn't want to be walking out of work at night into our vacant parking lot!

Traitor by Andy McNabb

Danny Watts has always wanted to be in the British army. He's gotten through all the trials, sure he's going to pass, when they reject him. The reason? Danny's grandfather is a traitor to the country. Fergus Watts turned his back on Britain to work for drug runners in Columbia. Danny decides he's going to find Fergus and make him pay for ruining his life.

Fergus is not what Danny expected, when he tracks him down. And Fergus knows Danny was just a pawn to find him for Fergus' enemies--the real traitor. Now the two of them are on a mission to clear Fergus' name and avoid the MI-6 agents that are out to get them out of the way--by any means necessary.

A lot of spy jargon goes into this book, but it all fits. Lots of action, adventure, suspense, and espionage. Fans of Alex Rider and James Bond will eat this book up!

Need by Carrie Jones

Zara has been sent to Maine after her stepdad died. Zara sees it as punishment, but she was sent up to Maine to save her life and for a change of scenery.

Zara however, feels stalked. A guy she saw at the airport in Charleston is now appearing in Maine, and she thinks she can hear him calling her name from the surrounding woods. Her new friends, Devyn, Issie, and Nick are all sure there are pixies--blood-thirsty pixies--nearby and they want Zara to be their new queen. Zara's not sure who to trust or what to believe as everyone around her seems to be hiding something. One thing she is sure of--her stepfather knew what was going on, but he can't help her now.

I really enjoyed this book. I am a big fan of supernatural anyway, but taking a twist on pixies is a new one! Zara is a great character to follow along with, and I can't wait to read Captivate, the sequel to Need.

Hamlet by John Marsden

Hamlet, the prince of Denmark, just lost his father. His boyhood friend, Horatio, tries to get Hamlet to open up about his grieving. One night, Horatio wakes Hamlet to tell him about the ghost he's seen--of Hamlet's father. The ghost charges Hamlet with avenge his murder.

Hamlet bids his time, trying to decide if what he saw was real. As he believes the ghost was real, his demeanor also changes. His stepfather--his uncle--and the new king decides to get rid of Hamlet before the situation gets any worse. Hamlet gets his revenge, but manages to kill the entire family in the process.

Marsden reworks Hamlet and tries to make it more modern. it works in the beginning of the story, but as it moves to the conclusion--there isn't time. It's an excellent retelling of Shakespeare's tale.

Forensic mysteries by Alane Ferguson

This is a great series of books, and I'm going to mention the four that are currently out. I don't want to give away what happens in them by talking too much about the later ones. You can read them in any order that you want, although I think it makes the most sense to start with the first one. There is a lot of science and action in each book, a little romance, and a great story to be told.

The Christopher Killer
Cameryn has always wanted to go into forensic science. Her father, the coroner for their small Colorado town, accepts her as his assistant, so she can learn more about her favorite subject.

But Cameryn doesn't expect to get an intense case from the get-go. There is a serial killer on the loose, and a friend of Cameryn's is murdered.

Frustrated at not getting any leads, Cameryn takes matters into her own hands to solve the murder, possibly at the risk of becoming the next victim.

The Angel of Death
Death strikes again in Cameryn's town, only this death is much more puzzling. The victim, Brad Oakes, was burned alive with no outer burns on his skin. Oakes was a well-liked English teacher at the high school with no problems with anyone.

While trying to solve this mystery, Cameryn has a mystery and a few secrets of her own. Her mom is trying to contact her, and she has to deal with her own feelings as well as her dad's and her grandmother's. On top of which, Kyle, the boy who found Oakes' body, has taken an interest in her, not to everyone's delight. Can she balance everything in her life and figure out who the murderer is?

The Circle of Blood
Cameryn has certainly led an exciting and dangerous life since becoming her father's assistant. One she hopes will start to calm down.

Things aren't that simple. Another girl shows up dead, Justin declares his feelings for her, Hannah, her mom, gives a startling confession, and Cameryn hides details about the murdered girl, since they lead straight back to Hannah. How long can she keep up the charade?

The Dying Breath
Cameryn is truly happy for once in a very long time. She and her mom have reconnected, her dad and grandma are much calmer about everything, and she and Justin have gotten to spend some time together without having to work.

But Cameryn's life is not going to change for the better any time soon. One of the murderers from a previous book is back and ready to make Cameryn his final victim.