Review: The Dead and Buried by Kim Harrington

THE DEAD AND BURIED
By: Kim Harrington
Published By: Scholastic Point
Release Date: Jan. 11, 2013
Series: None
Pages: 304
Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Mystery
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Publisher
Buy the Book: Amazon


Goodreads Summary: A haunted house, a buried mystery, and a very angry ghost make this one unforgettable thriller.

Jade loves the house she's just moved into with her family. She doesn't even mind being the new girl at the high school: It's a fresh start, and there's that one guy with the dreamy blue eyes. . . . But then things begin happening. Strange, otherworldly things. Jade's little brother claims to see a glimmering girl in his room. Jade's jewelry gets moved around, as if by an invisible hand. Kids at school whisper behind her back like they know something she doesn't.

Soon, Jade must face an impossible fact: that her perfect house is haunted. Haunted by a ghost who's seeking not just vengeance, but the truth. The ghost of a girl who ruled Jade's school — until her untimely death last year. It's up to Jade to put the pieces together before her own life is at stake. As Jade investigates the mystery, she discovers that her new friends in town have more than a few deep, dark secrets. But is one of them a murderer?



I really enjoyed Kim Harrington's first two books, Clarity and Perception. Her books are fun, quick reads that draw you into the mystery and keep you hooked until you've solved it, and The Dead and Buried was no exception.

Jade has always wanted to move to a big city and escape her small town. When her dad and stepmother tell her that they're finally moving, she's thrilled. She even likes their new house - until she learns it's haunted. Her little brother sees a strange girl in his room, and it doesn't take Jade long to learn that it was a girl from her new high school who died last year. Jade is charged with finding her murderer, but the task isn't easy. Many people had motive, and it's hard for her to concentrate with one guy drawing her attention and another trying to draw it away. But the longer Jade takes, the more things there are at stake. Can she figure out who murdered Kayla and keep her house, her family, and her new life safe?

The Dead and Buried is one of those books that hooks you right away. I liked Jade from the beginning, both from seeing how she took such good care of her brother and from watching her defy social conventions when she started her new high school. She befriends one of the unpopular girls, catches the eye of the most popular guy, and finds herself drawn to Donovan, the shy artist who is clearly hiding something. Donovan was a character that I wanted to know more about, and one that I couldn't help but sympathize with. Then there was Kayla. Even though I liked seeing her diary entries to know what was going on inside her head, I have to say that it's a shame there wasn't much of anything redeemable about her, either as a human or a ghost. However, in a way her calculating nature made her intriguing.

There was another aspect to this book, and that was Jade's collection of gems. I really enjoyed learning what all of the different gemstones and what they meant. Beyond that, the mystery of the book was fairly easy to solve, but there were so many other aspects to the story that I was never bored. In fact, I wish the book could have lasted longer just to spend more time with the characters.

If you're looking for a mystery with depth to the characters, look no farther than The Dead and Buried. I'll look forward to seeing what Kim Harrington writes next! Also, if you've read the book already, or if you want a better idea of the characters, check out this fantasy casting post.

The Dead and Buried Blog Tour: Fantasy Casting with Kim Harrington

Welcome to this stop of The Dead and Buried blog tour! Part of the fun of reading is imagining who would play the characters. Today, both Kim Harrington and I have picked actors and actresses who would play Jade, Kayla, Kane, and Donovan. But first, some info about the book!



A haunted house, a buried mystery, and a very angry ghost make this one unforgettable thriller.

Jade loves the house she's just moved into with her family. She doesn't even mind being the new girl at the high school: It's a fresh start, and there's that one guy with the dreamy blue eyes. . . . But then things begin happening. Strange, otherworldly things. Jade's little brother claims to see a glimmering girl in his room. Jade's jewelry gets moved around, as if by an invisible hand. Kids at school whisper behind her back like they know something she doesn't.

Soon, Jade must face an impossible fact: that her perfect house is haunted. Haunted by a ghost who's seeking not just vengeance, but the truth. The ghost of a girl who ruled Jade's school — until her untimely death last year. It's up to Jade to put the pieces together before her own life is at stake. As Jade investigates the mystery, she discovers that her new friends in town have more than a few deep, dark secrets. But is one of them a murderer? (From Goodreads)

Find Kim online:
Author Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook
And now, on to character choices from Kim and myself!


Jade


Kim's Pick: Chloe Moretz

For Jade I would want someone who has a little bit of vulnerability to their look, but also the capacity for great bravery. Chloe Moretz could rock this. Plus, she's no stranger to horror.


My Pick: Katija Pevec

Even though she hasn't been in many things recently, I think she has the characteristics that Kim described.



Kayla


Kim's Pick: Victoria Justice

Victoria Justice, if only because Kayla is the complete opposite of the characters she normally plays. I think she has it in her, though. She'd probably have a blast playing the ultimate mean girl.


My Pick: Alexandra Daddario

In all of her pictures, she seems to have the right look and feel for Kayla. Plus, after playing in Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Dead and Buried would be right up her alley.



Kane


Kim's Pick: Chris Zylka

Chris Zylka. Athletic pretty boy who looks like he just fell out of an Abercrombie catalog? CHECK.


My Pick: Austin Butler

Something about this picture just made Austin Butler seem like the perfect choice for Kane.



Donovan


Kim's Pick: Nicholas Hoult

In the book he is described as having dark hair and stunning bright blue eyes. He's not a cocky jock, he's a quiet artist. This picture of Nicholas Hoult is perfectly Donovan. Plus, that boy can ACT.


My Pick: Jordan Nichols

In addition to having darker hair and blue eyes, something about his expression here says that he's been through a lot, and to me that matches Donovan well.

What do you think of all the picks? Do you have some of your own? Be sure to let us know in the comments!



~ GIVEAWAY ~

As part of the blog tour, we will be giving away three galleys of The Dead and Buried! Believe me, this is a book you don't want to miss. Enter below for your chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Make sure you don't miss any of the stops on the blog tour! There are many more exciting posts planned!

January 1st: Mandy @ YA Books Central – Intro & Review

January 2nd: Gabrielle @ Mod Podge Bookshelf – Author Interview

January 3rd: Giselle @ Xpresso Reads - Review

January 4th: Savannah @ Books with Bite – Author Guest Post – Top 5 Ghost Books/Stories

January 7th: Jen @ Hypable - Review

January 8th: Christin @ Portrait of a Book – Fantasy Casting

January 9th: Rachel @ Fiktshun – This or That with Donovan & Kane

January 10th: Amber @ Page Turners Blog – Review

January 11th: Yara @ Once Upon a Twilight – Scenarios & Gemstones

January 14th: Heidi @ YA Bibliophile - Review

January 15th: Andrea @ Reading Lark – Mini Review & Author Interview

January 16th: Julie @ Bloggers[heart]Books – Review

January 17th: Katie @ Mundie Moms – Playlist

January 18th: Damaris @ Good Choice Reading – Interview

Opening Lines (7)

Opening Lines is a new feature here on Portrait of a Book that showcases the first lines of recent and/or upcoming releases. If you're looking for your next read, let these first lines help you decide!



THE DEAD AND BURIED
By: Kim Harrington
Published By: Scholastic Point
Release Date: Jan. 1, 2013
Buy the Book: Amazon

A haunted house, a buried mystery, and a very angry ghost make this one unforgettable thriller.

Jade loves the house she's just moved into with her family. She doesn't even mind being the new girl at the high school: It's a fresh start, and there's that one guy with the dreamy blue eyes. . . . But then things begin happening. Strange, otherworldly things. Jade's little brother claims to see a glimmering girl in his room. Jade's jewelry gets moved around, as if by an invisible hand. Kids at school whisper behind her back like they know something she doesn't.

Soon, Jade must face an impossible fact: that her perfect house is haunted. Haunted by a ghost who's seeking not just vengeance, but the truth. The ghost of a girl who ruled Jade's school — until her untimely death last year. It's up to Jade to put the pieces together before her own life is at stake. As Jade investigates the mystery, she discovers that her new friends in town have more than a few deep, dark secrets. But is one of them a murderer?

"Colby had a secret."


THE ESSENCE (THE PLEDGE #2)
By: Kimberly Derting
Published By: Margaret K. McElderry
Release Date: Jan. 1, 2013
Buy the Book: Amazon

“Danger, dread, mystery, and romance” (Booklist) continue in the second book of The Pledge trilogy, as Charlie’s reign is under siege from the most unusual of enemies.

At the luminous conclusion of The Pledge, Charlaina defeated the tyrant Sabara and took her place as Queen of Ludania. But Charlie knows that Sabara has not disappeared: The evil queen’s Essence is fused to Charlie’s psyche, ready to arise at the first sign of weakness.

Charlie is not weak, but she’s being pushed to the brink. In addition to suppressing the ever-present influence of Sabara, she’s busy being queen—and battling a growing resistance determined to return Ludania to its discriminatory caste system. Charlie wants to be the same girl Max loves, who Brook trusts, but she’s Your Majesty now, and she feels torn in two.

As Charlie journeys to an annual summit to meet with leaders of nearby Queendoms—an event where her ability to understand all languages will be the utmost asset—she is faced with the ultimate betrayal. And the only person she can turn to for help is the evil soul residing within.

"He approached respectfully, cautiously. Warily."


FALLING FOR YOU
By: Lisa Schroeder
Published By: Simon Pulse
Release Date: Jan. 1, 2013
Buy the Book: Amazon

Rae's always dreamed of dating a guy like Nathan. He’s nothing like her abusive stepfather—in other words, he’s sweet. But the closer they get, the more Nathan wants of her time, of her love, of her...and the less she wants to give.

As Rae’s affection for Nathan turns to fear, she leans on her friend Leo for support. With Leo, she feels lighter, happier. And possessive Nathan becomes jealous.

Then a tragedy lands Rae in the ICU. Now, hovering between life and death, Rae must find the light amid the darkness…and the strength to fight for life and the love she deserves.

"At last I can breathe."


ALTERED
By: Jennifer Rush
Published By: Little, Brown, & Co.
Release Date: Jan. 1, 2013
Buy the Book: Amazon

When you can’t trust yourself, who can you believe?

Everything about Anna’s life is a secret. Her father works for the Branch at the helm of its latest project: monitoring and administering treatments to the four genetically altered boys in the lab below their farmhouse. There’s Nick, Cas, Trev . . . and Sam, who’s stolen Anna’s heart. When the Branch decides it’s time to take the boys, Sam stages an escape, killing the agents sent to retrieve them.

Anna is torn between following Sam or staying behind in the safety of her everyday life. But her father pushes her to flee, making Sam promise to keep her away from the Branch, at all costs. There’s just one problem. Sam and the boys don’t remember anything before living in the lab—not even their true identities.

Now on the run, Anna soon discovers that she and Sam are connected in more ways than either of them expected. And if they’re both going to survive, they must piece together the clues of their past before the Branch catches up to them and steals it all away.

"For most of the last four years, I wasn't allowed in the lab."



Do any of these opening lines grab your attention? What are your favorite first lines that you've read lately?

"Waiting on" Wednesday

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.



This week's selection is:

THE DEAD AND BURIED
By: Kim Harrington
Published By: Scholastic Point
Release Date: Jan. 1, 2013
Preorder the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: A haunted house, a buried mystery, and a very angry ghost make this one unforgettable thriller.

Jade loves the house she's just moved into with her family. She doesn't even mind being the new girl at the high school: It's a fresh start, and there's that one guy with the dreamy blue eyes. . . .

But then things begin happening. Strange, otherworldly things.

Jade's little brother claims to see a glimmering girl in his room. Jade's jewelry gets moved around, as if by an invisible hand. Kids at school whisper behind her back like they know something she doesn't.

Soon, Jade must face an impossible fact: that her perfect house . . . is haunted.

Haunted by a ghost who's seeking not just vengeance, but the truth. The ghost of a girl who ruled Jade's school -- until her untimely death last year. It's up to Jade to put the pieces together before her own life is at stake. As Jade investigates the mystery, she discovers that her new friends in town have more than a few deep, dark secrets.

But is one of them a murderer?



Why it's wanted:
I loved Kim's first two YA books, Clarity and Perception. She has a knack for writing mysteries, and I'm looking forward to this one!

Review: Perception by Kim Harrington

PERCEPTION
By: Kim Harrington
Published By: Scholastic Point
Release Date: May 1, 2012
Series: Clarity (#2)
Pages: 288
Genre: Mystery / Paranormal
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Publisher
Buy the Book: Amazon

This summary may contain spoilers if you have not read the previous titles in the series. You can find my review of Clarity here.

Goodreads Summary: When you can see things others can't, what do you do when someone's watching you?

Everybody knows about Clarity "Clare" Fern. She's the psychic girl in school, the one who can place her hands on something and see hidden visions from the past.

Only Clare would rather not be a celebrity. She prefers hanging back, observing. Her gift is not a game to her.

But then someone starts playing with her head . . . and heart. Messages and gifts from a secret admirer crop up everywhere Clare turns. Could they be from Gabriel, the gorgeous boy who gets Clare's pulse racing? Or from Justin, Clare's hopeful ex-boyfriend who'd do anything to win her back?

One thing is certain. Clare needs to solve this mystery, and soon. Because the messages are becoming sinister, and a girl in town has suddenly disappeared.



I have been looking forward to Perception since Clarity proved to be such a great read last year. Although Perception doesn't have quite the same angle as Clarity, the story certainly doesn't disappoint.

Perception begins a bit after Clarity ends. Clare has returned to school and is trying to adjust to her newfound popularity. Instead of just bringing new friends, however, this popularity brings something else - a secret admirer who might also have a dangerous edge. As Clare tries to unravel her mystery, her brother struggles with one of his own. A spirit is trying to give him a message, but he doesn't know what it means. Clare wants to use her gifts not only to help determine her secret admirer but also to help police in the case of the missing girl in town, but would using her abilities really help or only put her in more danger? And as if Clare didn't have enough to deal with, there is still the matter of choosing between Gabriel and Justin...

As I began Perception, I was excited to return to Clare's small coastal town brought to life with vibrant descriptions and sometimes quirky but always memorable characters. Clare's life may have changed over the summer in Clarity, but she is still the same sharp-witted girl as before. However, she comes to grow even more over the course of this book. She develops a friendship with Mallory, a girl whom Clare previously overlooked in school. While I appreciated that Clare wasn't on her own in this book as much as the last one, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness at the constant reminders that this was Clare's first true experience of female friendship. We also see a different side to Perry in this book; his thread of the story is almost as important as Clare's and certainly one in which I was invested. And as for Gabriel and Justin...it is impossible to truly dislike either of them, despite some of their actions, and the connections that Clare has with both of them are very fully felt.

Like Clarity, Perception is a well-crafted mystery and quite a page-turner. Kim Harrington has once again skillfully woven false trails and surprises throughout the novel despite the inclusion of some obvious (but incorrect) conclusions. I loved how everything came together in the end, even if it the story was over before I was ready to say goodbye.

Perception is a perfect sequel to Clarity and one that still left me wanting more of the world and of these characters. I will look forward to seeing even more from Kim Harrington!

"Waiting on" Wednesday

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.



This week's selection is:

PERCEPTION
By: Kim Harrington
Published By: Scholastic Point
Release Date: March 1, 2012
Preorder the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: When you can see things others can't, what do you do when someone's watching you?

Everybody knows about Clarity "Clare" Fern. She's the psychic girl in school, the one who can place her hands on something and see hidden visions from the past.

Only Clare would rather not be a celebrity. She prefers hanging back, observing. Her gift is not a game to her.

But then someone starts playing with her head . . . and heart. Messages and gifts from a secret admirer crop up everywhere Clare turns. Could they be from Gabriel, the gorgeous boy who gets Clare's pulse racing? Or from Justin, Clare's hopeful ex-boyfriend who'd do anything to win her back?

One thing is certain. Clare needs to solve this mystery, and soon. Because the messages are becoming sinister, and a girl in town has suddenly disappeared.



Why it's wanted:
I really enjoyed Clarity, and I can't wait to see what's in store for Clare next!

Review: Clarity by Kim Harrington

CLARITY
By: Kim Harrington
Published By: Scholastic Point
Release Date: March 1, 2011
Series: Clarity (#1)
Pages: 242
Genre: Paranormal / Mystery
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Bought
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: When you can see things others can't, where do you look for the truth?
This paranormal murder mystery will have teens reading on the edge of their seats.

Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her.

It's a gift.

And a curse.

When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case - but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother - who has supernatural gifts of his own - becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?



What do you get when you combine a family with psychic abilities, a small tourist town, and an unsolved murder? Add a little romance to the mix and you have Clarity, a captivating debut novel by Kim Harrington.

Clare Fern is biding her time until she can go away to college. Raised in a family of psychics, she has always been the outcast at school and relied on her brother and his friend for company. Things seemed to change when she dated the mayor's son, but when that relationship ended, so did her respite from the teasing. But this summer, things might change. When a tourist is found murdered over the July 4 weekend, the town's new detective is expected to solve the case. But Clare's ex-boyfriend Justin knows what she can do and wants to enlist her help. Clare soon finds herself not only having to work with Justin but also with Gabriel, the detective's attractive son, to try and solve the murder. But as they get deeper into their investigation, the stakes get higher, and soon nobody is safe. Will Clare be able to see the investigation through in one piece...and with her heart intact?

Clarity was a great blend of mystery and paranormal elements. As much as I enjoyed watching the Fern family use their psychic abilities, I really loved following Clare, Justin, and Gabriel as they worked to solve the murder. The story was fast-paced with one surprise after another; I started reading it one morning and didn't put it down until a couple of hours later when I finished it. The chain of suspects as well as the unexpected events during the investigation kept me guessing who the murderer was right along with Clare. In addition, everything from the setting to Clare's emotions were very vivid. It was easy to identify with her, from her desire to protect those she loved to her internal struggle about how to balance the feelings that never quite disappeared for Justin with her growing attraction to Gabriel. The book continued to be a roller coaster (in a good way) until the end.

I wish that this book had been longer, because I definitely wanted more. I have to admit that the ending seemed a bit rushed and the explanation was not completely believable. However, I did enjoy the role that one of the smaller characters played in the outcome. Also, even though the murder was solved, things were left open between Clare, Justin, and Gabriel. I'm curious to see what Clare decides to do in Perception, the sequel.

Clarity has a world and cast of characters that it's easy to fall in love with. This was a fabulous debut novel, and I can't wait for the next book!

Teaser Tuesday (2)

I'm very excited to be one of the many blogs participating in Teaser Tuesdays! TT is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To participate:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here is my teaser:



"Another explanation whispered from the back of my mind. I shook my head. He wouldn't have run. No way.

Only the guilty run."


p. 91 from Clarity by Kim Harrington

Please share your teasers - post them or link to your blog!