Review: The Dead and Buried by Kim Harrington

Title: The Dead and Buried

Author: Kim Harrington

Genre: YA, paranormal, mystery thriller

Publication date: January 1st 2013

Published by: Scholastic Point

Source: Won ARC from author's giveaway (thank you!)

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Synopsis:

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?

My rating: ★★★★★
I LOVED this book! It was awesome!! I read in a review (sorry can't remember which one!) that it was like the Fear Street series by R.L. Stine, and as a fan of that series I have to agree! It was like a cross between Pretty Little Liars and Fear Street! It was creepy yet beautiful...simply amazing!

The characters were just SO diverse and interesting! Jade was an awesome heroine, very realistic and very likable. I also loved her little gem stone quirk...I thought it was cool. In the end she is brave when she needs to be (her lover for her little brother). I can totally relate to her and her love for her brother. I, myself, have three younger brothers: a 14-year-old and almost-9-year-old twins. The fact that I can relate is what makes her so realistic, and likable! Go us big sisters!

Colby (Jade's little brother) was such a cutie! I loved that kid! I wish my brothers were as sweet and, well, calm as him. It's official, from now on I'm calling my brothers the Tornado Twins! (Yes, they're that bad! lol)

Donovan...oh my gods don't even get me started on this guy! He is just totally swoon-worthy (*swoons* see!), and gorgeous, and an absolute sweetheart! I wish I had a Donovan of my own! Gimmie, gimmie! I just have a soft spot for sweet guys like him.

Kayla: (the girl who is haunting Jade's house) Gods, what a witch (and not the cool, non-evil, magical kind)! Kim did such a fantastic bringing her to life (no pun intended...but heh) even though she's dead and really wasn't in the book. Well, she was mentioned a lot, and I guess we got to know her more through those passages from her diary, which I liked, by the way. It gave us more insight into Kayla's evil head. Again, what a bit-- I mean, witch ;)

Lots of other awesome characters, but really, I'm not going to list them all...that would take too long!

The plot of the story isn't totally original...I mean, a haunted house and the main character trying to get rid of its unwanted inhabitant? "Big whoop, like I haven't read that before," right? WRONG! It's the way the story is delivered that is so wow-mazing! That's right, I just made up a word! :)

When you find out who killed Kayla and why, it will leave you speechless and totally slack-jawed! It was just really surprising!

The ending wrapped things up nicely (sometimes I have a problem with the pacing of endings being too fast) for a standalone (this is a standalone, right?)

And well, what else can I say? I love a good mystery and ghost stories and Kim's writing in general, so yah, I loved this! So go get yourself a copy of this STAT and read it!

Now I'm wondering what else Kim will come up with...I cant wait!

Have you read this book? If so, leave me a comment telling me what you thought about it! If not, what do you think? Does it sound like something you might want to read?