Mundie Moms

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Book Review: Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday


Published by: Harper Collins
Release Date: October 11, 2011
Source: Purchased

4 stars - I really enjoyed it

Synopsis: First I find out that my boyfriend is cheating on me. Then he’s pegged as the #1 suspect in a murder. And now he’s depending on me to clear his name. Seriously?

As much as I wouldn’t mind watching him squirm, I know that he’s innocent. So I’m brushing off my previously untapped detective skills and getting down to business. But I keep tripping over dead bodies and I’m still no closer to figuring out who did it. And what’s worse: all signs seem to point to me as the killer’s next victim.

I really need to pick a better boyfriend next time.

There's something about a smart, snarky girl detective character that I just love. Life couldn't be worse for Hartley. First, she finds out that her boyfriend's cheating on her and then while she's snooping around his bedroom, she finds a dead body. Not just any dead body, but the dead body of the girl Hartley suspects he was cheating with. How humiliating. Fortunately for Hartley, a neighbor (who just happens to be the good-looking, brooding type and a senior at her school) was taking pictures of his car and he helps her with what turns out to be a classic mystery.

And Gemma’s written it in a style that’s a nod to both Veronica Mars and a much, much more sarcastic Nancy Drew. I admit that I looked forward to Hartley’s exchanges with Chase (yes, the neighbor who is also the editor of the school’s paper) the most. Because the two of them are, in turn, sweet, funny and OMGHYSTERICAL when they are together. There’s a scene where Hartley ends up hiding under Chase’s bed, which still causes me to giggle when I think about it.

The side characters are well drawn, too. Especially Hartley’s best friend, Sam and the police detective, Raley . Even minor characters like the grief counselor, Miss Bessie are brought to life with only a few descriptive words and lines of dialogue. Gemma is masterful at making you laugh, wonder, guess (and incorrectly) and most of all enjoy Hartley’s determination to find the killer. As with any good mystery, no one is safe and almost everyone ends up being a suspect, yes, even Chase.

When you’re in the mood for a well written YA mystery, be sure to pick up Deadly Cool. In the meantime, I’m ready to go back to Herbert Hoover High for the next installment, Social Suicide, which will be released on April 24th. I need to see what Hartley, Chase and Sam are up to in their next adventure.

In My Mailbox #112 & Weekly Feature

Happy Sunday! Welcome to this week's edition of In My Mailbox & Weekly Feature. In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren where bloggers share what goodies they received the previous week in the mail to review, traded, were gifted, bought etc. Here's what arrived in my mailbox this week:

For Review:

* ARISE, Hereafter #2 by Tara Hudson, published by Harper Teen, to be released on 6/5/12, I'm so excited I'm quoted on the back of the ARC!


* Cold Fury by T.M. Goeglen, published by G. P. Putnam & Sons, to be released on 6/24/12

* Two Halves by Marta Szemik, published by MyLit Publishing, released on 11/29/11

* No Safety In Numbers by Dayna Lorentz, published by Dial, to be released on 5/29/12

* Shadows (Lux 0.5), by Jennifer Armentrout, published by Entangled Publishing, released on 2/21/12, not pictured


For Review, Mundie Kids:

* Beyonders #2, Seeds of Rebellion by Brandon Mull, published by Aladdin, to be released on 3/13/12, published copy

* Kepler's Dream by Juliet Bell, published by G.P. Putnam & Sons, to be released on 5/10/12

* Best Friend Thief by Laurel- Ann Dooley, published by WordWorks Publishing, LLC, released on 9/20/11

* Stay Close to Mama by Ton Buzzeo, published by Disney Hyperion, to be released on 3/13/12

* Daddies Do It Different by Alan Lawrence Sitomer, published by Disney Hyperion, to be released on 4/17/12

* My Little Troublemaker by Thierry Robberecht, published by Clavis Publishing, released on 12/2/11

* I Have Two Homes by Marian De Smet, published by Clavis Publishing, released on 12/2/11

* The Little Snowman Stan by Guido van Genechten, published by Clavis Publishing, released on 10/1/11

* StAY, The True Story of Ten Dogs by Michaela Muntean


Gifted:

* Confectionately Yours, Save the Cupcake! by Lisa Papademtriou, from a Scholastic BK Fair workshop
* Diary of a Whimpy Kid, Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney, from a Scholastic BK Fair Workshop
* Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway, gifted from Sophie
* Signed YA/MG author posters from Project Book Babe a few year back. This is going to a friend of mine.... I'm seriously so excited about this. It's signed by a large group of awesome authors like Stephenie Meyer, Shannon Hale, Brandon Mull and Laini Taylor.


Bought:

* Forge by Laure Halse Anderson, signed, won in an action for charity hosted by author Carrie Harris
* Article 5 by Kristen Simmons


Thank you to:

Harper Teen, Tara Hudson, Simon & Schuster, Penguin Teen, Scholastic, Carrie Harris, Shannon M, Sophie, Marta Szemik, and Laurel-Ann Dooley for this week's awesome reads!

What goodies did you receive this week?


Week in Review:

Misc:


Reviews:

* The Secrets of Spruce Knoll by Heather McCorkle
* Haunted by Joy Preble, Haunted blog tour
* Embrace by Jessica Shirvington, Embrace blog tour
* Bewitching by Alex Flinn, Dark Days blog tour
* The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong
* Perception by Kim Harrington

Author Interviews & Guest Posts:

* Kelly Keaton, A Beautiful Evil blog tour
* Jessica Shirvington, Embrace blog tour
* Joy Preble, Haunted Blog Tour

Upcoming Events:

Tomorrow we'll be kicking off Elizabeth Eulberg's Take a Bow Sneak Peek Week! Monday- Friday you'll be able to meet the characters (Carter, Sophie, Ethan and Emme) of Take A Bow, as well as enter to win some awesome prizes. Be sure to stop Elizabeth's site here to follow the tour!

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