Title: Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday
Published: October 11, 2010
Publisher: Harper Teen
Format: Paperback
Pages: 320
Rating: 3.5 / 5
Add to GoodReads Hartley Grace Featherstone is having a very bad day. First she finds out that her boyfriend is cheating on her with the president of the Herbert Hoover High School Chastity Club. Then he’s pegged as the #1 suspect in a murder. And if that weren’t enough, now he’s depending on Hartley to clear his name. Seriously? Not cool.
But as much as Hartley wouldn’t mind seeing him squirm, she knows he’s innocent, and she’s the only one who can help him. Along with her best friend, Sam, and the school’s resident Bad Boy, Chase, Hartley starts investigating on her own. But as the dead bodies begin to pile up, the mystery deepens, the suspects multiply, and Hartley begins to fear that she may be the killer’s next victim.
Review
I want to start by saying I haven’t read many mystery novels-even though I love to watch masterpiece theatre on television. Deadly Cool wasn’t what I expected I should clarify when I think mystery I think Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes not Hartley Featherstone-what a name. But those are all adult fiction with adult circumstances, dark and scary but Deadly cool is the complete opposite its a light fun read that isn’t to be taken too seriously. Gemma Halliday did a great job in keeping the identity of killer a secret until the end. Hartley had her moments of dark and scary but what frustrated me with her was she was such “a teenager” she made a lot of decisions that made me want to shake her. She was far too trusting and good God she told her best Sam everything which was annoying because Sam would tell her boyfriend (Josh jr. if you ask me) and the domino effect would kick next day the whole school would know arrgh. Though it’s not Shakespeare the book is riddled with current pop culture references (a mini time capsule to the present) I found that I liked the story for the most part. I wanted more action and a better set to the action, I guess it’s great that there are bodies under foot at every turn Hartley makes. It’s better for a more compelling story but I think it needed some juice at it was too easy to put the book down.
Chase got on my nerves the first introduction of the character I disliked him immediately he reminded me of every cocky guy I had ever me, but by the end of the book he grew on me. I saw there was more to that pretty brooding face which made a more rounded character and just as I start to like him cocky guy is back. I guess that how Hartley feels so we’re falling for Chase together. The other characters were background stereotypical teenagers with quirks that applied. The ending was compelling I was jumping a head a little partly because the confrontation with the killer was a bit drawn out and anti-climactic at the end. And the killer turned to cook coo for coco puffs she snapped after her belief system is questioned blah blah. In conclusion I enjoyed Deadly Cool and can’t wait to read Social Suicide slated for 2012. I gave it 3.5 out of 5 because at the end of the day I enjoyed the book and rating left room for improvement.
I really want to read this one. Haha … teenagers have that effect on people… you just want to shake them!
I can’t wait to read this, and have it waiting for me on my shelf! I’ve actually read the start but put it down cause i’m a bit scared that it will go bad haha but I’ll get to it eventually! If you want to try out a fantastic mystery that’s kind of YA with an adult feel check out The Agency – A Spy in the House by Y.S Lee! Its AMAZING!
If interesting check out my review: http://www.nomaliciousreads.com/2011/11/review-agency-spy-in-house.html
-Kate