Review: Dead is the New Black

Title: Dead is the New Black                                           
Author: Marlene Perez
Reading Level: 12+
Publication Date: September 2008
Pages: 208
Series: Dead is so Last Year, Dead is a State of Mind
Rating: 8/10

Synopsis: Welcome to Nightshade, California; a small town full of secrets. It's home to the pyschic Giordano sisters, who have a way of getting mixed up in mysteries. During their investigations, they run across everything from pom-pom-shaking vampires to shape-shifting boyfriends to a clue-spewing jukebox. With their psychic powers and some sisterly support, they can crack any case.

Teenage girls are being mysteriously attacked all over town, including at Nightshade High School, where Daisy Giordano is a junior. When Daisy discovers that a vampire may be the culprit, she can't help but suspect head cheerleader Samantha Devereaux, who returned from summer break with a new look; Samantha appears a little . . . well, dead, and all the most popular kids at school are copying her style.

Is looking dead just another fashion trend for Samantha, or is there something 
more sinister going on? To find out, Daisy joins the cheerleading squad. 

Review: Dead is the New Black is a short but great read. When I picked up this book at my library, first off loved the title, but since it was so short, I anticipated a cute very light read. Although this book is small it packs a huge punch, that you will have no choice but to go pick up the rest of these books in a hurry!!!

The main thing I loved about this book was how the mystery and suspence never stopped. Marlene Perez adds a new elements throughout the book keeping you guessing and trying to figure out who did it before the main character. Daisy comes from a family of phycics, and being the only non-phycic she really wants to find a way to help her mom with the new case. When a bunch girls from the cheerleading squad at her school start coming on with mysterious illnesses, she decides to there's only one thing she can do to help; infiltrate. I loved Daisy throughout the book. She was a likeable character, althought I find a lot of her choices a little reckless, and daring, but they actually made me like her more.

The plot for this book was fast paced, but not rushed. Along with the attacks going on Daisy has to worry about her sister dating a werewolf, her mom still searching for their missing father whom Daisy is convinced ran off with another woman, and her new best friend who seems to be becoming more than a best friend. But all elements were pieced together tastefully. The author keeps you guessing and trying to decipher the clues, as a good suspence book should. Overall it was a very enjoyable read.

I dont usually read suspence, but I cant deny anything paranormal, and this book fit the two together perfectly. It had the mystery, and suspence, accompanied with a little romance on the side. This book was really an interesting read, and it was the perfect set up for the next book. I can tell the next books in the series will be even better now that all the characters have solid roles and seem more developed.

The only thing I didnt really like about the book was that there seemed to be a lack of setting development. I couldn't really understand how one minute her town is just the typical small town, and the second minute the news is reporting there is a soul life sucking vampire is on the loose and no one really gives it a second thought. I couldn't really understand how the paranomal element just seemed to fit in too perfectly without any speculation.

The ending of the book was good. The mystery was resolved but I stilled had more questions that I wanted answered which I suspect will be done in the next books!!!

I reccommend  this book to all fans of suspence, mystery, paranormal, romance, and a quick read.

Characters: 8/10
Plot: 7/10
Originality: 8/10
Entertainment: 9/10
Ending: 8/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Cover: 8/10
Total: 8/10
 



 

 

Posted in: paranormal romance,Review,Series