DEADLY LITTLE SECRET: A Touch Novel
Laurie Faria Stolarz
Disney-Hyperion
Paranormal Romance
Hardcover: 9781423111443
Paperback: 9781423111986
288 pages
Sixteen-year-old Camelia Hammond leads an average life, going to school and working at the pottery shop in town. She hangs with her friends, the boy-crazy and outlandish style designer Kimmie, and the socially challenged Wes. There’s even an ex-boyfriend named Matt and the popular John, who seems to be interested in Camelia, though it’s not mutual. This all sounds rather uneventful. But then someone new comes into the picture, and all of the rules change: an accused murderer transfers to Camelia’s school!
His name is Ben Carter, and it’s only a matter of hours before the rumors are flying around school about Ben, who went on trial for killing his girlfriend. Even though the charges were dropped, that doesn’t prevent students from feasting on this juicy chunk of gossip. However, Camelia doesn’t believe what she’s hearing. How on earth could Ben do something like that? After all, he saved her life by pushing her out of the way of a car. Then there’s the way she feels when he touches her, almost like an electric shock. And even though there is something Ben refuses to tell her, some big secret that obviously frightens him, she just doesn’t feel Ben is a threat to anybody. But someone is.
Someone is watching Camelia, taking pictures of her, following her, and leaving her notes, gifts and phone calls. And not in a good way. He even breaks into her room and leaves a horrid message on her mirror. Camelia confides in her friends but hesitates to tell her parents, who are overwhelmed with other problems. But then the threats grow worse, and Camelia is very frightened. The mysterious stalker is dangerous, and if he can’t have Camelia, he’ll make sure no one else can either.
Laurie Faria Stolarz has written many exciting books for young people, and DEADLY LITTLE SECRET fits perfectly into that category. Fast-paced and attention grabbing, the tension and mystery here builds quickly and is deliciously creepy. Stolarz cleverly packs her plot with lots of dubious suspects, keeping the reader guessing as to who the mysterious stalker is. Yet at the same time, she keeps each character distinct and memorable; there’s no forgetting who’s who in this book. Stolarz also skillfully alternates the chapters from Camelia’s point of view to spotlight the thoughts of the stalker. She adds in some humor with her boy-crazy and outlandish style designer best friend, her health nut and Yoga instructor mom, and an interesting side view into the world of pottery.
Fans will be happy to know that there is another book scheduled in the Touch series, titled DEADLY LITTLE LIES, which will be released later this year.
--- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman, author of FINDING MY LIGHT, THE BLACK POND and GHOSTS OF THE UPPER PENINSULA
