Death and the Girl Next Door

Written by Darynda Jones

Narrated by Lorelei King

Darynda Jones, author of The New York Times bestselling series that began with First Grave on the Right, brings us Death and the Girl Next Door, a thrilling Young Adult novel garnering high praise and early buzz from major authors
Ten years ago, Lorelei's parents disappeared without a trace. Raised by her grandparents and leaning on the support of her best friends, Lorelei is finally beginning to accept the fact that her parents are never coming home. For Lorelei, life goes on.
High school is not quite as painful as she thinks it will be, and things are as normal as they can be. Until the day the school's designated loner, Cameron Lusk, begins to stalk her, turning up where she least expects it, standing outside her house in the dark, night after night. Things get even more complicated when a new guy-terrifying, tough, sexy Jared Kovach-comes to school. Cameron and Jared instantly despise each other and Lorelei seems to be the reason for their animosity. What does Jared know about her parents? Why does Cameron tell Jared he can't have Lorelei? And what will any of them do when Death comes knocking for real? Thrilling, sassy, sexy, and inventive, Darynda Jones's first foray into the world of teens will leave readers eager for the next installment.

"Unique, witty, and touching-I LOVED THIS BOOK!" -P.C. Cast, New York Times bestselling author of The House of Night Series

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: Oct 2, 2012
• ISBN: 9781427230669

Darynda Jones

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Darynda Jones has won numerous awards for her work, including a prestigious RITA, a Golden Heart, and a Daphne du Maurier, and her books have been translated into 17 languages. As a born storyteller, Darynda grew up spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, certain they went away the better for it. She penned the international bestselling Charley Davidson series and is currently working on several beloved projects, most notably the Sunshine Vicram Mystery Series with St. Martin's Press and the Betwixt and Between Series of paranormal women's fiction. She lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband and two beautiful sons, the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys. She can be found at http://www.daryndajones.com

Reviews for Death and the Girl Next Door

[booktwirps · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

With the tenth anniversary of her parent’s disappearance coming up, Loralei just wants to get through the next few days without any major drama. Like they do every year, her two closest friends, Brooklyn (Brooke) and Glitch, will spend the night and help keep her mind off the fact that her parents are more than likely never coming back. Loralei’s wish of a drama free week is short-lived. Cameron, the mysterious loner from school, is suddenly stalking her. Not in a physical, “You better love me or I’ll cut you and wear your skin” kind of way, but in an always present, lurking outside her house all night and following her around school type of way. Things really heat up when the mysterious Jared shows up and he and Cameron start kicking each other’s ass like there’s no tomorrow. When Death comes to claim Loralei and Jared saves her, he throws their entire existence into a tailspin. Cameron, Jared and Loralei are all linked in a mystical sort of way, and if they don’t fix what death had planned, they could all be in trouble.Had I known that this book was about angels and Nephilim before I picked it up, I probably never would have read it. I’m burned out on angel books. I’m soooo glad I didn’t know this because I would have missed out on one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read this year.I must say that for about the first half of the book, I had no idea what was happening, but I was enjoying the ride. Ms. Jones doesn’t even hint at angels. Instead, we’re treated to a lot of funny banter and an interesting mystery surrounding Loralei, the mysterious and hot beyond belief Jared and the freakishly strong Cameron. Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Oh God, another angel book with a love triangle.” Wrong! There is no love triangle at all. It’s pretty clear who Loralei is attracted to, and Ms. Jones doesn’t treat it as anything more than that. Loralei is very aware of her attraction to said male, and she doesn’t profess her love for him within a few days (or hours) of meeting him.While I wasn’t sure what was going on in the beginning (i.e.: who Cameron and Jared were or what they wanted (needed) from Loralei), the book still moved and kept me engaged, despite my ever-growing list of questions. Once the truth comes out about midway through, the book continued at the same steady pace. I never felt that the reveal caused an upset in the flow of the story or left me feeling like I’d been hit in the head with a trash can.While there were a few things that I felt were a little strange or out of place, the pace of the book and the wonderful cast of characters saved the day. I’ve not read any of Ms. Jones other work, but her sense of humor and distinct voice has definitely got me curious. I just may have to check out her adult books.In my opinion, this one is a must read. I definitely can’t wait for book two, Death, Doom and Detention, coming in March!

[literaladdiction · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Pack Aloha - Michelle L. Olson:*eARC received from the authorTis the season for several of my favorite paranormal authors to take the plunge and dive into the Young Adult sub-genre.I have been incredibly lucky and honored lately to be able to advance read and review these new endeavors, and for me personally, it's been no tricks, only treats thus far. And with nothing but love and the utmost respect for each and every one of those authors, I still have to say that this was my absolute favorite of them all!Over the past few years there have been several YA series that I let go by the wayside because of changes in my reading preferences and sadly, yes, disappointment. There is only 1 YA series whose installments are on auto-buy for me, at least there WAS. Not anymore!! :)Death and the Girl Next Door was a 'YA for the not so young adult' that hooked me 2 pages in and didn't let go. Darklight is a unique & exciting new series with amazing characters, solid world building and plot, beautiful romance and dialogue to die for.Lorelei, our heroine, is quirky, fun, confident and yeah, a bit extraordinary. She's forever flanked by her two besties, Brooklyn & Glitch, who leap off the page in their own right and beg for more page time.Our hero [OK hero #1], Jared, is kinda heavenly - he's sexy, strong, sensitive, and willing to fight for what he wants, consequences be damned. Seriously, I think I'm in love! ;-) To back up my claims of the incredible dialogue in this book and the swoon factor of Jared, I want to share 1 - of many - memorable quotes from the book (condensed for the use of this review): "Because you move like fire rushing across the floor"..."Like flames licking up a wall"...Your energy is liquid and hot. Even from a distance you burn, you scorch anyone who gets too close. You are wine on my tongue and honey in my veins, and I cannot get enough of you."..."You intoxicate me...You will be my downfall".** ((sigh))Hero #2, Cameron, is the dark, mysterious, loner bad boy. He's much deeper than he likes people to believe though, and I found unraveling some of his mysteries to be enchanting. He's also got a snarky side that I absolutely loved, and a loyalty & sense of purpose I found endearing.25 pages into this book I posted an update to GoodReads that said: "Darynda Jones is a genius; a master of the written word. Just sayin... I swear she could rewrite the phone book and I would read and enjoy it because of her instantaneously gripping & witty writing style. I may only be a handful of pages in, but I already know I'm going to love this book!" I stand by that statement, and would highly recommend it.LITERAL ADDICTION gives Death and the Girl Next Door 5 Skulls and cannot wait for book #2. While there was a plethora of goodness in this book, Darynda ended it with a fabulous twist that opened it up for several more possible storylines and seriously had me jonesing for the next installment immediately. You really need to add this book and it's upcoming sequel(s) to your TBR and 1 Click Pre-Order ASAP.**Reference: From page 206 of the .pdf version of Death and the Girl Next Door

[magemanda · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

As is common with a number of Noble's books, here she takes almost a short story 'Love Actually' approach where we see snippets of intertwining lives. The reason for it in this book is people living in an apartment block in New York, and hence impacting on each other.The main drive of the story is Eve and Ed, an English couple who move across from England when Ed starts a secondment in the New York office. Eve suffers due to the move, feeling lonely and needy, and eventually decides that having a baby would solve the issues she has, both with her new life and her relationship. The conclusion of their particular story brought tears to my eyes.Other characters include Kim and Jason, a couple who are struggling through the aftermath of IVF; Rachael and David, who have to come to terms with a huge shock to their relationship; and the sweet love story between Emily and Jackson.There are other stories that gently touch these more central narratives as well. Unusually, I found all the stories equally absorbing in their own way - although a couple of the characters annoyed me. These included Madison, because of her jealous and manipulative nature, and Charlotte, because of her naivety (although we leave her having had an epiphany of sorts and therefore can hope she'll change).I enjoy Noble's warm and gentle writing style (that could be compared to other chick lit giants such as Marian Keyes), but also appreciate the fact that she is willing to touch on real life issues and tell sadder stories rather than keep everything light and frothy.

[callmejacx · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The cover and the title is what tempted me to read this book. I liked the idea of a story about people's lives who all live under one roof, an apartment building rroof.The beginning of the story was a great introduction to what one could expect. I suppose I expected too much. After the first few chapters I lost complete interest. There were times I wanted to give up on the book and place it back on the shelf. I had difficulty remembering all the characters and their part in the book. I didn't feel close to any of them. Just when I thought I was getting to know them, another character took their place. Having to get to know them all over again later in the story.The writing was simple. The story drawn out. The characters drab. Nothing jumped out at me. Nothing made me want to pick up the book and continue reading it. The best part of the book was the ending. It all came together at the end. I even shed a tear.It wasn't such a dreadful book as I may have made it sound like, but it wasn't what I expected.

[ritastradling · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The plot line and love story is a bit... Disjointed. Yet...the book is enjoyable and very funny.

[traciragas · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love Elizabeth Noble. She always manages to build these characters so rich, complicated and fulfilling, and I’m never disappointed. In many ways, The Girl Next Door reminded me a little of Miriam Keyes latest book, involving tenants of the same apartment building, and the intersections of their lives. I loved the true challenges each character faced in this story. Each similar in that they are finding their way in life, but each so conflicted and different that you couldn’t help but want true happiness for each of them. Looking forward to the sequel that Elizabeth Noble mentions at the end and truly felt comforted in all their stories.

[libsue · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Eve and Ed are recent transplants to New York city from England. Ed is excited about the move and the new job, but Eve is lost without her family, friends and home. They move into a building on the East Side of Manhattan, and within that building we are introduced to different resident, and are allowed a glimpse into their lives. What I love about Noble is that this is not your usual fluffy chick-lit. Not only is she a better writer than most chick-lit writers, but she also gives us a realistic portrait of life within the confines of this building.

[samo4_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyed this greatly. Clear characters and lots gong on. Better than "The Reading Group" by the same author.

[sugarcreekranch · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I chose The Girl Next Door because I had read and enjoyed The Reading Group by the same author. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy The Girl Next Door as much.This novel is comprised of intertwining stories of residents of a New York City apartment building. It was a pleasant read. But there was no “hook” here at all. Other than one emotional chapter, each story is mundane and predicable. The characters are one dimensional, almost stereotypes. There are so many characters, that we never feel invested in any of them. The writing is okay – but certainly not witty, insightful, full of attitude, poetic, or anything else that would make this novel stand out.It’s not bad, really. There’s just nothing about it that would make me recommend it to a friend.

[gogglemiss · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Lovely assortment of characters living in an apartment building in New York. Each one had their own secrets and problems.My favourites were British couple Eve and Ed, new to the city and the apartment, and their gradual involvement with their neighbours. 

[capnrandm · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.allthingsuf.comWitty friends, brooding supernatural beings, and otherworldly hi-jinx wrapped in high school drama, DEATH AND THE GIRL NEXT DOOR capitalizes on some of my favorite Buffy the Vampire Slayer tropes. Though the silliness of Lorelei, Brooklyn, and Glitch’s conversation didn’t always hit the mark, the premise and character dynamic was entertaining enough that I’ll be interested to try more Darynda Jones, either Darklight or Charley Davidson.DEATH AND THE GIRL NEXT DOOR introduces a world that has a lot of potential, though the this first book doesn’t necessarily stand out as unique. The banter between Lorelei and her friends reminded me of UNSPOKEN, the romantic dynamic reminded me of a (lighter) FALLEN, and all of these elements combined brought to mind Buffy. While the mix of enjoyable elements has me ready to try other books by this author, I’m not convinced that Darklight will stand out in the crowd. Still, DEATH AND THE GIRL NEXT DOOR was a quick read that introduced danger, romance, and humor in equal parts, which is enough to bring me back for more.Fans of high school drama mixed with magic will enjoy DEATH AND THE GIRL NEXT DOOR, but only if they don’t mind a bit of silliness to lighten the drama. The tone and character dynamic definitely worked for me, even if the premise wasn’t quite a slam dunk. As this was my first Darynda Jones book, I’ll be checking out both the next Darklight, DEATH, DOOM, AND DETENTION, as well as Jones’s prior series, Charley Davidson. Sexual Content: Kissing.

[nicx27 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have enjoyed all of Elizabeth Noble's books up to this one, and The Girl Next Door carries on that trend. It's the story of a number of people who live in an apartment block in New York, and their trials and tribulations over the course of a year or so.It's a very light book, and a quick and easy read, although it did move me to tears on two occasions. It doesn't have loads of substance, but it certainly kept me wanting to pick it up and read it as often as possible.

[thelibraryhag · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ever since her parents went missing 10 years ago, Lorelei has lived with her grandparents. Her grandfather is the pastor of a non-denominational church in the tiny New Mexico town. She and her friends Brooklyn and Glitch, are inseparable. And they know Lorelei's secret. She see visions. Sometimes they come true, sometimes they just don't make sense. Anyway, when creepy recluse Cameron starts following Lorelei around, she thinks she has a stalker, and she does but it really isn't Cameron, it is the Angel of Death. No, Really.I really loved this book. It is a nice set up for future books in the series. I don't want to give anything away but this book was fun. Brooklyn, Glitch and Lorelei are too funny. The high school setting is good and realistic. If you have read Jones' other books and like them, you will probably love this series too. Just remember it is young adult so there is a level of teen angst and drama. I can't wait to see what happens next.

[darkfaerietales_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: A love triangle with a nephilim and an archangel. And I thought my high school drama was bad. Opening Sentence: The small town of Riley’s Switch, New Mexico, had only one coffee house, and I sat at a booth in it with my two best friends. The Review: Best-selling author, Darynda Jones, takes on young hearts and paranormal mayhem with her debut Young Adult novel, Death and the Girl Next Door. Small town girl, Lorelei, is about to get a crash course in all things angelic when she is saved from a fatal collision with a bus by the sexy new transfer student, Jared Kovach. If that wasn’t enough to set her heart racing, maybe the crazy supernatural fight she witnesses right afterward will. Things start speeding up in Riley’s Switch that includes some dark secrets, a destiny, and the Angel of Death. Lorelei McAlister has always had visions. It’s not something she feels makes her special in anyway. At least that’s what she believed before she met Jared Kovach and her life was forever changed. He saved her when she should have died, keeping her soul on this Earthly plane for reasons of his own. Now with the help of her friends, Lorelei will find out the unintentional consequences of changing this one event in history. Her character is smart and sassy while underplayed physically, making her very likable indeed. The love of her grandparents and support of her friends allows her to be more self-confident than other teenage girls that might be thrown into situations beyond the ordinary. Rather than brood and whine about her lot in life, she seizes and enjoys each moment. Without the support of all of the secondary characters, Lorelei would come off as less than genuine. There is a forbidden quality to the love interest in this book. Lorelei and Jared most assuredly have chemistry but do they have what it takes to make it last? Jared is not in the least bit human and has confessed to breaking “the rules” for her at least once. Their relationship definitely has a “star-crossed” feel to it but I hope that there is a happier ending for them than Romeo and Juliet had. While they do not have other characters making themselves known as contenders of affection, they most certainly have others that are against their relationship. Cameron certainly offers a negative, both verbally and physically, aspect toward anything to do with Jared. Cameron Lusk is a fantastic character that enriches the entire story. Lorelei has supporters, like her friends and family, that trust her judgment. This is not the case with Cameron. He has known her most of his life but also has extensive knowledge of the supernatural aspects that she is just becoming privy to. His character offers a brooding and pessimistic view of events as they unfold. His pain and anger provide a more well-rounded emotional response to the story as a whole. All the characters in this book represent multiple facets of human nature that give the reader a fuller overall appreciation of circumstances. The story itself is fast-paced and the revelations never stop coming. I ended up reading it twice just so that I had time to absorb all the information. Death and the Girl Next Door offers a ride which leaves you breathless and longing for more. I can recommend this to established fans and new comers alike. If you enjoy Kenyon’s Chronicles of Nick, you’re going to love this series as well! Notable Scene: “Okay, so I was wondering, if Cameron kidnaps you, kills you, then buries your lifeless body in a shallow grave in the desert where your remains lay decomposing for several decades until they’re accidentally discovered by some guy on a journey to reawaken his spirit at the Salinas Pueblo Missions, can I have your iMac?” I gaped at her. “You’ve really thought this out.” “I love your iMac.” “I love my iMac too, and you’re not getting her.” “But you’ll be decomposing,” she said, her voice more whiny than usual. Fighting a bubble of laughter, I shook my head. “I had to save a whole year for iPrecious. She stays with me no matter what state of decomposition I’m in.” “Well, I hate to be the one to tell you this,” she said, clearly enjoying the task, “but that’s a ridiculous name.” She rifled through her books. “I mean, iPrecious? Seriously? You sound like the Apple version of Gollum.”FTC Advisory: St. Martin’s Press graciously provided me with a copy of Death and the Girl Next Door. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. The only payment received came in the form of hugs and kisses from my little boys.

[kleahudson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love the fact that Darynda has decided to write a YA series. There are so many of us that LOVE the Charley Davidson series, but since it is a little graphic in places, it's not really appropriate for younger teens to read. Death and the Girl Next Door, the first book in the Darklight series is perfect for those who want a PG-13 version of Darynda's snarky writing. But with a new series there is the obvious drawback - having to wait months until the next installment.Being a Darynda Jones fangirl, I dove head first into Death and the Girl Next Door with the unwavering knowledge that I was going to LOVE every page. Now that I have finished the book I can officially say, I loved it - but not every last page. There is a point (about midway) when the forward momentum of the story seemed to stall a bit. This doesn't last for long before the pace picks up again. Just when I had pretty much figured out what was going on, another layer got added to the story! This made the end of the book hard to deal with - not because the story didn't have an awesome cliffhanger, but it made it hard BECAUSE there was an awesome cliffhanger.*Sigh* I am not going to dwell on the fact that I have to wait five months until Death, Doom and Detention, I am just going to start counting the days until Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet is released.

[alaiel4kreuz · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

If you have already read Darynda's Charlie Davidson series then you already know how awesome she is and how fun her characters are. And if you haven't, huh, let me ask you: Why?!When I heard that she was writing a YA book I couldn't help but squee of happiness. And then I bought it as soon as I could to add it to my always growing TBR pile. And I finally got to read it. And loved it.For starters, our main character, Lorelei is a strong girl that has had her share of suffering. For the last ten years her parents have been missing and although her life with her grandparents is amazing she wishes for them to come back. And with the anniversary of their disappearance approaching she just wants to lay low and keep it together.Luckily for her she's got the two coolest best friends anyone could ask for. Brooke and Glitch are her sidekicks and she just knows that no matter what they've got her back.I'm a sucker for romance but when strong loyalty also appears in a story then the author has probably won my heart already. But if then you add funny/clever/my-stomach-hurts-after-laughing-so-much dialogues then girl, I'm in love with you.Then of course we have two amazingly hot and full of testosterone guys that become Lorelei's shadow. And if you are as tired as I am of love triangles you probably just flinched, right? I know I did. But no worries here, it doesn't happen at all :]As for the hot guys, there is Jared, the guy that Lorelei accidentally touched at the coffee shop and triggers a vision in her mind where he is fighting against a huge monster. Visions are not new to her as she can, sometimes, see the past or even the future. But monsters? That's definitely a new one.But when she tries to warn him he is gone. And yet she can't get him out of her mind and fears that she won't see him again... until he happens to be a new student in her high school. Instantly attracted to him she is dying to know who is he but they are quickly interrupted by Cameron, aka her personal stalker and the school's official loner, who claims it (Jared) is dangerous and shouldn't be trusted.From there the plot develops in a series of events that will leave you with a bunch of questions popping in your head, some of those being: Who are Jared and Cameron? What do they want from Lorelei? How did Jared bring back Lorelei after she died?I was so eager for answers that I enjoyed every second of the ride. And what a ride! It's obvious that there is some kind of past between Jared and Cameron as they use any situation to start throwing punches and kicks at each other.By the end of the book we do reach some answers... that lead to new questions. Because the ending will make you want to know what is going to happen next pronto. I think this is what I liked best about DATGND, at first it seems like a interesting and funny YA book but by the end of it a more promising and exciting series begins to unravel.

[dpchapman · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Death and the Girl Next Door is a refreshingly new take on the grim reaper, angels and prophesy. Full of mystery and romance, this is one YA book you won’t want to put down. I can tell you that this is one of those books that keeps you up late into the early morning hours. It was so worth the loss of sleep!The characters are perfect and so real. The quirky sarcasm between Lorelei, Brooklyn and Glitch is wonderfully amusing! They say the things that I only dream of saying. Jared and Cameron are just the most mysterious and intriguing guys ever. I cannot wait to see where their relationship with Lorelei goes. Then we have Lorelei’s grandparents. They have got to be the best and the hippest grandparents!Then we have the plot. Just when I think I had it figured out, bam! A twist hits that I was not expecting. It really kept me in suspense because I had no idea where it was all going. Then when I reached the end of the book I was so disappointed, I didn’t want it to end!I am very much in love with this new world created by Ms. Jones and I look forward to all the future installments!

[jackieblem · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Elizabeth Noble, author of 'The Reading Group' and several other well received books, is back with another winner. 'The Girl Next Door' involves an ensemble cast and seems very much like a reasonably intelligent soap opera. We get to see bits of the lives of several people in one building in Manhattan--relationships begin and end and have everything in between happen to them as well. There is birth and death, love and hate, fear and joy. This isn't a fluff read--Noble weaves some pretty powerful emotions into these neighbors' tales (I required a tissue late last night at one particularly intense scene). You'll want to know what happens--with everyone!