Death and the Girl Next Door

By Darynda Jones

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 Publishers
• Release date: Oct 2, 2012
• ISBN: 9781250017222

Darynda Jones

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author DARYNDA JONES won a Golden Heart and a RITA for her manuscript First Grave on the Right. A born storyteller, she grew up spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, annoying man and beast alike. Darynda lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband and two beautiful sons, the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys.

Book preview

TRAITOR

The small town of Riley’s Switch, New Mexico, had only one coffeehouse, so that’s where I sat with my two best friends, knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that only two of us would make it out of there alive. Though I did tend to exaggerate.

The fresh scent of pine from the surrounding mountains, which mingled with the rich aroma of coffee, lingered forgotten. In its place was a tense silence. It thickened the air around us. Emotions soared and rage simmered as I glowered at the traitor sitting across from me, waiting for him to flinch, to cower under my scrutiny. I would make his life a living heck if it were the last thing I did. Mostly because I wasn’t allowed to use the word Hell, being the granddaughter of a pastor and all. Otherwise, Casey Niyol Blue-Spider, aka the Glitch, would be toast.

I swear, Lorelei, he said, caving at last as a telling bead of sweat trickled down his temple, I didn’t take it. He shifted nervously in his seat and scanned the Java Loft, most likely to see if anyone was paying attention to the unscrupulous activities going on right under their noses. Since we were the only patrons in the place, probably not. And even if I did, and I’m not saying I did, he added, jabbing an index finger toward me, who the heck cares?

I lowered my voice, controlled the tone and inflection of every word, every syllable, striving to make myself sound menacing. I took up a mere five feet of vertical air space, so menacing was not always easy for me to accomplish. Slipping into a cryptic grin, I said, You realize the minute I touch your hand, I’ll know the truth.

His gaze darted to the hand he’d wrapped around his whipped almond toffee cappuccino with nonfat milk, and he jerked it back out of my reach. His hand. Not the whipped almond toffee cappuccino with nonfat milk.

My best friend Brooklyn leaned in to me and whispered, You know he accidentally deleted seventeen songs off your classic rock playlist, right? And he used your toothbrush once without asking. She glared at him, the contempt in her eyes undeniable. I say make the traitor squirm.

Glitch’s jaw tightened, and I could sense his inevitable defeat like a dog senses fear.

Tag-teaming? he asked, indignant. Isn’t that a little unsportsmanlike?

Not for a couple of heartless dames like us, Brooklyn said.

I turned to her with a smile. Oh, my god, I love it when you talk pulp-fiction detective.

I know, right? she said, her dark skin and brown eyes a picture of joy.

Brooke and I met when we threw down in the third grade. By the end of my first and only catfight, I had a few missing hairs, a broken fingernail, and a new best friend. And we were practically twins. If not for the fact that she had long sable hair, chestnut skin, and light brown eyes, and I had curly auburn hair, pasty white skin, and eyes the bizarre color of chimney smoke, people would never be able to tell us apart. Probably because we were both exactly five feet tall. Not a centimeter more. Not a centimeter less. It was eerie.

In choreographed unison, we refocused on the slimeball sitting across from us.

Spill, she said.

Okay, sheesh. He pushed back his cappuccino and folded his arms over his chest, a defensive gesture that only added fuel to my suspicions. I admit it. I had a copy of the test beforehand, but I didn’t steal it.

I knew you cheated. I reached across the table and whacked him on the arm. Thankfully, Glitch wasn’t much bigger than either of us, so the punch quite possibly registered somewhere deep in the scary depths of his boy mind. Or that was my hope, anyway. You blew the curve, Glitch.

Guilt washed over him. I could tell by the thin line of his lips, the chin tucked in shame.

You’re such a wiener, Brooklyn said. I really needed those extra points.

And where on planet Earth did you get a copy of the test? I had to admit, I was more than a little astonished. And a tad jealous.

He shook his head. No way. I’m not giving up my source. And besides, you both got B’s. It’s not like you failed the stupid thing.

Brooklyn reached over, curled a fist into his T-shirt, and pulled him forward until their noses were mere inches apart. Clearly you do not understand the innate intricacies and often illogical drives of an A freak. She let go, disgusted. I hate your guts.

No, you don’t. He took a swig of his cappuccino, unconcerned.

Like Brooklyn, Glitch was a bona fide child of two nations, with dark, coppery skin from his Native American father and hazel green eyes, compliments of his Irish-American mother. And thanks to a compromise between the two, he had the coolest name on earth: Casey Niyol Blue-Spider. The mix of ethnicities gave him a rich, enigmatic attraction. Though he hardly needed to, he kept his short black hair spiked with blond highlights in an attempt to make himself seem wild and unpredictable, which was always good for a laugh. Glitch was about as wild and unpredictable as a carrot stick. Though he did have an unnatural fear of turtles that was interesting.

You’re just intimidated by my manly physique.

Brooke snorted. This coming from a boy who’s barely tall enough to get on the roller coaster at the state fair without a permission slip from his parents.

His grin took on an evil luster. Least I get on, short pants.

Oh yeah? Well, at least I wasn’t voted most likely to acquire gainful employment as Santa’s elf.

Guys, guys, I said, holding up my hands for a cease-fire. We can’t fling short jokes at each other when we’re all short. It’s just not effective.

That’s true, Brooklyn said in disappointment.

No, it’s not. I am three, count them, three—he held up three fingers for us to count—inches taller than the likes of you two. I can’t believe I’m willing to be seen in public with either of you.

Glitch, Brooklyn said, a warning edge in her voice, I will stab you in the face if you ever speak to me again.

He squinted at her, completely unmoved, then turned to me and asked, So, did your grandmother get her computer running?

No. You’re just going to have to stop by sometime and fix it.

Cool. He smiled in anticipation. What’s for dinner tonight?

I knew he’d do that. Brooke had already invited herself over, claiming she needed to upload her assignment because the Internet at her house was down. Glitch would come over, fix my grandmother’s computer in about ten minutes, and then my two best friends would spend the rest of the evening keeping me company.

It was the same every year. For a week before until a week after the anniversary of my parents’ disappearance, they spent almost every waking moment with me, watching over me, seeing to my every need. They were amazing. I’m not sure what they thought I would do if left alone—I’d never been particularly suicidal—but they were the dearest friends a girl could ask for. The air seemed to turn dreary this time of year, thick and heavy, so having them around did help. And I totally loved being waited on hand and foot, so naturally I milked it for all it was worth.

The bell jingled, announcing a new customer before I could answer Glitch, but I was busy prying my fingers apart anyway. I’d spilled mocha cappuccino over them—hot mocha cappuccino—when I tried to add a sprinkle of cinnamon earlier, and few things were more disturbing than sticky fingers. Forest fires, perhaps. And people who claimed to have been abducted by aliens.

I have to wash my hands before we go.

Okay. Brooklyn rummaged through her bag and pulled out her phone for a quick check as I scooted out of the booth, grateful for the excuse. For some reason, the fact that my parents had been gone almost ten years exactly, like some kind of milestone anniversary, had me more melancholy than usual. I’ll keep an eye on the traitor, Brooke continued, until we can decide what to do with him.

Do you need ideas? Glitch asked, turning feisty. I know lots of things you could do to me.

Do any of them involve piano wire and a razor blade?

I laughed to myself and headed toward the back of our favorite and pretty much only hangout. It sat a mere block from our alma mater, Riley High, and we practically lived in our corner booth. I ducked past the snack counter and into a very dark back hall. Judging by the boxes lining the narrow passage, I’d be taking my life into my hands if I risked a journey to the little señorita’s room without illumination, so I ran my hand along a paneled wall. Where would I be if I were a light switch? Just as the tips of my fingers found the switch, a silhouette stepped out of the shadows and brushed past me. I startled with a gasp.

Excuse me, I said, placing a hand over my heart.

Sorry. The guy paused slightly before continuing on his way, and in that instant, I saw the makings of utter perfection: a long arm with shadowy curves that dipped around the fluid lines of muscle; a tall, wide shoulder; dark hair that curled playfully over an ear and led to a strong, masculine jaw. Something inside me lurched, craving a closer look at his face, but he walked by too fast and the hall was too dark for me to catch anything else.

After a couple of seconds, I realized my hand had brushed against his arm. It was enough to send a vision crashing into me, like the flash of a nuclear bomb, bright and unforgiving. Tamping down my surprise—I hadn’t had a vision in a very long time—I pressed shaking fingers to my forehead to wait out the familiar storm, to see what treasures would wash ashore in the aftermath.

Yet the things I saw were unreal, impossible, and certainly not of this world: A desolate landscape lay before me with scorched clouds and a roiling, violet sky. The air was stagnant and so impossibly thick, breathing it took effort. Then I heard the clanging of metal. I turned to watch in horror as a being, a boy of no more than sixteen or seventeen, fierce and somehow not quite human, struggled with a dark, monstrous beast. The boy’s arms corded as tendon and muscle strained against the weight of the sword he wielded. He slashed again and again, but the monster was fast, with razorlike talons and sharp, gleaming teeth, and the boy knew what those teeth felt like when they sank into flesh, knew the blinding pain that accompanied defeat. But he also knew the power he himself wielded, the raw strength that saturated every molecule of his body.

Another herculean effort landed a thrust in the monster’s shoulder and continued through its thick chest. The monster sank under the boy’s sword with a guttural scream. The boy looked on while the beast writhed in pain, watched it grow still as the life drained out of it, and somewhere in the back of the boy’s mind, he allowed himself to register the burning of his lungs as he struggled to fill them with air.

Blood trickled between his fingers, down the length of his blade, and dripped to the powdery earth beneath his feet. I followed the trail of blood up to three huge gashes across his chest. Evidently three of the monster’s claws had met their mark, laying the flesh of its enemy open. I gasped and covered my mouth with both hands as the boy spun toward me, sword at the ready. Squinting against the low sun, I could almost make out his features, but the vision evaporated before I got the chance. A heartbeat later, I was back in the dark hallway, gasping for air, one palm pressed against my temple, the other against the wall for balance.

I squeezed my eyes shut, fought the memory of the vision, the fear that summoned the taste of bile in the back of my throat, the feel of blood dripping down the boy’s arm.

Ever since I could remember, I had a tendency to see random flashes of inconsequential situations in my head, which, by definition, could point to any number of debilitating diseases. I wasn’t psychic or anything. I couldn’t conjure visions whenever I wanted. Images just seemed to crystallize in my mind out of nowhere, and at the most inopportune times too, shimmering like reflections off water. Sometimes they were just flashes of nonsense, glimpses of the impossible, like a rip in the afternoon sky that let night seep through. Nothing ever came of those.

But sometimes the visions either had been or would be, as though I could see into both the past and the future. Like the one time I accidentally saw into the past after touching my grandfather’s hand. He had been a thousand miles away, and I caught a glimpse of the first time he laid eyes on Grandma. She’d tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she walked to class with her friends, only to have the wind toss it back across her face. She laughed and tried again, and I felt the tug of interest in Grandpa the minute it hit him.

The ability rocked, I admit. But never in my life had I seen anything with so much punch, so much texture.

I hurried to the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face. Clearly that had been one of those flashes of nonsense. But it seemed so real. I could feel the weight of the air, the depletion of the boy’s energy as he fought, his limbs shaking from exertion and from adrenaline as it pumped through his powerful body.

I blinked and forced myself back to the present, forced myself to calm. Stepping back into the hall, I glanced around in search of the dark-headed boy, to no avail. Disappointment washed over me. For one thing, I wanted a better look. For another, I wanted a better look. The first was for obvious girl reasons. Those arms. That jaw. Who could blame me? The second was because of what I’d just seen. Surely my vision was metaphorical in some way. Scorched clouds in violet skies didn’t exist. And thankfully, neither did that beast.

I must’ve been in the restroom longer than I’d thought. Brooke and Glitch were waiting for me outside. But I couldn’t get those images out of my head. I’d never seen anything like them in my life.

As I grabbed my backpack with a shaking hand, I sensed someone watching. I turned to see Cameron Lusk sitting in a booth, his shoulder-length blond hair visible even in the shadowy corner. Though we lived in a small town and Cameron and I were in the same sophomore class, we hadn’t spoken in forever. He was more the loner type, scowling at anyone who tried to communicate with him. But still, he was right there. It would be rude of me not to acknowledge his surly existence.

Hey, Cameron, I said as I fished a tip out of my bag and turned back to our table.

Your friends already left a tip, the barista said from behind the counter. See you tomorrow. She grinned at me, knowing I’d be back. If I remembered correctly, she’d graduated a couple of years earlier and had gone off to college in Albuquerque. Must not have worked out, since she was now a barista in a small-town coffee shop. Or it worked out perfectly, and she’d gone to college to become a barista in a small-town coffee shop. Hard to imagine, but okay.

See ya, I said before glancing at Cameron again. He took the whole brooding thing way too seriously. The glare he’d graced me with could have frozen heck itself. See you tomorrow, Cameron.

He lifted a finger in acknowledgment. I felt oddly honored.

What took you so long? Brooklyn asked as I stepped into the late-afternoon sun. New Mexico was nothing if not sunny, even where we lived in the Manzano Mountains.

Did you see that boy? I asked, scanning the street.

Cameron? Brooklyn asked. If the distaste wasn’t clear in her tone, the wrinkling of her nose would have said it all.

No, a dark-haired boy, tall and really, really muscular.

Brooklyn jumped to attention and joined me in the search, turning every which way. What boy? I didn’t see a boy. Especially not a tall, dark, and muscular one.

Glitch peered in through the coffee shop window. I didn’t see anyone either. Maybe you imagined him.

I had a vision, I said breathlessly, and two sets of eyes widened on me. I knew we’d spend the rest of the evening talking about what I’d seen. If my vision was even remotely authentic, something very dreadful was about to happen to that boy.

SUPERNOVA

Three days later, I found myself struggling against both melancholy and euphoria. But if I’d known my day was going to suck like a turbo-powered Hoover, I totally would’ve faked the flu and stayed home. Or chicken pox. Or malaria. Instead, I’d walked to school like it was any other day. Like my heart wasn’t breaking. Like my head wasn’t reeling and my feet weren’t weighted down by the sudden and tragic onset of clinical depression, making each breath a trial, each step a struggle. I totally needed a car.

I walked along Main Street, past trees and small businesses geared more toward tourists than locals, until my high school came into sight. Riley High was the latest and greatest achievement of the Riley’s Switch Board of Education. It was sparkling and new with stone arches that would’ve looked more at home in an architectural magazine than in a small New Mexico town. Heavy plate-glass windows lined the front with arched pillars at the entrance. The whole thing was topped off with a scarlet dome, like a castle tucked into the mountainside. Several outbuildings encircled the school, including the gym, the agricultural and construction shops, and the cafeteria. I had to admit, when I started here my freshman year, the place intimidated me more than a little. But I adjusted quickly when I realized how much the boys had grown over the summer. High school was a grand place to be.

I spotted Brooklyn in the sea of students rushing to class and zigzagged toward her. Hugging my notebook to my chest, I took turns dodging a group of wrestlers practicing their chosen profession in the hallway and barely escaping with my life when a linebacker decided to plunge through the crush of bodies.

Who knew high school could be so dangerous?

Brooklyn was busy dialing the combination on her locker. She glanced at me between spins. Hey, you.

Hey. I leaned against the wall of bright red lockers and asked, Do you remember what today is?

She stopped midspin, her dark visage puckering in soft admonishment. Of course I do. How could I not?

I shrugged and glanced down. It was weird. I figured the tenth anniversary of my parents’ disappearance would be excruciating. Like if I’d broken a leg or gotten a really bad paper cut. Instead, the pain in my chest was more like a whisper bouncing off the walls of an empty cavern. I just woke up and they were still gone. Like they had been every other morning for the last ten years.

At first their absence had seemed like a dream, but the depth of despair my grandparents fell into convinced me they were really gone. And everyone asked me questions. What happened? What were we doing there? What did I see? Nothing, I would tell them. Again and again, nothing. I didn’t understand why they were asking me questions I couldn’t possibly have the answers to, but they said I’d been with my parents when they disappeared. The police found me unconscious beside our car at the old Pueblo ruins outside of Riley’s Switch. I didn’t remember being there. I just remembered waking up in the hospital days later, my body so heavy, I could barely move, my lungs so thick, I could barely breathe. And no one had any explanation as to

Reviews for Death and the Girl Next Door

[loveydoveybooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Death and the Girl Next Door is a wonderful portrayal of originality and a likable cast of characters. Darynda Jones is a master at writing for teens and it shows in the voice of heroine Lorelei and her best friends, Glitch and Brooklyn. Lorelei makes this story entertaining and easy-flowing, especially with her open mind toward the supernatural.The story progresses quickly, but Jones does an excellent job of pacing and giving us enough time to connect to the characters and their situation. Death and the Girl Next Door begins Lorelei's story at the 10 year anniversary of her parents' disappearance. While her friends are on duty to keep her light-hearted in spirit, Lorelei is trying to decipher why resident loner and tough guy, Cameron Lusk, has been stalking her. When Jared Kovach walks into the story everything changes for Lorelei and, inevitably, the plot unravels with secrets, danger, and a deep romance.Secrets play a big role, and not all are revealed. The biggest secrets will come as a surprise to readers, but they're not completely shocking given the paranormal theme of the story. Nevertheless, readers will come back for more in the next addition of the series, Death, Doom, and Detention. Jones does a fantastic job keeping reader interest throughout the story. Her introduction of the Angel of Death and a supernatural history that defies the laws of reality will hopefully put and keep Death and the Girl Next Door on the bestseller list!Originally posted on Lovey Dovey Books*Paperback received from publisher in exchange for an honest review* 

[Khandygirl4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A straight up 4 1/2 stars!!!

I am a fan of Darynda Jones and I truly love this book Death and the Girl Next Door. Love that Darynda has used Lorelei as the name of her main character. If you have listened to any of her audio books Lorelei King does those books. Lorelei reminds me of Charley Davidson and Jared as Reyes. What they would have been like if they have met earlier.

I was happy that this book told all that was needed to know about the main characters in the story. Happy that Lorelei's friends were all like mined and were happy to help her through here trials. When one has friends like hers one can go though any trial.

A lot of action. Fast moving and a great many laughs.This old woman enjoyed this book although it is targeted for the young ones. Ready for Part 2 but its not carried. Wish it was!! Maybe soon!!

[laphenix · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

After a climatic beginning, the book slowly loses steam, in part, due to a poor use of religion.

[melrailey-412132 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Darynda Jones' Charley Davidson series is one of my absolute favorite book series. So I was very interested to see how I was going to like her young adult series. It's not Charley Davidson but it is a ton of fun. I felt like this book did a lot of build up for the other books in the series instead of jumping into and having a complete story in and of itself. However, Lorelei has a lot of the same sarcasm that Charley has and I totally see similarities between other characters in the Charley Davidson series and this series. Of course, that could be just because both series use the same narrator, Lorelei King. As usual, Lorelei King does a fantastic job with this audiobook.

[kmartin802_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed Darynda Jones' first venture into YA fiction. The characters made the story for me. Lorelei has a unique and funny voice. Her interactions with her best friends Brooke and Glitch were both funny and strong illustrations of the love and friendship between them.The story begins when the school's designated loner Cameron Lusk starts stalking Lorelei. Naturally, the friends debate and decide what they should do about it. When a new boy arrives at the school the tensions between Cameron and Jared escalate. Lorelei is immediately drawn to the new guy especially since she has already seen him a in vision fighting monsters. When Jared saves Lorelei from being killed by a hit and run driver, the course of history changes. Jared is better known as Azrael, the Angel of Death, and he was sent to cause her death, not prevent it. However, something about her, draws him and makes him give up what he should do to preserve her life. The story gets more complex as Lorelei learns some of the secrets of her past and learns the things her grandparents have been keeping from her. This is the beginning book in a series and is a very promising start.

[lritte · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Just finished this book as I was reading it before my daughter does, it doesn't disappoint. There is some typical teenage feelings in there that we adults roll our eyes at but it is great for kids :)This book starts out when a girl finds out that death just doesn't quite mean what she thinks it means. Her life changes dramatically and we have paranormal with a dash of angels.Darynda does not disappoint.

[mlsimmons-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Listening to audiobook.

I love this narrator and author. Let's see how I handle them in YA.

This book was cute. I'm not a huge fan of YA, but I really liked this author and narrator. The first thing that took me a while to get over was that I kept associating the voices to the voices from Charley Davidson. For example, this new boy in school named Jared uses the same voice as Reyes. Glitch, the main character's best friend, his voice is a lot like Uncle Bob's. In my mind, I kept wanting to put the characters in the wrong place.

The story starts off a little slow. It takes a long time to figure out who is what. Everything is explained, but not until the very end.

The jokes were cute, but they weren't the LOL funny of the adult series, but then this does not surprise me. I think the author did a great job of staying funny while staying in the YA appropriateness (I can't believe I just spelled this word correctly the first time. I wasn't even sure it was a word.). It is great if you want some light reading while still getting some humor. Definitely funnier than most YA books.

[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.

[theyodamom · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lorelei, has to live with the pain of her parents disappearance. The ten year anniversary is near and her two best friends stay near her during this period to comfort her. Everything is going normal till Lorelei brushes against a tall, dark, boy who starts an avalanche of change in her life.
When she touched people she gets visions or predictions she's not sure which. Most of her past visions have been pretty mundane, till the dark haired stranger. When she touched him, she saw something that left her with goosebumps, something evil.
There is a strange blond boy at school. She has known him all her life but he has been very distant the last few years. He avoids crowds, sneers at all. He's creepy and handsome. Lorelei starts seeing him staring at her, following her, stalking her, while giving her that glare. Till a dark handsome stranger shows up at school and the glare switches and the fights begin.
I love the characters that Ms. Jones writes. She develops full, interesting 'people' with ticks, troubles and intelligence. I look foreword to seeing where these teens travel to on their quest and who they become in the process. There is no sex, crudeness or extreme behavioral issues you see in many YA books just a great adventure with a light romance and some snark.

[murderbydeath · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I don't read a ton of YA, but I picked this one up especially because I'm a huge fan of Ms. Jones' "First Grave..." series. I loved this book, I picked it up and did not put it down again until I'd read the last page *and* the excerpt from the next book. All the great witty dialogue I've come to expect and adore from Ms. Jones writing, set in a teen universe. I love the strong focus here on the mythology of Angels, although I wouldn't have normally picked up a book 'about' angels. All of the characters are just excellent, the word play amongst them all is just a pure joy to read, although I worry about Glitch and his place in all of this.

I just had a really great time reading this story and I eagerly await the next book.

[readsoverneeds · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

My initial reaction when I first got my hands on this book:



I really, really wanted to like this book. I'm a HUGE fan of Darynda's Charley Davidson series, and I thought that in this novel she'd bring the same amount of witty comments, sexy heroes, and capable heroines. I was wrong. In actuality, I'd give this book 2.5 stars, and let me take you through my reasons why.

What I Liked

1. Lorelei's relationship with one of her best friends, Brooklyn - Their interactions seemed so real, and their comments reminded me a lot of the things I'd say to my best friend. The way that their friendship started (in the third grade, I believe) made me laugh. They're protective of one another, and you can tell that they really do value their friendship instead of Brooklyn being a simple "best friend plot device" with no personality that I see constantly in so many other YA novels.

2. Cameron - He made this entire book bearable. Amongst all of the confusion, and with Lorelei trying to figure out what was going on, his personality never changed. He was still pissed off and agressive and funny, and he seemed to be the only character with substance. Not once did he come off as 2-Dimensional, and all of his reactions--blown out of proportion as they sometimes were--seemed genuine to his character. His reasons for his hostility towards Jared were completely understandable in my opinion. Even their constant fighting had a purpose aside from Cameron's revenge. He was fighting Jared to protect Lorelei, and that raised him up a few notches in my book.

3. Cameron & Brooklyn's relationship - This was perhaps the biggest shocker of all. When Cameron came into the picture, I didn't really pay any mind to Brooklyn calling him "hot" or whatever. I never thought anything would come from it. But as the storyline progressed, so did their relationship, and I can't help but wonder what the future holds for these two. I may even read the next book to find out. Cameron seemed to lose some of his anger whenever he spoke to Brooklyn, and he seemed almost in awe of her, especially during their conversation about auras. Plus, he seemed to listen to Brooke when he would listen to nobody else, and I think he has a genuine respect for her.

What I Did Not Like

1. Lorelei & Jared's Relationship - Their relationship literally bitch slapped me in the face. It's not that I didn't expect for them to develop feelings for one another, but it just happened so fast that I couldn't help but facepalm mid-sentence when Lorelei mentally admitted that she'd "fallen in love" with Jared approximately 2/3 of the way into the book. *sigh* Really?







It was so incredibly unbelievable. She couldn't have had more than 5 conversations with the guy. Keep in mind: he tried to strangle her, and she forgave him instantly. She didn't ask any questions, and she tried to keep Cameron from hurting him still All she knew was that he'd saved her life, and that, apparently was enough for her to think she loved him. She didn't know anything about him at first, and even when she did find out his "secret", she didn't give a crap. In my mind, this was all puppy love. Seriously. I think that Lorelei felt sorry for Jared, and was so blinded by his stunning, gorgeous, beautiful, etc etc (I'm not even exaggerating here, she mentions his beauty ALL THE TIME) that she convinced herself "since he saved me, he must not mean me any harm whatsoever" and that she was in love with him. And Jared wasn't really better. He declared that after stalking her he never wanted to take his eyes off of her and that he couldn't let her die and blah blah blah.....keep in mind, he was thinking these things BEFORE he actually got to know her. I think they had one conversation before he saved her life and risked everything. And, of course, Lorelei felt SO guilty....I just couldn't believe their relationship. It felt too forced and too...shallow.

2. The "Sanctuary" Concept - Another thing that confused the hell out of me. In the beginning, we know from what Lorelei tells us that the Sancutary is like a church, and her grandfather is the Pastor. By the end, we find out that it's a super secret, super ancient organization and almost everyone in the city is in on it. My reaction: "wha....??" This came out of nowhere. It felt like a huge info-dump. One moment, her grandparents are normal citizens, and the next they know everything there is to know about angels and demons and possessions...it was just too much. Questions were being thrown around, and answered just as quickly. I could barely keep up. Lorelei finally finds out what happened to her parents, and Jared's identity is officially uncovered. We also find out some shocking things about Brooklyn and Lorelei. By the end of it, I was just like...



3. Glitch & His 'Tude - I really don't understand the purpose of Glitch's (aka Casey Blue-Spider) character. I mean, was he supposed to be the voice of reason, or something? No, thanks. I felt that the entire time, he was opposed to anything and everything Brooke & Lorelei wanted to do. He'd complain that he had football practice, or that he was grounded, and by the middle of the book I just wanted to shout:



I feel like Glitch's character could've been deleted, and the story would still flow. In all honesty, I think that the reason Glitch was actually in the book was to create a love triangle between Brooklyn, Cameron, and him. While I am interested in what would come of a love triangle, I don't care for Glitch at all. Plus, his refusal to admit what happened with him and Cameron made me angry and more confused than I'd been initially. I really hope Darynda reveals what happened all those years ago, or at least give Glitch some redeeming qualities. And while she's at it, maybe a 3 Dimensional personality.

4. Hardly any explanation - There were a lot of things in this book that just went unexplained, period. There were also some things that went unexplained until a few chapters later. I can't really mention them all without giving away tons of spoilers. For example, Lorelei being hit by a truck in the beginning. I had no idea of what was going on. One second, she was being shoved by the kid on the skateboard, and the next she's in pain. I didn't figure it out until a while later, when it was voiced what had happened. Another thing was, the whole "Cameron of Jophiel" thing. The concept of Nephilim and the other types of angels wasn't really explained when first brought up. Luckily, I already knew what Nephilim were, so I could infer a lot. But still, for someone who had no idea what they were, this book would be very frustrating. Mostly, the problem I had with this novel was that Lorelei had no idea what was going on, therefore the reader had no idea what was going on. It's a personal preference, really. I'm fine with mystery novels, but I don't want to feel completely and totally ignorant throughout the entirety of reading the book. Maybe others do, but I don't.


Favorite Parts:

"Do you know what she'd say if she were here right now?" Jared asked.
Cameron stepped closer. "You're a bitch?"
"Exactly." He closed the distance, meeting him head-on, challenging him with the heavy set of his shoulders. "Only she'd be looking at you."


"If I get hit," I said, interrupting whatever dire threat he had in mind, "shoved," I continued, stepping closer for effect, "or run over one more time today, I swear by all that is holy, I will make it my personal goal in life to have the person responsible sent to prison on charges of kiddie porn."

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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!

[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!

[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.

[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