The Dead and Buried by Kim Harrington

Hardcover, 304 pages
Release Date: January 1, 2013
Published by: Scholastic Point
Series? No. Standalone.
Source: Own
For fans of: Paranormal, Ghosts, Mystery, YA

A haunted house, a buried mystery, and a very angry ghost make this one unforgettable thriller.


Jade loves the house she’s just moved into with her family. She doesn’t even mind being the new girl at the high school: It’s a fresh start, and there’s that one guy with the dreamy blue eyes. . . . But then things begin happening. Strange, otherworldly things. Jade’s little brother claims to see a glimmering girl in his room. Jade’s jewelry gets moved around, as if by an invisible hand. Kids at school whisper behind her back like they know something she doesn’t.


Soon, Jade must face an impossible fact: that her perfect house is haunted. Haunted by a ghost who’s seeking not just vengeance, but the truth. The ghost of a girl who ruled Jade’s school — until her untimely death last year. It’s up to Jade to put the pieces together before her own life is at stake. As Jade investigates the mystery, she discovers that her new friends in town have more than a few deep, dark secrets. But is one of them a murderer? (Goodreads)


*MY THOUGHTS*
     When I first started this, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had read so many mixed reviews about it that I kept it on the back burner for so long. Finally I decided to give it a try. And it may sound cliche, but I’m so glad I did. 
     This book was filled with suspense, drama, spooky moments, and all that you need for a good paranormal story. There were a few small things I wish had been different, but overall I felt that it was a good story. Jade and her “new” family move to a new town and into a new house. Soon afterwards, weird things start going on in the house that causes Jade and the other kids at her school to investigate a mystery that happened way before Jade even got there. 
     The main thing that bothered me about the book was the writing style. Although it was marketed as a YA novel, it had the feel of a MG novel to me. Knowing that Harrington is a MG writer as well, I wasn’t surprised, but I was hoping for a little more distinction in her writing style. 
     The next disappointment I had was with the main character Jade. She just seemed to be without a backbone. It was obvious she was that way because of plot movement, but there came a time when I began thinking “Enough is enough.” 
     This brings me to what I DID like. The plot and its movement is STELLAR. We don’t find out “whodunit” until the last few pages, after going on a wild and ride of guessing who it might be. Just like in most mysteries though, I was able to figure out who it was, but not without having to put the actual book aside and think about it. Harrington did a GREAT job with the mystery aspect and making all the characters amazing suspects. 
     This turns right to my love for the characters. Without their “real-ness” the book, the mystery none of it would have worked. Jade seemed like a weird closed off teen with a new family, her stepmom seemed like a real woman trying to win over her family, and all Jade’s friends/enemies seemed real in their own ways as well. I especially loved Colby (but I think it may have been because he was 5 lol) but what happened to him CREEPED ME OUT. I kept picturing the way his face might have looked and…. Ughhh *shivers* Then there was Donovan, I don’t want to say too much for fear of spoilers, but I will say this, <3!
     But the biggest thing I loved about the book ironically had nothing to do with the plot or the mystery, it was the gem stones. They were still a huge part of the story. I loved that there was an explanation of them and that they fit right in with the story. I really like this because I had no idea about all of those meanings. I found myself jotting down the meanings as “notes” and keeping them around. I was taught alot from this book that I wasn’t expecting to learn, and if there’s one thing I love, its a fiction book that can teach me something. 
     From beginning to end Harrington takes you on a wild ride that will leave you on edge. This may seem like a thriller for the younger crowd, but the creep factor definitely turns it up a notch. If you are looking for a fast exciting read, this is the book for you!