Deadly Cool by Gemma HallidayPublication Date: October 11th, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Page Count: 320 pages
Format: Paperback
Source: Bought
Purchase from Amazon: Deadly Cool (Hartley Featherstone)
Hartley Grace Featherstone is having a very bad day. First she finds out that her boyfriend is cheating on her with the president of the Herbert Hoover High School Chastity Club. Then he's pegged as the #1 suspect in a murder. And if that weren't enough, now he's depending on Hartley to clear his name. Seriously? Not cool.I've heard a lot of good things about Deadly Cool but it wasn't until I started reading that I realized how awesome this book really is. First of all, it's based in San Jose, which is my hometown, so I was stoked to read about all these places that I actually go to! I also REALLY liked Harley, she is absolutely hilarious! This book was an awesome, quick read and if you live in the Bay Area you definitely need to grab it!
But as much as Hartley wouldn't mind seeing him squirm, she knows he's innocent, and she's the only one who can help him. Along with her best friend, Sam, and the school's resident Bad Boy, Chase, Hartley starts investigating on her own. But as the dead bodies begin to pile up, the mystery deepens, the suspects multiply, and Hartley begins to fear that she may be the killer's next victim.
As I said, Hartley is crazy and hilarious, and I loved her! She's a really strong character who stands up for what she believes in and doesn't take crap from anybody. When she finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her, she tells him to kick rocks! Even after he apologizes and begs to have her back she still won't take him, which I really admire about her. Chase is also an awesome guy, he's the sort of realistic bad boy I like to read about. While Noah Shaw is the ultimate bad boy, he's basically just a fantasy. Chase is the bad boy you knew in high school, the one I always had the biggest crush on. I was definitely rooting for him and Hartley to get together at some point!
The story is super fast paced and a quick read. I think I read it in about half a day, but I wasn't bored at all. Halliday constantly had me guessing about who the killer really was, and I even thought it was Josh a few times no matter how often Hartley said it wasn't! I always love books that keep me guessing, and Deadly Cool definitely kept me on the edge of my seat! The best part for me is that it's based in San Jose so it's great to read about all these places that I go to on a regular basis. It really helps me picture the story better since I can actually see the setting.
Deadly Cool is a fantastic read. It's fast paced, suspenseful, mysterious, and exciting! I loved reading about my hometown as well as reading about a girl who's self-assured enough to kick her cheating boyfriend to the curb while still standing up for what she believes in. If you love mysteries and a good laugh, this one is for you!
