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When 16-year-old Scarlett Wakefield transfers from St. Tabby’s to Wakefield Hall Collegiate, she is relieved that no one knows her dark, haunting secret. A few months ago, Scarlett was invited to an elite party with a guest list full of the hottest names in British society, including Dan McAndrew. Before the party, Scarlett had only imagined what it would be like to have her first kiss with Dan, but on the penthouse terrace, Dan leaned in close and she no longer had to wonder. Their kiss was beautiful and perfect and magical, and then . . . Dan McAndrew took his last breath as she held him in her arms. No one knows how or why Dan died, and everyone at St. Tabby’s believes Scarlett had something to do with it. But now that she’s safely hidden away at Wakefield Hall, Scarlett would rather forget that it ever happened. Only she can’t. Especially when she receives an anonymous note that will set her on the path to clearing her name and finding out what really happened to the first and last boy she kissed.
Turning for the first time to YA, Henderson (the Sam Jones mysteries; Jane Austen's Guide to Dating) kicks off her Scarlett Wakefield series with a mostly captivating mystery. Sixteen-year-old Scarlett is trapped in social obscurity at St. Tabitha's, an ultra-ritzy, all-girls' school in London. Used to spending her free time at gymnastics practice and watching movies with her only two friends, Scarlett is stunned when the school's poshest set invites her to one of their parties. She eagerly accepts, hoping to see her longtime crush, Dan McAndrew, the most golden of the boys from the neighboring school. But when she and Dan actually kiss, he drops dead at her feet-and her classmates brand Scarlett a murderer. Forced to flee to Wakefield Hall Collegiate, a private school in the English countryside where her aristocratic grandmother reigns as headmistress, Scarlett launches her own investigation to discover the cause of death and clear her name. The marriage of chick lit and murder can be awkward: Scarlett can barely breathe in Dan's presence, but Henderson can't let readers get invested in him lest the treatment of his death seem casual. However, this author knows just how to time even the smallest revelations for maximum drama, and her mini-sleuth has a natural glamour and intelligence that Nancy Drew can only dream of. The audience will be rivited. Ages 14-up. (Jan.)
Copyright 2007 Reed Business InformationGr 8 Up- Seconds into her first kiss, Scarlett watches her dream guy, Dan, fall to the floor dead. Traumatized, she switches from one posh English girls' school to another, where a mysterious note forces her to question whether he died naturally or was murdered. Sharp, witty narration makes Scarlett's simple sleuthing a lark. Teens will find themselves enamored with Henderson's sassy British colloquialisms and the protagonist's pluck. Her gymnastics skills, which surface at key moments throughout the story, will inspire oohs and aahs as well. A cliff-hanger ending might frustrate readers looking for resolution, but like a complicated tumbling sequence, this lithe mystery has great momentum.-Shelley Huntington, New York Public Library
Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.
Excerpted from Kiss Me Kill Me by Lauren Henderson Copyright © 2008 by Lauren Henderson. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Kiss Me Kill Me was pretty boring after the protagonist said she already killed the guy she kissed. The ending was incomplete and confusing.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This book was pretty boring and hard to get through, so I eventually just gave up on reading it. When a book this short takes me a couple of weeks to get through, I think that is most definitely a bad sign. The only part that was even mildly interesting in the first half of the book that I read was the guy dying, and even that wasn't too interesting, it seemed so unrealistic and unlikely. And creepy, but not in a good way.
I think when I put this book away on my bookshelf, it will most definitely be forgotten.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I was intrigued by the cover art and the description in the cover. I thought it would be a good mystery read. It starts with the average main character, Scarlett, hanging out with her two average friends and dishing about the latest gossip that is going on with the coveted "popular group", led by Plum, an average looking rich girl with a royalty status. Scarlett is invited to hang out with the 'popular girls' and, leaving her friends behind she attends a party with them. Scarlett kisses Dan, her long time crush and he dies, mid-kiss at the party. The story goes on with Scarlett moving schools and trying her damnedest to figure out what happened, making a new friend and meeting a new boy on the way. While the plot is unique and intriguing, the climax is ridiculous and it really had me wishing I could get the two nights back that it took me to read the book.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Atnay_Copper
Posted February 2, 2009
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This is a very good book. It starts off to be a normal story. There is a girl named Scarlett Wakefield who isn't popular. She falls in love with a guy named Dan McAndrew, whom she can't be with because one, apparently someone else has her eyes on him and two, she is from a totally different level then him. Suddenly a miracle happens and she suddenly finds herself kissing him at a party but in a few minutes... he's dead. Which begins our not so normal story. It holds a hint of mystery from the title all the way to the last page. Suspenseful, you will not be able to put this book down. From the moment she begins, something tells you that disaster is soon to follow. I personally thought that as a mystery/romance it was very good. I was never to the point where it frighten me and made me want to put the book down which makes it good for younger readers. Lauren Henderson really got through to my emotions. From the anger of getting accused for something you didn't do to that one moment of fear when you're about to be caught. It wasn't one of those books where it's obvious who the murderer was but instead twisting and deceiving. You won't be able to tell who is good and who is bad. You can see the reality of what girls can be: cruel, vicious, back-stabbing, and above all when it comes down to it a demon in angel clothing. (Don't get the wrong idea some girls are really nice.)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Mandigirl
Posted December 4, 2008
So i am not the biggest reader in the world, i have to like the book or i will never get into it. The cover had me, just i wanted to see what happens. And Wow, i will never forget this book, i have to buy it and the second one, i cannot wait to read the second one. All i really have to say is if you are totally into mysteries,and romance put together, like a really good romance and mystery, This is so totally a book you NEED to read.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Scarlett Wakefield has two wishes at the beginning of the year: 1) a larger bust size (okay, so that's really TWO wishes right there...) and 2) to have Dan McAndrew notice her. But Scarlett is so far removed from the cool crowd that she'll never run into Dan. At least her first wish has happened. But Scarlett needs to learn to be careful what you wish for. Scarlett does gymnastics, and a large chest isn't conducive to flipping and flying through the air without everything bouncing around. If one of her wishes came true (and okay, the one wish counts as two, doesn't it?), then maybe her other one will happen as well.
One day after gymnastic practice, waiting in front of St. Tabby's, the all-girl school she attends, Nadia, one of the "It" girls, crosses the street and invites Scarlett to join her and the other popular girls hanging out at the fountain. Nadia was sent across the street by the leader, Plum. Without thinking of the consequences or her friends' feelings, Scarlett crosses the street. Had she stopped and thought about the outcome, maybe she would've turned back around and stayed on the bench with Luce and Allison.
But once Dan joins the gang at the fountain and comes straight over to Scarlett, all regrets are gone. She is beside herself with the attentions from Dan. Scarlett is even more shocked when Nadia, upon Plum's subtle nod, invites Scarlett to one of her infamous weekend parties. Nadia's parents are seldom home and she lives in a lush penthouse apartment.
Scarlett goes to the party, and that night, her entire world changes. Dan shows interest in her, but little does Scarlett know that Dan belongs to Plum. Dan escorts Scarlett onto the gardened terrace and the two immediate click. After some conversation, Scarlett finds herself receiving her first real, perfect kiss. Only to have Dan stop, clutch his throat, and frantically try to pull something from his pant pocket. Scarlett searches, but there's nothing there, and Dan suffocates right in front of Scarlett.
Of course, Scarlett can't return to St. Tabby's. So instead, it's off to Wakefield, the school her grandmother founded out in the middle of nowhere. At least she's far removed from everyone that knows what happened to Dan. Scarlett believes she can start over at Wakefield. But then an anonymous note appears in her desk telling her they know it wasn't her fault. With the help of her new friend, Taylor, they set out to solve the mystery of why and how Dan really died.
What a fascinating story! Ms. Henderson writes a wonderful story of a girl caught up in the desire to be part of the in crowd and having it going terribly wrong. The reader will keep wondering how Dan died and what Scarlett will do about it in the end. The mystery will keep you guessing until the final chapter. And the way Ms. Henderson crafts the story leaves it wide open for a sequel for Scarlett.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 19, 2012
Amazing book!!!!!!(:
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 27, 2011
I freaking loved it!!! You should read it. Its a thrill
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 25, 2011
Pretty good book
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted October 6, 2011
this book was okay. it gets better, but it doesn't start out very well. the climax to me is the really the only good part, but overall it's pretty good i guess.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This book was a fantastic thrill from the beginning. Scarlett thought she had a pretty mediocre existence with her gymnastics and her friends until she is befriended by the elite squad of the princess of school and her court.
Scarlett goes against her better judgment to take this opportunity to run with the "in" crowd. During this wild party she is singled out by the one and only Dan McAndrew, the only guy she was crushing on at school. They go to spend some quality alone time on the balcony and the most bizarre and terrifying experience in her life happens.
Scarlett 's feelings are in overdrive as she and Dan have their first kiss. But right after, he dies. She is convinced that she is the cause and she is poison. The elite group will not let her off the hook for Dan's death either, forcing her to change schools.
During this transition, she is afraid that someone will find out her secret and expose her in her new school. Scarlett becomes friends with another unruly student and they team up to find out what really happened to Dan. She also finds a new fascination with the lawn boy but is afraid to initiate anything with him because she could be a hazard to his health.
Can Scarlett uncover the truth and find the real reason that Dan is no longer alive? Read this book and you will be right there step for step helping her uncover the truth.
Recommended for YA Contemporary lovers.
Kiss Me Kill Me has a way of sucking you into its shocking storyline right off the bat. It starts off with a 'be careful what you wish for' type of introduction, which I found funny and a good way to get the reader interested. I kept all interest in the story and suddenly I had about 5 pages left and I was thinking how they could possibly wrap it up in a couple of pages. Well I was left hanging and not a good hanging, it was sort of a boring ending. Not at all what you would have expected from previous chapters.
Scarlett Wakefield was easy to relate to. She has her flaws, just like everyone else, and she's not afraid to admit them, but she also wishes they were gone. She has a huge crush on Dan McAndrews and then she finally gets a chance to talk to him when Plum and Nadia, the school's queen bees, invite her to hang out with them and Scarlett ditches her best friends for popularity. So far what she's wished for has come true and she's wondering if kissing Dan will too.
Scarlett tries so hard to fit in, but she felt like she stuck out like a sore thumb and to make it worse, Dan dies after kissing her. She thinks she's done something awful and Plum won't let her off the hook. She's expelled from her old school, St. Tabby's, and transfers to her grandmother's private school Wakefield Hall. Scarlett has no friends, which is good because no one will know her secret. Only she gets a note that throws everything off and now she's on a hunt to find out who left it and how they know.
I really loved the light adventure in the book, but I was really let down by the end. I would have liked to see more than just the 'note dilemma' get wrapped up. I was a bit upset after finishing, because it was almost as if pages were missing. But, with that said, I will definitely be reading the next in the series, Kisses and Lies. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a decent quick read!
Red-SoxGirl
Posted March 12, 2011
this was a very good book. definitly one of my favorites, the second and third books were must reads too.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 21, 2011
amazing book! one of the best books ive read in a REALLY long time. how lauren henderson mixes mystery and romance, equalls page turner. simply a must read:)
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.6534801
Posted February 8, 2011
i luved it! i dnt c how u cnt
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted November 9, 2010
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I love this book sooo much! It has to be like one of my top favs. I've also read the second one; amazing too! I'm just waiting to read the third one and I bet I will love this one also.
:D
LittleMissPicky
Posted June 7, 2010
If you arent too picky, like y'all down there that claimed the book was horrible, this book would be perfect. If you appreciate a good story that is well written and doesnt have to have some superficial action going on every second, then read this. I personally loved the story and glad i started reading it.
For me, the only downer is that the first book is quite thin. I like a good thick book, but thats just me. The next two were kind of fat, so thats good.
But i would deffinately reccomend this book.
(Not if you are older sixteen though)
Anonymous
Posted June 2, 2010
This book was my "sh***er book" (a book you leave in the bathroom for when youu knoww..) for 1/2 a year... after the boy dropped dead...it just dragged...and dragged..and dragged so thats when i stopped reading it. plus..why is a british themed book in america?? seriously! like no. way.GO BACK TO LONDON! God..i hate britians...anyway, then i picked it up again because i just HAD to finish it..i didn't realize it was a series. and i accidentaly bought the second one. GO FIGURE!I WOULD mess up like that. i liked the ending of the book but i only WISHED the book was as good as the beginning...when someone had died..how sad is that. a guy had to DIE for me to like the book... wouldn't recommend. it SUCKEDD!
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.After the boy of her dreams drops dead after kissing her, Scarlett's teen age life falls apart (although it wasn't much together to begin with). "Kiss Me, Kill Me" follows Scarlett in the aftermath of the tragedy as she copes with the tragedy and eventually decides to get to the bottom of the terrible event. A teenage mystery that is just okay. However, it reads quickly and is apparently the first in a series of books about Scarlett and her quest for the truth. While I found this book slightly dull and sleepy, I will admit that I will pick up the next in the series if I run across it - - just to see how this will develop!
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted November 24, 2009
i liked this book lots! my friend let me borrow it and i finished it in 3 days.
srsly, you should read it~
Overview
When 16-year-old Scarlett Wakefield transfers from St. Tabby’s to Wakefield Hall Collegiate, she is relieved that no one knows her dark, haunting secret. A few months ago, Scarlett was invited to an elite party with a guest list full of the hottest names in British society, including Dan McAndrew. Before the party, Scarlett had only imagined what it would be like to have her first kiss with Dan, but on the penthouse terrace, Dan leaned in close and she no longer had to wonder. Their kiss was beautiful and perfect and magical, and then . . . Dan McAndrew took his last breath as she held him in her arms. No one knows how or why Dan died, and everyone at St. Tabby’s believes Scarlett had ...