Book Review: Deadly Little Lies (A Touch Novel, #2) by Laurie Faria Stolarz

DEADLY LITTLE LIES (A TOUCH NOVEL, #2) BY LAURIE FARIA STOLARZ

SYNOPSIS:

Last fall, sixteen-year-old Camelia fell for Ben, a new boy at school who had a very mysterious gift – psychometry, the ability to sense the future through touch. But just as Camelia and Ben's romance began to heat up, he abruptly left town. Brokenhearted, Camelia has spent the last few months studying everything she can about psychometry and experiencing strange brushes with premonition. Camelia wonders if Ben's abilities have somehow been transferred to her.

Ben returns to school, but he remains aloof, and Camelia can't get close enough to share her secret with him. Camelia makes the painful decision to let him go and move on. Adam, the hot new guy at Knead, seems good for her in ways Ben wasn't. But when Camelia and Adam start dating, a surprising love triangle results. A chilling sequence of events uncovers secrets from Ben’s past – and Adam's. Someone is lying, and it's up to Camelia to figure out who – before it's too late.

REVIEW: Deadly Little Lies, the sequel to the first book in the series, Deadly Little Secret, definitely lives up to its promise of more suspense, romance and plot twists. Laurie Faria Stolarz really knows how to construct an elaborate plot to flow with such ease, and continuously keep you on the edge of your seat with the mystery and romance of the narrative. Starting a few months after Ben leaves Camelia's life, the story immediately takes off with a burst of heart pounding action that just keeps on rolling the entire novel. Right from page one, Camelia is immediately caught up in a new dangerous situation and that initial spooky basement experience really left me biting my nails and wondering- what just happened? This time around though, Camelia is without the most crucial person to help her stay safe, and that of course, is Ben. What will she do now that she doesn't have Ben to support her and sense when she's in danger?

The romantic tension between Camelia and Ben, two people so obviously still in love with one another was agonizing. I kept flipping the pages, anxiously hoping they would resolve their issues. Their scenes together were a roller coaster of emotions, further compounded by Camelia's budding relationship with Adam, the new guy at Knead. Speaking of Adam, you never quite trust Camelia's attraction him. He appears out of the blue, saying and doing all the right things. Yet isn't that just so convenient?! Other times, I'd switch my line of thinking and want her to give him a chance. By the end, I was so turned around I didn't quite know what to think of anyone, including Ben and even Camelia's best friends Wes and Kimmy! No one was free from suspicion or ever completely trustworthy. And of course, there's always that underlying worry that Matt was back in town too.

In regards to the harassing calls and messages that begin resurfacing around Camelia, at times I felt incredibly agitated with her for not going to her parents, and wanted to yell at her for not being more aggressive about her safety. Haven't we been through this before Camelia? But, with that being said, I do want to point out that Stolarz does a great job in painting a believable picture as to why Camelia wouldn't immediately run to her parents for help. Because of the careful plot building and narrative, it made me able to accept Camelia's actions even though I didn't necessarily agree with them as an outsider looking in.

Time and time again, I'd try and fall asleep while reading this novel, but found myself getting up to check the door locks and make sure I had the house alarm on. Just like when I read Deadly Little Secret, I was almost dizzy from wondering and worrying who could be trusted in Camelia's world. And that is the best thing about Laurie Faria Stolarz's writing. She knows how to captivate the reader- inserting a bit of romance here, some eerie voices there, secrets untold, threatening antics and creepy diary entries. All of these devices are perfectly blended to create an intense air of mystery and keep your pulse pounding. I kept trying to go to sleep after reading this book but couldn't stop thinking about Camelia. Who was stalking her again? What about the new guy Adam? But most importantly, what was going on with those creepy, whispered voices? I have to say that it was the voices which spooked me the most and left me unable to fall asleep, listening to the house creak and settle into the very late hours of the night....

Wait - did you hear that?! What was that?

Hardcover: 304 Pages
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (November 10, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1423111451
ISBN-13: 978-1423111450
Buy at Amazon, Borders, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Indiebound

Laurie Faria Stolarz is the author of the hugely popular young adult novels BLUE IS FOR NIGHTMARES, WHITE IS FOR MAGIC, SILVER IS FOR SECRETS, and RED IS FOR REMEMBRANCE, as well as BLEED and its companion novel PROJECT 17. Her work has been named in several award lists, including ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. She is currently working on a new series, also for young adults.