Book Talk: Clarity by Kim Harrington

Publisher: Scholastic Point
Date: March 1, 2010
Series or Standalone: First of two
ISBN: 9780545230506
Format: Hardcover, 256 pages
Description:
When you can see things others can't, where do you look for the truth? This paranormal murder mystery will have teens reading on the edge of their seats.


Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It's a gift.
And a curse.


When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case--but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother--who has supernatural gifts of his own--becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

First line: “You don’t want to kill me.”

I read this whole book in a two and half hour flight to Nashville. Yea, it was that good. Clarity does a great job of adding some great elements into one freaking awesome book. Murder-Mystery. Drama. Crime. Romance. Paranormal. Comedy.

Clarity “Clare” Fern and her family are a palor trick to some. They are all gifted. Clare is a physic, who can see visions with the touch of an object. Her brother Perry is a medium and her mother is a telepath. Her family is anything but normal—which always put her as the town “freak.” When people start dying, Clare is the only one who can help and save her brother. But the closer Clare gets to the truth, the more dangerous it becomes.

I just love Clare. She’s independent, strong and full of sarcasm. Her internal dialogue makes me laugh so much. I really adore her as a main character. Her devotion to her crazy family and her desire to stop a killer make her more unique in the small tourist town. She’s Veronica Mars meets Nancy Drew—plus psychic. So, it’s awesome.

The story is littered with possible suspects. The more you read the more you have no idea who the killer is!

First, there’s Perry. Her disappears after the first murder and has connections to her. Did he do it? Clare is out to prove his innocence but the deeper she digs, the guiltier he looks.

Then there are the town bullies: Billy and Frankie. They’ ve always been evil little guys, hating on the Fern family. But are they capable?

Let’s not forget Madame Maslov. Ever since she’s moved to town the fraud has been stealing clients from Clare’s family. She has this creepy air about her—and every time she talks to Clare she gives her a deadly warning. Surely she’s hiding something!

And-and there are two great boys after Clare’s heart. There’s her ex Justin. He seems like a good guy. We learn pretty immediately how he hurt her—but you can tell he really cares about her. He’s the one who gets the new detective to use her to solve the mystery. There’s also Gabriel, the detective’s son who has his own secrets and appeal. He counters Clare well, keeps her on her toes and comebacks on the tip of her tongue. The two boys are different—very good boy vs bad boy—but both are swoon-worthy. But does one of them have a deadly secret?

Don’t miss this fantastic debut! Clarity is a funny, perfect, mysterious story. It will keep you wondering whodunit and how in the world so many secrets can exist in a small town. You’ll fall in love with Clare as she ventures to stop a killer—and it may cost her life.