Review by Booklist Review
Willa is wracked with guilt over her father's untimely death, and to make matters worse, she has to make nice with her new stepfather, famous movie-director Jonathan, and adjust to the luxe life a far cry from her small-town home in Connecticut. But that's not all: after she and her mom move to Jonathan's tony mansion in Hollywood, Willa finds herself plagued by a violent, ghostly presence. She's afraid people will think she's losing her mind or worse just begging for attention so when the ghost seems to be sending her messages about an ongoing series of murders, she needs to decide whether to stay inside her emotional barricade or take action. With the help of her worldly-wise new friend Marnie and Jonathan's handsome assistant Reed, Willa must uncover clues to reveal the identity of the murderer. Gothic horror meets Hollywood glamour in this satisfying mystery-thriller with a supernatural twist, perfect for readers of Kendare Blake or Kami Garcia.--Willey, Paula Copyright 2014 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 8 Up-Willa's new stepdad, Jonathan, is a movie director, which is how she finds herself transplanted to Hollywood from suburban Connecticut. Willa isn't particularly thrilled about her mom remarrying-she is still reeling from her father's death two years ago. But for her mom's sake she is determined to make it work. On the plus side there's Marnie, a new friend at school, and Reed, Jonathan's cute, young assistant who seems to like Willa as much as she likes him. Unfortunately, there's also a murderer, aka the Hollywood Killer, on the loose who enjoys re-creating iconic scenes from classic movies, such as the final attack scene from Hitchcock's The Birds. The murderer's victims-always young aspiring actresses-play the starring roles. Wyatt, Willa's unfriendly chemistry lab partner at school, seems oddly obsessed with the crimes. As if that weren't enough, Willa's new house is haunted. The ghost is desperate to tell her something; Willa thinks it might have something to do with the Hollywood Killer. The plot moves at a breakneck pace as Alender has jam-packed her latest novel with murder, ghosts, and romance. At the heart of this story, however, is Willa coming to terms with her father's death. Fans of the author's "Bad Girls Don't Die" series (Disney-Hyperion), as well as readers who enjoy suspense and supernatural elements with their romance, won't be disappointed.-Ragan O'Malley, Saint Ann's School, Brooklyn, NY (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Willa's new stepfather's Hollywood mansion is haunted--and the ghost has something to tell her. Meanwhile, with the help of a cute classmate, Willa investigates the murders of the "Hollywood Killer," who arranges victims in famous movie tableaux. Astute readers may guess the identity of the killer, but they'll still be on edge throughout in this unnerving supernatural page-turner. (c) Copyright 2015. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Willa uses her mysterious ability to communicate with the beyond to track a murdering psychopath.After moving to Los Angeles with her mother and stepdad, Willa discovers a ghostly presence haunting their new home. The local news is consumed with reports of a serial killer stalking up-and-coming actresses, and it doesn't take long for Willa to figure out that their specter is one of the butcher's victims. It's a clever premise, and the whodunit fails in only one aspect: It's incredibly obvious who did it. Once the killer is introduced as an ancillary character, even novice detectives will be able to point and cry, "Guilty!" Luckily, the characters and their investigation more than make up for this. The procedural elements are well-executed and complemented by characters that readers will truly come to care about and a romance that resonates. Alender enhances the mystery by setting it in Hollywood, a town where no one is quite who they seem to be. The result is a mystery that's worth it for the chase if not for its conclusion.A compelling supernatural thriller. (Paranormal mystery. 12-16) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
