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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
This book met all of the criteria for a great cozy mystery, including two love interests. It wrapped up well and remained interesting. When will the next book be released?
I hate when Goodreads doesn't save my review.
This book was an easy fun read! The plot kept me interested, and I can't wait to pick up the sequel to see where it goes next!
I like books set on Cape Cod. Always have.
Clare was a decently relatable heroine, other than the psychic thing. I liked how the author talked about her motivation as a character, to have friends and be loved. Which is a fairly common motivation. I just wish she had been slightly less obvious about it.
Gabriel just didn't pluck my heartstrings as much as I think he was supposed to. I feel like he didn't get particularly developed, so maybe he'll grow in the next book.
I thought Justin was so adorable! I felt terrible that he made such a stupid mistake and it cost him something that obviously meant a lot to him-Clare. Don't drink at parties teenagers, it never ends well. As much as I know it is wrong that he cheated, I still kind of want him and Clare to get back together.
The plot was very quick, and every detail that was mentioned ended up being important later in the story-I really liked that! It reminded me of Harry Potter a lot, in that respect.
Only complaint I have is the COVER. When Clare has read hair, why is the model blonde? Accuracy, people, accuracy!
This book was an easy fun read! The plot kept me interested, and I can't wait to pick up the sequel to see where it goes next!
I like books set on Cape Cod. Always have.
Clare was a decently relatable heroine, other than the psychic thing. I liked how the author talked about her motivation as a character, to have friends and be loved. Which is a fairly common motivation. I just wish she had been slightly less obvious about it.
Gabriel just didn't pluck my heartstrings as much as I think he was supposed to. I feel like he didn't get particularly developed, so maybe he'll grow in the next book.
I thought Justin was so adorable! I felt terrible that he made such a stupid mistake and it cost him something that obviously meant a lot to him-Clare. Don't drink at parties teenagers, it never ends well. As much as I know it is wrong that he cheated, I still kind of want him and Clare to get back together.
The plot was very quick, and every detail that was mentioned ended up being important later in the story-I really liked that! It reminded me of Harry Potter a lot, in that respect.
Only complaint I have is the COVER. When Clare has read hair, why is the model blonde? Accuracy, people, accuracy!
The characterization in this novel is riveting. Readers will love Clare from page one, when she elbows an obnoxious bully soundly in the gut and starts the novel off with a bang. The poor girl doesn't have it easy in her small town, where being psychic makes her a "freak," but she doesn't take the abuse lying down. It is refreshing to see a teenage heroine who isn't afraid to fight back against the bullies, rather than crying in a bathroom stall. Readers will sympathize with spunky Clare all the more strongly because she doesn't wallow in the stereotypical angst and self-pity.
Despite her pariah status, Clare has a bit of a love triangle (or square?) to contend with, and Kim Harrington manages to make the reader invest in each romance. The various potential heroes have a unique spark that turns them into more than just a one-dimensional plot device. Gabriel is the bad boy who will immediately pique readers' interest, while a secret tragedy in his past gives shade to his character. Justin is the good guy who made an irreparable mistake (and I applaud Clare for refusing to overlook it). Then there's Nate, the best-friend-but-maybe-more, and Stephen, the former-enemy-but-maybe-more. Despite the ubiquity of love triangles, Harrington brings a realism to Clare's relationships that prevents them from feeling forced or cliche. Clarity evokes the spectrum of human bonds with subtle power, ranging from the various beaux, to the endearing brother/sister relationship between Clare and Perry, and the dysfunctional parent relationship with their flaky mother.
On top of a stellar cast of characters, Harrington blends mystery and mysticism to create a captivating crime novel. The unique take on psychic ability lends nicely to the murder mystery element. Clare can relive the memories and emotions imprinted on an object just by touching it, while Perry can see the dead and their mother can read minds. I especially enjoyed Clare's fascinating ability, and loved the way it raised almost as many questions as it answered while she desperately tried to find the killer before they struck again.
Though this is a murder mystery, it was not excessively gruesome. Readers will be able to enjoy the tension and the thrill of the chase, while still being caught up in the lively and playful tone of the narrator. Clare's voice blows through like a breath of fresh air, full of snark and vivacity. She is an utterly loveable heroine, with complex layers that hide a sweet vulnerability beneath her bravado. Clare's appeal will draw readers into this supernatural saga, and the suspense will keep them on the edge of their seats, racking their brains to solve the crime before the final heart-pounding reveal.
http://thebookishtype.blogspot.com/2011/03/review-clarity-by-kim-harrington.html
Despite her pariah status, Clare has a bit of a love triangle (or square?) to contend with, and Kim Harrington manages to make the reader invest in each romance. The various potential heroes have a unique spark that turns them into more than just a one-dimensional plot device. Gabriel is the bad boy who will immediately pique readers' interest, while a secret tragedy in his past gives shade to his character. Justin is the good guy who made an irreparable mistake (and I applaud Clare for refusing to overlook it). Then there's Nate, the best-friend-but-maybe-more, and Stephen, the former-enemy-but-maybe-more. Despite the ubiquity of love triangles, Harrington brings a realism to Clare's relationships that prevents them from feeling forced or cliche. Clarity evokes the spectrum of human bonds with subtle power, ranging from the various beaux, to the endearing brother/sister relationship between Clare and Perry, and the dysfunctional parent relationship with their flaky mother.
On top of a stellar cast of characters, Harrington blends mystery and mysticism to create a captivating crime novel. The unique take on psychic ability lends nicely to the murder mystery element. Clare can relive the memories and emotions imprinted on an object just by touching it, while Perry can see the dead and their mother can read minds. I especially enjoyed Clare's fascinating ability, and loved the way it raised almost as many questions as it answered while she desperately tried to find the killer before they struck again.
Though this is a murder mystery, it was not excessively gruesome. Readers will be able to enjoy the tension and the thrill of the chase, while still being caught up in the lively and playful tone of the narrator. Clare's voice blows through like a breath of fresh air, full of snark and vivacity. She is an utterly loveable heroine, with complex layers that hide a sweet vulnerability beneath her bravado. Clare's appeal will draw readers into this supernatural saga, and the suspense will keep them on the edge of their seats, racking their brains to solve the crime before the final heart-pounding reveal.
http://thebookishtype.blogspot.com/2011/03/review-clarity-by-kim-harrington.html
Clarity (Clare) Fern is part of a gifted family with supernatural talents. She works alongside her mother and brother to provide readings to tourists visiting their town. When a rare murder takes place in the town, Clare is asked to use her talents to help solve the case. The catch is Clare must work alongside her ex-boyfriend who betrayed her, and the handsome detectives son. The crime scene hits a little too close to home when she discovers her brother was one of the last people to see the victim. Clare must put her talents to the test and rise to the challenge before the killer strikes again.
Clarity is a fun and fast-paced young adult murder mystery set in a picturesque beach community from debut author Kim Harrington. The murder investigation casts suspicion on several members of the town and will leave you guessing until the very end. The story is rounded out with a love triangle with two handsome guys competing for Clare's affections.
The supernaturally talented Fern family has set up shop in Eastport, a touristy beach location on Cape Cod where the locals look upon them as freaks. Clare's gift is the ability to see visions by holding an object. Periwinkle (Perry) is Clare's brother and his gift is the ability to talk to the dead. Perry's strange behavior and relationship to the murder victim however places him at the top of the suspect list. Since Clare is an outcast at school, she mainly hangs out with Perry and his friend Nate. Clare's mother has the ability to read minds, which is terribly annoying for her children. Clare's mother is thrilled that her family was asked to consult in the murder investigation as it validates their talents.
Clare is strong willed and fiercely loyal to her family. She wants to solve the crime before her brother is implicated in the murder. Clare is uneasy to work with her ex-boyfriend Justin who broke her heart. Justin regrets the break up and wants to win Clare back. Clare is trying to move on and is interested in the detective's son Gabriel. He is more skeptical of Clare's talents and wants to her to prove herself by solving the case.
Clarity is a short and sweet fast-paced thrilling mystery. This book should appeal to fans of YA books such as The Body Finder and Paranormalcy. The action and the suspense kept me turning the pages late at night as I was trying to solve the mystery. The characters and their supernatural talents mixed with crime solving and romance makes Clarity a bright and shiny debut.
A sequel to Clarity will follow in 2012.
Clarity is a fun and fast-paced young adult murder mystery set in a picturesque beach community from debut author Kim Harrington. The murder investigation casts suspicion on several members of the town and will leave you guessing until the very end. The story is rounded out with a love triangle with two handsome guys competing for Clare's affections.
The supernaturally talented Fern family has set up shop in Eastport, a touristy beach location on Cape Cod where the locals look upon them as freaks. Clare's gift is the ability to see visions by holding an object. Periwinkle (Perry) is Clare's brother and his gift is the ability to talk to the dead. Perry's strange behavior and relationship to the murder victim however places him at the top of the suspect list. Since Clare is an outcast at school, she mainly hangs out with Perry and his friend Nate. Clare's mother has the ability to read minds, which is terribly annoying for her children. Clare's mother is thrilled that her family was asked to consult in the murder investigation as it validates their talents.
Clare is strong willed and fiercely loyal to her family. She wants to solve the crime before her brother is implicated in the murder. Clare is uneasy to work with her ex-boyfriend Justin who broke her heart. Justin regrets the break up and wants to win Clare back. Clare is trying to move on and is interested in the detective's son Gabriel. He is more skeptical of Clare's talents and wants to her to prove herself by solving the case.
Clarity is a short and sweet fast-paced thrilling mystery. This book should appeal to fans of YA books such as The Body Finder and Paranormalcy. The action and the suspense kept me turning the pages late at night as I was trying to solve the mystery. The characters and their supernatural talents mixed with crime solving and romance makes Clarity a bright and shiny debut.
A sequel to Clarity will follow in 2012.
Clarity was kind of like Veronica Mars, if Veronica was raised by her mom instead of her dad, wasn’t actually a trained detective, and was psychic. Which kind of sounds not at all like Veronica Mars, but just bear with me here. They’re both social outcasts, sassy and sarcastic, and solve crimes by tying lots of seemingly insignificant details together (although Veronica uses her razor-sharp intelligence to do this, while Clare mostly uses her psychic powers). And although both have significant trouble fitting in at school, they seem to have absolutely no problems getting all the town’s most eligible bachelors to go gaga over them.
So that said, this book appealed to the part of me that loves (loves) Veronica Mars. I enjoy reading about a sassy teen girl solving crimes, and I even enjoy the far-fetched lovey-dovey angst (normally I am heavily anti-love-triangle, but I felt like it worked in this book, even though I still fail to see how the town outcast gets all the most desirable boys in town swooning over her).
I liked how the mystery was presented. Clues were dropped throughout the narrative, making it possible (but difficult) for me to guess who the killer was, and what their motives were. I had it narrowed down to a couple options by the time the book hit its culmination, and while I can smugly say “I was right,” I was also wrong. And I definitely changed my mind a few times throughout the course of the story. I felt like the story had great pacing and the momentum built nicely all the way through to the climax. And while the ending was certainly open to sequels, it was satisfying.
The characters were enjoyable, and I liked how most of them actually served a purpose. There were very few filler characters, which means if someone was mentioned, it was relevant (at least in a minor way). I really enjoyed Clare’s brother Perry, as well as her mom, even though both characters had major flaws. And although there was a love triangle, it wasn’t terrible, and you could actually see why should would be conflicted over these two guys (as opposed to many books where one choice is obviously wrong).
There were parts of the plot that were far-fetched. For some reason, although Clare can’t seem to make friends to save her life because of her psychic ability, her brother (the medium) is described as being popular. There were times when the police allowed her and her family to do things and go places that I don’t think would ever be allowed by the real police. And as far as I know, “son of a detective” isn’t actually anything, and would not entitle Gabriel to any rights or privileges whatsoever in real life; but in the book, he seems to have been practically deputized. So if it’s going to bother you that stuff happens in this book that would not happen in real life (supernatural abilities aside), then you may want to skip this one. A healthy suspension of disbelief is necessary.
However, as far as I’m concerned, Clarity was a fun, exciting, entertaining read that kept me guessing until the end and left me satisfied once it was over. And that’s really all I wanted, so I was happy.
So that said, this book appealed to the part of me that loves (loves) Veronica Mars. I enjoy reading about a sassy teen girl solving crimes, and I even enjoy the far-fetched lovey-dovey angst (normally I am heavily anti-love-triangle, but I felt like it worked in this book, even though I still fail to see how the town outcast gets all the most desirable boys in town swooning over her).
I liked how the mystery was presented. Clues were dropped throughout the narrative, making it possible (but difficult) for me to guess who the killer was, and what their motives were. I had it narrowed down to a couple options by the time the book hit its culmination, and while I can smugly say “I was right,” I was also wrong. And I definitely changed my mind a few times throughout the course of the story. I felt like the story had great pacing and the momentum built nicely all the way through to the climax. And while the ending was certainly open to sequels, it was satisfying.
The characters were enjoyable, and I liked how most of them actually served a purpose. There were very few filler characters, which means if someone was mentioned, it was relevant (at least in a minor way). I really enjoyed Clare’s brother Perry, as well as her mom, even though both characters had major flaws. And although there was a love triangle, it wasn’t terrible, and you could actually see why should would be conflicted over these two guys (as opposed to many books where one choice is obviously wrong).
There were parts of the plot that were far-fetched. For some reason, although Clare can’t seem to make friends to save her life because of her psychic ability, her brother (the medium) is described as being popular. There were times when the police allowed her and her family to do things and go places that I don’t think would ever be allowed by the real police. And as far as I know, “son of a detective” isn’t actually anything, and would not entitle Gabriel to any rights or privileges whatsoever in real life; but in the book, he seems to have been practically deputized. So if it’s going to bother you that stuff happens in this book that would not happen in real life (supernatural abilities aside), then you may want to skip this one. A healthy suspension of disbelief is necessary.
However, as far as I’m concerned, Clarity was a fun, exciting, entertaining read that kept me guessing until the end and left me satisfied once it was over. And that’s really all I wanted, so I was happy.
Very well written, engaging book. Love the characters. When I finished, I wanted it to go on even longer. Can't wait for Perception!
Psychics of a non-Miss Cleo variety are actually kind of cool. Clarity by Kim Harrington provides an interesting spin on the paranormal genre. Instead of focusing on creature-based supernaturals like vampires or werewolves, Clarity is centered around a family with sixth sense abilities. Clarity ‘Clare’ Fern is able to see the past just by touching an object. When a murder happens in Clare’s Cape Cod tourist town, it is up to her and the new town detective’s son to solve the murder.
Read the rest of my review here
Read the rest of my review here
Great plot and story line. Not your typical mystery murder novel. Romance, suspicion, endless dead ends and smart ass remarks are all tied into one to make a great plot!
Smash Attack Reads! http://www.smashattackreads.com/2011/04/review-clarity-by-kim-harrington.html
Clarity is a psychic, which means she can touch items and see visions of the history of the item, so to speak. Her mother, Starla, is a telepath, which means she can read minds. This is definitely not a character trait any teenager wishes for in a parent. And her older brother Perry is a medium, which means he can communicate with the dead. Fun, interesting family, really. Too bad the town doesn’t see it that way…
Clarity and her family run a psychic business out of their Victorian home, and while Clarity would rather not be psychic to begin with, she enjoys the bond she shares with her mother and brother and pitches in with the family business. I admire her for thinking of others during a period of life –adolescence- when you usually only think of yourself. Her compassionate, protective, fun-loving, responsible, determined-to-no-longer-be-the-town-freak personality makes her a character that you wish you knew in real life. I adored her as a narrator due to her sarcastic explanations and snarky comebacks. She had me laugh out loud on many occasions. Great writing.
Clarity is still coping with heartbreak, as her ex-boyfriend and the only person to show her any bit of kindness, has trampled all over her heart. It is quite obvious that Justin still loves Clarity. He is quite sorry about his mistakes and aches for Clarity to return the sentiment. And, in walks Gabriel Toscano. I just have to say his name again. Gabriel Toscano. So sexy. :) Clarity is quite taken by Gabriel, but he quickly lets her know he isn’t a fan of her supposed skill.
Gabriel is the son of the new police detective, who just so happened to arrive in town right around the murder of a young female tourist. Justin is the son of the mayor, and urges Clarity to use her talent to help the police uncover the killer - which means she has to work with Gabriel. Oh, joyous days ahead….
I’m not a big mystery/sleuth reader, although there is mystery in pretty much every book. I read glowing reviews and knew I had to find out what the fuss was about. I’m glad I did because Clarity was a quick, fun, engaging, interesting story. With my hectic schedule, I still finished it in 24 hours. I honestly did not want to put it down. It was that fun. And the setting is very realistic, and the characters are ones you would love to live next door too. At least, I would. It was a great little whodunit mystery and I look forward to the next installment!
Clarity is a psychic, which means she can touch items and see visions of the history of the item, so to speak. Her mother, Starla, is a telepath, which means she can read minds. This is definitely not a character trait any teenager wishes for in a parent. And her older brother Perry is a medium, which means he can communicate with the dead. Fun, interesting family, really. Too bad the town doesn’t see it that way…
Clarity and her family run a psychic business out of their Victorian home, and while Clarity would rather not be psychic to begin with, she enjoys the bond she shares with her mother and brother and pitches in with the family business. I admire her for thinking of others during a period of life –adolescence- when you usually only think of yourself. Her compassionate, protective, fun-loving, responsible, determined-to-no-longer-be-the-town-freak personality makes her a character that you wish you knew in real life. I adored her as a narrator due to her sarcastic explanations and snarky comebacks. She had me laugh out loud on many occasions. Great writing.
Clarity is still coping with heartbreak, as her ex-boyfriend and the only person to show her any bit of kindness, has trampled all over her heart. It is quite obvious that Justin still loves Clarity. He is quite sorry about his mistakes and aches for Clarity to return the sentiment. And, in walks Gabriel Toscano. I just have to say his name again. Gabriel Toscano. So sexy. :) Clarity is quite taken by Gabriel, but he quickly lets her know he isn’t a fan of her supposed skill.
Gabriel is the son of the new police detective, who just so happened to arrive in town right around the murder of a young female tourist. Justin is the son of the mayor, and urges Clarity to use her talent to help the police uncover the killer - which means she has to work with Gabriel. Oh, joyous days ahead….
I’m not a big mystery/sleuth reader, although there is mystery in pretty much every book. I read glowing reviews and knew I had to find out what the fuss was about. I’m glad I did because Clarity was a quick, fun, engaging, interesting story. With my hectic schedule, I still finished it in 24 hours. I honestly did not want to put it down. It was that fun. And the setting is very realistic, and the characters are ones you would love to live next door too. At least, I would. It was a great little whodunit mystery and I look forward to the next installment!