Review: The Dead and Buried by Kim Harrington

Title: The Dead and Buried
Author: Kim Harrington
Publisher: Scholastic Point
Age Group: Young Adult
Category: Paranormal, Mystery
Release date: January 1st, 2013
Pages: 304 (ARC)
Rating: 4 out of 5
Source: Publisher
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Jade loves the house she's just moved into with her family. She doesn't even mind being the new girl at the high school: It's a fresh start, and there's that one guy with the dreamy blue eyes. . . . But then things begin happening. Strange, otherworldly things. Jade's little brother claims to see a glimmering girl in his room. Jade's jewelry gets moved around, as if by an invisible hand. Kids at school whisper behind her back like they know something she doesn't. 

Soon, Jade must face an impossible fact: that her perfect house is haunted. Haunted by a ghost who's seeking not just vengeance, but the truth. The ghost of a girl who ruled Jade's school — until her untimely death last year. It's up to Jade to put the pieces together before her own life is at stake. As Jade investigates the mystery, she discovers that her new friends in town have more than a few deep, dark secrets. But is one of them a murderer?

When Jade hears the rumors at her new school, she can only hope that they aren't true.  Did the most popular girl really die in her new home, and if so, is her spirit still there?  Unnatural events occur, confirming that they're not alone in the house, and Jade will do anything to keep her little brother safe.  Teaming up with the dead girl's boyfriend, she decides to get to the bottom of it.

I always enjoy a good murder mystery, especially one involving ghosts.  When I first read the description, I knew I had to get my hands on this book.  Poor Jade just wants to live a normal life.  It's hard enough to be the new girl, especially near the end of her high school career, but the shocking news of a young girl's death will just be the cherry on top.  At first she's eager to get out, but when she confides in her family, she realizes that the truth sounds insane and there are very few people she can trust with it.  So she's on her own for now, and because of that, I definitely feel sorry for her.

This book isn't only a murder mystery.  There's romance thrown in too, which was expected, but still enjoyable.  The mixture between that and the horror makes this book worthwhile.  The characters are all believable, especially Jade and the love interest, Donovan.  They seemed to be the most true to themselves, which is probably why they were my favorites.  I love when characters are passionate about something, and Jade shares her knowledge of gemstones throughout the entire story.  Donovan was just a sweetheart.  What else can you ask for?

Overall, the story was a fun and easy read.  The author showed you each side of her characters, and while the mystery wasn't that difficult to solve about half way through, I kept reading for the twists and turns.  I wanted to help Jade solve the mystery, in order to finally put Kayla to rest.  The Dead and Buried is a book you should pick up if you're looking for a quick read involving ghosts, mystery, a bit of horror and a lot of love.