Synopses & Reviews
Welcome to Nightshade, California—a small town full of secrets. Its home to the pyschic Giordano sisters, who have a way of getting mixed up in mysteries. During their investigations, they run across everything from pom-pom-shaking vampires to shape-shifting boyfriends to a clue-spewing jukebox. With their psychic powers and some sisterly support, they can crack any case! Teenage girls are being mysteriously attacked all over town, including at Nightshade High School, where Daisy Giordano is a junior. When Daisy discovers that a vampire may be the culprit, she cant help but suspect head cheerleader Samantha Devereaux, who returned from summer break with a new “look.” Samantha appears a little . . . well, dead, and all the most popular kids at school are copying her style. Is looking dead just another fashion trend for Samantha, or is there something more sinister going on? To find out, Daisy joins the cheerleading squad. This book features a teaser chapter from Dead is a Battlefield.
Review
Praise for the Dead Is series
"[Perez] delivers a wise-cracking, boy-lusting, determined sleuth of a high school protagonist . . . this quick, lighter-than-air spoof of the undead, cheerleaders and popularity is pure pleasure."—Publishers Weekly
"A fun ride from start to finish. Perez's smart and sassy style soars."—Mary E. Pearson, author of the Jenna Fox Chronicles
"[A] quick, lively romp. . . . Teens looking for a breezy read will find plenty to like here."—Booklist
"This super supernatural murder mystery is sassy, romantic, and spooky-fun!"—Cynthia Leitich Smith, author of Tantalize
"Light romance and a paranormal plot are more tongue-in-cheek than scary, making this series a good introduction to the genre for younger readers."—Booklist
"Breezy style and comic-book plot. . . . Fun."—Kirkus
Review
"This planned trilogy starts off with a sweet bang--lots of plot lines are set in place, and the characters are well drawn and a bit off the beaten track."--VOYA, (4Q4P) paperback series roundup
Review
"Hot on the heels of Dead Is the New Black (2008) comes another quick, lively romp through Nightshade USA, where a variety of preternaturals, paranormals, and regular folks coexist in continually tenuous accord. Caught somewhere between them all is Daisy Giordano, equal parts psychic, amateur detective, and teenage girl. Romance and murder are again high on Daisys list of priorities. New boyfriend Ryan is acting truly bizarre. Is he in love with her, or isnt he? Will he ask her to the prom? Then theres the strange death of a local high-school teacher. Did a werewolf do the deed? Add to that two new classmates: hottie Elise Wilder, who seems to have her eye on Ryan, and handsome fortune-teller Duke Sherrad, who wants Daisy for himself. Teens looking for a breezy read will find plenty to like here." Stephanie Zvirin, Booklist Online
Review
"Talented author Marlene Perez. . . . makes quick work of setting the scene and helping those new to the series get caught up, all the while drawing you into the lives of the characters from the town of Nightshade. This is a well-written, easy read that will appeal to reluctant readers and those wanting to read something good in a short period of time."--VOYA
Synopsis
In the latest from the popular Dead Is series, newcomer Jessica tries to navigate high school normally, but when a group of lovesick girls gets violent, will Jessica have what it takes to protect her town?
Synopsis
Jessica Walsh is starting her freshman year at Nightshade High and trying to forget
about the tragic events surrounding her brothers graduation. She wants to have a normal
high school experience. But thats easier said than done in Nightshade.
Theres a new guy at school who seems to be turning the girls into lovesick zombies.
And Jessica has other worries—like her crush on a cute but moody lead singer,
and the mysterious tattoo that appeared on her arm one day that lets her know whenever
there is trouble brewing. Jessica learns shes a Virago, a woman warrior chosen to
fight evil whenever it threatens her hometown. But does a lowly freshman really have
what it takes to keep Nightshade safe?
Synopsis
A creepy, campy new mystery series
Welcome to Nightshade, California—a small town full of secrets. Its home to the psychic Giordano sisters, who have a way of getting mixed up in mysteries. During their investigations, they run across everything from pom-pom- shaking vampires to shape-shifting boyfriends to a clue-spewing jukebox. With their psychic powers and some sisterly support, they can crack any case!
Theres a gorgeous new guy at Nightshade High: Duke Sherrad, a fortune-teller claiming to have descended from Gypsies. Even though shes psychic herself, Daisy is skeptical of Dukes powers. But when a teacher who was the subject of one of his predictions ends up dead, she begins to wonder if Duke is the real deal after all.
Maybe if Daisy can track down the teachers killer, she can find out the truth. The only trouble is, all signs point to the murderer being of the furry persuasion. Is Daisy any match for a werewolf? Maybe she is . . . in more ways than she bargained for!
Synopsis
Its springtime of senior year, and psychic sleuth Daisy Giordano is preparing to say goodbye to Nightshade High. But no college acceptance letters have arrived yet, and shes beginning to worry about where shell end up come fall—and if it will be anywhere near her boyfriend, Ryan. But thats not the only uncertainty Daisys dealing with. Theres a vamps-versus-shifters war going on in Nightshade, and things are so tense that there is talk of canceling the prom. The conflict is carrying over to the Giordano home, since Rose and Daisy are both dating werewolves and Poppys new boyfriend is a vampire.
Can the paranormal community in Nightshade finally find peace? And will Daisy and her friends survive graduation? All of these questions and more are answered in the latest explosive installment in the Dead Is series.
Synopsis
As the creepy little town of Nightshade prepares to celebrate its 200th anniversary—on Halloween, of course—many of its paranormal residents are receiving mysterious blackmail letters. Psychic teen Daisy Giordano and her sisters set out to find out who is behind the threats. But launching an investigation isnt easy for Daisy with her overprotective father watching her every move. Though shes is happy to have him back after the years he spent being held captive by an anti-paranormal group called the Scourge, Dad is having difficult time adjusting to home life—and the fact that his little girl is now a senior in high school. He even disapproves of Daisys boyfriend, Ryan. Can their relationship take the strain?
And Daisys got even more on her plate: A talented amateur chef, she has won cooking lessons with celebrity chef Circe Silvertongue. After nosing around (with a little help from Circes pet pig), Daisy begins to suspect the temperamental chefs secrets arent only in her ingredients. . . .
The fourth installment in this favorite series is full of surprises and scares!
About the Author
MARLENE PEREZ is the author of Dead Is the New Black, Dead Is a State of Mind, Dead Is So Last Year, Love in the Corner Pocket, and Unexpected Development, an ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. She lives in Orange County, California. www.marleneperez.com