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Close to a Killer
Two prominent city residents have been murdered, and Barrie knew both of them. But does she know their killer? The police have connected both victims to her mother's hair salon, and the obvious focus has become Barrie's mom and the other stylists, all of whom happen to be convicted killers who met in prison vocational school.
Amidst intriguing people whom she can't quite trust, and forced into living with the mother she can't forgive, Barrie tries to ignore the uproar by immersing herself in her writing. But when she shares a troubling suspicion with the homicide detective, she suddenly finds herself pulled deeper into a situation that's growing more frightening every day.
Amidst intriguing people whom she can't quite trust, and forced into living with the mother she can't forgive, Barrie tries to ignore the uproar by immersing herself in her writing. But when she shares a troubling suspicion with the homicide detective, she suddenly finds herself pulled deeper into a situation that's growing more frightening every day.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1999
4 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 6, 2022
When I began reading Close To a Killer, the book started slow. The main character Barrie is a seventeen year old girl. She is relatable and has a really nice personality that makes people happy. This book has some really great characters. There are so many of them that are introduced to you that it’s easy to relate to at least one of them. The many characters in the book all have their own contribution to the book, it’s not like there are a lot of characters who are pointless. This book did start out slow, and I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy it, but once things started to pick up, I found myself unable to put the book down.
Half way through the book important things start happening. Murders and mysteries start happening and each and every one of them somehow relates back to Barrie’s mothers barber shop. Barrie is stuck wondering why these relate to her mother and she starts to look into some of the mysteries. Once the book passed the half way mark there was twist after twist until the point where I had no idea why the murders were linked to the barber shop. In the beginning I had a small idea of why but that was quickly proven wrong. Also, just when I thought the book was slowing down and coming to a conclusion, a major event happened that I wasn’t expecting at all and again, I was left unsure about the ending. When I did read the end I was completely shocked. This book succeeded to trick me into thinking one way and then just having the exact opposite thing happen. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes murder mysteries and likes to be tricked and teased with many plot twists. I really enjoyed Close to a Killer.
Half way through the book important things start happening. Murders and mysteries start happening and each and every one of them somehow relates back to Barrie’s mothers barber shop. Barrie is stuck wondering why these relate to her mother and she starts to look into some of the mysteries. Once the book passed the half way mark there was twist after twist until the point where I had no idea why the murders were linked to the barber shop. In the beginning I had a small idea of why but that was quickly proven wrong. Also, just when I thought the book was slowing down and coming to a conclusion, a major event happened that I wasn’t expecting at all and again, I was left unsure about the ending. When I did read the end I was completely shocked. This book succeeded to trick me into thinking one way and then just having the exact opposite thing happen. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes murder mysteries and likes to be tricked and teased with many plot twists. I really enjoyed Close to a Killer.
October 27, 2023
A good book, but not great. I prefer mystery books to have a little more curiosity throughout the book. This book did not have any substantial hints to who it was. The few nods to the solution only made sense when I was revealed and when they were initially given they felt out of place like they had been added after the book was written. It’s third person which wasn’t bad except that there were many times in the book where I was confused about who was talking and to whom. I would’ve liked more character development in the beginning of the book, it felt like I was reading the second book of a series with how much I was just thrown into a world of characters with no explanation. I did not love that every single connection/puzzle piece fell into place all in one chapter. In the same four page chapter all of the clues to who did it were revealed and the person who did it realizes she’s onto him and then commits. Some of those clues could’ve been alluded to earlier in the book. I can’t be more specific without giving the plot away, but simple things to give the reader more information than the characters know so we are catching on to who it is even if Barrie wasn’t. Overall I wouldn’t say reading it was a waste of time, but it wasn’t something I couldn’t put down.
November 17, 2015
The book I read was Close to a Killer. I think this book was boring and confusing. Barrie, TaNeece, Daria, and Wylie are the characters. The setting took place in the beauty shop mostly. The mother committed a murder, but moved and started her life again, she opened the beauty shop and started taking care of Barrie when suddenly her clients start getting murdered. Who is the killer?
Although this book sounds interesting, it is really confusing. I did not enjoy anything about this book. The characters and the setting is so confusing. I recommend this book to adults, or no one at all. I gave this book 1 star.
Although this book sounds interesting, it is really confusing. I did not enjoy anything about this book. The characters and the setting is so confusing. I recommend this book to adults, or no one at all. I gave this book 1 star.
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May 20, 2022My favorite character was Barrie. The reason She is my favorite character is because she has very good descriptions of what is happening around her. My favorite event would have to be the break-ins or the vandalism because they also had very good descriptions. The writing style was thriller.
May 1, 2018
There were just, like, way too many characters in this book and I didn’t really care about any of them.
January 4, 2019
It was a slow start but then it gets a little more interesting.
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October 21, 2022It was a good book.
November 8, 2022
I wasn't a big fan of it, the events were all scrambled, making it confusing to read.
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December 5, 2022it was a bad book i didnt like it at all
March 23, 2011
Close to a Killer falls in the genre of mystery and thriller. I enjoy myteries and the cover of this book looked interesting, so I decided to try it. It turned out to be a great book.
The first thing I liked about the book is the wide range of characters. There were about two main characters, but there were at least a dozen characters that played important roles in the story too. The town that the characters lived in was poorer, so many of the characters had different issues surrounding poverty or drugs. The main character Daria and her daughter owned a salon. Daria was an ex convict who was in jail for something she hadn't ment to do. All her friends who worked with her were the same way. It was interesting because it shows you that not everybody who goes to jail is scary and mean. Not all convicts are heartless people who like to break the law. The other thing I liked about the book was the plot. After several murders, people in the town thought one of the excons from the salon was responsible. Throughout the story you realize that it was someone else who was repsonsible for the murder, and like most mysteries, the killer turned out to be the least expected. I was really shocked by the ending, but that's what I like about mysteries. It all comes together and makes sense at the end, and "Close to a Killer" was no exception.
There was only one thing I didn't like about the book: the beginning. The beginning was slow and confusing. The author starts out vaguely introducing many different characters and it takes a while to understand who is who. I hate slow starts to books especially when they are confusing, and it caused me to almost abandon this book. However, the plot turned exciting right before I did and I turned out to really like the book. Besides the slow and confusing start, there were no major flaws in "Close to a Killer."
What surprised me was the ending, as I previously stated. The killer turned out to be someone that Daria's daughter Barrie was friends with. The man owned a local book store with his wife that Barrie enjoyed going too. The man always was polite and gave her free books. It turns out that he was in jeopardy of going out of business so he robbed to earn cash. A few robberies went wrong and he killed the home owners. I, however, never expected the killer to be the man from the bookstore. It surprised me at the end, but I was able to put everything together afterwards and it made sense.
There were two things that impacted my thinking. One, that people will do anything for money. The bookstore man killed three people just so he could steel their things and keep his store in business. Even though it's a book, it shows how crazy some people are and what they are willing to do for things like keeping a store in business. The other things that surprised me was how Daria and her friends who worked at her salon got sent to jail. They all had accidently killed someone like with a car for example, and they all had to serve long jail terms. They forever will be labeled as convicts even though they were genuine, nice people. It shows you not to judge someone to quickly by what you hear, because they may be nice people with a different background then you think.
"Close to a Killer" was an overall good book that excelled with it's in depth plot and variety of characters. It's one flaw was the slow and confusing beginning. I still am glad I decided to read it and I rated it a four out of five stars.
The first thing I liked about the book is the wide range of characters. There were about two main characters, but there were at least a dozen characters that played important roles in the story too. The town that the characters lived in was poorer, so many of the characters had different issues surrounding poverty or drugs. The main character Daria and her daughter owned a salon. Daria was an ex convict who was in jail for something she hadn't ment to do. All her friends who worked with her were the same way. It was interesting because it shows you that not everybody who goes to jail is scary and mean. Not all convicts are heartless people who like to break the law. The other thing I liked about the book was the plot. After several murders, people in the town thought one of the excons from the salon was responsible. Throughout the story you realize that it was someone else who was repsonsible for the murder, and like most mysteries, the killer turned out to be the least expected. I was really shocked by the ending, but that's what I like about mysteries. It all comes together and makes sense at the end, and "Close to a Killer" was no exception.
There was only one thing I didn't like about the book: the beginning. The beginning was slow and confusing. The author starts out vaguely introducing many different characters and it takes a while to understand who is who. I hate slow starts to books especially when they are confusing, and it caused me to almost abandon this book. However, the plot turned exciting right before I did and I turned out to really like the book. Besides the slow and confusing start, there were no major flaws in "Close to a Killer."
What surprised me was the ending, as I previously stated. The killer turned out to be someone that Daria's daughter Barrie was friends with. The man owned a local book store with his wife that Barrie enjoyed going too. The man always was polite and gave her free books. It turns out that he was in jeopardy of going out of business so he robbed to earn cash. A few robberies went wrong and he killed the home owners. I, however, never expected the killer to be the man from the bookstore. It surprised me at the end, but I was able to put everything together afterwards and it made sense.
There were two things that impacted my thinking. One, that people will do anything for money. The bookstore man killed three people just so he could steel their things and keep his store in business. Even though it's a book, it shows how crazy some people are and what they are willing to do for things like keeping a store in business. The other things that surprised me was how Daria and her friends who worked at her salon got sent to jail. They all had accidently killed someone like with a car for example, and they all had to serve long jail terms. They forever will be labeled as convicts even though they were genuine, nice people. It shows you not to judge someone to quickly by what you hear, because they may be nice people with a different background then you think.
"Close to a Killer" was an overall good book that excelled with it's in depth plot and variety of characters. It's one flaw was the slow and confusing beginning. I still am glad I decided to read it and I rated it a four out of five stars.
September 26, 2012
When I saw this book it caught my attention. I am a mystery book fan and I love reading about mysteries. Close to a killer is a book that in the beginning you really don’t know what to expect. The book has to do with a girl named Barrie who works at her mother’s salon called killer cuts. Her mother was in jail for the death of an officer who died on a protest that her mother Daria began. While Barrie’s mother was in jail she stayed with her father until her mom got out. After moving with her mom Barrie starts working with her at her salon. The mysteries in this book are killings that happen with clients of the salon. The police start questioning Barrie about her mom thinking if she has something to do with the deaths of the people. Barrie starts to try to read more and solve the mysteries about the deaths of the people to see if her mom is the killer. The reason why I chose this book was because I like when there is mysteries about someone killing people and no one knowing who the responsible one for it is. This book is more of a Human vs. Society. It takes place in a salon in Paris France. In the begging the book caught my attention but as it went on I just didn’t see any hooks to keep me reading the book. I would recommend this book to female readers that like mystery books but this book is not a book for man. I did enjoy the book in some parts but it was just not for me.
June 5, 2014
Summary: A young girl named Barrie is working at a hair salon with her mother. Her mother started the business with her ex-cellmates, which is doing pretty successful. Although Barrie's mother's murder wasn't intended, it is still considered a murder and is sent to jail. After one of the regulars has passed away, her mother and her friends are main suspects. Barrie has a feeling that they're being watched and followed. Their house is vandalized and their salon is burnt down. If you want to know if they're convicted of another murder, read the book.
Quote #1: "By the way, did I tell you that I'm learning to cut hair?" (Qualey 19). I picked this quote because this is where her business potentially started. Also, maybe it was a good thing she went to jail. If she never went to jail, then her business would've never happened.
Quote #2: "On Tuesdays, she added, she'd been planning to tell him about the newest dumb school rule; she was certain he'd swear and roll his eyes' she'd been looking forward to that" (Qualey 22). I picked this quote because it's always the little things that count. Whether you realize it or not, that one little thing could make or break your day. Also, you never know when your last words will be, so always try and leave off with people on a good note. If you don't, you might regret it for the rest of your life.
Quote #1: "By the way, did I tell you that I'm learning to cut hair?" (Qualey 19). I picked this quote because this is where her business potentially started. Also, maybe it was a good thing she went to jail. If she never went to jail, then her business would've never happened.
Quote #2: "On Tuesdays, she added, she'd been planning to tell him about the newest dumb school rule; she was certain he'd swear and roll his eyes' she'd been looking forward to that" (Qualey 22). I picked this quote because it's always the little things that count. Whether you realize it or not, that one little thing could make or break your day. Also, you never know when your last words will be, so always try and leave off with people on a good note. If you don't, you might regret it for the rest of your life.
March 18, 2013
I liked it. Barrie moved in with her mom Daria. Daria accidenaly killed someone. The people that work in Daria's hair style place have all killed someone except for Barrie. The place is called Killer Looks. All of them say it was accidental, but was sure it was. Barri says she wants to move around like her father does, she says she wants to go with him. I would to with all of the vandalyisms happening. While Barrie and Daria were out of the house someone vadalyzed them. They wrote in animal blood " How does it feel to be the victim?" Barrie was scared to stay in her own room for a long time until one day. There had been deaths everywhere in town. She was trying to find the killer and blamed all of her friends. When she went to the Bookstore her friend Eric owned she knew who it was...Eric. He was the killer. He knew she knew. So he took her outside and explained everything. How he killed for money. And he told her how he knew when to do it. Eventually he a bu started eaded the way toward them. At the right time he "fell". He made it look like Barrie pushed him under a bus. But she didn't. At first a good man, now a killer.
September 3, 2009
Barrie’s mom is a beautician, owner of “Killer Cuts,” a salon staffed by beauticians who met in prison, where each was serving time--for murder. Then two people connected to the shop, one a client, another a client’s husband, are brutally murdered. The shop almost closes because people are spooked. Barrie struggles to live her own, “normal” teen life while her mother struggles to keep the shop open, her workers and customers happy, and help the police solve the threatening crimes. Positive and mostly unobjectionable. Some material is a little rough because of prison allusion.
January 9, 2017
This book is about a girl named Barrie who's mother is an ex con and owns a hair salon called Killer Looks, that is caught up in a murder mystery. Honestly, this book is quite confusing. It is hard to follow Barrie's personality as her traits do not continually flow. There is also many characters and so it is hard to remember who is who all the time. I recommend this book to people who like to keep track of characters in a book.
March 20, 2014
This book was a good book, it was better then other books I have read. This book was meant for a teen age person, because of the way the words where set and the style of the writing. I would not recommend this book to many people. It had a lot of action and was confusing at some points and can makes you surprised and you will question what just happened.
October 19, 2009
"Close To A Killer" was a really good book. At first, it seemed like I wouldn't like it but after I got a little less than half way through it, I found it had sucked me in. Also, the ending has a suprising, and positively shocking twist. Enjoy!
August 25, 2013
good mystery and kind of a neat plot line
August 9, 2008
An ok young adult mystery. Slow in spots, but the overall story makes up for it.
September 27, 2009
pretty good, some parts were confusing and i finished it in a day, but still very good.
January 24, 2010
It was a good book. It's sorta a murder mystery.
February 27, 2012
Great book :) I had do do a dook report on it
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May 6, 2013Awesome completely interesting until the end.
October 22, 2013
it was a good book it was so boring at first was first going to put the book down but then it got interesting and i learned something from this book that popping pimples can kill you
December 8, 2013
Definitely a good little mystery that kept me on my toes. Throughout the short book I kept trying to guess who did it, but finally when it came to the end I was totally off.
July 2, 2015
I believe I won this on goodreads last year. It's a young readers book, good story line, easy to read and not gory!
October 28, 2015
It was fine, nothing really impressive.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews