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Dead Heat
A battered teen. A devoted mentor. A bond that transcends the grave.
Alex is a machine whisperer. He can diagnose a broken-down car with a touch. But he's trapped in a dead-end life, exploited by a father who'd sooner slap him upside the head than say good morning.
For two years Cole mentored Alex, providing a glimpse of kindness and hope. All that vanished with Cole's death. It's a broken comfort when he reappears inspirit form, but Alex is willing to take what he can get--until he learns Cole's efforts to protect him may have doomed his soul.
Caught in a deadly spin, Alex can't get traction until an ailing '59Studebaker steers Jade into his life. With a love of the paranormal and the disarming ability to see the good in Alex, she assures him Cole can reach the Other Side-- if Alex escapes his father. But a previous terrifying attempt has convinced him it's impossible. Can he drum up the courage to try, or will Cole be earthbound forever?
If you like gritty, compelling stories with true-to-life characters who make you cry and cheer, you'll love Lisa Nowak's Dead Heat . Perfect for fans of Laurie Halse Anderson, John Green, and Chris Crutcher.
Buy a copy today for a pulse-pounding story that'll haunt you long after you turn the last page.
2014 Finalist in The Kindle Book Review's Best Kindle Book Awards.
"Dead Hea t blew me away. It's a gritty ghost story interwoven with all-too-real subject matter that will make you cry for Alex, ache for Cole, and thank God for Jade. I was invested in these characters' lives and you will be too." ~ Stacey Wallace Benefiel, author of the Zellie Wells trilogy
*This book is not part of the Full Throttle series. It contains darker subject matter that kids under the age of 14 may find disturbing.*
Alex is a machine whisperer. He can diagnose a broken-down car with a touch. But he's trapped in a dead-end life, exploited by a father who'd sooner slap him upside the head than say good morning.
For two years Cole mentored Alex, providing a glimpse of kindness and hope. All that vanished with Cole's death. It's a broken comfort when he reappears inspirit form, but Alex is willing to take what he can get--until he learns Cole's efforts to protect him may have doomed his soul.
Caught in a deadly spin, Alex can't get traction until an ailing '59Studebaker steers Jade into his life. With a love of the paranormal and the disarming ability to see the good in Alex, she assures him Cole can reach the Other Side-- if Alex escapes his father. But a previous terrifying attempt has convinced him it's impossible. Can he drum up the courage to try, or will Cole be earthbound forever?
If you like gritty, compelling stories with true-to-life characters who make you cry and cheer, you'll love Lisa Nowak's Dead Heat . Perfect for fans of Laurie Halse Anderson, John Green, and Chris Crutcher.
Buy a copy today for a pulse-pounding story that'll haunt you long after you turn the last page.
2014 Finalist in The Kindle Book Review's Best Kindle Book Awards.
"Dead Hea t blew me away. It's a gritty ghost story interwoven with all-too-real subject matter that will make you cry for Alex, ache for Cole, and thank God for Jade. I was invested in these characters' lives and you will be too." ~ Stacey Wallace Benefiel, author of the Zellie Wells trilogy
*This book is not part of the Full Throttle series. It contains darker subject matter that kids under the age of 14 may find disturbing.*
- GenresFiction
212 pages, Paperback
First published September 29, 2012
About the author
Lisa Nowak
36 books55 followersIn addition to being a YA author, Lisa Nowak is a retired amateur stock car racer, an accomplished cat whisperer, and a professional smartass. She writes coming-of-age books about kids in hard luck situations who learn to appreciate their own value after finding mentors who love them for who they are.
Lisa has no spare time, but if she did she’d use it to tend to her expansive perennial garden, watch medical dramas, take long walks after dark, and teach her cats to play poker. For those of you who might be wondering, she is not, and has never been, a diaper-wearing astronaut. She lives in Milwaukie, Oregon, with her husband, four feline companions, and two giant sequoias.
Lisa has no spare time, but if she did she’d use it to tend to her expansive perennial garden, watch medical dramas, take long walks after dark, and teach her cats to play poker. For those of you who might be wondering, she is not, and has never been, a diaper-wearing astronaut. She lives in Milwaukie, Oregon, with her husband, four feline companions, and two giant sequoias.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 13, 2012
DEAD HEAT is probably in my top three favorite books of 2012. I'll admit, it caught me off guard. I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't what I got. And what I got was AMAZING.
This book is less supernatural than contemporary, less frivolous read than powerful story telling.
I think the author, Lisa Nowak, is a genius.
At first it took me a bit to get into the voice of the main character (and first person narrator) of DEAD HEAT, but it didn't take me long to discover its rhythm. Besides, the boy is an illiterate teenager--of course he wouldn't speak in perfectly formed words or sentences. Also, he's a boy who's really closed in on himself as a result of a lifetime of abuse, so I wondered if I'd be able to relate to him. All I can say is, it's been a couple weeks since I finished reading Alex's story and he's STILL with me.
DEAD HEAT is so heartbreakingly sad, so powerfully and beautifully written, that I'm certain you'll have a hard time putting it down (I did!). Yes, it's dark--taking you by the hand and leading you through the seedier side of life--but the author does everything just right and finishes the story with a satisfying and appropriate end that makes you either cheer or cry, but both because "Yay".
Read it, and you'll see what I mean.
This is the first Lisa Nowak novel I've read, so now I'm off to look up her other books. She has a fan for life in me!
This book is less supernatural than contemporary, less frivolous read than powerful story telling.
I think the author, Lisa Nowak, is a genius.
At first it took me a bit to get into the voice of the main character (and first person narrator) of DEAD HEAT, but it didn't take me long to discover its rhythm. Besides, the boy is an illiterate teenager--of course he wouldn't speak in perfectly formed words or sentences. Also, he's a boy who's really closed in on himself as a result of a lifetime of abuse, so I wondered if I'd be able to relate to him. All I can say is, it's been a couple weeks since I finished reading Alex's story and he's STILL with me.
DEAD HEAT is so heartbreakingly sad, so powerfully and beautifully written, that I'm certain you'll have a hard time putting it down (I did!). Yes, it's dark--taking you by the hand and leading you through the seedier side of life--but the author does everything just right and finishes the story with a satisfying and appropriate end that makes you either cheer or cry, but both because "Yay".
Read it, and you'll see what I mean.
This is the first Lisa Nowak novel I've read, so now I'm off to look up her other books. She has a fan for life in me!
December 17, 2012
A man who longs for a son and a boy who can’t escape his father’s violence. Even death can’t break their bond.
Looking for a modern-day ghost story? One with an interesting mortal story? Dead Heat by Lisa Nowak fits the bill.
Alex is a troubled kid with a train-wreck family. But, he’s a good kid, talented with machines, and longing for someone in his life. With his mentor and friend Cole, Alex starts to put his life on track. He gets a job, stays in school, and gains confidence. When Cole is killed, Alex’s life falls apart. Cole resists the afterlife long enough to put Alex (and his wife Torey) in a good place.
Dead Heat is well-written and Nowak captures the gritty, down-and-out voice of a teenage boy from the wrong side of the tracks. This book contains violence and is recommended for an older YA audience.
Looking for a modern-day ghost story? One with an interesting mortal story? Dead Heat by Lisa Nowak fits the bill.
Alex is a troubled kid with a train-wreck family. But, he’s a good kid, talented with machines, and longing for someone in his life. With his mentor and friend Cole, Alex starts to put his life on track. He gets a job, stays in school, and gains confidence. When Cole is killed, Alex’s life falls apart. Cole resists the afterlife long enough to put Alex (and his wife Torey) in a good place.
Dead Heat is well-written and Nowak captures the gritty, down-and-out voice of a teenage boy from the wrong side of the tracks. This book contains violence and is recommended for an older YA audience.
July 2, 2017
The writing style of this YA novel took some getting used to, being 1st person but using the language, speech style and thought patterns of a teen lad in a rough area - it grated on me at first but the story made up for it for sure!
If you've read Lisa's racing series Full Throttle, and enjoyed it, then you'll almost definitely find it a good read.
If not, I'd go in slowly and start with that series first.
If you've read Lisa's racing series Full Throttle, and enjoyed it, then you'll almost definitely find it a good read.
If not, I'd go in slowly and start with that series first.
November 5, 2013
Most poignant sentence in this whole fantastic book was one of the sentences towards the end. ”… And it hits me that there ain’t no easy answers. All we can do is let ourselves off the hook.”
It has been a long time since I’ve picked up a book and ripped through it in mere hours; no bathroom break, no drink, no coffee, no walking the dogs. Just me, my bed and my trio (snoring fiance’ and two snoring pugs). I was mesmerized and 100% trapped in the life of Alex. I have been there, more along the lines of Jade’s life, but I have been there. Those kinds of wounds never truly heal. This is supposed to be a paranormal thriller/mystery book. It is not supposed to make me cry.
But I am not disappointed. I am quite the opposite.
In the beginning of the book the author writes about an how agent declines her story telling her that, “teenagers want edgy.” To spite that agent, Lisa Nowak sets out to write edgy… in turn she writes an effin brilliant myriad of edgy, haunted, emotionally written words that pulls a person into their memories like faint scent from yesteryear.
Alex is a 15-year-old young man. He’s calm spirited, hurt, low self esteem, angry, and loyal… loyal to a fault…loyal to a blessing. He has this gift where he can touch a machine and know exactly what is wrong with it.
Alex’s mother is disabled. She is afraid. She is quiet. She is broken in every sense of the word.
Alex’s father is a waste of human flesh, breath, and the glue that holds us all together. He’s a meth addict.He’s abusive to the point of scarring both mom and Alex. (Anyone who knows me in real life, outside of this blog, know I firmly believe that ALL meth addicts need to be taken to a remote island in the middle of know where left to fend for themselves like the zombies they are.) <— that should sum it up for you.
Alex meets Cole… the only decent person, aside from his mother, who mentors him, guides him, teaches him… most of all.. loves him unconditionally. Then Cole dies.
There’s a whole mess of other characters…and trust me.. this book IS SO WORTH BUYING, READING, OWNING…
I put the book down after finishing it around Midnight. I laid there thinking about Alex and the characters in the book. I laid there thinking, “If I knew that agent who told Lisa to go write something edgy, I’d give him a big, bold kiss on the lips (Or her…not sure of the gender).
This was the best advice he gave this author, because in turn she has written one of the strongest, awesome, well written novels I have read this year.
It has been a long time since I’ve picked up a book and ripped through it in mere hours; no bathroom break, no drink, no coffee, no walking the dogs. Just me, my bed and my trio (snoring fiance’ and two snoring pugs). I was mesmerized and 100% trapped in the life of Alex. I have been there, more along the lines of Jade’s life, but I have been there. Those kinds of wounds never truly heal. This is supposed to be a paranormal thriller/mystery book. It is not supposed to make me cry.
But I am not disappointed. I am quite the opposite.
In the beginning of the book the author writes about an how agent declines her story telling her that, “teenagers want edgy.” To spite that agent, Lisa Nowak sets out to write edgy… in turn she writes an effin brilliant myriad of edgy, haunted, emotionally written words that pulls a person into their memories like faint scent from yesteryear.
Alex is a 15-year-old young man. He’s calm spirited, hurt, low self esteem, angry, and loyal… loyal to a fault…loyal to a blessing. He has this gift where he can touch a machine and know exactly what is wrong with it.
Alex’s mother is disabled. She is afraid. She is quiet. She is broken in every sense of the word.
Alex’s father is a waste of human flesh, breath, and the glue that holds us all together. He’s a meth addict.He’s abusive to the point of scarring both mom and Alex. (Anyone who knows me in real life, outside of this blog, know I firmly believe that ALL meth addicts need to be taken to a remote island in the middle of know where left to fend for themselves like the zombies they are.) <— that should sum it up for you.
Alex meets Cole… the only decent person, aside from his mother, who mentors him, guides him, teaches him… most of all.. loves him unconditionally. Then Cole dies.
There’s a whole mess of other characters…and trust me.. this book IS SO WORTH BUYING, READING, OWNING…
I put the book down after finishing it around Midnight. I laid there thinking about Alex and the characters in the book. I laid there thinking, “If I knew that agent who told Lisa to go write something edgy, I’d give him a big, bold kiss on the lips (Or her…not sure of the gender).
This was the best advice he gave this author, because in turn she has written one of the strongest, awesome, well written novels I have read this year.
March 15, 2016
First let me mention that I won this as one of the Goodreads giveaways, second I’d like to thank Lisa Nowak for her literary contribution. This is an edgy, gritty young adult novel. I enjoyed reading it, so much so that at page 72 at 9:45 pm I was planning to read for approximately 20 – 30 minutes and then go to sleep…. Nope that wasn’t happening. So much was going on that I had to keep on reading…. I finished by midnight.
This story is written in the first person narrative by the main character, Alex. I had a little trouble in the beginning with his colloquial speech, perhaps only a page or two until I got into the cadence of his speaking. I became “invested” in Alex’s character right at the start. This is a somewhat fast-paced book that goes between present day and back within the past two years, to tell Alex’s story. I don't want to give too much away so here is a very brief overview. Alex is a senior in high school and has not had an easy life by any stretch of the imagination. His father is a meth-addict that has no qualms about child and spousal abuse. Alex tries to do the right things and doesn’t want to get dragged into his father’s schemes but, at times he has no choice but to go along in order to keep himself and his mother as safe as they can be while living with his father. His few bright spots in his life are his affinity to figure out what is wrong with electrical/mechanical things with only a touch and the other is when he meets Cole, a weekend racer. Cole takes Alex "under his wing" and they form a fast friendship. Then one weekend Cole dies in a racing accident and Alex's life starts to spin out of control.
If you want a great story that is steeped in present day issues that will “take you for a ride”, I recommend reading Dead Heat.
This story is written in the first person narrative by the main character, Alex. I had a little trouble in the beginning with his colloquial speech, perhaps only a page or two until I got into the cadence of his speaking. I became “invested” in Alex’s character right at the start. This is a somewhat fast-paced book that goes between present day and back within the past two years, to tell Alex’s story. I don't want to give too much away so here is a very brief overview. Alex is a senior in high school and has not had an easy life by any stretch of the imagination. His father is a meth-addict that has no qualms about child and spousal abuse. Alex tries to do the right things and doesn’t want to get dragged into his father’s schemes but, at times he has no choice but to go along in order to keep himself and his mother as safe as they can be while living with his father. His few bright spots in his life are his affinity to figure out what is wrong with electrical/mechanical things with only a touch and the other is when he meets Cole, a weekend racer. Cole takes Alex "under his wing" and they form a fast friendship. Then one weekend Cole dies in a racing accident and Alex's life starts to spin out of control.
If you want a great story that is steeped in present day issues that will “take you for a ride”, I recommend reading Dead Heat.
November 1, 2012
Wow, grab your tissues for this one.
Alex, the main character, has stayed with me now for a couple weeks. I can't shake his story. I swear he's a real person out there. I just have to go down the street and turn a corner and I'll find him.
Alex is a completely believable character. Dealing with an abusive drug addict for a father isn't easy, until Alex finds a friend and mentor in Cole. Except Cole is a race car driver and dies in an accident. Alex's world is turned upside down but Cole still visits him in a ghostly form and can't move on until he knows Alex is safe.
This is a story of Alex. It's not about a child dealing with an abusive father. It's about a boy learning to find the courage to take care of himself and make the right decisions. He has to deal with his father, his learning disabilities, school, his mom, Cole's wife who's also grieving, Cole as a ghost, and the new girl in his life who totally gets him.
I especially appreciated how the author dealt with the physical abuse. I don't like really graphic scenes and these moments in the story were handled with skill in a way that brought emotion to the scene without going overboard to make a point.
I loved this story. But like I said, make to sure have tissues. I cried off and on through the entire second half.
Alex, the main character, has stayed with me now for a couple weeks. I can't shake his story. I swear he's a real person out there. I just have to go down the street and turn a corner and I'll find him.
Alex is a completely believable character. Dealing with an abusive drug addict for a father isn't easy, until Alex finds a friend and mentor in Cole. Except Cole is a race car driver and dies in an accident. Alex's world is turned upside down but Cole still visits him in a ghostly form and can't move on until he knows Alex is safe.
This is a story of Alex. It's not about a child dealing with an abusive father. It's about a boy learning to find the courage to take care of himself and make the right decisions. He has to deal with his father, his learning disabilities, school, his mom, Cole's wife who's also grieving, Cole as a ghost, and the new girl in his life who totally gets him.
I especially appreciated how the author dealt with the physical abuse. I don't like really graphic scenes and these moments in the story were handled with skill in a way that brought emotion to the scene without going overboard to make a point.
I loved this story. But like I said, make to sure have tissues. I cried off and on through the entire second half.
October 6, 2012
Lisa has done it again. I started reading this book and couldn't put it down until I'd finished it. Lucky for me it was a shorter book!
Lisa knows her characters very well and she makes it easy for the reader to fall into their lives. Alex and Cole have a very strong bond that transcends death. Her writing style keeps things interesting and totally believable. I recommend this for tweeens and older.
Lisa knows her characters very well and she makes it easy for the reader to fall into their lives. Alex and Cole have a very strong bond that transcends death. Her writing style keeps things interesting and totally believable. I recommend this for tweeens and older.
January 1, 2013
I really liked this book, but as a warning, it is not for the faint of heart. It contains a lot of swearing and deals with drug use and dealing. The whole time I read this book, I kept thinking kids in schools should have to read this in their health classes. It would keep their attention and they would, in no uncertain terms, get the picture about drinking, drug use, dealing, physical abuse, and their effects on people. Gripping. A great read.
March 6, 2013
Lisa Nowak has crafted a character-driven tale that will simultaneously break your heart and fill you with hope. The characters are believable and unique, and the situations never stretch the limits of credibility - even when they involve ghosts. An emotional, gripping read, with well-executed flashbacks filling in the background even as we are learning about the present circumstances. Nowak may be a YA author, but this is a book that will appeal to all ages.
April 10, 2014
This is a love story but not a romance. This is the kind of love story that squeezes your heart till your face leaks and leaves you truly warm at the end. There is some language but no F bombs. You will learn a tiny bit what kind of control fear from constant abuse can do... Unless you, heaven forbid, know first hand. Don't read this if your are not ready for that kind of emotion. I am grateful that it leaves you with hope and silver linings.
October 31, 2012
I love/hate this book. It was a great book. I hate that this type of stuff goes on. As a mother I just couldn't stand by & let this go on. That being said I have never been in abusive relationship so maybe I can't fully comprehend the situation. As trying as being a parent can be, I would never lay a hand on them or let someone else.
January 21, 2013
A very touching read. Even though it took a little getting used to, Alex's voice was great and I really liked it. I would have liked to see a little more of Cole's past in order to understand his actions, but the lack of it didn't take anything away from the story. Yes, it has paranormal elements, but I wouldn't call it a paranormal book, just a contemporary with a paranormal twist.
February 12, 2015
This was a really good read. I couldn't put it down until I'd finished it. The main character was so likeable and the fact his mentor wanted to protect him even from the grave was so great. I would enjoy this even if I read it over and over again. The author made this story truly come alive for me. And I hope anyone else who reads this will feel the same way.
October 4, 2012
Another great book from Lisa Nowak. At first, I wasn't sure if I liked the idea of Cole not "being there" for Alex, but Nowak's clever plot saved the day. Brilliant. I always love her books because of the strong mentor/protegee relationships. DEAD HEAT is a winner!
August 1, 2013
Quick read, good stuff. Right up my alley.
October 20, 2015
Good book. Sort of like her other books.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews