What do you think?
Rate this book
Sweet Valley Twins Super Chillers #5
The Curse of the Ruby Necklace
Identical twins Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield are thrilled when they land small parts in a movie being made in Sweet Valley. The film is based on the true story of the mysterious death of twelve-year-old Lillian Keller, and it's being filmed at the creepy old Keller mansion.
One stormy afternoon, Jessica finds an old necklace on the beach near the mansion. She puts it on, and that very night she has a terrible nightmare about a girl falling to her death. She becomes convinced that someone -- or something -- is trying to tell her that the mystery of Lillian Keller's death is far from solved. But can a necklace really hold the secret to a murder?
One stormy afternoon, Jessica finds an old necklace on the beach near the mansion. She puts it on, and that very night she has a terrible nightmare about a girl falling to her death. She becomes convinced that someone -- or something -- is trying to tell her that the mystery of Lillian Keller's death is far from solved. But can a necklace really hold the secret to a murder?
183 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1993
5 people are currently reading
235 people want to read
About the author
Francine Pascal
1,139 books1,846 followersFrancine Paula Pascal was an American author best known for her Sweet Valley series of young adult novels. Sweet Valley High, the backbone of the collection, was made into a television series, which led to several spin-offs, including The Unicorn Club and Sweet Valley University. Although most of these books were published in the 1980s and 1990s, they remained so popular that several titles were re-released decades later.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
March 29, 2011
My mother pulled this out of her garage the other day, along with some dust, coloring books, Japanese children's books, and two other Sweet Valley Twins books (my other two favorites--holiday ones!). My sister and I screamed, jumped up and down, and agreed that this was the highlight of our months. Do you know how much I loooooved this book when I was a kid? It was probably my favorite Super Chiller of the Sweet Valley Twins series (and I loved that Carnival Ghost one too). How does it hold up?
Um, still kind of amazing. Laughable and ludicrous, but still kind of amazing. I read half of it during a lunch break (with my entire body kind of hovering over it so nobody could see it and ask questions) and avoided life after work so I could finish it. Jessica and Elizabeth are so innocent as sixth graders, as you would expect, but it's still kind of nice when you think about the crap Jessica does in high school and beyond and how almost overwhelmingly disgustingly sweet and good Elizabeth becomes. They're nearly normal in middle school. Sure, Elizabeth is a goody-goody, but she's a kid, things are so black-and-white then. And Jessica is just kind of fun and full of spirit, a bit shallow, but also something that's okay when you're a kid.
Anyway, the twins land a role in a movie that's being filmed in Sweet Valley (of course--I could never figure out how this small town always had so much going on, and then when they gained an entire university when it was time for the twins to go to college, that was ridiculous). At the same time, Jessica discovers a barnacled-over ruby necklace at the beach that they assume is just costume jewelry. I won't give it away, but it leads to them solving a mystery that the movie's based on. There are nightmares and ghosts and even a cousin drops in that I don't think we've heard about before or after named Robin (I might have to reread the entire series to check on that. I love when random family drop in on the Wakefields, like their Grandmommy in Sweet Valley Confidential, but more on that later). The "mystery" isn't so much of a mystery, but maybe that's just because I'm so much older, wiser, and fancier now (*breathes on and wipes down monocle*).
Um, still kind of amazing. Laughable and ludicrous, but still kind of amazing. I read half of it during a lunch break (with my entire body kind of hovering over it so nobody could see it and ask questions) and avoided life after work so I could finish it. Jessica and Elizabeth are so innocent as sixth graders, as you would expect, but it's still kind of nice when you think about the crap Jessica does in high school and beyond and how almost overwhelmingly disgustingly sweet and good Elizabeth becomes. They're nearly normal in middle school. Sure, Elizabeth is a goody-goody, but she's a kid, things are so black-and-white then. And Jessica is just kind of fun and full of spirit, a bit shallow, but also something that's okay when you're a kid.
Anyway, the twins land a role in a movie that's being filmed in Sweet Valley (of course--I could never figure out how this small town always had so much going on, and then when they gained an entire university when it was time for the twins to go to college, that was ridiculous). At the same time, Jessica discovers a barnacled-over ruby necklace at the beach that they assume is just costume jewelry. I won't give it away, but it leads to them solving a mystery that the movie's based on. There are nightmares and ghosts and even a cousin drops in that I don't think we've heard about before or after named Robin (I might have to reread the entire series to check on that. I love when random family drop in on the Wakefields, like their Grandmommy in Sweet Valley Confidential, but more on that later). The "mystery" isn't so much of a mystery, but maybe that's just because I'm so much older, wiser, and fancier now (*breathes on and wipes down monocle*).
June 3, 2016
This was my fave Sweet Valley Super Chiller.
August 1, 2017
My kindle was dead and I was in the mood for reading some fluff, so I wandered to my Sweet Valley shelf and picked this up. I haven't read this in 15+ years. This was always one of my favorites, and it holds up surprisingly well. Nothing like a little Sweet Valley mystery and ghost story all rolled into one! 👻
August 7, 2012
I thought this was the coolest book way back when. I'd sit up reading it late at night and thoroughly tick off my Mom. :D I still do think it's good... brings back a lot of memories. When the summers were boring and the only entertainment I had was books. ;) LOL
September 1, 2018
This was one of my favorite books as a teenager, and it's surprisingly still charming as an adult. It's a fun mystery / ghost story. The Sweet Valley Twins were a staple of my library haul as a kid. As an adult, it was fun to see what parts of the story had stuck with me.
December 23, 2017
“Lillian Keller Was Murdered by Four-Finger Harry”
Ruby red and true /
It will bring nightmares to you /
Quickly solve the crime!
Quotes:
Lila: Wait a minute. How come you know my locker combination?
Ellen: Everyone knows your locker combination, Lila. We all use your mousse when we run out.
Lila: Excuse me?! You use my mousse, from my locker?!
Ellen: Sure. You’re rich. You can afford to share.
Becka: No, it’s because you [Lila] have what we call a modern face. This movie is set in the 1940s. You look to contemporary to fit in.
(Yet another reminder of the twins’ so-called timeless beauty, since they both secured roles in the film.)
Elizabeth: I may have to write a series of two or three articles. I think I’ll call it ‘The Making of a Movie.’
(Original, Liz).
Jessica: It’s not like we’re exactly Ghost Central here in Sweet Valley.
(Um, that’s exactly what it is, Jess).
Ruby red and true /
It will bring nightmares to you /
Quickly solve the crime!
Quotes:
Lila: Wait a minute. How come you know my locker combination?
Ellen: Everyone knows your locker combination, Lila. We all use your mousse when we run out.
Lila: Excuse me?! You use my mousse, from my locker?!
Ellen: Sure. You’re rich. You can afford to share.
Becka: No, it’s because you [Lila] have what we call a modern face. This movie is set in the 1940s. You look to contemporary to fit in.
(Yet another reminder of the twins’ so-called timeless beauty, since they both secured roles in the film.)
Elizabeth: I may have to write a series of two or three articles. I think I’ll call it ‘The Making of a Movie.’
(Original, Liz).
Jessica: It’s not like we’re exactly Ghost Central here in Sweet Valley.
(Um, that’s exactly what it is, Jess).
October 26, 2025
This was for the PS book prompt of a book that reminded you of your childhood. When my sister was little I sat on her bedroom floor and read this to her. I'd like to think that this was the start of her obsession with thrillers. This book will always hold a special place.
March 6, 2012
I remember really loving this book as a kid. If I found one now I would certainly snatch it up. I'm sure it would be totally different reading it now but I would still give it a go. I was not a SV or Babysitter's Club reader and, in fact, this is the only one I remember reading of those series, but it was a good one.
January 27, 2011
When I was about 12 this book was my favorite thing. I must have read it ten times--along with every babysitters club I could get my hands on. I won't list them all on Goodreads so as to save a little face.
March 22, 2010
One of the best books I have ever read.
December 21, 2010
I read it for the first time when I was about 8 years old, and it was the start of my love for the Sweet Valley series.
April 1, 2011
Just fun. Super Chillers, Supper Thrillers, Super Editions, all kinds of super rolled into a series of brilliance.
March 21, 2021
Loved this book in middle school. It was fun to revisit it as an adult.
February 7, 2020
One of my favorite books as a child! Probably the reason I love thrillers and mysteries so much...
October 9, 2025
Read this 30 years ago and it was one of my favorite super chillers of the series. Still holds up pretty well after all this time. Beaches, jewelry, parties, cake, ghosts, and a murder mystery makes for a fun (but simple) story.
On a side note, I miss Elizabeth and Jessica and they should make another older-person series…or maybe I should just re-read that one from a decade ago.
Anyway, 3.75 ⭐️
On a side note, I miss Elizabeth and Jessica and they should make another older-person series…or maybe I should just re-read that one from a decade ago.
Anyway, 3.75 ⭐️
November 29, 2017
This was a favorite when I was younger and the story stuck with me. I found it via interlibrary loan and read it again. It went so fast! I wish the story could be rewritten and more developed for an adult audience. Some of the scenes were actually scary to read!
October 7, 2021
I borrowed this book from my elementary school library so many times as a kid; I probably read it at least 4-5 times between 3rd and 5th grade. I almost convinced my mom to buy it for me because I couldn't get enough. This story was the PINACLE of paranormal-ish mystery fiction to me at the time.
August 12, 2018
A flawless literary work, obviously.
July 14, 2020
Vetted this book by re-reading it before letting my daughter read. Just as creepy as I remember from my childhood!
November 24, 2021
This book is all kinds of ridiculous in the best way possible.
December 27, 2022
This was one of my favourite childhood books and so I enjoyed rereading it! #nostolgicvibes
April 10, 2023
Classic cheesy goodness!
September 1, 2024
Necklace brings bad dreams,
red herrings, old secrets, ghosts.
Brat bested by cake.
red herrings, old secrets, ghosts.
Brat bested by cake.
December 2, 2011
This was, as far as I can recall, the first SVT Supper Chiller I read as a child.
The story began when Jessica and Elizabeth get jobs as extras in a film; Jessica's predictably thrilled. Then she finds a beautiful necklace on the beach, near the house where the movie's being filmed. The movie's about the death of a young girl, the same age as the twins. Jessica wears it and starts having nightmares about falling from the balcony unto rocks, which is exactly the way Lillian, the girl, died. Now Elizabeth, Jessica and their cousin Robin have to find the real murderer; to clear an old woman's name and to let Lillian's spirit rest in peace.
More of Purplycookie’s Reviews @: http://www.goodreads.com/purplycookie
Book Details:
Title: The Curse of the Ruby Necklace (Sweet Valley Twins Super Chiller #5)
Author: Francine Pascal
Reviewed By: Purplycookie
The story began when Jessica and Elizabeth get jobs as extras in a film; Jessica's predictably thrilled. Then she finds a beautiful necklace on the beach, near the house where the movie's being filmed. The movie's about the death of a young girl, the same age as the twins. Jessica wears it and starts having nightmares about falling from the balcony unto rocks, which is exactly the way Lillian, the girl, died. Now Elizabeth, Jessica and their cousin Robin have to find the real murderer; to clear an old woman's name and to let Lillian's spirit rest in peace.
More of Purplycookie’s Reviews @: http://www.goodreads.com/purplycookie
Book Details:
Title: The Curse of the Ruby Necklace (Sweet Valley Twins Super Chiller #5)
Author: Francine Pascal
Reviewed By: Purplycookie
Read
August 26, 2024A fun story about this book: I read it for the first time when I was in 5th grade from my classroom’s library. I loved it so much when my teacher asked for book recommendations for her to read to us, I recommended it. Of course, all the boys were like, “that’s a girl book.” 🙄 She read it anyway and everyone loved it and it led to many discussions about ghost stories. I am collecting all the Super Chillers again for my spooky library and re-reading them as a 30 something and I definitely think they hold up! They don’t creep me out anymore but it kept me engaged still!
April 6, 2009
This book is good for little kids. Its about identical twins jessic and wakefield. And they are giving small parts in a movie. and the movie is based on a true story. based on the death of a twelve year old lillian keller. Its being filmed at the old keller manison. Jessica finds a necklace at the beach outside of the maniso. when she wears it she starts having nightmares about the girl falling to her death. so she start to think that someone or something is trying to tell her the mystery death from keller is far away from solved.
March 4, 2012
3.5 stars. This one is better than the Bell Tower one. Pretty good mystery/plot. Although, I did LOL at the end when the Twins(not the police) revealed the real killer to the person who was wrongly accused years ago of the crime.
September 23, 2014
This book was so good
September 27, 2013
I would reccomend it for the mystery month for our reading. It was sooo good if you like murder mysteries and scary stories
March 28, 2016
when i was a kid/pre-teen i loved the Sweet Valley Twins!!!! this book stuck in my mind in particular
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews