What do you think?
Rate this book
Half in Love with Death
It's the era of peace and love in the 1960s, but nothing is peaceful in Caroline's life. Since her beautiful older sister disappeared, fifteen-year-old Caroline might as well have disappeared too. She's invisible to her parents, who can't stop blaming each other. The police keep following up on leads even Caroline knows are foolish. The only one who seems to care about her is Tony, her sister's older boyfriend, who soothes Caroline's desperate heart every time he turns his magical blue eyes on her.
Tony is convinced that the answer to Jess's disappearance is in California, the land of endless summer, among the street culture of runaways and flower children. Come with me, Tony says to Caroline, and we'll find her together. Tony is so loving, and all he cares about is bringing Jess home. And so Caroline follows, and closes a door behind her that may never open again, in a heartfelt thriller that never lets up.
Half in Love with Death is inspired by a true crime. Learn more about the story behind the book here: http://www.emilyrosswrites.com/writin...
Tony is convinced that the answer to Jess's disappearance is in California, the land of endless summer, among the street culture of runaways and flower children. Come with me, Tony says to Caroline, and we'll find her together. Tony is so loving, and all he cares about is bringing Jess home. And so Caroline follows, and closes a door behind her that may never open again, in a heartfelt thriller that never lets up.
Half in Love with Death is inspired by a true crime. Learn more about the story behind the book here: http://www.emilyrosswrites.com/writin...
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 6, 2015
2 people are currently reading
1281 people want to read
About the author
Emily Ross
2 books93 followersEmily Ross is the author of International Thriller Writers Thriller Awards finalist, Half in Love with Death. Her mystery thriller, Swallowtail, is forthcoming from Galiot Press in November 2025. She won the Al Blanchard best story award for her short story, “Let the Chips Fall”, which appeared in Devil’s Snare: Best New England Crime stories 2024. She is a graduate of Grub Street’s Novel Incubator and lives in Quincy, MA, with her husband and Obi-Wan Kenobi, their very playful cat.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
January 28, 2016
“To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.”
----J.K. Rowling
Emily Ross, an award-winning American author, pens her debut YA novel, Half in Love with Death that weaves the story of a young fifteen year old girl set in the summer of 1960s when her older sister goes missing without a hint, who then sets out on a journey to find her sister and make herself visible in front of her parents, who doesn't value her presence in their home. Along with the boyfriend, whom she is falling for gradually, this fifteen year old girl wants to make a difference by finding her sister.
Synopsis:
It's the era of peace and love in the 1960s, but nothing is peaceful in Caroline's life. Since her beautiful older sister disappeared, fifteen-year-old Caroline might as well have disappeared too. She's invisible to her parents, who can't stop blaming each other. The police keep following up on leads even Caroline knows are foolish. The only one who seems to care about her is Tony, her sister's older boyfriend, who soothes Caroline's desperate heart every time he turns his magical blue eyes on her.
Tony is convinced that the answer to Jess's disappearance is in California, the land of endless summer, among the street culture of runaways and flower children. Come with me, Tony says to Caroline, and we'll find her together. Tony is so loving, and all he cares about is bringing Jess home. And so Caroline follows, and closes a door behind her that may never open again, in a heartfelt thriller that never lets up.
One fine night in the summers of 60s, Jess, a 17-year old girl, sneaks into the dark of the night with her boyfriend, Tony, to some party near the desert, making her sister, Caroline, to swear not to tell her parents, as she was grounded to go outside. Always a wild girl, Jess likes to rebel against her parents' wishes, whereas her younger sister, Caroline, a 15-year old girl, is a meek and a quiet girl who likes to keep herself away from the drama. But after that night, Jess never returned home, and when things get serious, Caroline confesses her parents that Jess took off that night with Tony. Then the search begins, but nothing fruitful happens considering the fact, every teenager in town is making up stories about Jess running away with a different guy to California- her dream place. But Caroline wants desperately her sister to be back in their home. So along with Tony, for whom she has developed a soft corner over the summers in the absence of Jess, Caroline begins a man-hunt silently to search her sister. But the people whom she trusts are really not who they claim to be, which finally throws Caroline into a dangerous track where death becomes alluring. Will she be able to find her elder sister?
Firstly, I'd like to confess that this book is by far one of the most intriguing book that I read in 2016. This story sheds light on the fact that how sometimes an investigation is solely dominated by local rumors which can cloud the perspective of the detectives. Lets talk about the setting, which is set in the 1960s- an era where kids were free to drop out of schools and where teenagers led a Bohemian lifestyle, mostly free-spirited. The whole story is inspired and layered with the style of this particular era of free-spirits.
The first chapter highlights Jess' disappearance, soon followed by the investigation, where the prime suspect is the boyfriend- Tony, who led a Bohemian lifestyle with his group of dropouts and ex-criminals. Now Tony is like someone, whom you can hardly put a finger on to put any kind of blame. He has created a good-boy image of someone who is deeply caring towards everything as well as thoughtful, who easily charms the heart of Caroline, a naive girl trying to find her older sister.
The plot thickens as the rumors misdirect that Tony is the prime suspect and that Jess has ran away to California away from her parents and little sister. Since Jess has a bad reputation, no one shows that much interest anymore once the rumors spreads like a wild fire. The writing is exquisite layered with so many twists and turns that are enough to throw the readers off track about the mystery. The pacing gets fast like a rumor spreading around the town. The narrative is articulate and free-flowing and thoroughly engaging.
The characters are not only drawn with enough realism but are honest and heartfelt that will force the readers to fall for their demeanor. Caroline is naive but along with the mystery which gets twisted with knots, she becomes stronger. Tony, on the other hand, is way too good, way too good-looking which at some point might rise a suspicion in the minds of the readers whether his intentions are good or not. The supporting characters, especially, the parents, the friends and Tony's girls are all very well-developed.
The mystery is written so perfectly that will only keep the readers guessing till the very end. The author has poured out raw emotions into this story as the readers will be able to feel them like it is happening with them too. The ending is another best thing of the book as the authors leave it on her readers' imaginative skills and for that you just need to grab a copy of this YA thriller book. In short, I devoured the book till the last page and it is truly a fascinating page turner.
Verdict: A must read historical-based YA thriller based on a real-life story.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author, Emily Ross, for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
----J.K. Rowling
Emily Ross, an award-winning American author, pens her debut YA novel, Half in Love with Death that weaves the story of a young fifteen year old girl set in the summer of 1960s when her older sister goes missing without a hint, who then sets out on a journey to find her sister and make herself visible in front of her parents, who doesn't value her presence in their home. Along with the boyfriend, whom she is falling for gradually, this fifteen year old girl wants to make a difference by finding her sister.
Synopsis:
It's the era of peace and love in the 1960s, but nothing is peaceful in Caroline's life. Since her beautiful older sister disappeared, fifteen-year-old Caroline might as well have disappeared too. She's invisible to her parents, who can't stop blaming each other. The police keep following up on leads even Caroline knows are foolish. The only one who seems to care about her is Tony, her sister's older boyfriend, who soothes Caroline's desperate heart every time he turns his magical blue eyes on her.
Tony is convinced that the answer to Jess's disappearance is in California, the land of endless summer, among the street culture of runaways and flower children. Come with me, Tony says to Caroline, and we'll find her together. Tony is so loving, and all he cares about is bringing Jess home. And so Caroline follows, and closes a door behind her that may never open again, in a heartfelt thriller that never lets up.
One fine night in the summers of 60s, Jess, a 17-year old girl, sneaks into the dark of the night with her boyfriend, Tony, to some party near the desert, making her sister, Caroline, to swear not to tell her parents, as she was grounded to go outside. Always a wild girl, Jess likes to rebel against her parents' wishes, whereas her younger sister, Caroline, a 15-year old girl, is a meek and a quiet girl who likes to keep herself away from the drama. But after that night, Jess never returned home, and when things get serious, Caroline confesses her parents that Jess took off that night with Tony. Then the search begins, but nothing fruitful happens considering the fact, every teenager in town is making up stories about Jess running away with a different guy to California- her dream place. But Caroline wants desperately her sister to be back in their home. So along with Tony, for whom she has developed a soft corner over the summers in the absence of Jess, Caroline begins a man-hunt silently to search her sister. But the people whom she trusts are really not who they claim to be, which finally throws Caroline into a dangerous track where death becomes alluring. Will she be able to find her elder sister?
Firstly, I'd like to confess that this book is by far one of the most intriguing book that I read in 2016. This story sheds light on the fact that how sometimes an investigation is solely dominated by local rumors which can cloud the perspective of the detectives. Lets talk about the setting, which is set in the 1960s- an era where kids were free to drop out of schools and where teenagers led a Bohemian lifestyle, mostly free-spirited. The whole story is inspired and layered with the style of this particular era of free-spirits.
The first chapter highlights Jess' disappearance, soon followed by the investigation, where the prime suspect is the boyfriend- Tony, who led a Bohemian lifestyle with his group of dropouts and ex-criminals. Now Tony is like someone, whom you can hardly put a finger on to put any kind of blame. He has created a good-boy image of someone who is deeply caring towards everything as well as thoughtful, who easily charms the heart of Caroline, a naive girl trying to find her older sister.
The plot thickens as the rumors misdirect that Tony is the prime suspect and that Jess has ran away to California away from her parents and little sister. Since Jess has a bad reputation, no one shows that much interest anymore once the rumors spreads like a wild fire. The writing is exquisite layered with so many twists and turns that are enough to throw the readers off track about the mystery. The pacing gets fast like a rumor spreading around the town. The narrative is articulate and free-flowing and thoroughly engaging.
The characters are not only drawn with enough realism but are honest and heartfelt that will force the readers to fall for their demeanor. Caroline is naive but along with the mystery which gets twisted with knots, she becomes stronger. Tony, on the other hand, is way too good, way too good-looking which at some point might rise a suspicion in the minds of the readers whether his intentions are good or not. The supporting characters, especially, the parents, the friends and Tony's girls are all very well-developed.
The mystery is written so perfectly that will only keep the readers guessing till the very end. The author has poured out raw emotions into this story as the readers will be able to feel them like it is happening with them too. The ending is another best thing of the book as the authors leave it on her readers' imaginative skills and for that you just need to grab a copy of this YA thriller book. In short, I devoured the book till the last page and it is truly a fascinating page turner.
Verdict: A must read historical-based YA thriller based on a real-life story.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author, Emily Ross, for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
December 20, 2015
READ THE COMPLETE REVIEW
I remember that after I finished this book, I kind of had mixed feelings about it, especially because towards the end things went completely in a different direction than the one I was expecting. And I didn't knew what to feel. But now, that some weeks have passed, I think that I'm more detached and I can be more objective.
I enjoyed the book, most of it and for me it was more like a contemporary with a mystery element, more than a mystery as a whole. Because the sisster's disappearance is not very central and even though at some point is the main focus, as time and chapters pass things change, this is slowly moving into the background. This is not a bad thing but for me, who I was expecting something more powerful and dark, was a bit of a let down. Especially the ending.
I remember that after I finished this book, I kind of had mixed feelings about it, especially because towards the end things went completely in a different direction than the one I was expecting. And I didn't knew what to feel. But now, that some weeks have passed, I think that I'm more detached and I can be more objective.
I enjoyed the book, most of it and for me it was more like a contemporary with a mystery element, more than a mystery as a whole. Because the sisster's disappearance is not very central and even though at some point is the main focus, as time and chapters pass things change, this is slowly moving into the background. This is not a bad thing but for me, who I was expecting something more powerful and dark, was a bit of a let down. Especially the ending.
September 20, 2025
This review was originally posted on It Starts at Midnight
This book was inspired by some true events. In particular, one guy, The Pied Piper of Tucson . I obviously had to look it up, because of general morbid curiosity. The true story is straight up disturbing, but the real life killer is dead, so there's some small comfort. The book definitely has similarities, and I would likely read the book before the real life story, but Half in Love with Death definitely has its own story.
The book is set in 1960s Tucson, Arizona and follows Caroline, who almost immediately has to deal with the aftermath of her sister's disappearance. Caroline is fifteen, and she's naive as hell- but an appropriate level of naivety, for her age and the time period. When Jess goes missing, Caroline's family pretty much shatters, which you'd expect, and Caroline had basically no support system, and was sure she could locate Jess on her own. Since pretty much zero people are paying attention to her, and Tony, Jess's boyfriend and town bad boy is, she latches onto him.
There are some aspects of this that worked quite well within the story. Let's discuss those!
Caroline's inexperience and isolation made her decisions seem a bit more logical. Obviously, you and I aren't going to buddy up with some (much older) guy who was definitely one of the last people to see your sister. But Caroline wanted her sister back, she wanted her life to go back to normal, and she couldn't exactly rely on her useless parents. So when Tony promises to know where Jess is, and says he has proof, she listens.
Tony is a red flag for adults, but definitely enticing to a young woman. Look, I don't care if Tony was a boy scout who spent his Saturdays helping little old ladies cross the street, he would not be spending time with my daughter with that kind of age difference. But remember that Caroline's parents barely care. Oh, they will tell her not to, of course. But what teen is going to take that seriously while under infatuation? No, Caroline was excited and swoony that an attractive older boy was into her. Plus, seeing how her parents handled this situation, I am pretty sure they didn't spend a lot of time teaching her a ton of life lessons anyway.
The historical period was a fabulous backdrop. Clearly, this kind of thing would be less likely to happen today for so many reasons. I don't mean the missing sister and such, but it would be easier to track someone, electronically. It would also have been easier to keep tabs on Caroline. The time period worked from a logistical perspective, but also when it came to accepting Caroline's decision making. I don't know all the things about the 1960s, but my mom grew up in them, and I don't really think that security was too high on anyone's radar. I don't think that the time period itself was innocent, but I do think that children were more uninformed, whether it was deliberate or not.
Of course, there were some things that didn't work for me as well.
These. Parents. Seriously, what the hell? I don't understand how they could be so worried about nonsense (like sleeping with the neighbor, perhaps?) while all of this is going on. I mean, there were two children still in the house who needed them, and one who was missing and definitely needed them on their A game. And they weren't. They were letting each of their kids down at pretty much every turn.
There were some parts that I found to be predictable. Not the whole story, and for spoiler purposes I won't tell you which things were, but some things were perhaps supposed to be shocking to me and weren't? At least, that was how it seemed.
As much as I understood why Caroline was behaving immaturely, I couldn't quite connect to her or her mindset. I don't know, I didn't find her very likable, I guess. Part of it is probably because I wanted to yell at her a lot, but part of it was just that I don't think I ever got a deep enough look at what made her tick. She didn't really have a ton of depth as a character beyond the mystery of her sister and some issues with boys and friends. Who, speaking of, I also didn't really care much about. They all seemed a bit flat to me.
Bottom Line: If history and mystery are your thing, this could work! I liked the story itself, and the writing was lovely, but I had a lot of trouble connecting to Caroline and didn't really care about most of the side characters.
This book was inspired by some true events. In particular, one guy, The Pied Piper of Tucson . I obviously had to look it up, because of general morbid curiosity. The true story is straight up disturbing, but the real life killer is dead, so there's some small comfort. The book definitely has similarities, and I would likely read the book before the real life story, but Half in Love with Death definitely has its own story.
The book is set in 1960s Tucson, Arizona and follows Caroline, who almost immediately has to deal with the aftermath of her sister's disappearance. Caroline is fifteen, and she's naive as hell- but an appropriate level of naivety, for her age and the time period. When Jess goes missing, Caroline's family pretty much shatters, which you'd expect, and Caroline had basically no support system, and was sure she could locate Jess on her own. Since pretty much zero people are paying attention to her, and Tony, Jess's boyfriend and town bad boy is, she latches onto him.
There are some aspects of this that worked quite well within the story. Let's discuss those!
Caroline's inexperience and isolation made her decisions seem a bit more logical. Obviously, you and I aren't going to buddy up with some (much older) guy who was definitely one of the last people to see your sister. But Caroline wanted her sister back, she wanted her life to go back to normal, and she couldn't exactly rely on her useless parents. So when Tony promises to know where Jess is, and says he has proof, she listens.
Tony is a red flag for adults, but definitely enticing to a young woman. Look, I don't care if Tony was a boy scout who spent his Saturdays helping little old ladies cross the street, he would not be spending time with my daughter with that kind of age difference. But remember that Caroline's parents barely care. Oh, they will tell her not to, of course. But what teen is going to take that seriously while under infatuation? No, Caroline was excited and swoony that an attractive older boy was into her. Plus, seeing how her parents handled this situation, I am pretty sure they didn't spend a lot of time teaching her a ton of life lessons anyway.
The historical period was a fabulous backdrop. Clearly, this kind of thing would be less likely to happen today for so many reasons. I don't mean the missing sister and such, but it would be easier to track someone, electronically. It would also have been easier to keep tabs on Caroline. The time period worked from a logistical perspective, but also when it came to accepting Caroline's decision making. I don't know all the things about the 1960s, but my mom grew up in them, and I don't really think that security was too high on anyone's radar. I don't think that the time period itself was innocent, but I do think that children were more uninformed, whether it was deliberate or not.
Of course, there were some things that didn't work for me as well.
These. Parents. Seriously, what the hell? I don't understand how they could be so worried about nonsense (like sleeping with the neighbor, perhaps?) while all of this is going on. I mean, there were two children still in the house who needed them, and one who was missing and definitely needed them on their A game. And they weren't. They were letting each of their kids down at pretty much every turn.
There were some parts that I found to be predictable. Not the whole story, and for spoiler purposes I won't tell you which things were, but some things were perhaps supposed to be shocking to me and weren't? At least, that was how it seemed.
As much as I understood why Caroline was behaving immaturely, I couldn't quite connect to her or her mindset. I don't know, I didn't find her very likable, I guess. Part of it is probably because I wanted to yell at her a lot, but part of it was just that I don't think I ever got a deep enough look at what made her tick. She didn't really have a ton of depth as a character beyond the mystery of her sister and some issues with boys and friends. Who, speaking of, I also didn't really care much about. They all seemed a bit flat to me.
Bottom Line: If history and mystery are your thing, this could work! I liked the story itself, and the writing was lovely, but I had a lot of trouble connecting to Caroline and didn't really care about most of the side characters.
September 30, 2015
This is a thriller with real heart. Despite being based on the case of a real-life serial killer in Tuscan, the story itself is rooted in a young woman's attempts to save her missing sister and heal her fractured family. The voice of the novel just sings. It will have your gripped and aching at the same time. The novel is pitched toward YA readers, but I think both YA and adult readers will eat this one up.
January 21, 2018
From the moment I opened this book, I did not want to put it down. I was completely immersed in Caroline's story, and how her desire to find her missing sister leads her deeper into dangerous territory and more desperate to believe the unbelievable. This is the kind of book every mother should give her teenage daughter (or anyone at any age) to read--if not for a fantastic, thoroughly enjoyable read, then as a lesson on how not to get caught up in a drama, and how men (and serial killers in particular) manipulate. You'll know as soon as you pick up this book that you're in good hands with an author who's done her research and loves her characters--and you will too. I just loved this book.
December 21, 2015
For the full version of this review as well as other reviews and features go to SleepsOnTables.
I’m going to let you in on a secret, I’m kind of minorly obsessed with the 1960s, primarily the types of stories that make history akin to a Charles Manson type story. There was such great almost subtle crime with the way the hive mind worked when people got together in that time. It was a time where teenagers left school and home to be hippies and the friends that they found because their new family. Half in Love with Death tells a story worthy of my likeness for this time period. In fact, Half in Love with Death was inspired by the disturbing case of Charles Schmid, ‘the Pied Piper of Tucson.’ You can find out more about that story here but if you don’t want to be keyed into what will happen in this story, I’d recommend leaving the real-life inspiration research until after you’ve finished the book.
Half in Love with Death starts out the day that Caroline’s sister, Jess, disappears. Caroline remembers the events of that night and after that point, the story transforms into Caroline’s devotion to finding her sister. Tony, Jess’s boyfriend, is convinced that she ran away to California. Caroline wants to believe him but when people start telling conflicting information about what happened that night, she doesn’t know who she can trust. When she gets a bomb dropped on her by one of Tony’s girls, she is unsure of her plan to go find Jess in California with Tony. What if finding Jess, the thing that Caroline is most desperate for, is the one thing that can’t happen?
The plot and subject of this book was so dark. First, there’s a missing girl and a suspect-worthy boyfriend. Then, through Caroline we discover that there’s rumors that some of the kids around town and at school know what happened but no one will say anything because you might get someone into trouble. Also, Tony starts moving in on Caroline, dying her hair so she looks more like Jess and bringing her around his group of friends, which includes young high school dropouts and a drug use environment. Caroline gets so deep into things and the whole time you’re just silently yelling at her not too.
I think that my favorite aspect of Half in Love with Death is the hive mind that Tony has created with the young people in the area. He’s the guy that everyone loves, that everyone wants to impress. Parties are hosted almost nightly at his house, when they’re not in the desert, and he’s in a bad. He has his ‘girls’ and he has money to get them gifts. People won’t talk bad about him, like they’re compelled to put him on a pedestal. I’d like to think that in a different universe I am a psychology major because this type of almost cult-like behavior is extremely fascinating to me.
The suspense is another great part of Half in Love with Death. I read about the inspiration behind this book beforehand so I already knew what would happened, but the fact that I was still flipping so quickly through the pages, captured by the story, is a testament to how well written this book is. You may know what will happen or you may guess it but the fact that it’s a good, suspenseful page turner means that you aren’t bothered by the fact that you know the ending. It’s difficult to find a suspenseful book where you know the ending but you still enjoy the entire read.
I think that a great learning point for this book comes from Caroline. Caroline is only fifteen years old. She deals with and witnesses a lot throughout the course of Half in Love with Death. She loses her sister, meets girls her age who are high school dropouts and even who have a child, and she does drugs. I think the biggest thing that happens to her though is how she begins to see people. At the beginning of the story, Caroline was very naive and innocent, not one to lie and often times believed people when they said something was true. As the drama behind Jess’s disappearance unfolds and stories start conflicting, Caroline is forced to realize that people lie. They may say they’re not but they are or at the very least they could be. She gets a rude awakening in the events of this book about trusting people, which is in my opinion one of the most important lessons a young teenager can learn on his or her way to adulthood and the real world.
Review in Review:
I really liked Half in Love with Death. It’s a suspenseful story of teenage life in the 1960s and is inspired by real life events. It’s well written and an incredible page turner–you’ll likely finish it in one sitting. I’d say if you’re looking for a visual of what this book ‘looks’ like, I thought of the TV show Aquarius while reading Half in Love with Death. If you like the type of Charles Manson-esque history from the days of hippies and free spirits and love a suspenseful read, I recommend you read Half in Love with Death.
I’m going to let you in on a secret, I’m kind of minorly obsessed with the 1960s, primarily the types of stories that make history akin to a Charles Manson type story. There was such great almost subtle crime with the way the hive mind worked when people got together in that time. It was a time where teenagers left school and home to be hippies and the friends that they found because their new family. Half in Love with Death tells a story worthy of my likeness for this time period. In fact, Half in Love with Death was inspired by the disturbing case of Charles Schmid, ‘the Pied Piper of Tucson.’ You can find out more about that story here but if you don’t want to be keyed into what will happen in this story, I’d recommend leaving the real-life inspiration research until after you’ve finished the book.
Half in Love with Death starts out the day that Caroline’s sister, Jess, disappears. Caroline remembers the events of that night and after that point, the story transforms into Caroline’s devotion to finding her sister. Tony, Jess’s boyfriend, is convinced that she ran away to California. Caroline wants to believe him but when people start telling conflicting information about what happened that night, she doesn’t know who she can trust. When she gets a bomb dropped on her by one of Tony’s girls, she is unsure of her plan to go find Jess in California with Tony. What if finding Jess, the thing that Caroline is most desperate for, is the one thing that can’t happen?
The plot and subject of this book was so dark. First, there’s a missing girl and a suspect-worthy boyfriend. Then, through Caroline we discover that there’s rumors that some of the kids around town and at school know what happened but no one will say anything because you might get someone into trouble. Also, Tony starts moving in on Caroline, dying her hair so she looks more like Jess and bringing her around his group of friends, which includes young high school dropouts and a drug use environment. Caroline gets so deep into things and the whole time you’re just silently yelling at her not too.
I think that my favorite aspect of Half in Love with Death is the hive mind that Tony has created with the young people in the area. He’s the guy that everyone loves, that everyone wants to impress. Parties are hosted almost nightly at his house, when they’re not in the desert, and he’s in a bad. He has his ‘girls’ and he has money to get them gifts. People won’t talk bad about him, like they’re compelled to put him on a pedestal. I’d like to think that in a different universe I am a psychology major because this type of almost cult-like behavior is extremely fascinating to me.
The suspense is another great part of Half in Love with Death. I read about the inspiration behind this book beforehand so I already knew what would happened, but the fact that I was still flipping so quickly through the pages, captured by the story, is a testament to how well written this book is. You may know what will happen or you may guess it but the fact that it’s a good, suspenseful page turner means that you aren’t bothered by the fact that you know the ending. It’s difficult to find a suspenseful book where you know the ending but you still enjoy the entire read.
I think that a great learning point for this book comes from Caroline. Caroline is only fifteen years old. She deals with and witnesses a lot throughout the course of Half in Love with Death. She loses her sister, meets girls her age who are high school dropouts and even who have a child, and she does drugs. I think the biggest thing that happens to her though is how she begins to see people. At the beginning of the story, Caroline was very naive and innocent, not one to lie and often times believed people when they said something was true. As the drama behind Jess’s disappearance unfolds and stories start conflicting, Caroline is forced to realize that people lie. They may say they’re not but they are or at the very least they could be. She gets a rude awakening in the events of this book about trusting people, which is in my opinion one of the most important lessons a young teenager can learn on his or her way to adulthood and the real world.
Review in Review:
I really liked Half in Love with Death. It’s a suspenseful story of teenage life in the 1960s and is inspired by real life events. It’s well written and an incredible page turner–you’ll likely finish it in one sitting. I’d say if you’re looking for a visual of what this book ‘looks’ like, I thought of the TV show Aquarius while reading Half in Love with Death. If you like the type of Charles Manson-esque history from the days of hippies and free spirits and love a suspenseful read, I recommend you read Half in Love with Death.
September 5, 2016
This story of a young teen trying to heal her family by finding her missing older sister is still haunting my thoughts. Ross does an excellent job of recreating the suburban ennui of the sixties and the yearning for something more.
That yearning for excitement is personified by Jess, the eldest sibling, whose bad decisions ultimately lead to her disappearance and possible death. Her younger sister, Caroline feels guilty and decides it is her duty to find Jess and bring her home. Unfortunately, this leads her to Jess' boyfriend, the charming (and possibly sociopathic) Tony.
Caroline's innocence, desire to belong, and burgeoning love for Tony put her in a very dangerous position. Ross skillfully builds the tension, unraveling the events surrounding Jess' disappearance, and drawing us in to Caroline's plight.
I felt a lingering sense of unease reading this novel. The way Caroline was manipulated and blinded by her own emotions felt very real to me...and truly dangerous. With Half in Love with Death, Ross has created a measured thriller that packs an empathetic wallop.
That yearning for excitement is personified by Jess, the eldest sibling, whose bad decisions ultimately lead to her disappearance and possible death. Her younger sister, Caroline feels guilty and decides it is her duty to find Jess and bring her home. Unfortunately, this leads her to Jess' boyfriend, the charming (and possibly sociopathic) Tony.
Caroline's innocence, desire to belong, and burgeoning love for Tony put her in a very dangerous position. Ross skillfully builds the tension, unraveling the events surrounding Jess' disappearance, and drawing us in to Caroline's plight.
I felt a lingering sense of unease reading this novel. The way Caroline was manipulated and blinded by her own emotions felt very real to me...and truly dangerous. With Half in Love with Death, Ross has created a measured thriller that packs an empathetic wallop.
March 20, 2017
I despised every thing about this book. I don't think a book has annoyed me as much as this one has. Yeah I get that she's 15 and her sister is 17. I get that kids that age make bad decisions. I've been there and done that myself. We all need to make mistakes and learn so that we grow as a person..yadda..yadda..yadda. However when your so stupid that the chances of you ever getting to grow old and learn from your mistakes is slim, than we have a problem. Not only did one sister make the mistake, but her sister comes up behind her and does the same exact thing. Really??
***hits head against keyboard***
If you're easily frustrated by poor choices made over and over again by a protagonist I would suggest you skip this.
***hits head against keyboard***
If you're easily frustrated by poor choices made over and over again by a protagonist I would suggest you skip this.
June 6, 2016
Based on the same real-life "Pied Piper of Tucson" murder case that inspired Joyce Carol Oates's classic short story "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?", Half in Love with Death is a dreamy yet taut and fast-paced exploration of adolescent longings, the lure of the bad boy, and the dark fascination of murder. Set in the 1960s and told in the first-person voice of an adolescent girl who is determined to find her sister, even as she's drawn to the troubled boy who may be responsible for her disappearance, this novel drew me in from the first page and kept me reading through the night.
August 16, 2015
I read early versions of this novel and fell in love with both the story and Emily's writing. The characters and setting are written with such exquisite detail. You feel the Arizona heat, the crushing weight and pain of waiting for someone who has gone missing, and the hot thrill and danger of falling in love with a very, very, very bad boy. Technically under the YA category. But whether you're a teenager or an adult, y'all are gonna love it.
January 25, 2016
For full review please go to: 5girlsbookreviews.blogspot.com, Twitter @camartinez and Facebook "5 Girls Book Reviews"
REVIEW BY: Arianna, age 13 years, 1 month
MAY CONTAIN SPOILER:
This book had me fascinated until the very end!
My favorite character was Caroline because she would do anything to find her sister, even with a broken family and horrible friends she still tried. I admire her for her determination.
My favorite part was when I figured everything out at the end...
REVIEW BY: Arianna, age 13 years, 1 month
MAY CONTAIN SPOILER:
This book had me fascinated until the very end!
My favorite character was Caroline because she would do anything to find her sister, even with a broken family and horrible friends she still tried. I admire her for her determination.
My favorite part was when I figured everything out at the end...
December 8, 2015
This book's dark plot has consumed me for the past few days. I got very quickly swept up in Caroline's heart-rendering story of self-discovery and longing. This has all the great elements of a realistic, coming-of-age novel with the added bonus of some fabulous 1960's fashion and a gut-wrenching mystery.
Read
December 15, 2015Graded By: Jennie
Cover Story: California Dreamin’
BFF Charm: Nope
Swoonworthy Scale: 0
Talky Talk: We Gotta Get Out of This Place
Bonus Factors: 1960s, Serial Killers
Relationship Status: What Is and What Should Never Be
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: California Dreamin’
BFF Charm: Nope
Swoonworthy Scale: 0
Talky Talk: We Gotta Get Out of This Place
Bonus Factors: 1960s, Serial Killers
Relationship Status: What Is and What Should Never Be
Read the full book report here.
May 28, 2022
Protagonist was excruciatingly stupid at times. It wore on me.
December 16, 2015
Check out this and other reviews on my young adult book blog, Here's to Happy Endings!
Based in the 1960's, Emily Ross's novel Half in Love with Death deals with one family's nightmare of having their daughter and sister go missing. Jess, the older sister of Caroline, spends her nights out with her friends and boyfriend, Tony. Tony is the neighborhood "bad boy," and Jess is often required to take Caroline along with them when they go out, to make sure nothing happens between them.
On one particular night, Jess and Tony are supposed to go to the drive-in, and Caroline is going to be accompanying them. Caroline gets along just fine with Tony, and tends to give the two of them space anyway, so Jess doesn't normally mind when she goes along. However, on this night, Jess is adamant that she go without Caroline. After an argument with their father on the matter, Jess is told that she cannot go at all, so she runs up to her room. When Caroline goes up to check on her, she finds that Jess is getting ready to leave through the bedroom window. When Caroline asks her where she is going and what she is planning on doing, Jess just explains to her that she absolutely has to go, because there is something serious going on. Before she leaves, she speaks two words to Caroline - "Would you," but then trails off and tells Caroline to forget about it. Those were the last words that Jess speaks to Caroline before she leaves.
When Jess doesn't come back the next morning, as she usually does, Caroline keeps trying to cover for her sister by lying for her, but eventually she has to come clean and tell her parents and the police that Jess had disappeared and not come home.
Heartbroken, the family tries to figure out where Jess might have gone. Their first idea is that perhaps she went to California - she wanted to be an actress, and might have run off to start her acting career. But as Caroline befriends Jess's boyfriend Tony, and her friends, she starts to uncover some unsettling secrets as to what might have happened to Jess.
This book was categorized as a psychological thriller, and I'll give it that - it definitely is a bit of a psychological thrill ride for the young adult audience. However, it didn't seem of as much of a thriller as I had hoped - at least not until the last few chapters, when readers could really piece together what is going on in the story. At that point, it becomes quite the story. A lot of the story is based upon pieces of information that Caroline gathers from her friends and friends of Jess, and it was mostly gathered in a "he said, she said" kind of way. Everyone seemed to have different stories to tell, and when things start to not add up, you start to hope Caroline gets herself away from the situation (and yet at the same time you can understand why she's still dealing with these people - she's desperate to find her sister, and her parents don't seem to be doing a good enough job in her eyes).
Some of the characters were a bit hard to connect to, but they were all different and interesting, and it made for a great read. I finished this one pretty quickly, because I really wanted to see what happened, and if they would find Jess. It was a fun read if you're looking for something a little bit different!
Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Based in the 1960's, Emily Ross's novel Half in Love with Death deals with one family's nightmare of having their daughter and sister go missing. Jess, the older sister of Caroline, spends her nights out with her friends and boyfriend, Tony. Tony is the neighborhood "bad boy," and Jess is often required to take Caroline along with them when they go out, to make sure nothing happens between them.
On one particular night, Jess and Tony are supposed to go to the drive-in, and Caroline is going to be accompanying them. Caroline gets along just fine with Tony, and tends to give the two of them space anyway, so Jess doesn't normally mind when she goes along. However, on this night, Jess is adamant that she go without Caroline. After an argument with their father on the matter, Jess is told that she cannot go at all, so she runs up to her room. When Caroline goes up to check on her, she finds that Jess is getting ready to leave through the bedroom window. When Caroline asks her where she is going and what she is planning on doing, Jess just explains to her that she absolutely has to go, because there is something serious going on. Before she leaves, she speaks two words to Caroline - "Would you," but then trails off and tells Caroline to forget about it. Those were the last words that Jess speaks to Caroline before she leaves.
When Jess doesn't come back the next morning, as she usually does, Caroline keeps trying to cover for her sister by lying for her, but eventually she has to come clean and tell her parents and the police that Jess had disappeared and not come home.
Heartbroken, the family tries to figure out where Jess might have gone. Their first idea is that perhaps she went to California - she wanted to be an actress, and might have run off to start her acting career. But as Caroline befriends Jess's boyfriend Tony, and her friends, she starts to uncover some unsettling secrets as to what might have happened to Jess.
This book was categorized as a psychological thriller, and I'll give it that - it definitely is a bit of a psychological thrill ride for the young adult audience. However, it didn't seem of as much of a thriller as I had hoped - at least not until the last few chapters, when readers could really piece together what is going on in the story. At that point, it becomes quite the story. A lot of the story is based upon pieces of information that Caroline gathers from her friends and friends of Jess, and it was mostly gathered in a "he said, she said" kind of way. Everyone seemed to have different stories to tell, and when things start to not add up, you start to hope Caroline gets herself away from the situation (and yet at the same time you can understand why she's still dealing with these people - she's desperate to find her sister, and her parents don't seem to be doing a good enough job in her eyes).
Some of the characters were a bit hard to connect to, but they were all different and interesting, and it made for a great read. I finished this one pretty quickly, because I really wanted to see what happened, and if they would find Jess. It was a fun read if you're looking for something a little bit different!
Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
December 24, 2015
**3.5/4 stars**
Originally posted at: http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com/2...
I’d seen Half in Love with Death around the book blogosphere quite a bit and when I got the opportunity to review Emily Ross’s debut, I jumped at the chance. However, when I got the book I didn’t read too closely and thought it was a retelling of “The Pied Piper of Hamelin.” It was only after I finished the book that I realised that it was actually inspired by ‘the Pied Piper of Tucson.’ To those of you, like me, who have never heard of Charles Schmid, I would totally recommend holding off searching him up until you finish reading this book. Emily Ross’s book was thrilling, and after reading up on the inspiration, the story follows quite closely to the real-life events that transpired.
I don’t know how to feel about our protagonist. On one hand, Caroline is quite an interesting voice and has a great role in this novel. On the other hand, though, she can be quite naive at times, and hangs out with the wrong people who treat her badly. I’m definitely leaning to more of the “Caroline is a good main character” thought though because she does have the innocence and flaws of someone at 15. It’s often when I would get mad at characters for not knowing better, but it’s easy to say things compared to actually doing them. The range of characters in this story was really interesting... I just wish that we actually got to learn more about Jess’s character. We only see her at the start of the novel and otherwise we don’t see any major flashbacks or memories of her, other than what happened that night and the accounts of those who knew her. Tony’s character was definitely a wild card, and learning more about him as the book progressed was quite transfixing because there’s a do-I-trust-him-do-I-not vibe that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
The only real problem I had with this book was where the plot would take us sometimes. Instead of focusing on the situation at times, the story would go off a tangent that seemed slightly unnecessary. However, I will say this: sometimes these tangents lead to interesting bits of plot line. After reading the case of Charles Schmid and looking back at the book, I could totally see why parts of those tangents were pretty interesting. Otherwise though, I felt that the book could have progressed much faster if not for some parts of the novel.
The story of a gripping case set in the ‘60s, Half in Love with Death is a book I would call a slow thriller: the kind that slowly builds up and then closes with a hair-raising ending. Absolutely riveting, Emily Ross’s YA debut is one not to miss.
▪ ▪ ▪ Thank you so much to Emily Adams at BookSavvy PR for sending me a copy for review! ▪ ▪ ▪
Originally posted at: http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com/2...
I’d seen Half in Love with Death around the book blogosphere quite a bit and when I got the opportunity to review Emily Ross’s debut, I jumped at the chance. However, when I got the book I didn’t read too closely and thought it was a retelling of “The Pied Piper of Hamelin.” It was only after I finished the book that I realised that it was actually inspired by ‘the Pied Piper of Tucson.’ To those of you, like me, who have never heard of Charles Schmid, I would totally recommend holding off searching him up until you finish reading this book. Emily Ross’s book was thrilling, and after reading up on the inspiration, the story follows quite closely to the real-life events that transpired.
I don’t know how to feel about our protagonist. On one hand, Caroline is quite an interesting voice and has a great role in this novel. On the other hand, though, she can be quite naive at times, and hangs out with the wrong people who treat her badly. I’m definitely leaning to more of the “Caroline is a good main character” thought though because she does have the innocence and flaws of someone at 15. It’s often when I would get mad at characters for not knowing better, but it’s easy to say things compared to actually doing them. The range of characters in this story was really interesting... I just wish that we actually got to learn more about Jess’s character. We only see her at the start of the novel and otherwise we don’t see any major flashbacks or memories of her, other than what happened that night and the accounts of those who knew her. Tony’s character was definitely a wild card, and learning more about him as the book progressed was quite transfixing because there’s a do-I-trust-him-do-I-not vibe that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
The only real problem I had with this book was where the plot would take us sometimes. Instead of focusing on the situation at times, the story would go off a tangent that seemed slightly unnecessary. However, I will say this: sometimes these tangents lead to interesting bits of plot line. After reading the case of Charles Schmid and looking back at the book, I could totally see why parts of those tangents were pretty interesting. Otherwise though, I felt that the book could have progressed much faster if not for some parts of the novel.
The story of a gripping case set in the ‘60s, Half in Love with Death is a book I would call a slow thriller: the kind that slowly builds up and then closes with a hair-raising ending. Absolutely riveting, Emily Ross’s YA debut is one not to miss.
▪ ▪ ▪ Thank you so much to Emily Adams at BookSavvy PR for sending me a copy for review! ▪ ▪ ▪
April 4, 2016
Dreamy, Haunting YA Thriller
At the center of Emily Ross’s YA thriller HALF IN LOVE WITH DEATH is Caroline. Caroline is the dreamy middle child, younger sister of brash Jess. And last night Jess snuck out the bedroom window. She has not come home.
The perfect choice for narrator, Caroline is the only character with access to everyone—their parents, Jess’s friends, and to Jess herself. And she’s a sweetie. New in town with few friends, she longs for white go-go boots, for the cool fashion of Courrèges and for Tony, Jess’s boyfriend, to hold her hand.
The book is set in Tucson, Arizona the year the Beatles broke open America. A naïf, Caroline’s innocence mirrors America’s circa 1964. Post Vietnam, Watergate, 9/11, Gulf Wars I and II, Black Lives Matter, San Bernadino, Paris and Brussels, it is hard to imagine such a trusting fifteen-year-old today. And that’s part of the allure of HALF IN LOVE WITH DEATH, to visit (or re-visit) that time in our history.
Caroline believes she is partially to blame for her sister’s disappearance and she is disgusted with her parents, who argue and drink but fail to find Jess. So Caroline investigates. She teams up with charismatic Tony, Jess’s boyfriend, and asks questions of him and his friends. The answers she hears are hazy, confusing, even contradictory. Did Jess really go off to California in a red car with a strange boy? When kids said they saw her in the car, was she screaming or laughing? Is she really living in Redondo Beach?
Perhaps because Caroline is “drawn to things that were not what they appeared to be” she willingly suspends disbelief and is drawn deeper and deeper into danger.
Ross grew up in the Sixties and she based her novel on a real serial killer from that era, “The Pied Piper of Tucson.” (Joyce Carol Oates based her story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” on the same serial killer.) In Ross’s post for Dead Darlings, How the Pied Piper of Tucson Led Me to My Story, she writes that “[a]s an adult…I wondered if the feelings that drew Tucson teens to [the murderer] weren’t all that different from those ‘magical’ feelings of connection that drew me to my friends in the Sixties.”
Thankfully for readers, Ross stepped through that “small dark door” and wrote this haunting, suspenseful tale that won’t let you stop reading until the very last sentence.
At the center of Emily Ross’s YA thriller HALF IN LOVE WITH DEATH is Caroline. Caroline is the dreamy middle child, younger sister of brash Jess. And last night Jess snuck out the bedroom window. She has not come home.
The perfect choice for narrator, Caroline is the only character with access to everyone—their parents, Jess’s friends, and to Jess herself. And she’s a sweetie. New in town with few friends, she longs for white go-go boots, for the cool fashion of Courrèges and for Tony, Jess’s boyfriend, to hold her hand.
The book is set in Tucson, Arizona the year the Beatles broke open America. A naïf, Caroline’s innocence mirrors America’s circa 1964. Post Vietnam, Watergate, 9/11, Gulf Wars I and II, Black Lives Matter, San Bernadino, Paris and Brussels, it is hard to imagine such a trusting fifteen-year-old today. And that’s part of the allure of HALF IN LOVE WITH DEATH, to visit (or re-visit) that time in our history.
Caroline believes she is partially to blame for her sister’s disappearance and she is disgusted with her parents, who argue and drink but fail to find Jess. So Caroline investigates. She teams up with charismatic Tony, Jess’s boyfriend, and asks questions of him and his friends. The answers she hears are hazy, confusing, even contradictory. Did Jess really go off to California in a red car with a strange boy? When kids said they saw her in the car, was she screaming or laughing? Is she really living in Redondo Beach?
Perhaps because Caroline is “drawn to things that were not what they appeared to be” she willingly suspends disbelief and is drawn deeper and deeper into danger.
Ross grew up in the Sixties and she based her novel on a real serial killer from that era, “The Pied Piper of Tucson.” (Joyce Carol Oates based her story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” on the same serial killer.) In Ross’s post for Dead Darlings, How the Pied Piper of Tucson Led Me to My Story, she writes that “[a]s an adult…I wondered if the feelings that drew Tucson teens to [the murderer] weren’t all that different from those ‘magical’ feelings of connection that drew me to my friends in the Sixties.”
Thankfully for readers, Ross stepped through that “small dark door” and wrote this haunting, suspenseful tale that won’t let you stop reading until the very last sentence.
December 17, 2015
'Half in Love with Death' is a riveting suspense novel set in the 1960s. I'm not a big reader of YA contemporary fiction and even less so when it comes to historical books. After reading the description, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it or not. I'm so glad that I took a chance with it! It was a lot better than I was expecting or even hoping it would be. The 1960s setting plays a decently large part in the book, but it wasn't overwhelming and didn't distract me from the real plot of the story, like I was afraid it might do. Once I realized that the book wasn't going to be centered around the era it was set in, I easily slipped inside the story and didn't come back out until I had finished.
The characters are all well rounded with some cliches - especially in the minor characters. Our main character - Caroline - is incredibly realistic and easy to identify with. The story is told in the first person point of view - from Caroline's perspective - which allows the reader to form a close bond with her throughout the story. I'm a huge advocate for first person POV in books because I believe it lets the reader get a much deeper understanding of the narrator along with learning things about them that wouldn't be possible in any other writing style. With Caroline as the narrator, we get to know the real her - all of her memories, thoughts, dreams, fears, hopes, and so much more. The reader is able to connect with her on a much deeper level than any other writing style, and she becomes very real and easier to identify with. I loved watching Caroline grow and mature throughout the novel. She changes in several different ways and areas of her life - from her friends and family relationships to her love life and believing in herself and her instincts. The book was a true thriller that had me eagerly reading each page to see what was going to happen next. There's plenty of twists and turns that kept me on my toes, and I loved trying to figure out what really happened before it was revealed. The writing was well done and had the perfect amount of imagery and description to transport the reader into Caroline's world without overwhelming them. I definitely recommend this book to fans of YA fiction - especially those who enjoy suspense, mystery, thrillers, historical/era fiction, and contemporary romance.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The characters are all well rounded with some cliches - especially in the minor characters. Our main character - Caroline - is incredibly realistic and easy to identify with. The story is told in the first person point of view - from Caroline's perspective - which allows the reader to form a close bond with her throughout the story. I'm a huge advocate for first person POV in books because I believe it lets the reader get a much deeper understanding of the narrator along with learning things about them that wouldn't be possible in any other writing style. With Caroline as the narrator, we get to know the real her - all of her memories, thoughts, dreams, fears, hopes, and so much more. The reader is able to connect with her on a much deeper level than any other writing style, and she becomes very real and easier to identify with. I loved watching Caroline grow and mature throughout the novel. She changes in several different ways and areas of her life - from her friends and family relationships to her love life and believing in herself and her instincts. The book was a true thriller that had me eagerly reading each page to see what was going to happen next. There's plenty of twists and turns that kept me on my toes, and I loved trying to figure out what really happened before it was revealed. The writing was well done and had the perfect amount of imagery and description to transport the reader into Caroline's world without overwhelming them. I definitely recommend this book to fans of YA fiction - especially those who enjoy suspense, mystery, thrillers, historical/era fiction, and contemporary romance.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
December 18, 2015
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I wish that I didn't read a little spoiler about the book. (Avoid this entire review and the synopsis if you don't want to know that spoiler. Just jump straight into the book.) If I didn't know the book is going to have a very huge turn into implied horror town, then I would probably be reading along with bliss. At least, that is until the terrible parts smack right into my face.
Caroline, after her sister has been declared missing by the local authorities, begins to wonder where Jessica has went. She teams up with Tony's ex-boyfriend and believes that Jessica is still alive in California. She slowly changes into a much different girl as the story goes on, and she even kisses Tony (sister's boyfriend) while searching for a way to get to California. But all takes a very, very dark turn once a body of a young woman has been found in the desert.
The plot goes by very fast, and Half In Love With Death is actually a short book to read. It's enjoyable, and though there are some lapses here and there, the book is put together well. The mystery of Jess is definitely one compelling story. Caroline may not believe that something bad has happened to Jess, but we, as the readers, would definitely notice the signs and see what's going on with the handsome villain.
The villain is definitely disturbing, and his traits are subtle in nature. The few people who knows the inkling of the truth are written off as crazy by the narrator and every other character (except for the villain and the authorities, of course). His scenes may originally come off as charming, but as the story marches on, he becomes a much more creepy character. Think "bad boy" turned "stalker with a crush" turned "serial killer with a few deaths under his belt."
And the ending. My. It's chilling.
Overall, Half In Love With Death is a happy... Oh, wait. It isn't. It's a seemingly pretty story with a dark history and plot. It's disturbing, and it's not for those looking for a light romance with sunshine and unicorns. The villain is a great character, and he's so subtly evil that I wish Caroline has less scenes with him. Entertaining story/mystery.
Rating: Three out of Five
-ofpaperandwords.blogspot.com
I wish that I didn't read a little spoiler about the book. (Avoid this entire review and the synopsis if you don't want to know that spoiler. Just jump straight into the book.) If I didn't know the book is going to have a very huge turn into implied horror town, then I would probably be reading along with bliss. At least, that is until the terrible parts smack right into my face.
Caroline, after her sister has been declared missing by the local authorities, begins to wonder where Jessica has went. She teams up with Tony's ex-boyfriend and believes that Jessica is still alive in California. She slowly changes into a much different girl as the story goes on, and she even kisses Tony (sister's boyfriend) while searching for a way to get to California. But all takes a very, very dark turn once a body of a young woman has been found in the desert.
The plot goes by very fast, and Half In Love With Death is actually a short book to read. It's enjoyable, and though there are some lapses here and there, the book is put together well. The mystery of Jess is definitely one compelling story. Caroline may not believe that something bad has happened to Jess, but we, as the readers, would definitely notice the signs and see what's going on with the handsome villain.
The villain is definitely disturbing, and his traits are subtle in nature. The few people who knows the inkling of the truth are written off as crazy by the narrator and every other character (except for the villain and the authorities, of course). His scenes may originally come off as charming, but as the story marches on, he becomes a much more creepy character. Think "bad boy" turned "stalker with a crush" turned "serial killer with a few deaths under his belt."
And the ending. My. It's chilling.
Overall, Half In Love With Death is a happy... Oh, wait. It isn't. It's a seemingly pretty story with a dark history and plot. It's disturbing, and it's not for those looking for a light romance with sunshine and unicorns. The villain is a great character, and he's so subtly evil that I wish Caroline has less scenes with him. Entertaining story/mystery.
Rating: Three out of Five
-ofpaperandwords.blogspot.com
October 2, 2016
A well-written mystery! Emily Ross did a terrific job of building the plot and developing the characters in this story set in the 1960s. Life was so different without the Internet and cell phone technology (but that was not the point of this story).
One thing that struck me throughout this story was that oftentimes teenagers don't trust adults enough to confide in them. Why is that? What are adults doing wrong in that realm? If you're an adult, it's something to ponder and ask yourself if the teenagers around you would WANT to talk to you. And if you're a teenager - ask yourself if there are any adults in your life that you thoroughly trust. Why or why not?
Emily Ross is a talented wordsmith. Some of my favorite lines from the book include:
"Darkness was erasing the green from the grass, the blue from the sky." (page 7)
"I knew about the Hi-Ho Club where Tony took Jess sometimes. I'd never been in it but I'd imagined myself there, imagined the colored lights, the sparkling dresses, the love swirling all around." (page 31)
"I missed winter so much. Here, the closest thing to snow was the cold stars that sprinkled the sky." (page 62)
"When I returned with her, things would be different. Maybe she would even be different. Maybe she'd be a person you could talk about without saying 'if only.'" (page 143)
HALF IN LOVE WITH DEATH was a finalist in the International Thriller Awards, and I believe it earned that honor for its expertly layered suspense. I needed to keep turning the pages to find out what was going to happen next and how the story would be resolved.
I look forward to the next book by Ross.
One thing that struck me throughout this story was that oftentimes teenagers don't trust adults enough to confide in them. Why is that? What are adults doing wrong in that realm? If you're an adult, it's something to ponder and ask yourself if the teenagers around you would WANT to talk to you. And if you're a teenager - ask yourself if there are any adults in your life that you thoroughly trust. Why or why not?
Emily Ross is a talented wordsmith. Some of my favorite lines from the book include:
"Darkness was erasing the green from the grass, the blue from the sky." (page 7)
"I knew about the Hi-Ho Club where Tony took Jess sometimes. I'd never been in it but I'd imagined myself there, imagined the colored lights, the sparkling dresses, the love swirling all around." (page 31)
"I missed winter so much. Here, the closest thing to snow was the cold stars that sprinkled the sky." (page 62)
"When I returned with her, things would be different. Maybe she would even be different. Maybe she'd be a person you could talk about without saying 'if only.'" (page 143)
HALF IN LOVE WITH DEATH was a finalist in the International Thriller Awards, and I believe it earned that honor for its expertly layered suspense. I needed to keep turning the pages to find out what was going to happen next and how the story would be resolved.
I look forward to the next book by Ross.
March 28, 2017
"Once you touch the spirits, they never let you go."
Pretty cover, but a slow storyline that felt too obvious. It took way to long for Caroline to catch up with what I felt was pretty obvious conclusion. The adults were the typical absentee adults but made even worse with their near nonexistent worry about their missing oldest child.
This one just wasn't for me.
Pretty cover, but a slow storyline that felt too obvious. It took way to long for Caroline to catch up with what I felt was pretty obvious conclusion. The adults were the typical absentee adults but made even worse with their near nonexistent worry about their missing oldest child.
This one just wasn't for me.
December 31, 2015
Based on a true story, Half in Love with Death paints a beautifully disturbing picture of a fairly typical 1960s family. Everything seems normal until one night it’s not. Entranced by a beautiful boy full of mysterious darkness and alluring poetry, Caroline not only gets wrapped up in her sister’s disappearance, but also the police’s prime suspect.
The juxtaposition of such a sweet, innocent, naive girl against the potential horrors of what happened to her sister is a theme that has been skillfully threaded throughout the book. It is so easy to be drawn into complacency, even when you are surrounded by death. The title for this book could not be any more fitting.
Read more at http://www.hypable.com/review/book-re...
The juxtaposition of such a sweet, innocent, naive girl against the potential horrors of what happened to her sister is a theme that has been skillfully threaded throughout the book. It is so easy to be drawn into complacency, even when you are surrounded by death. The title for this book could not be any more fitting.
Read more at http://www.hypable.com/review/book-re...
April 24, 2016
A compelling story of a missing teen, and the younger sister determined to find her with help of the sister's charming and creepy boyfriend, Tony. Set in 1960s Phoenix, the book has wonderful period elements and a thoughtful protagonist, Caroline, whose curiosity and naivete threaten to bring her too close to answers about her sister's disappearance she's not expecting to find. Based on a true crime story, the book keeps you wondering and worried until the end.
January 4, 2016
I was immersed in teen narrator Caroline's painful and beautiful perspective. Loosely based on a 1960s serial killer in Tucson, AZ, this is a psychologically thrilling coming of age story about a girl who, in trying to find her missing sister, puts her trust in a "magical" but very dangerous young man. I admire Ross' gift for using such simple, straightforward language to convey such complex emotion. A sophisticated book for adults as well as teens.
June 14, 2016
What I love most about this taut and tense tale are the characters. From our protagonist, Caroline, to her parents, her friends and half-friends, her missing sister, and the mesmeric Tony, this book is full of real and wonderful characters. As Caroline pursues any and all clues to the disappearance of her sister, you root for her, warn her, worry about her, scream at her not to do THAT or THIS, and maybe even fall for her. Read it.
August 17, 2015
Just finished Emily's page-turner. Could not put it down! Great tight writing with strong story line, well-drawn characters, and a wonderful narrator whose innocence is balanced by, shall we say, untrustworthy characters?!! We get to see what she cannot. A good read for all ages.
August 30, 2015
I read an early version of this book and was gripped from start to finish. The characters are terrifyingly believable, bringing every parents nightmare to life. I can't wait to read the published story.
May 8, 2016
This terrific novel, written for young adults, is captivating, and will also appeal to adults who love page turning coming-of-age stories about adolescence, and those who connect with us to deceive.
January 10, 2017
I read this in one day. One freaking day. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. And now I'm going onto Wikipedia to research the Pied Piper of Tuscon. Chilling, I tell ya. Chilling.
April 5, 2017
Back in 2009, I took a Novel in Progress class through Grub Street, and Emily Ross was a classmate. She was working on an earlier draft of this book, and I loved what I read- I was always excited when it was her turn to workshop. So I was so happy to hear that the book had been published and I could read the finished product!
This is well-written in every way- well-drawn characters, a relatable narrator, believable dialogue, and good description of 1960s Tucson. Caroline is such a great character- sweet and smart but very naive, and even as your sense of dread grows over the course of the book, you want to cling to her belief in a more innocent interpretation of events. Knowing what I know from back in 2009, it's interesting to see how the story changed shape before reaching its current form.
This is well-written in every way- well-drawn characters, a relatable narrator, believable dialogue, and good description of 1960s Tucson. Caroline is such a great character- sweet and smart but very naive, and even as your sense of dread grows over the course of the book, you want to cling to her belief in a more innocent interpretation of events. Knowing what I know from back in 2009, it's interesting to see how the story changed shape before reaching its current form.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews