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St Jude's Academy #2
Young, Gifted and Dead 2: Killing You Softly
The second book in the thrilling Young, Gifted and Dead series about a boarding school for the wealthy and gifted elite. Perfect for fans of Gallagher Girls
After the tragic events of last term, Alyssa arrives back at St Jude's to a school full of freaked-out students. They are wary of her ability to remember every tiny thing they do, and Alyssa's beginning to feel lonely and ostracized. Then she gets an email, seemingly from a secret admirer. He teases her about her photographic memory and challenges her to prove how good it really is. At first Alyssa is intrigued and likes showing off her talent, but as her admirer's challenges get darker and more extreme and there is a murder in the nearby town, she realizes she's in too deep. Now her memory might be the only thing that can help her understand the killer and save her from the same fate . . .
After the tragic events of last term, Alyssa arrives back at St Jude's to a school full of freaked-out students. They are wary of her ability to remember every tiny thing they do, and Alyssa's beginning to feel lonely and ostracized. Then she gets an email, seemingly from a secret admirer. He teases her about her photographic memory and challenges her to prove how good it really is. At first Alyssa is intrigued and likes showing off her talent, but as her admirer's challenges get darker and more extreme and there is a murder in the nearby town, she realizes she's in too deep. Now her memory might be the only thing that can help her understand the killer and save her from the same fate . . .
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2014
7 people are currently reading
224 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 2, 2019
What! No way how could you!!!
What why no!
This mystery really kept me on the edge of the seat. I did not like a few things in this book. But overall it was a good read.
What why no!
This mystery really kept me on the edge of the seat. I did not like a few things in this book. But overall it was a good read.
August 6, 2014
This is the second book in the series about main character Alyssa and the girls of St Jude’s Academy. Alyssa’s photographic memory comes in handy when a local girl dies and she begins to find unusual links between the two of them. She’s unable to resist investigating the death, when she starts to receive taunting clues and messages, indicating that someone is playing a taunting game of cat and mouse with her.
This series reminds me so much of the TV show ‘Unforgettable’ which is about a female detective with perfect memory recall. This is a trait which Alyssa shares and makes each mystery even more interesting because you know that even the smallest detail could be the one that breaks the puzzle and solves the case. There are several passages throughout the book where Alyssa has to think back on things that have happened or conversations that she has had with people. I always try to pay careful attention to these because I’m desperate to spot the clues that are vitally important.
Interspersed with the murder mystery, are scenes between Alyssa and her boyfriend Jack, who is still as adorable as ever. She is definitely one lucky girl!
The ending of the book was so surprising! I thought it was incredibly well potted and it really got me thinking hard to try and put all the clues together. I love books which are so full of twists and turns that by the end I still have no idea who might be responsible. This conclusion definitely provided a lot of shocks.
I’m not sure if Lucy Carver is planning another book about Alyssa but I hope so because this is shaping up to be a fantastic YA series, featuring lots of my favourite things to look for in a story – drama, intrigue and mystery with a fab boarding school setting and a great cast of characters.
This series reminds me so much of the TV show ‘Unforgettable’ which is about a female detective with perfect memory recall. This is a trait which Alyssa shares and makes each mystery even more interesting because you know that even the smallest detail could be the one that breaks the puzzle and solves the case. There are several passages throughout the book where Alyssa has to think back on things that have happened or conversations that she has had with people. I always try to pay careful attention to these because I’m desperate to spot the clues that are vitally important.
Interspersed with the murder mystery, are scenes between Alyssa and her boyfriend Jack, who is still as adorable as ever. She is definitely one lucky girl!
The ending of the book was so surprising! I thought it was incredibly well potted and it really got me thinking hard to try and put all the clues together. I love books which are so full of twists and turns that by the end I still have no idea who might be responsible. This conclusion definitely provided a lot of shocks.
I’m not sure if Lucy Carver is planning another book about Alyssa but I hope so because this is shaping up to be a fantastic YA series, featuring lots of my favourite things to look for in a story – drama, intrigue and mystery with a fab boarding school setting and a great cast of characters.
June 15, 2015
Okay.
It got interesting only after I turned to chapter 7, I guess of 16. The revelation was shocking, yes, but otherwise the novel was okay. I wasn't really into it like the first one.
It got interesting only after I turned to chapter 7, I guess of 16. The revelation was shocking, yes, but otherwise the novel was okay. I wasn't really into it like the first one.
November 24, 2015
And there's no chance we're getting a third book is there? Dammit and why did I have to read this one so fast too knowing we're not going to get anymore books with Alyssa in it. It really sucks.
A summery for Killing You Softly:
Welcome to St Jude's Academy, the elite boarding school where students are beautiful, talented and dangerously out of control...
When Alyssa arrives back at St Jude's to the news that a local girl has been murdered, she just can't shake shake the feeling that the crime is somehow connected to her. Then she starts to receive teasing messages from a secret admirer, testing her extraordinary memory. When the messages become increasingly creepy a fellow student goes missing, Alyssa realizes that she may be in a little too deep.
Will she be able to figure out the clues in time and follow the sinister trail to the killer, or will there be another murder at St Jude's academy?
Seriously these books are underrated and they're so well paced and well written and it would help the author out if more people read these books then we can get another book from Lucy Carver and I think we need another book.
So please read this and tell other people to read these books you're be doing the author a huge favor.
A summery for Killing You Softly:
Welcome to St Jude's Academy, the elite boarding school where students are beautiful, talented and dangerously out of control...
When Alyssa arrives back at St Jude's to the news that a local girl has been murdered, she just can't shake shake the feeling that the crime is somehow connected to her. Then she starts to receive teasing messages from a secret admirer, testing her extraordinary memory. When the messages become increasingly creepy a fellow student goes missing, Alyssa realizes that she may be in a little too deep.
Will she be able to figure out the clues in time and follow the sinister trail to the killer, or will there be another murder at St Jude's academy?
Seriously these books are underrated and they're so well paced and well written and it would help the author out if more people read these books then we can get another book from Lucy Carver and I think we need another book.
So please read this and tell other people to read these books you're be doing the author a huge favor.
January 17, 2026
This book was the best even though I didn’t read the first one, I felt like this one you could read without even reading the first one but back to the book, I couldn’t put it down and the plot twist I couldn’t believe who the killer was but at the end it all made sense, more to come xx…
January 8, 2021
From the start I was kinda suspicious of the killer because it was quite clear to me, but still a very good read
June 30, 2018
3.5 stars.
So this one felt a little bit more forced than the last one. It felt like Carver saw the money roll in from the first book and decided to try squeeze a sequel out of it.
The ending was definitely rushed for me. I wanted and needed more closure.
Overall however, this series really entertained me and I'm glad I read them. I really enjoyed the boarding school element and felt like Lucy Carver did justice to teenagers in her portrayal of them.
The books gave me exactly what I needed and wanted so I'm a happy camper.
So this one felt a little bit more forced than the last one. It felt like Carver saw the money roll in from the first book and decided to try squeeze a sequel out of it.
The ending was definitely rushed for me. I wanted and needed more closure.
Overall however, this series really entertained me and I'm glad I read them. I really enjoyed the boarding school element and felt like Lucy Carver did justice to teenagers in her portrayal of them.
The books gave me exactly what I needed and wanted so I'm a happy camper.
November 3, 2022
3.5 stars
this has to be just as good as the other book in this series
it was easy to guess along with the mystery as the flashbacks of what happened previously came about when it was being spoken about by the MC with her good memory
i loved the subplot of romance and seeing their relationship progress
i feel like the endings are done well as they tie together all the ideas with one story and so is easy to understand
this has to be just as good as the other book in this series
it was easy to guess along with the mystery as the flashbacks of what happened previously came about when it was being spoken about by the MC with her good memory
i loved the subplot of romance and seeing their relationship progress
i feel like the endings are done well as they tie together all the ideas with one story and so is easy to understand
October 1, 2017
I can not believe it is over! Probably one of my favourite books. I love the variety of characters and how it does not stop you thinking and questioning what is going to happen next.
February 1, 2024
Does it need to be said. I just love smart books were everything doesn’t make sense till the end and u go a long w her
January 2, 2020
This is a really intelligent series and I loved the perspective. Lucy Carver writes in a really engaging style and her storyline had me hooked from the start.
I would seriously recommend this book to anyone who wants an engaging mystery with a bit of YA romance--but without any non PG scenes.
And then there was the plot twist at the end of this novel - damn!
No spoilers here but that ending was amazing. Actually no, the whole of the second half was full of plot twists and just amazing story writing. I praise Carver for her incredible ability to keep track of and plan everything she writes so that it all seems to make perfect sense in the end. In return I give you here a magical 5 star review...
Enjoy this book and be ready to feel stupid for not getting it earlier...
I would seriously recommend this book to anyone who wants an engaging mystery with a bit of YA romance--but without any non PG scenes.
And then there was the plot twist at the end of this novel - damn!
No spoilers here but that ending was amazing. Actually no, the whole of the second half was full of plot twists and just amazing story writing. I praise Carver for her incredible ability to keep track of and plan everything she writes so that it all seems to make perfect sense in the end. In return I give you here a magical 5 star review...
Enjoy this book and be ready to feel stupid for not getting it earlier...
July 6, 2015
I enjoyed this more than the first instalment, probably because the characters felt more fleshed out and Alyssa and the other characters seemed more connected. I LOVE the relationship between Jack and Alyssa and how they don't keep secrets from each other but actually TALK about stuff including Alyssa's need to investigate. I was not surprised by who the culprit is. I picked them pretty early in the piece. I was once again frustrated by Alyssa's determination to check out everything on her own without telling the police given their proven propensity to actually believe what she says and follow up.
April 12, 2016
It's a really good book. I like it how it takes place in a school so that you can somewhat follow along. I like the mystery in the book, because it is like a sequel to another book so it's connected somehow. I would recommend this to people who wants a easy read but like mystery book in one. It's a really good book.
December 12, 2025
I do honestly love this book!
One of my favourite aspects is how there are glimpses of Alyssa’s past with her best friends, they fill in the gaps perfectly.
I haven’t actually read the first book yet but this one was just so good, I might have to!
The plot twist was abso-fricking-lutely crazy, trust me, you’ll never see it coming.
I would highly recommend.
Xoxo…
One of my favourite aspects is how there are glimpses of Alyssa’s past with her best friends, they fill in the gaps perfectly.
I haven’t actually read the first book yet but this one was just so good, I might have to!
The plot twist was abso-fricking-lutely crazy, trust me, you’ll never see it coming.
I would highly recommend.
Xoxo…
October 2, 2014
I loved this book it was written so well!!! And the plot was amazing! I can't believe it was ----- in the end! Although I did suspect him at times I never thought it would be him!!! Great book, great author, great writing!
August 10, 2014
What?? i didnt saw that coming, but wow, and now Marco, a new boy in town who likes Alyssa,mm intersting..
October 17, 2014
This book is amazing!! I love all the twists and plots in both of the books in this series. Can't wait for the third book!❤️❤️
August 20, 2014
It was so good! I couldn't put it down and I definitely didn't expect the ending.
October 28, 2014
Read this at my daughter's insistence, as she had adored it. Enjoyed this fast-paced tale of murder in a small town. Liked Alyssa, the protagonist and all the secondary characters.
February 5, 2015
Great to read if you love a mystery, teen fiction novel and a hint of romance.
October 9, 2015
Love it
April 2, 2022
Another murder mystery with a very twisted mind set! Very good writing too
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews