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Rattled
It's just all so unfair. My ditzy sister is trying to get her claws into my future husband, plus, I'm pretty sure I'm living across the street from a murderer, and of course no one believes me. Could my life get any suckier? I didn't know it yet, but apparently it could. Fifteen-year-old Lydia, resigned to a boring summer in Halifax, is thrilled when Megan and her totally hot brother, Sam, move in across the street. But their rude and hostile mother, Mrs. Swicker, is strangely protective, and does everything she can to stop Lydia and her older sister, Jilly, from getting anywhere near her kids. One day Lydia accidentally stumbles across something very puzzling in the Swickers' basement. Determined to find some answers, Lydia enlists the help of Jilly. But the further they investigate, the more bizarre the discoveries. Lydia's suspicions about Mrs. Swicker are mounting, but she has no idea what a twisted, dangerous secret she has uncovered until it's too late.
- GenresMysteryYoung Adult
190 pages, Paperback
First published September 2, 2010
4 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 29, 2017
is this suppose to be young adult? its more like average middle grade mystery.
July 27, 2024
Rattled by Lisa Harrington surely left me rattled.
I finished this book in one sitting, and after that I thought about it a lot. It’s a book that has a really good concept, and I really enjoyed reading about it. It’s a book that I absolutely devoured, and that’s something that I haven’t had in a while. I’ve been in a little bit of a reading slump lately, although I read a lot of books per month (which is *formerly* 2 books for Digitally Lit: Our Stories Matter, Bridge to Publishing and then my current other read), I can still forget why I love reading so much, and why I keep coming back to it time and time again. When I’m in a reading slump, I still read I just don’t enjoy it as much. It really just takes the right book to get me back into reading again.
There’s a lot that I like about this book, and the main reason is that it tells a really good story. I also like how the characters solved the mystery and that they weren’t afraid to take risks and get their hands dirty. That being said, there’s a lot in this book that I did find strange. The writing style was very easy to read, it was easily digestible and easy to comprehend, however I would also consider this book to be young adult fiction, so for teens 13-17 like me. It deals with slightly more mature themes like murder and blood, so I’m not sure I would really place it at middle grade fiction which is 8-12 years. It could be at that, but I think the author wrote it for a young adult audience considering that the main character is 15.
I felt that the age range and the writing style didn’t quite match.
With a young adult book there’s a certain level of writing style that I think I expect from it, and it shouldn’t really be as easy as a middle grade novel. As a reader I thought this was a bit weird. However, I will take into account that fact that this was written quite a while ago and things might’ve been different then, maybe this is what the books teens read were like. I don’t know, but I felt that the writing style was for a younger audience, considering that this book is likely young adult.
Characters in this story are another thing that I want to discuss. In terms of character, I felt that the ones in this story had none. They are said to live in Halifax Nova Scotia. Halifax is a real place, and Halifax is the setting of this story. Somehow this world didn’t feel lived in enough. It felt empty, it was like the entire city of Halifax revolved around these characters and this one story. Perhaps the reason was that this book is very short and building up the surrounding world wasn’t really a priority, which I can understand. I felt a lack of a connection from the characters to the outside world. It really seemed that the characters were only there to move the story forward, rather than have a story about characters doing certain things.
For the longest time I debated whether or not to give this book 5 stars or 4 stars, but I ended up giving it 4 stars because of a lot of things that I found slightly lacking. I will take into account that this is the authors’ first novel, and for that I think she did a good job. No novel is perfect, and it certainly takes a lot to publish a book into the world and have readers like me talk about it. I did think that this story had an excellent concept behind it, but the execution isn’t all quite there. Personally, when I read a mystery I appreciate when clues and hints are set up beforehand, a nice little misdirect here and there, and a nice plot twist at the end. I find Lydia’s immediate suspicion of her new neighbors predictable.
I had quite a lot to say about this book… if you’ve made it this far you might think that I didn’t enjoy it as much as I’ve rated it, but I can assure you I did. Truly I was hooked on it’s story, and I did like the end result of how everything played out.
I finished this book in one sitting, and after that I thought about it a lot. It’s a book that has a really good concept, and I really enjoyed reading about it. It’s a book that I absolutely devoured, and that’s something that I haven’t had in a while. I’ve been in a little bit of a reading slump lately, although I read a lot of books per month (which is *formerly* 2 books for Digitally Lit: Our Stories Matter, Bridge to Publishing and then my current other read), I can still forget why I love reading so much, and why I keep coming back to it time and time again. When I’m in a reading slump, I still read I just don’t enjoy it as much. It really just takes the right book to get me back into reading again.
There’s a lot that I like about this book, and the main reason is that it tells a really good story. I also like how the characters solved the mystery and that they weren’t afraid to take risks and get their hands dirty. That being said, there’s a lot in this book that I did find strange. The writing style was very easy to read, it was easily digestible and easy to comprehend, however I would also consider this book to be young adult fiction, so for teens 13-17 like me. It deals with slightly more mature themes like murder and blood, so I’m not sure I would really place it at middle grade fiction which is 8-12 years. It could be at that, but I think the author wrote it for a young adult audience considering that the main character is 15.
I felt that the age range and the writing style didn’t quite match.
With a young adult book there’s a certain level of writing style that I think I expect from it, and it shouldn’t really be as easy as a middle grade novel. As a reader I thought this was a bit weird. However, I will take into account that fact that this was written quite a while ago and things might’ve been different then, maybe this is what the books teens read were like. I don’t know, but I felt that the writing style was for a younger audience, considering that this book is likely young adult.
Characters in this story are another thing that I want to discuss. In terms of character, I felt that the ones in this story had none. They are said to live in Halifax Nova Scotia. Halifax is a real place, and Halifax is the setting of this story. Somehow this world didn’t feel lived in enough. It felt empty, it was like the entire city of Halifax revolved around these characters and this one story. Perhaps the reason was that this book is very short and building up the surrounding world wasn’t really a priority, which I can understand. I felt a lack of a connection from the characters to the outside world. It really seemed that the characters were only there to move the story forward, rather than have a story about characters doing certain things.
For the longest time I debated whether or not to give this book 5 stars or 4 stars, but I ended up giving it 4 stars because of a lot of things that I found slightly lacking. I will take into account that this is the authors’ first novel, and for that I think she did a good job. No novel is perfect, and it certainly takes a lot to publish a book into the world and have readers like me talk about it. I did think that this story had an excellent concept behind it, but the execution isn’t all quite there. Personally, when I read a mystery I appreciate when clues and hints are set up beforehand, a nice little misdirect here and there, and a nice plot twist at the end. I find Lydia’s immediate suspicion of her new neighbors predictable.
I had quite a lot to say about this book… if you’ve made it this far you might think that I didn’t enjoy it as much as I’ve rated it, but I can assure you I did. Truly I was hooked on it’s story, and I did like the end result of how everything played out.
October 15, 2025
“Rattled” by Lisa Harrington certainly left me rattled in the best possible way. From the very first page, this novel had its hooks in me. It’s a compelling blend of mystery, heart, and humor, woven together by Harrington’s sharp storytelling and deeply relatable characters.
We follow Lydia, the younger of two sisters, who becomes increasingly suspicious of the peculiar new neighbor, Mrs. Swicker. There’s something about this woman that just doesn’t sit right with her, and Lydia’s gut feelings refuse to be silenced. With her older sister Jilly, the girls begin piecing together strange clues, each one more unsettling than the last. As the story unfolds, so does the suspense, until it left me stunned. Lisa Harrington has a gift for building tension while keeping you emotionally engaged.
One of the novel’s strongest aspects is Harrington’s ability to make the characters, especially Lydia feel so real. I found myself completely immersed in Lydia’s world; it felt like slipping into her shoes and seeing things exactly the way she did. Harrington also finds balance between light-hearted humor and darker themes, enriching the emotional experience. It’s this balance that makes the novel not only thrilling but also moving. There were moments I laughed out loud, and others where I sat staring at the wall, reflecting deeply about what I’d just read.
I highly recommend “Rattled‘ by Lisa Harrington to readers who enjoy clever mysteries with a touch of emotional depth.
This one will stay with me for a while.
We follow Lydia, the younger of two sisters, who becomes increasingly suspicious of the peculiar new neighbor, Mrs. Swicker. There’s something about this woman that just doesn’t sit right with her, and Lydia’s gut feelings refuse to be silenced. With her older sister Jilly, the girls begin piecing together strange clues, each one more unsettling than the last. As the story unfolds, so does the suspense, until it left me stunned. Lisa Harrington has a gift for building tension while keeping you emotionally engaged.
One of the novel’s strongest aspects is Harrington’s ability to make the characters, especially Lydia feel so real. I found myself completely immersed in Lydia’s world; it felt like slipping into her shoes and seeing things exactly the way she did. Harrington also finds balance between light-hearted humor and darker themes, enriching the emotional experience. It’s this balance that makes the novel not only thrilling but also moving. There were moments I laughed out loud, and others where I sat staring at the wall, reflecting deeply about what I’d just read.
I highly recommend “Rattled‘ by Lisa Harrington to readers who enjoy clever mysteries with a touch of emotional depth.
This one will stay with me for a while.
November 7, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. It had some great twists which I was not expecting. Also I felt like I could relate to the characters when they were doing silly things. My favorite character is Jilly because she is so dramatic and fun but can also be caring at the same time.
I rate this book a 5/5.
I rate this book a 5/5.
June 26, 2019
I love the symbolism of the title for the story, the ending had me dying but satisfied. I can't wait to meet Mrs. Harrington next month at my job's author signing! 💜
June 28, 2021
Lisa Harrington has managed to draw sensational characters.
January 3, 2023
quick and easy read, not too scary
January 28, 2022
Interesting concept but a bit boring. Not much character depth. Quick and easy read though.
January 18, 2026
I liked the book, the ending wasn’t as predictable as I expected it to be. I think it was written to appeal mainly to youth but I enjoyed it and liked that it was an easy read. I also liked that it took place in Halifax.
March 13, 2014
This was a great read. I didn't want to put it down.
15 year old Lydia was having a boring Summer in Halifax, when she notices one day that they have new neighbors moving across the street. When Lydia's older sister Jilly realizes that there looks to be a boy around her age she and her sister are in competion for to she who the boy will choose.
Lydia goes over to introduce herself to them and soon realizes that there is just something off with the mom, but she justn't know just what. Lydia tells her mom how Mrs. Swicker seems very polite when other adults are around but when it is just her and Lydia, she comes of standoffish and rude. Lydia's mom just seems to think she is overreacting and that it is just from their move that is putting her off a little.
Lydia and Jilly want to get to know their new neighbors Sam and Megan but it seems like Mrs. Swicker is always around them and doesn't let them leave the house. This throws Jilly off. She then becomes more curious and starts to wonder what is really going on with Mrs.Swicker.
Mrs. Swicker one day finally gives in and allow Sam and Megan to go out shopping and to a movie and while they are all shopping a lady walks right up to Mrs. Swicker and calls Reenie Barretto. Mrs. Swicker tells this lady that she is mistaken and gives her and evil look. Unfortunately this only fuels Lydia's fire think that there was just something off this her.
When they get home Lydia does a search on the internet for a Reenie Barretto. She reads that she went missing with a boy and girl twins that were not hers. They belonged to a couple named John and Samara Kennedy and they had been kidnapped.
When Mrs. Swicker/ aka Reenie Barretto realizes that Lydia has put this together she sneaks into Lydia's home when everyone but her was out for the night. Lydia ends up having to fight for her life when Mrs. Swicker tries to kill her with a gun that she had kept in her basement. Lydia was able to grab a knife and stab her before she was able to shoot the gun.
Her parents come home from a night out and find out everything that has taken place in the past few hours.
The kids Sam and Megan are scared and angry at Lydia for setting all of this into motion and turning their lives upside down, but I think it was just a missed placed blame as they now have to realize that their mom wasn't really their mother at all.
15 year old Lydia was having a boring Summer in Halifax, when she notices one day that they have new neighbors moving across the street. When Lydia's older sister Jilly realizes that there looks to be a boy around her age she and her sister are in competion for to she who the boy will choose.
Lydia goes over to introduce herself to them and soon realizes that there is just something off with the mom, but she justn't know just what. Lydia tells her mom how Mrs. Swicker seems very polite when other adults are around but when it is just her and Lydia, she comes of standoffish and rude. Lydia's mom just seems to think she is overreacting and that it is just from their move that is putting her off a little.
Lydia and Jilly want to get to know their new neighbors Sam and Megan but it seems like Mrs. Swicker is always around them and doesn't let them leave the house. This throws Jilly off. She then becomes more curious and starts to wonder what is really going on with Mrs.Swicker.
Mrs. Swicker one day finally gives in and allow Sam and Megan to go out shopping and to a movie and while they are all shopping a lady walks right up to Mrs. Swicker and calls Reenie Barretto. Mrs. Swicker tells this lady that she is mistaken and gives her and evil look. Unfortunately this only fuels Lydia's fire think that there was just something off this her.
When they get home Lydia does a search on the internet for a Reenie Barretto. She reads that she went missing with a boy and girl twins that were not hers. They belonged to a couple named John and Samara Kennedy and they had been kidnapped.
When Mrs. Swicker/ aka Reenie Barretto realizes that Lydia has put this together she sneaks into Lydia's home when everyone but her was out for the night. Lydia ends up having to fight for her life when Mrs. Swicker tries to kill her with a gun that she had kept in her basement. Lydia was able to grab a knife and stab her before she was able to shoot the gun.
Her parents come home from a night out and find out everything that has taken place in the past few hours.
The kids Sam and Megan are scared and angry at Lydia for setting all of this into motion and turning their lives upside down, but I think it was just a missed placed blame as they now have to realize that their mom wasn't really their mother at all.
November 27, 2012
This book. Omg. Everyone, please, if you have the book or if you go to the library, open this book and read the half page prologue. IT WILL SUCK YOU IN!
Let me tell you, it gets creepy. The story behind it all (the mystery part, I suppose) is crazy. I love it. But, reading the last bits at 1 AM alone in my bed with all these creepy sounds that I'm sure I was just making up had me like
I never want to be that paranoid again. Ever.
I absolutely loved this book. It was a wonderful, short read. I'm so glad I grabbed it off my shelf when I did. I will for now and always believe my neighbors are serial killers or something. JEFFREY DAHMER ALERT. I better keep my cats inside..
I can't tell you how great this book was. You really do get to know and love the character, especially the narrator and her older sister. You may form some hatred towards the parents through it, but it's minor. No worries. I really can go on and on about how much I want everyone to read this book, but that would take forever. Believe me. It's such a great young adult horror mystery. Love love LOVE it. 5 stars. :)
Let me tell you, it gets creepy. The story behind it all (the mystery part, I suppose) is crazy. I love it. But, reading the last bits at 1 AM alone in my bed with all these creepy sounds that I'm sure I was just making up had me like
I never want to be that paranoid again. Ever.
I absolutely loved this book. It was a wonderful, short read. I'm so glad I grabbed it off my shelf when I did. I will for now and always believe my neighbors are serial killers or something. JEFFREY DAHMER ALERT. I better keep my cats inside..
I can't tell you how great this book was. You really do get to know and love the character, especially the narrator and her older sister. You may form some hatred towards the parents through it, but it's minor. No worries. I really can go on and on about how much I want everyone to read this book, but that would take forever. Believe me. It's such a great young adult horror mystery. Love love LOVE it. 5 stars. :)
July 10, 2023
Savannah:
I’ve recently finished « Rattled » by @lisawrites that I got for #free from @digitally_lit and @nimbuspub . I got this book as part of a 12h only reading Atlantic Canadian books reading challenge I was doing so stay tuned for that video soon.
I absolutely loved this book as I’m a huge mystery fan and have grown up reading mysteries and similar books to this. This book had so many plot twists and kept me entertained from the first couple of pages.
I loved the writing and all of the different characters. I also really loved the relationship development between the two sisters. The ending was really shocking and had me gaping at the book.
This book was also super hilarious and fun. I also knew the place where the book was set so it was super easy for me to imagine myself in the book. Overall this a great book if you’re looking for a good mystery and a super fast paced and short book!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’ve recently finished « Rattled » by @lisawrites that I got for #free from @digitally_lit and @nimbuspub . I got this book as part of a 12h only reading Atlantic Canadian books reading challenge I was doing so stay tuned for that video soon.
I absolutely loved this book as I’m a huge mystery fan and have grown up reading mysteries and similar books to this. This book had so many plot twists and kept me entertained from the first couple of pages.
I loved the writing and all of the different characters. I also really loved the relationship development between the two sisters. The ending was really shocking and had me gaping at the book.
This book was also super hilarious and fun. I also knew the place where the book was set so it was super easy for me to imagine myself in the book. Overall this a great book if you’re looking for a good mystery and a super fast paced and short book!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 24, 2013
I guess you could say I was disappointed with this book. I was super excited to read it because the plot sounded so intense & I was looking forward to reading about it. But once I started reading, I realized it was one of those books where it took FOREVER to get to the point. And it wasn't a good thing either. Because once it got to the point, I kinda was like WTF and wondered why I wasted two hours of my life reading it.
February 15, 2011
Overall, this was a decent mystery for tween readers. The twist didn't reveal itself too early, and the story makes sense. However, I find it a bit difficult to reconcile the protaganist's limited access to technology in a contemporary setting, and her eventual use of the internet to source information seemed a bit contrived. Fans of Caroline B. Cooney or Norah McClintock are the right audience for this book.
April 30, 2012
Lydia are two sisters facing a fairly boring summer, until a family with a teenaged son and daughter of about the same ages moves in across the street. The Swickers’ mom is kind of weird – she rarely lets the teens (Megan and Sam) socialize with others, and almost never lets anyone come over. Lydia manages to uncover some evidence that lead to a discovery that rocks everyone’s world.
May 17, 2011
WOW, that was SOOOOO good!!!!! I could NOT put this book down! This was exactly what I needed tonight, a killer book that was completely unexpected. Lisa, keep writing, PLEASE! You knocked it out of the park.
November 28, 2011
Great fast paced read. This will appeal to female mystery readers. The author did a great job with her teen characters.
December 21, 2011
A pretty good mystery for middle grade and tween readers. Pretty predictable, but it holds your interest for the entire book and overall has a pretty good story.
August 27, 2014
I didn't think the ending scene had enough added to it.
March 30, 2012
please read my review at thebookbabesreads.blogspot.com
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews