Clarity

Review Time! Clarity by Kim Harrington is a 2011 YA Debut, I quite sure that most of you have read it or at least heard of it? I was very excited to receive an ARC from Scholastic and since I just finished it ten minutes ago, my thoughts are still buzzing around my head! Thanks to Scholastic for the copy!

(Goodreads) Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It's a gift.


And a curse.


When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case - but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother - who has supernatural gifts of his own - becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most
 
 The Short Story? – A thrilling murder mystery! Original, captivating and well-written, Harrington has written a debut like no other. Combining elements of the supernatural with mystery and suspense, Clarity was engrossing, exciting and edgy. A remarkable debut, this one is for fans of The Body Finder!

The Long Story? – The blurb on the back of the ARC didn’t really give much away about the novel, I was under the impression that Clarity was a paranormal romance from the non-spoiler reviews I have read. I was totally of the mark, it’s a thriller/murder mystery something that’s not very YA and the only other series I can think that’s remotely close is The Body Finder.

The plot was different – in a good way. It’s very original and it’s a novel that can be enjoyed by everyone because it’s not quite paranormal but it’s not quite contemporary either, it’s somewhere in the middle and throw in a murder (or murders) and you have a winner! Harrington’s debut is exciting, full of mystery and suspense and it’s a page-turner. It’s one of those books where you’re dragged into the novel, put in the protagonist’s shoes and experiencing the events yourself. You’re driving yourself made wondering who the murderer could be, who the liar is and who’s telling the truth. I was hanging onto every word, flicking the pages faster and barely stopped myself from peeking at the end. Fantastic from start to finish, fast-paced and dangerous!

The characters were really well developed. Clare (Clarity) was a fantastic protagonist. I felt I could connect to her from the very beginning and her personality really makes it hard not to love her. She’s strong, confident, a little sarcastic and funny. She’s got a lot of strength and courage, very well developed and portrayed. Justin, one of our love interest (yes, it’s a love triangle but it’s one of the good love triangles where you’re not constantly annoyed at them) is an absolute sweetie, I admit at the start I wasn’t all that much of a fan (boo hiss for cheaters) but over the course of the novel, he really proved himself worthy and now I swoon a little every time he talks! Gabriel (what an sexy name) is the night to Justin’s day, he’s got the bad boy thing down pact and while I love the bad boys, Justin really stole my heart in this one! Minor characters – Nate, Perry and even Tiffany- were all very unique in their own way and they are all a great bunch of people I would love to meet!

Harrington’s got a fantastic narrative voice. Best thing? She actually sounds like she’s sixteen, this is how teenagers talk and she’s got the attitude in a nutshell! Sarcasm mixed with humor, it’s really one of the best narrative voices I’ve read! It’s not that it’s strong or forceful but it’s so realistic, I felt myself being pulled into the novel! It’s something many authors never perfect but Harrington’s got this one in the bag, talking like a teenager? Check.

Clarity is a remarkable debut like no other! What do get when you cross a little seaside town with three murders that go unexplained? A gripping thriller that leaves you reading way past your bed-time! Exciting, fast-paced and dangerous, Clarity is an epic page-turner!

Rating – 5/5


Badass Bookie xx