Review: The Scarlett Wakefield Series by Lauren Henderson

Kiss Me Kill Me by Lauren Henderson

Release Date: January 8, 2008
Publisher: Delacorte
Pages: 272
Reading level: Young Adult
My Rating:

When 16-year-old Scarlett Wakefield transfers from St. Tabby’s to Wakefield Hall Collegiate, she is relieved that no one knows her dark, haunting secret. A few months ago, Scarlett was invited to an elite party with a guest list full of the hottest names in British society, including Dan McAndrew. Before the party, Scarlett had only imagined what it would be like to have her first kiss with Dan, but on the penthouse terrace, Dan leaned in close and she no longer had to wonder. Their kiss was beautiful and perfect and magical, and then . . . Dan McAndrew took his last breath as she held him in her arms. No one knows how or why Dan died, and everyone at St. Tabby’s believes Scarlett had something to do with it. But now that she’s safely hidden away at Wakefield Hall, Scarlett would rather forget that it ever happened. Only she can’t. Especially when she receives an anonymous note that will set her on the path to clearing her name and finding out what really happened to the first and last boy she kissed.

-- from Amazon.com

This was a really well written novel with a very intriguing mystery. Scarlett's voice was unique to me and I enjoyed her upbeat asides about fashion, makeup, and trying to fit in. Her insights into those around her, including the people she hates but wishes she could be friends with, and herself, were brilliant without being too adult.

I think Lauren Henderson did a very good job getting the reader from point A (St. Tabby's & Kiss of Death Girl) to point B (Wakefield Hall & a better understanding of what happened to Dan). She resolved just enough to make the book satisfying, leaving just enough loose ends to get me in the car on the way to the library for the second book in the series!

* * * *

Kisses and Lies by Lauren Henderson

Release Date: January 13, 2009
Publisher: Delacorte
Pages: 320
Reading level: Young Adult
My Rating:

After discovering that someone saw what looked like Dan's emergency EpiPen in A-lister Plum's designer handbag, Scarlett and her tough American sidekick, Taylor, sneak into a posh London nightclub, where Plum has a private table. Scarlett is stunned to discover a piece of evidence that might implicate another girl in Plum's exclusive circle, Lucy Raleigh. Which means Scarlett must cast a wider net in order to catch the right suspect. Back at school, groundskeeper Jase is hoping to take Scarlett's mind off her troubles with some heart-stopping kisses. Scarlett can't help but feel guilty for indulging in romantic rendezvous when she should be hunting down Dan's killer. However, once Scarlett finds out how Lucy is connected to Dan, she knows she must drop everything and travel to the McAndrew estate in Scotland to hunt for more clues. But when she arrives, Scarlett becomes the target of a dangerous hunt herself.

-- from Goodreads.com

If Veronica Mars had been born in Chelsea, this would be her story. Scarlett, though often evoking the image of a monkey in the trees, is so realistic that I really feel she exists somewhere in the purple laurel hills of rural England/Scotland.

Lauren Henderson has captured exactly what it's like to be this specific girl in this specific place. The voice of the heroine is so realistic and so interesting that it's hard to put the book down for any reason.

And even though the main mystery of the first 2 books has been solved, I will follow Scarlett into the next 100 mysteries because the author has proven herself up to the task of writing real YA storylines. I just ask that Scarlett spend less of her time up trees in upcoming novels -- if possible!

* * * *

Kiss in the Dark by Lauren Henderson

Release Date: April 13, 2010
Publisher: Delacorte
Pages: 256
Reading level: Young Adult
My Rating:

With Dan McAndrews's murder finally behind her, Scarlett has high hopes for a fresh start at Wakefield Hall Collegiate, the elite English boarding school her grandmother runs. Unfortunately, those hopes are dashed when her nemesis, the infamous Plum Saybourne, is transferred to the school. Plum wastes no time turning Scarlett’s impressionable classmates against her. Scarlett has dealt with Plum’s nasty schemes before, and she can handle her archenemy very nicely, thank you—until Plum sets her sights on Scarlett’s best friend, Taylor, and new boyfriend, Jase. Then Scarlett is more than willing to fight for what’s rightfully hers. Things only get worse after Scarlett becomes entangled in a mysterious death on campus. Scarlett is compelled to investigate because she wants to protect someone close to her. She never imagines that she’ll uncover secrets related to her parents’ fatal accident so many years ago.

-- from Amazon.com

I am a huge fan of this series and have devoured each of the three books faster than I probably have read any other series (with the exception of the Maze Runner & Hunger Games series).

Scarlett Wakefield's voice is such a refreshing blast of cool-headedness with just enough angst to make things interesting. She is strong with a vulnerability that she shares with the reader in such quirky ways that she is completely endearing.

I enjoy Ms. Henderson's timing with every nuance of the book. She knows exactly when to reveal little tidbits of the plot and information into the backgrounds and characters of each person in the book. I especially enjoy the way in which she slowly has unfurled just how wealthy and important Scarlett truly is throughout the books without giving Scarlett an unnecessarily large head. She's no Plum at all!

I think this book, more than the first two, had me cheering and laughing out loud as Scarlett took on her nemesis. I especially loved the "Pillow or Scissors" encounter! Hurry, Ms. Henderson, and give us a fourth book.