Originally posted at Riffs and Reviews

The first book in a series of ghost stories written for teens, Bad Girls Don’t Die by Katie Alender definitely brings the creepy moments – as well as some things we’ve seen before.

When we first meet our protagonist Alexis, she is out on her front lawn taking photos of her house in the moonlight but is interrupted by her little sister Kasey. As they are talking in the yard, Alexis observes a strange blob of light resting in a tree near the house. She then notices the light in the yard when she and Kasey head back to the house – and that it seems to be following them. This glowing light is just the beginning of the horror that lies in store for Alexis and Kasey. From doors unexpectedly opening and shutting, rogue air conditioners, and mysterious dolls to Kasey’s eyes changing color, damaged car brakes and an elderly neighbor’s near poisoning there are a lot of strange and frightening things going on in this story. I definitely experienced the creeps several times while reading it, but there were also moments where I felt like I had seen things like this before – maybe at the movies, or in another book. There is a scene in the house’s basement between the sisters that especially gave me déjà vu; multiple elements in the scene seemed a bit cliché. It’s not a bad scene (in fact, it is pretty creepy), it’s just not very original.

Alexis is just as erratic a character as a real teenager; she’s a big sister who is sometimes frustrated by her little sister and other times protective and caring. She could be supportive and sympathetic, or a little mean. She was selfish at times and giving at others. I liked that she was given a skill with photography, which is a bit different from most teen heroines; there were moments, though, where it felt like she was lecturing the reader a little too much on how photos were taken and developed. I didn’t really understand why she was such an outsider at school, hung with the crowd she did, and was a disciplinary problem. What happened to make her this way? Why is she so determined to be different that she doesn’t mind alienating others? Alexis did display some growth by the end, building friendships and putting her life on the line to save Kasey which I appreciated. Being an older sister myself, I found myself worrying about Alexis’ little sister Kasey and what was happening to her, but also appalled by some of the stunts she pulled when she wasn’t herself. She seemed so confused and scared at times. Alternating between sweet and deadly, Kasey was the center of the creepy storm and became darker and more threatening as the story progressed.

Two secondary characters made solid impressions – Megan Wiley, the cheerleader who just may be able to help Alexis with her supernatural problems, and Carter Blume as the love interest. As Alexis got to know each of them, she discovered that even though they were outgoing and popular they had unexpected secrets of their own. The way Megan’s back story ended up intertwining with Alexis’ was the most surprising, while Carter’s seemed more random and was not really explained. I’ll be interested to see if it turns out to be pertinent in one of the other books in the series. Alexis’ parents were wonderfully normal, with mom working hard at the office and oblivious to what is going on at home while dad seems to be unhappy and pulling away from the family. Everything changes though when tragedy strikes, and the family has to pull together.

The story was a bit uneven, with moments of swiftly building tension and others that seemed to get bogged down in details (normally occurring when Alexis moved into lecture mode). The mystery behind Kasey’s escalating behavior helped hold everything together, but the red herring thrown in by the author regarding the ghostly presence pulling Kasey’s strings felt a bit clunky. Even with its unevenness the story kept my interest, provided some chills, and had me wondering what would happen next. It is not as dark or violent as Kendare Blake’s Anna Dressed In Blood, but it is a solid ghost story that can be enjoyed by pre-teens and up. It was intriguing enough that I will be checking out the next two books in the series.

Bad Girls Don’t Die by Katie Alender sets the stage for a series of ghost stories aimed at the young adult crowd that features a teen heroine who is a bit of an outcast, her thoroughly creepy younger sibling, and a house with a bad reputation. It is a satisfying read over all so if you are a fan of light chills then be sure to check out Bad Girls Don’t Die.