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Dangerous Secrets
After receiving a mysterious envelope from Ricky, Erika begins to wonder if the envelope holds the key to Ricky's death a few days later and is horrified when she realizes that she is being stalked. Original.
183 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 25, 2025
Rounding up bc I share a name with the protag and she lives in the off-brand sounding town of Santa Clarinda, a suburb north of Los Angeles.
There’s a lot going on in this one, and it deals with some more mature themes than usual for a YA (child p*rn/revenge p*rn, suicide, drug use, creepy teacher behavior—just to name a few). It felt like a crazy, twisty episode of Law & Order: SVU, for reference.
I was captivated by the plot and curious to see where it was going. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
There’s a lot going on in this one, and it deals with some more mature themes than usual for a YA (child p*rn/revenge p*rn, suicide, drug use, creepy teacher behavior—just to name a few). It felt like a crazy, twisty episode of Law & Order: SVU, for reference.
I was captivated by the plot and curious to see where it was going. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
August 5, 2026
It is also a privilege to find an Avon Flare book on Thriftbooks that doesn't cost a busload of money to buy. Getting hard to find some of these titles!
Now that my child has gone back to school, I can now breeze through more of my YA fare and things that are a little spicier compared to having read Baby-Sitters Club books since April.
The blurb on the back is a vague and tame summary of what is in the book.
Erika Nilsen didn't know Ricky Fergusen that well. He was a jock and known flirt with all of the girls at school and Erika was just a normal fifteen-year-old high school student. Not too normal in that her parents are divorced, and she has a stepsister who is a cheerleader two years her senior and a stepfather who is a police detective.
That's how she found out that Ricky...was dead.
Her stepdad, Jeff, told her before the news would be broadcasted all over town and create a panic because it had happened here in California at Santa Clarinda Valley before. Two students having committed suicide five months ago and now, Ricky dying of carbon monoxide poisoning in his own car in his own garage.
It doesn't make sense to Erika that such a popular guy would take his own life, but she thinks the answer might be in the envelope he gave her.
Inside, Erika finds an explicit photo and is sickened to think that the girl in the compromising situation looks an awful lot like Kelly, her stepsister. Erika keeps this to herself, but it gets her mind thinking the same way as her reporter father. The motive for suicide and how this ties in with the photo in her hands.
Some of the teacher and other kids at school don't seem to be broken up about Ricky while others are keeping Erika's mother busy as the high school guidance counselor. Erika overhears a small bit of conversation coming to ask for lunch money and hears a girl talking to her mom. Her name is Sandra Littlejohn, and she was very close to Ricky, so Erika has a talk with her after school and learns what she already knew.
Ricky was into taking pornographic pictures for money.
That's when the trouble starts...
Erika receives a call because someone knows she has the picture and they want it back. If they don't get it back, they'll kill Kelly. Erika has no choice but to take it to the specific place the caller indicates and surely it will all be over.
That is until another student is found dead off the highway with a shotgun in his dead hands and a bullet through the back of his skull.
Another suicide.
Jeff isn't bothered because sometimes suicides among teens happen in clusters, but when both are two teenage boys with nothing in common and no real motive...Erika isn't so sure. The picture was given back so why would another student be a part of this wave?
Erika begins her own investigation, and it just keeps pulling her deeper and deeper into more and more dangerous secrets. Another call from the same creepy voice warns Erika that now her mother's life will be in danger if she doesn't stop.
That's when Erika realizes that the person behind this is someone at Hillside High one of the students or even one of the teachers....
There's a bit of romance as Erika finds an ally in Chad and a lot of red herrings as much of the male faculty of teachers at the school have good motives to explain their...behaviors. I like that Erika is such a smart protagonist with a kind heart even when this all starts because of some sleazy guy taking advantage of that.
Finding out who is behind all of this and the reasoning and plotting was actually intriguing.
Nested in between the murder and suspense there is also some family drama between Erika and her parents and a closeness developing with her stepfather.
If you can find a copy of Dangerous Secrets on the cheap, I wholly recommend reading it.
Now that my child has gone back to school, I can now breeze through more of my YA fare and things that are a little spicier compared to having read Baby-Sitters Club books since April.
The blurb on the back is a vague and tame summary of what is in the book.
Erika Nilsen didn't know Ricky Fergusen that well. He was a jock and known flirt with all of the girls at school and Erika was just a normal fifteen-year-old high school student. Not too normal in that her parents are divorced, and she has a stepsister who is a cheerleader two years her senior and a stepfather who is a police detective.
That's how she found out that Ricky...was dead.
Her stepdad, Jeff, told her before the news would be broadcasted all over town and create a panic because it had happened here in California at Santa Clarinda Valley before. Two students having committed suicide five months ago and now, Ricky dying of carbon monoxide poisoning in his own car in his own garage.
It doesn't make sense to Erika that such a popular guy would take his own life, but she thinks the answer might be in the envelope he gave her.
Inside, Erika finds an explicit photo and is sickened to think that the girl in the compromising situation looks an awful lot like Kelly, her stepsister. Erika keeps this to herself, but it gets her mind thinking the same way as her reporter father. The motive for suicide and how this ties in with the photo in her hands.
Some of the teacher and other kids at school don't seem to be broken up about Ricky while others are keeping Erika's mother busy as the high school guidance counselor. Erika overhears a small bit of conversation coming to ask for lunch money and hears a girl talking to her mom. Her name is Sandra Littlejohn, and she was very close to Ricky, so Erika has a talk with her after school and learns what she already knew.
Ricky was into taking pornographic pictures for money.
That's when the trouble starts...
Erika receives a call because someone knows she has the picture and they want it back. If they don't get it back, they'll kill Kelly. Erika has no choice but to take it to the specific place the caller indicates and surely it will all be over.
That is until another student is found dead off the highway with a shotgun in his dead hands and a bullet through the back of his skull.
Another suicide.
Jeff isn't bothered because sometimes suicides among teens happen in clusters, but when both are two teenage boys with nothing in common and no real motive...Erika isn't so sure. The picture was given back so why would another student be a part of this wave?
Erika begins her own investigation, and it just keeps pulling her deeper and deeper into more and more dangerous secrets. Another call from the same creepy voice warns Erika that now her mother's life will be in danger if she doesn't stop.
That's when Erika realizes that the person behind this is someone at Hillside High one of the students or even one of the teachers....
There's a bit of romance as Erika finds an ally in Chad and a lot of red herrings as much of the male faculty of teachers at the school have good motives to explain their...behaviors. I like that Erika is such a smart protagonist with a kind heart even when this all starts because of some sleazy guy taking advantage of that.
Finding out who is behind all of this and the reasoning and plotting was actually intriguing.
Nested in between the murder and suspense there is also some family drama between Erika and her parents and a closeness developing with her stepfather.
If you can find a copy of Dangerous Secrets on the cheap, I wholly recommend reading it.
April 19, 2025
The author must be a Valley Girl, as many LA suburbs are mentioned in here! And adding the Sizzler in Pacoima with the salad bar and garlic bread?? Chef's kiss!
Enjoyed this one, and was a little shocked at the more mature themes in this YA read...Su*cide, "p*rno pics", s*xual harassment from a teacher. Jeezus. Don't let the super boring cover deter you from reading this one! A well-executed little thriller, even though I was able to guess the killer fairly quickly for a change!
Minor gripe with mild spoiler:
Enjoyed this one, and was a little shocked at the more mature themes in this YA read...Su*cide, "p*rno pics", s*xual harassment from a teacher. Jeezus. Don't let the super boring cover deter you from reading this one! A well-executed little thriller, even though I was able to guess the killer fairly quickly for a change!
Minor gripe with mild spoiler:
September 28, 2025
Another author that wrote a great little YA thriller and then dipped!
Definitely mature subject matter for the time (1996). Kinda reminded me of Christopher Pike. Very twisty and full of red herrings.
Set in Southern California
Vaguely fall. The drama department is making a haunted house throughout the book.
Yes the noose does come into play.
Definitely mature subject matter for the time (1996). Kinda reminded me of Christopher Pike. Very twisty and full of red herrings.
Set in Southern California
Vaguely fall. The drama department is making a haunted house throughout the book.
Yes the noose does come into play.
February 28, 2020
Loved this, a quick read and I liked the way it was written and ended :)
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews