Dead Is Just A Rumor

Dead Is #4

by Marlene Perez

Thrills and chills descend on the town of Nightshade during Halloween in this fourth book in the series, following Dead Is So Last Year.    As the creepy little town of Nightshade prepares to celebrate its 200th anniversary—on Halloween, of course—many of its paranormal residents are receiving mysterious blackmail letters. Psychic teen Daisy Giordano and her sisters set out to find out who is behind the threats. But launching an investigation isn’t easy for Daisy with her overprotective father watching her every move. Though she’s is happy to have him back after the years he spent being held captive by an anti-paranormal group called the Scourge, Dad is having a difficult time adjusting to home life—and the fact that his little girl is now a senior in high school. He even disapproves of Daisy’s boyfriend, Ryan. Can their relationship take the strain?   And Daisy’s got even more on her A talented amateur chef, she has won cooking lessons with celebrity chef Circe Silvertongue. After nosing around (with a little help from Circe’s pet pig), Daisy begins to suspect the temperamental chef’s secrets aren’t only in her ingredients . . .  Praise for the Dead Is series “[Perez] delivers a wise-cracking, boy-lusting, determined sleuth of a high school protagonist . . . this quick, lighter-than-air spoof of the undead, cheerleaders and popularity is pure pleasure.”—Publishers Weekly “A fun ride from start to finish. Perez’s smart and sassy style soars.”—Mary E. Pearson, author of the Remnant Chronicles “[A] quick, lively romp . . . Teens looking for a breezy read will find plenty to like here.”—Booklist

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Mystery, Fantasy, Supernatural, Vampires, Romance

129 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 23, 2010

About the author

Author of the paranormal teen mystery Dead Is series, the adult urban fantasy Nyx Fortuna series, and the new teen vampire trilogy, which starts with The Afterlife of the Party with Entangled Teen.
One of Ten Books to Pick Up After You've Sunk Your Teeth into "Midnight Sun"
https://www.buzzfeed.com/rachelstroll...

Trilogy order
The Afterlife of the Party, Afterlife #1
I'm with the Banned, Afterlife #2
A Sucker for You, Afterlife #3

Nyx Fortuna series
Strange Fates
Dark Descent
Fortune's Favor

DEAD IS series is as follows:

DEAD IS THE NEW BLACK
DEAD IS A STATE OF MIND
DEAD IS SO LAST YEAR
DEAD IS JUST A RUMOR
DEAD IS NOT AN OPTION
DEAD IS spin-off
DEAD IS A BATTLEFIELD
DEAD IS A KILLER TUNE
DEAD IS JUST A DREAM
ww.marleneperez.com.

Twitter:@MarPerez
Instagram:marperezauthor

Welcome to Nightshade FB page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Welcome...

Reviews

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a YA paranormal story featuring witches and werewolves.

Daisy was an okay character and I felt quite sorry for her the way that her father was treating her. It also wasn’t nice that her free cooking lessons turned out to be a bit of a nightmare.

The storyline in this was about some paranormals in town receiving blackmail letters threatening to expose them, a new cook who wasn’t very nice, and a suspicious new guidance counsellor as well. The pace in this was pretty slow though, and the book dragged because of it.

The ending to this was fairly happy.



6 out of 10

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's my book, I've gotta love it!

[Mya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series never fails to get my blood pumping.

[Veronica Morfi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4/5

Another great instalment in the Dead Is series by Marlene Perez. In this 4th book it's Halloween time. I love Halloween, even though we don't celebrate it in Greece, and I love books taking placing during that time. So, of course, Halloween in Nightshade is not an exception. This time around, a lot of Nightshade's resident are being blackmailed. And everyone of the blackmailer's victims is a paranormal. So once again Daisy is on the case. Trying to figure out who is blackmailing half of the town is not her only worry though. She is taking cooking lessons with a very demanding chef, her dad is back after six years and is in overprotective mode and her student counsellor seems like is out to get her.

This was another fast and fun story about Nighstshade. We got to see more of our beloved characters and even met some new ones. We saw more of the Sourge, the organization after the paranormals, and learn a bit more about Nightshade's history and the mystery that is Lil, the prophetic jukebox.

I had such a great time reading this. I loved the interactions between Daisy and her sisters. They are one of my favorite book families. Also, I love Ryan, Daisy's boyfriend he is adorable and Sam, her best friend. I've come to love them all after so many stories about them.

All in all, this was fun. The mystery was a bit predictable as in the rest of the books, but still very entertaining.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was fun! I really liked the Halloween ball theme and the mystery in this. I didn’t love how the dad was acting and how we hardly got any interaction or background about him. Also the mom is never in these hardly. Still fun though.

[Shannan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, I love it. I actually adore these stories by Perez. I could not wait to get my hands on Dead is Just a Rumor! I couldn’t wait to start reading when I finally received a copy. In a couple hours, I was finished devouring it and totally satisfied to remain in love with the Dead is… series.
I love the jukebox, Daisy, Ryan, Sam, Poppy…let’s just say, I am a fan of the characters. The dad I am a little iffy with, but maybe because I grew to love this family while he was missing. Does that make me mean?
Things are not right in Nightshade. Halloween is creeping up on the town and a famous chef may be involved in a wicked scheme. In addition, there are people being blackmailed and Daisy intends to get to the bottom of the crime. With a nosey guidance counselor, an overprotective father, and question worthy cooking classes, Daisy has her hands full. Will she, her friends, and her sisters find out what has the town spooked?
How much more fun could a book be for the 12 plus crowd? I just love the laid back writing, the true to life characters, and the supernatural flare. This fun, mystical romp is fun for the whole family.

I give Dead is Just a Rumor 4.5 STACKS!

Patiently waiting for the next addition in the DEAD IS… series, I am STACKGirl, Shannan

Dead is Just a Rumor is to released August 2010

For more reviews, check out Girlsinthestacks.com

[Rebecca]

This is the fourth book in the Dead Is series and it is really good. I like Dead is Just a Rumour because it's short (it only takes a couple of hours to read) and it is really entertaining. I love mysteries and this series is just full of them.

Daisy is a protagonist that is actually really awesome. She's a typical teenager apart from the fact that she has psychic powers but other than that she is really relatable and you can't help but love her.

I love Dead is Just a Rumour because it's really light and breezy. There's a bit of suspense to keep you entertained and as I was reading it I found myself going through the pages so I could find out more.

My only complaint is that it ended quite abruptly. Although, I have a feeling there could be a book after this one. Fingers crossed there is.

If you like paranormal or you like mysteries then Dead is Just a Rumour is definitely worth a read.

[Jessica at Book Sake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun read from the series, this book has probably been my favorite of them this far. Another mystery in the town of Nightshade always keeps things interesting. A few new characters make their way into the pages, but it mainly centers around the same ones we have met before. We get to venture a little more into the lives of the Gordano family and now that Dad is there the family is larger. The book isn’t a keep-you-guessing type of a thing, if you think about it enough, you have all the clues to solve the mysteries on your own, but it’s more fun to just get lost in the book and have it spelled out for you. That’s what makes it such a fun read, nothing to take too seriously. While the major mystery of the book was solved, not everything tied up nicely at the end, so we can look forward to another book in the series.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eh, these are fun - like little bon bon treats. It only took a few pages to remember the characters and where we left off at the end of the third book. We find the Giordano sisters in fine form. Daisy is in her senior year, but having trouble with her dad, recently rescued from a 6-year captivity and now overprotective. He's got some reasons: someone is blackmailing the paranormal residents of Nightshade. Daisy is also involved with a cold case disappearance of the town matriarch's sister. Fun as always - a smidgen of mystery, good sense of humor, light romance, and some fun supernatural elements make these treats. Yes, predictable, yes, this one didn't quite have the satisfying ending as usual, but a fun series for the Twilight crowd that likes a quick, lighter read.

[Lena · Rating 3 out of 5]

2nd Read: I enjoyed it a little more this time around but was sad that Circe got away with Balthazar.

Daisy has her father back and has won cooking lessons from a famous chef, neither of which turns out as great as she'd like. I enjoyed this book less.

[Bookyurt · Rating 3 out of 5]

- From Bookyurt.com -

I recently discovered this breezy little teenage paranormal detective series and quickly chomped through all four books. The latest installment, Dead is Just a Rumor, comes out this week (though releasing against Suzane Collin’s Mockingjay is not the best marketing move). Still, after you’ve torn through Mockingjay, if you find yourself depressed by the end, this series is the perfect antidote. These books are just fun – think the Scooby gang, or if Nancy Drew lived in a town of paranormal denizens.

Daisy is an amusing and instantly likable lead, and it’s nice to see a character who has actual relationships with her family and (somewhat) normal teenage issues to deal with. The paranormal side is for the most part refreshingly light-hearted, a pleasant change from the dark, gothic-style drama that’s everywhere in YA. The town of Nightshade does have plenty of secrets for Daisy to uncover, and her sleuthing is fun to watch. And while the mysteries may not be particularly scary (or terribly surprising), they are still thoroughly entertaining.

In this installment Perez gives us some story lines that are clearly going to carry through into the next book, and leaves us with plenty of questions about exactly what The Scourge did to Daisy’s Dad. Next book, please!

I can’t say it enough – this is a effervescent, upbeat series, and even if you have a pretty good idea of how the ending is going to turn out, it’ll keep you hooked. These books are just fun to read.

Byrt Grade: A-

[Madeline W · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEW: Dead Is Just a Rumor (Dead Is, #4), Marlene Perez
RATING: 4/5 stars

I couldn’t resist offering another review for one of my favorite mystery series. This time around, Nightshade’s residents are getting blackmailed and Mr. Giordano is officially back in town. Throw in a sorcerer named Circe - make of that name what you will - and the little California town is as chaotic as ever.

Knowing how the last book progresses, I feel like this is a good bridge into the series finale. The name puns, again, detract a bit from my score. Book 4 was also not as smooth as Book 3 in terms of clues and foreshadowing, although I did think it was a significant improvement over Book 2. Honestly, the highlight of this book was the evil high school counselor. Ms. Tray is by far the scariest villain of the series because she’s such a realistic depiction of the profession. The patronization? The empty, vague commentary? Literally spot on - I had to laugh.

I have to say: even though the gap between Daisy and her dad is sad, I like the personal characterization she gets in this book away from Ryan. I think it really shows her maturity, even if the dynamic between her and Rafe does fluctuate toward more adolescent tendencies sometimes. As always, wonderful job to Marlene Perez on such a fun series.

(Edit upon rereading: "How'd you get so wise?" "Psychology 101." is a hysterical interaction that really does emulate half the Internet at this point.)

[Lilian · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ok I was veryy disappointed in this book...

< img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1-6mqufOcgU...

I dont know what the hell happened! I loved this series,and then this book...Lets say,it was just sad that it came out so bad...

I was like:

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Its so sad how some of the last books just disappoint you,and I was so happy to read this...

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Rating: < img src="http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs38/f/200...

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kicks off Daisy’s senior year, and it brings some new problems to Nightshade. Daisy’s dad is back, and he’s not adjusting well. I liked that Daisy and her dad would try to talk things out, and it made it feel relatable.
I still love Daisy and Ryan, and their relationship just seems so sweet and genuine. Their bond is so strong, and I love seeing that they talk about their issues now instead of hiding them.
The mystery of Lily and Bam is a favourite part of mine. I love how it introduces new characters, and the romance aspect of it is so sweet.

[Abi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main character in this was okay, but I still didn't love her.

This wasn't a bad read, but again, it wasn't one I loved, or can say that I really enjoyed. It dragged quite badly for me in areas unfortunately.

Overall, Not an awful read.

[Catalina · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 these are not as great as I used to think they were years ago.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great young adult read! I am really liking the character development and the books are fun to talk about with my kiddos at school.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have liked her writing in her books...with Daisy and Ryan and the jukebox's and all the strangle things going on in the town.

[Meghan Charette]

I chose to read Dead is Just a Rumor by Marlene Perez. This book was about a teenager named Daisy Giordano who lived in the town of Nightshade. Nightshade’s one hundredth anniversary was coming up. As the anniversary approaches, residents of Nightshade begin to receive blackmail letters. Daisy is working with her best friend Samantha, her boyfriend Ryan, and her two older sisters Rose and Poppy to find out who is behind these blackmail letters. This book was a very powerful read. It was intriguing and I wanted to keep on reading. There was a cliff hanger at the end of almost every chapter. Every single word was well placed and well thought out in this book. There were strong comparisons made and it was very well written. I think that the plot of this book was very interesting and it made me want to keep reading. There was no page that was dull or that lacked any action. The book was also easy to follow along with and I had no confusion while reading. It was very clear and easy to understand. Overall, this novel was easy to follow along with and it was enjoyable to read. This book’s plot was very interesting to me and I think to anyone interested in paranormal activity. There were even some comical parts that made me laugh. I would recommend this book to anyone who finds paranormal activity interesting and intriguing. I would say that anyone from ages 14-17 would find this novel interesting.

[Kylee Flack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dead Is Just A Rumor by Marlene Perez was one of the best books I have ever read! It was so good that it was also one of the fastest reads I have ever accomplished. It tells a great, and mysterious story about a unique family living in a VERY unique town. This is the fourth book I've read by Perez, and I plan on reading more as this series goes on. Along with an incredibly complex mystery the main character, Daisy, her family, and friends solve, the audience experiences a very true story on a daughter, her dad, and the difficulties they face as she is growing up, and becoming a young woman. In this book, I enjoy all the paranormal elements, and they make it even better. All in all, I highly recommend reading this series, especially this book.

[Celine · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me only a couple days to read it because I’d never really gotten to this book before in the series and it was a page Turner, I kept wanting to find out what happened. It was a good one. I love the characters although there we’re definitely some moments that made me hate penny more then I already did, although I was glad near the end that she had changed some. I know Daisy’s dad had been through a lot and just got back but it made me a little angry with how he acted and grounded Daisy like he did.

[WillowBe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't enjoy this as much since Daisy had to remain seriously obtuse so as not to spoil things for the reader. But possible in a later book Lily and Bam will be returned to their forms for hap ever after. Also finally Dad gets therapy? Really?

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not sure that I am ready for the last book because I don't want the series to end! Daisy is amazing and while some of the books had parts that weren't the greatest, the rest of the books that were made up for those. I'm almost sad it's almost over.

[kaotickitten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daisy is back. The town of Nightshade has its problems. This book is a ya paranormal mystery book. Like I said Daisy is back, and in the middle of what all mysteries. A quick read. If your looking for something that has all the paranormal creatures this series is for you.

[Elizabeth Aguilar · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I liked:
- Parent involvement and character growth
- Resolved plot points
- One last mystery
- easy to devour in a seating

What I didn't:
- A lot going on at once
- Idk I kind of want more info on the Scourge

[Candace Mac · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sure this was a gift as it doesn't fit genres I would usually read. It wasn't so much the YA audience it was intended for or the supernatural plot line, but the writing was so poor and the plot so weakly developed and those aspects just made it not enjoyable.

[Melanie Walsh · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would say, just don't read. There really isn't any substance to the stories without adding so many characters and plotlines that it is difficult to keep track of what's happening. It's not great, but I am halfway through so I am going to force myself to finish.

[Lucy Ballesteros · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m enjoying this series of high schoolers with different powers. The books are always to read and they are entertaining. The mysteries, although a bit predictable, keeps you motivated to keep reading.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is a fun, light read.

[Judine Brey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the concept of Lil and Bam, especially since it opens the series up for a fifth book, but I'm not sure Daisy and Ryan's relationship needs to be quite so physical.