As Dead As It Gets (Bad Girls Don't Die #3)

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4.3 (2)

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As Dead As It Gets (Bad Girls Don't Die #3)

Author(s)

Katie Alender

Publisher

Hyperion Books for Children

Genre(s)

Paranormal

Age Range

12+

Release Date

May 15, 2012

ISBN

978-1423134725

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It's been three months since Alexis helplessly witnessed Lydia Small's violent death, and all she wants is for her life to return to normal. But normal people don’t see decaying bodies haunting photographs. Normal people don’t have to deal with regular intrusions from Lydia’s angry ghost, sometimes escalating to terrifying attacks. At first, it seems that Lydia wants revenge on Alexis alone. But a girl from school disappears one night, and Alexis spots one of Lydia’s signature yellow roses lying on the girl’s dresser the next day. Soon, it becomes clear that several of Alexis’s friends are in danger, and that she's the only person who can save them. But as she tries to intervene, Alexis realizes that her enemy is a much more powerful ghost than she's ever faced before... and that its fate is tied to hers in ways she couldn't possibly imagine. Not even in her worst nightmares.

Editor reviews

2 reviews

Creepy, scary

May 20, 2012

Overall rating

4.7

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When I first read Bad Girls Don't Die, I remember how creepy the story was. I couldn't wait for another book in this series.

As Dead As It Gets follows Alexis after the violent death of Lydia Small. Alexis isn't a stranger to the dead. She also had a run in with one that took over the body of her sister's doll. Now though Alexis is being blamed for Lydia's death. She just wants to be normal and let the past be just that. But then the ghost of Lydia shows up.

Not good.

There's a lot more to this tale than just one ticked off ghost, who happens to blame Alexis for her death. Yellow roses are showing up after other girls go missing. And then there's Jared, who has his own secrets.

This book is creepy, scary. Alexis can see the dead through photos she takes. The writing is engaging with a twisted Six Sense feel. What I really loved was how the author was able to weave in the other previous books back story in this tale without it holding the story down. Alexis is vulnerable with scars from her violent past. Jared is also creepy in his own way as the controlling new boyfriend with his own secrets. I even liked Lydia, the ghost. At first she comes across as bitter and evil but later on you find she has her own baggage.

An engaging paranormal tale that left me wanting more. Highly recommended for paranormal lovers like me!

Kim Baccellia, Staff Reviewer Top 10 Reviewer 889 reviews

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User reviews

2 reviews

Overall rating

4.3

Plot

4.5(2)

Characters

4.5(2)

Writing Style

4.0(2)

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Wonderfully Creepy Series

October 24, 2013

Overall rating

3.7

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It’s been a while since I’ve had a book that’s kept me up reading until midnight. I knew when putting together my pile or books for October that As Dead As It Gets would be perfect for the spooky Halloween ambiance. I loved the first book, Bad Girls Don’t Die, quite a lot. The setting with the eerie old house was just perfect, but I though it’s sequel, From Bad to Cursed, kind of fell flat. However, while I don’t think it was as good as book one, As Dead As It Gets definitely made up for what was lacking in book two.

Alexis is a main character that really appeals to me. Maybe it’s her love for photography or the fact that she doesn’t have normal colored hair (with the exception of book two.) I always seem to end up loving characters that have Crayola colored hair… Anyway, I’ve always liked Alexis as the main character. She’s one of those people who try to stay out of the way and out of the spotlight, but can and will step up when she needs to. And in this book, she has so much more baggage than what she started out with in book one. I think damaged characters are the most interesting to read, and we’ve got our fill of damaged characters in this book especially. I was actually surprised that I ending up really liking characters that I had just hated in the previous novels. I won’t say anymore because, you know, spoilers.

The story had plot twists all over the place. First we think that it’s one person causing all these horrible events to happen, but then we fins out it’s someone else, and then we find out that it’s someTHING else. And we find out that characters that we thought we trustworthy aren’t and vice versa. It’s kind of mind melting. Katie Alender does such a wonderful weaving everything together and taking the story to places I never thought it would go. And it’s so creepy. This series does a really good job of keeping you up late reading, but then not wanting to turn off the light. This novel also had more romance than it’s predecessors, but it will also make you want to keep the light on, I guarantee that.

Overall, I thought this was an appropriate end to the series. It was kind of bittersweet–some things work out for the better, but a lot more turn out badly. And I like that. I like that everyone is probably more damaged than when they started out. It’s more realistic that way. Although I’ll be sad to see this series end, I’m excited to read what else Katie Alender comes up with. Consider me a fan.

Caroline Foxwell Top 500 Reviewer

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Great ending/SPOILERS

August 03, 2013

Overall rating

5.0

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Best one in the series!

Good Points

This was probably the best one in the series!!!

Girls start disappearing, not just randoms, but friends of Alexis. She figures that there's more that meets the eye when she spots a yellow rose on the girl's dresser, which happened to be at Lydia's funeral. So she thinks that Lydia's out for revenge, so she confronts her and finds out that it's more than what she imagined.

Alex kind of went from being in charge of the situation to off the deep end in this one! Just ended up tackling a lot by herself and it starts showing cracks in her life.

Kasey went from getting into these situations to finally being a normal teen. Boyfriend, friends, popular and all that jazz. Even trying to help Alexis, who didn't really want to put her through the pain again.

Lydia, became of my faves. In this series, she went from being a pain, to possessed, [to realizing that the reason she can't cross over is because she is meant to help (or save) Alexis and in some ways make amends with what happened between them. (hide spoiler)]

Megan moved schools, but still kept in contact, but kept her at an arms distance. She was still punishing herself for what she tried to do to Alexis in the end of From Bad to Cursed. Eventually hashing everything out w/ Alexis, who told her to let go of the guilt, and in the end being there for her like the best friends the became in Bad Girls Don't Die.

We got to know Jared a "little" better. [By better we find out he had a girlfriend, Laina, who passed away. Yet, he was obsessed with her. He had a shrine in his closet for her. Everything from the newspaper articles to pages from the yearbook and pictures of her surrounded w/ candles. We also find a bouquet of dried yellow roses, which happened to be her calling card. Also had photoshopped Alexis' face onto Laina's body. By the end he really had lost it. Trying to convince Alexis to commit suicide, by jumping, so they could be together, because it was what Laina would've wanted for him to stop suffering. (hide spoiler)] He was entertaining...

Elliot! Aw, another of my faves! [Although she doesn't make it, she was everything that Alexis needed in her life at the moment, a friend who didn't judge her. Had a lasting impression on Alexis' life. (hide spoiler)]

Same old Carter, always there for her. That dependable, loyal friend that she tried pushing away, but was there no matter what!

Loved this one! Great series! :D