Clarity (Clarity #1)

I really enjoyed reading Clarity. It was a mix of fantasy and mystery that was really enticing and compelling.
The plot was really captivating with so many interesting characters and suspects.
I liked Clare's practicality and her unique powers. Her brother was funny. And Gabriel was mysterious.
Looking forward to next novel.

I'm feeling rather conflicted about Clarity. It was an enjoyable read overall and I loved that it kept me guessing until the end, but there were a few things that really annoyed me.

First of all, Clarity. I understand the whole tough exterior/soft interior thing, but the "I-hate-you-I-love-you" thing with both guys was really annoying. I can see her side of it all, but I couldn't connect with it so it just made Clare seem all wishy-washy and annoying. She was also very conveniently dumb sometimes. I mean, there was a part towards the end where she was all "something's not right, but I can't figure it out" and it had to do with her powers! I mean, come on, her power is her thing, you know, she shouldn't be thrown off by something that is such a part of her.

I thought I had a problem with some little things here and there that just didn't seem to fit in with the story, but it is a mystery, after all, and everything did get cleared up nicely. That being said, there was a good amount of setup for the sequel and I'm quite looking forward to it. For all you cliffhanger haters out there, let me assure you that this one doesn't fall in that category. Like I said, everything wraps up nicely so it could be a standalone, but there's a good tease to leave you wanting to enter Clarity's small town of Eastport once again.

I quite loved the characters. Though I would absolutely hate having a mom who could read my thoughts, it made some very entertaining moments. Justin was really interesting too. I thought I was supposed to hate him, but then he was all gooey and sweet. I'm totally team Jason all the way :] Nate was a great sidekick/friend too and I'm really hoping for more of him in the sequel.

Final Thoughts: Though there were some things that annoyed me along the way, Clarity is definitely worth the read (especially since it's been optioned for a tv show!). It has a little paranormal with a mix of mystery and just a little dash of romance.

Clarity was kind of like Veronica Mars, if Veronica was raised by her mom instead of her dad, wasn’t actually a trained detective, and was psychic. Which kind of sounds not at all like Veronica Mars, but just bear with me here. They’re both social outcasts, sassy and sarcastic, and solve crimes by tying lots of seemingly insignificant details together (although Veronica uses her razor-sharp intelligence to do this, while Clare mostly uses her psychic powers). And although both have significant trouble fitting in at school, they seem to have absolutely no problems getting all the town’s most eligible bachelors to go gaga over them.

So that said, this book appealed to the part of me that loves (loves) Veronica Mars. I enjoy reading about a sassy teen girl solving crimes, and I even enjoy the far-fetched lovey-dovey angst (normally I am heavily anti-love-triangle, but I felt like it worked in this book, even though I still fail to see how the town outcast gets all the most desirable boys in town swooning over her).

I liked how the mystery was presented. Clues were dropped throughout the narrative, making it possible (but difficult) for me to guess who the killer was, and what their motives were. I had it narrowed down to a couple options by the time the book hit its culmination, and while I can smugly say “I was right,” I was also wrong. And I definitely changed my mind a few times throughout the course of the story. I felt like the story had great pacing and the momentum built nicely all the way through to the climax. And while the ending was certainly open to sequels, it was satisfying.

The characters were enjoyable, and I liked how most of them actually served a purpose. There were very few filler characters, which means if someone was mentioned, it was relevant (at least in a minor way). I really enjoyed Clare’s brother Perry, as well as her mom, even though both characters had major flaws. And although there was a love triangle, it wasn’t terrible, and you could actually see why should would be conflicted over these two guys (as opposed to many books where one choice is obviously wrong).

There were parts of the plot that were far-fetched. For some reason, although Clare can’t seem to make friends to save her life because of her psychic ability, her brother (the medium) is described as being popular. There were times when the police allowed her and her family to do things and go places that I don’t think would ever be allowed by the real police. And as far as I know, “son of a detective” isn’t actually anything, and would not entitle Gabriel to any rights or privileges whatsoever in real life; but in the book, he seems to have been practically deputized. So if it’s going to bother you that stuff happens in this book that would not happen in real life (supernatural abilities aside), then you may want to skip this one. A healthy suspension of disbelief is necessary.

However, as far as I’m concerned, Clarity was a fun, exciting, entertaining read that kept me guessing until the end and left me satisfied once it was over. And that’s really all I wanted, so I was happy.

Previously published on my blog: http://fictionfervor.wordpress.com/2011/06/26/review-clarity-by-kim-harrington/

I cannot even begin to explain how much I enjoyed reading Clarity.

I’ve always been a huge fanatic with murder mysteries. I absolutely adore Agatha Christie’s and Arthur Conan Doyle’s murder mysteries (my favorites are And Then There Were None, Murder on the Orient Express, and The Hound of the Baskervilles), and so once I found out that Clarity was a paranormal murder mystery, I immediately added it to my to-read list. Immediately. And I was not in any way disappointed. In fact, Clarity surpassed my expectations.

I adore the main character and protagonist, Clare. Though she isn’t exactly psychic – in the beginning of the book, she explains that no one can predict the future – by touching objects, she can find out things about it: who last touched it, what that person was feeling at the time, etc. She and her telepathic mother and her brother Perry, who can talk to ghosts, entertain tourists with their powers for a living. Though their appointments get quite exciting sometimes (take the first clients they have in the book), it’s generally a boring lifestyle for Clare. So when she’s offered the job of using her powers to help the investigation of the murder of a tourist named Tori, she accepts.

Then when she learns that her brother, who likes to “play” with the girls who come to their tourist-attractive town called Cape Cod, was the last person to see Tori, things get complicated. Not to mention that she has to work with both Justin, her ex-boyfriend and son of the town’s mayor, and Gabriel, the hot son of the new detective in town. Talk about tension.

Clare is definitely a fantastic protagonist. Though I wouldn’t label her as “kick-butt,” she definitely can take care of herself, being the determined person she is. And I especially loved her indecision over which boy to choose: Justin or Gabriel? I’d say that I’m Team Gabriel (not only because he’s incredibly hot, obviously, though that might be a large part) probably because I think that although sweet at times, Justin is just irritating.

And the plot of this book? I’ve got one word for you: OHMYGOSHAWESOME. This book literally had me flipping its pages, desperate to find out who the murderer was . . . and the answers to those other mysteries. And though some of them weren’t all that surprising, I was definitely taken back by a few.

The only thing I wasn’t satisfied with was that ending (romance-wise, that is). I’m still wondering where those last pages of the book are, Kim!

Clarity is simply phenomenal. Such a fast-paced book completely shrouded with mystery and full of romantic tension should definitely get more attention than it already has. A must for any paranormal reader, especially those who want something just a little bit different from vampires and werewolves!

Source: copy borrowed from library

First of all, I have a small confession. You know that saying "Don't judge a book by its cover"? That totally doesn't adhere to me - at least, with real books. (Don't worry, guys, I don't stick stereotypes on new people I meet or any of that nonsense.) As a rule, I'm not fond of models on covers - they just look so...fake and unlike real teens that it's hard to attach myself to the storyline or the character inside, because that image is already stuck in my mind.

Clarity's cover is digitally created, which is just as bad because it's...just bad. At least to me. I currently have the book next to me, face down, because I can't stand the girl on the cover staring at me. Paranoid much? I don't think so.

The book covers...they always watch you. *cue creepy music*

Alright. Clarity is one of those reads I wish I had more good things to say about, because I was really looking forward to it. The first chapter starts out well enough. We meet Clarity "Clare" Fern. She, her brother and her mom are psychics by trade. Unlike most night crawlers with neon signs and crystal balls, however, they really do have special abilities. Mommy Fern can read minds; Perry can conjure up spirits; and the heroine herself can read the memories left behind on objects.

Convenient, right? Especially when a killer strikes, leaving a young tourist dead in a motel room with a lack of evidence and too many questions. To me, this was the part when the novel started to make its descent into "Kaye does not approve" territory. Perry is a total womanizer. His own sister makes it clear from the moment that he enters the novel. Unfortunately for him - and the reader - it isn't the last we hear of it. The woman who died was his last fling, and he's the number one suspect. The author tries to drum up sympathy for him throughout the plot, but really...I cannot tolerate a guy with a lack of morals. Call me old-fashioned, but isn't there still a guy out there who believes in monogamy and fidelity and all that good stuff?

Of course, there is also the (rather weak, in my opinion) love triangle tossed in as well - Clare's ex-boyfriend Justin who cheated on her and realized he can't live without her, so he wants her to take him back (gag) and the new detective's "smoldering" son who apparently attracts her with his constant mysterious "I like you, but I can't because you're a phony and...my past...I just...I can't" (chokes up manfully).

As you can see, I don't go easy on male characters in novels. YOU CAN LIVE WITHOUT HIM, GIRLS. WAIT FOR THE ONE WHO HOLDS OPEN YOUR DOOR AND DOESN'T EYE THE WAITRESS OVER THE ENTREES. FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT!

Reader reviewed by Lia

Clarity "Clare" Fern is a pyschic, her brother is a medium, and her mother is a telepath. Clare and her family make a living by doing readings for the tourists that come to their little town. Then one day a girl is found murdered in her hotel room, with the number one suspect as Clare's brother. Clare joins the investigation at her ex-boyfriend's request to clear her brother's name.

This was a refreshing debut, with just the right amount of mystery, supernatural powers and romance. Yes, this novel like many others also contains a love triangle, but it is not the main aspect of the story, instead it is on the side and not too overbearing. I read the whole book in one sitting. It was a quick, entertaining read with interesting characters. I especially liked Nate and Justin. I am looking forward to reading the sequel, Perception.