Jillian Cade: (Fake) Paranormal Investigator by Jen Klein Pages: 288
Published by Soho Teen on September 1, 2015
Series: Jillian Cade #1
Genres: Young Adult, contemporary, Paranormal
Source: eARC from Publisher
Ally Carter’s megabestselling Gallagher Girls series meets Veronica Mars with a paranormal twist when Jillian Cade’s (fake!) private eye service unearths far more than she bargained for.
Jillian Cade doesn’t believe in the paranormal, unlike her famous father, a professor and expert on the occult. Ever since he abandoned her to travel the world for “research,” she’s milked his reputation—and all the suckers who believe in the stuff—by taking over his private investigation firm. After all, a high school junior has to take care of herself, especially when she’s on her own.
Ironically, it’s when she takes on a case that might involve a totally non-paranormal missing person that things get strange. Particularly when Sky Ramsey—a new boy at school who insists on becoming her partner—won’t shut up about succubi, of all things.
As they investigate, Jillian is surprised by her feelings for Sky, which threaten to derail the investigation. But that surprise is no match for the shock of learning that there may be something to Sky’s succubi obsession after all.
Jillian Cade: (Fake) Paranormal Investigator by Jen Klein is a young adult book that made me so happy because it totally surprised me. It is the first book in an unnamed series, and I am so crazy happy that there are going to be more of these books especially because of the direction that Jen Klein took Jillian Cade in. Jillian is the daughter of a paranormal expert, whom she lovingly (not really) refers to as a con artist. That should tell you all you need to know on Jillian’s stance on the paranormal.
I felt so bad for Jillian. I mean, her mom passed away, her dad is always off traveling so you can guess that there is a bit of a strain on their relationship because of that. Not to mention Jillian is kind of bitter about the whole paranormal thing because her father has basically abandoned her to tour the world, leaving her alone and without money to even pay the power bill at her house. Talk about child neglect. To keep things going Jillian heads up her dad’s paranormal investigation private eye business. I loved that she made her clients jump through password hoops to protect her identity from them. She is a savvy one, which is one of the things that I immediately liked about her. She is a fighter. A sassy fighter.
Jillian and her cousin help people rid ghosts from their house, or help out with curses, and the like, even though Jillian doesn’t believe in any of it. (think Psych or monk or the mentalist.) But when a new guy shows up in town, and is a big groupie of her dad he basically forces her to come along on her next assignment. Saving the popular girl at school’s boyfriend from a curse. And that is about all I am going to tell you about the plotline from the book because this book is just so darn good, I don’t want to spoil a thing. Whether you are going into Jillian Cade expecting a contemporary or more of a paranormal, it doesn’t matter, because I guarantee you will be surprised and pleasantly so while reading. (and nope, I am not going to tell you which one of those I expected. I’ve even included both contemporary and paranormal in my genres as a kind of pathetic attempt to throw you off. It’s not actually both. winkwink)
If you love spunky characters, a riveting plotline, some romance to boot, and not to mention the set up for what looks like it is going to be a great series, then you have the right book. Jillian Cade exceeded all of my expectations. And then some.
@BookBriefs #Reviews #JillianCade: (Fake)Paranormal Investigator by @jenkleintweets @soho_teen Click To Tweet
kindlemom1
It is hard to say no to a sassy fighter. I love how you described the main character Michelle. Great review. I have seen this around the past few days and I think I need to try it. 😉
Stormi
This sounds like a fun read. 🙂 I will have to add it to my list.
Lekeisha
I saw this book on either NG or EdelW and I remember thinking that I’d wait to see if others like it. Glad that you do because I’m adding it to my cart. I love the irony of it all. Great review!