Review: Clarity

CLARITY (Clarity #1)
Kim Harrington
Paranormal Young Adult
242 Pages
Scholastic Point
Available now
Received from publisher for review

THE STORY
Clarity Fern is a member of what some may call an unusual family. Her mother can read minds. Her brother speaks to the dead. Clare herself possesses the ability to touch objects and see certain events related to that object, a gift that let her know her boyfriend Justin had cheated on her when she brushed her hand over his jacket. Sometimes her gift really isn't a gift at all.

Typically not too much exciting happens in Clare's small tourist town, but that quickly changes when a young woman is found shot to death in her hotel room, and the current mayor's son, also known as Clare's ex-boyfriend Justin, asks Clare for her unofficial help in the investigation. Her work will pair her with Gabriel, the new sheriff's very good-looking son, as neither the Mayor nor sheriff want it to be known they're working with someone like Clare on such a high profile case.

Despite Gabriel's obvious distaste for her ability, Clare still finds herself attracted to him and spends more and more time in his presence as they uncover new leads. Unfortunately for Clare, the new leads point in a variety of different directions, some unsavory and some a hitting a little closer to home than she'd like, and soon the gift Gabriel so mocks puts her right in the line of fire.

MY THOUGHTS
Clarity is a stunning debut, one that combines humor with mystery and dynamic characters with a well-paced plot, using each of these elements in a blissful combination that holds us transfixed the moment we begin reading and keeps us in place as we find ourselves anxious to join the hunt for a murderer. Ms. Harrington has written a crisp and concise story that could have easily been bogged down by overused plot devices, but in her skillful hands we are not tiredly wondering why we're being exposed to yet another love triangle nor do our thoughts drift aimlessly with a sense of deja vu, instead our focus remains glued to Clare's unique ability, her close-knit family, and the ramifications of her first broken heart. Clarity is easily devoured in one sitting, leaving us satisfied upon conclusion but still undeniably curious–not wanting our exposure to these new and memorable individuals to be over just yet–and we add this title to the pile of books that have charmed us, intrigued us, and led us to mark their creators as auto-buy authors.

Clare is an outspoken, snarky young woman who often finds it difficult to keep her mouth shut when those around her hurt or offend either her or those she cares about, and we sit back and quirk our lips in amusement as she fights her own battles, wishing we possessed her ability to say what she means the moment she means it. She handles the two young men in her life with a refreshing maturity, dealing with her hurt and lingering attraction to Justin with a realistic honesty as she fully acknowledges her desire to inflict the same pain she suffered at his betrayal, but also refusing to to be naive and deny her feelings for him entirely. With Gabriel she exhibits an admirable sense of caution, recognizing her growing affection for him but not so blinded by his good looks that she ignores his imperfections and loses herself in a haze of hormones.

In addition to a main character who earns our instant and unwavering support, Clarity illustrates Ms. Harrington's adeptness at weaving a complex murder mystery. While we may initially have a suspect in mind, each new clue expertly shifts our focus to someone new, and sometimes to someone whom we desperately hope is innocent but remains just suspicious enough to keep us on our guard. When we reach the conclusion we look back and realize each piece of information played a unique and vital role, blending together to create a story free of extraneous details and overly verbose descriptions, and leaving behind characters whose specific actions throughout come together at the end to paint an entirely different picture of the people we thought we knew in the beginning. Every element in this tale seems to be perfectly balanced, allowing us to absorb fully the emotional interactions, engaging characters, and effortless suspense all at one time as opposed to having our attentions split when certain aspects of the the story are given more weight than others.

Though this story isn't one that takes a toll on our feelings or leaves our hearts in tatters so it's forever branded in our minds as unforgettable, it's a quick and enthralling read that delivers solid entertainment on all fronts. The attention given to Clare's gifted mother and brother and their unique relationships with Clare is a welcome reprieve from the prevalent trend of focusing primarily on romantic connections or friendships–a trend that leaves the vital familial bond painfully neglected. With a little paranormal activity, a smidgen of romance, and a large dose of mystery, Clarity has a little something for everyone and truly is one that should not be missed.

Rating: 4/5