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Fatality
Four years after a gruesome murder, a teenage girl discovers that some secrets refuse to stay buried, in this riveting mystery from a “thriller master” (Publishers Weekly). Rose was thrilled when Angelica Lofft invited her to spend the weekend at her family’s beautiful lake house. It had everything a girl could delicious treats, gorgeous horses, and an exquisite pool. But instead of a weekend of fun in the sun, someone ended up dead. Four years later, the police have reopened the case. This time they have Rose’s diary—her private, personal diary—and Rose will do anything to get it back, even if it means stealing a police car. But now that she’s destroyed the evidence, the police are convinced she saw something. And the longer Rose keeps her secrets, the more she risks losing everything . . . From the bestselling author of The Face on the Milk Carton comes a gripping thriller about the lies people tell and the consequences they can’t escape. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Caroline B. Cooney including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author’s personal collection.
183 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 17, 2001
204 people are currently reading
467 people want to read
About the author
Caroline B. Cooney
125 books1,733 followersCaroline Cooney knew in sixth grade that she wanted to be a writer when "the best teacher I ever had in my life" made writing her main focus. "He used to rip off covers from The New Yorker and pass them around and make us write a short story on whichever cover we got. I started writing then and never stopped!"
When her children were young, Caroline started writing books for young people -- with remarkable results. She began to sell stories to Seventeen magazine and soon after began writing books. Suspense novels are her favorites to read and write. "In a suspense novel, you can count on action."
To keep her stories realistic, Caroline visits many schools outside of her area, learning more about teenagers all the time. She often organizes what she calls a "plotting game," in which students work together to create plots for stories. Caroline lives in Westbrook, Connecticut and when she's not writing she volunteers at a hospital, plays piano for the school musicals and daydreams!
- Scholastic.com
When her children were young, Caroline started writing books for young people -- with remarkable results. She began to sell stories to Seventeen magazine and soon after began writing books. Suspense novels are her favorites to read and write. "In a suspense novel, you can count on action."
To keep her stories realistic, Caroline visits many schools outside of her area, learning more about teenagers all the time. She often organizes what she calls a "plotting game," in which students work together to create plots for stories. Caroline lives in Westbrook, Connecticut and when she's not writing she volunteers at a hospital, plays piano for the school musicals and daydreams!
- Scholastic.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
May 31, 2020
The suspense was fun and drew me in and made me want to see it through to the incredibly disappointing end. Much like the last twilight book that builds up a war that never happens this book fizzles out in the most unimpressive way. Turns out the big bad secret is already known and has no consequences. The real problem isn’t even what anything is about and a murder still goes unsolved. What the heck.
March 25, 2010
I do not like how the girl won't freaking talk.
October 22, 2022
Caroline B. Cooney sometimes is a hit and miss with me. If it's straight up a horror/thriller it's usually the toss up but drama/thriller is always a winner.
You think Fatality by its title will be the first option but it is more the second so I found it really good.
It took a long time to get to the reveal and the climax of the story but it was actually worth it. You got to know the characters who were important and it built up the suspense.
Four years ago when Rose Lymond was in seventh grade, she learned a secret.
That fateful weekend, a woman died.
Rose was staying the weekend with Angelica Lofft at her family's lake cabin. The woman who died was the business partner of Anjelica's father, Milton, name of Frannie Bailey. The police believe Milton Lofft murdered her.
Anjelica and Rose were in the car while they fought.
They had no evidence and the case was dropped...until now.
Rose's mother tells the police officers who come to talk to Rose that her daughter kept a diary around that time...maybe it could help.
Rose is desperate to keep her private secrets so she steals the diary back, taking the police car and driving off to destroy its contents. Only of that fateful weekend and then she lets the police arrest her...Rose remaining silent.
She's not being charged in criminal court but forced to do clean up on the highway. Her parents are shocked by the change in her behavior and why she won't tell the police about what she knows of that day...
Rose isn't the only one who knows her secret.
Her former friend Chrissie Klein was jealous of her being invited to Anjelica's the weekend before so she read the diary...
Her older brother Tabor's youngest friend in his band, her major crush, Alan Finney noticed how she never wrote in her diary anymore. The look on Rose's face terrified him and he just had to know why she stopped...
Rose doesn't know she has friends who know her secret, why she's acting the way she is and can understand her pain, but there is someone else who wants to know what she's hiding.
This person is not on Rose's side and if the diary is gone they'll settle for Rose taking her secret...to the grave.
A very strong female protagonist and most of the characters actually seem to be good people.
Growing up, changing for better or for worse, realizing your mistakes and discovering the truth about people are all themes in this book and Cooney has a very detailed and fluid way of writing about human emotions.
When we finally learn the "secret" I don't find it disappointing but I won't divulge too much about it. Fatality as a title is both a misdirection and a subtle metaphor for the story within and if you haven't read it but enjoy say The Janie Johnson series, you'll like this book as I give it a five star recommendation.
You think Fatality by its title will be the first option but it is more the second so I found it really good.
It took a long time to get to the reveal and the climax of the story but it was actually worth it. You got to know the characters who were important and it built up the suspense.
Four years ago when Rose Lymond was in seventh grade, she learned a secret.
That fateful weekend, a woman died.
Rose was staying the weekend with Angelica Lofft at her family's lake cabin. The woman who died was the business partner of Anjelica's father, Milton, name of Frannie Bailey. The police believe Milton Lofft murdered her.
Anjelica and Rose were in the car while they fought.
They had no evidence and the case was dropped...until now.
Rose's mother tells the police officers who come to talk to Rose that her daughter kept a diary around that time...maybe it could help.
Rose is desperate to keep her private secrets so she steals the diary back, taking the police car and driving off to destroy its contents. Only of that fateful weekend and then she lets the police arrest her...Rose remaining silent.
She's not being charged in criminal court but forced to do clean up on the highway. Her parents are shocked by the change in her behavior and why she won't tell the police about what she knows of that day...
Rose isn't the only one who knows her secret.
Her former friend Chrissie Klein was jealous of her being invited to Anjelica's the weekend before so she read the diary...
Her older brother Tabor's youngest friend in his band, her major crush, Alan Finney noticed how she never wrote in her diary anymore. The look on Rose's face terrified him and he just had to know why she stopped...
Rose doesn't know she has friends who know her secret, why she's acting the way she is and can understand her pain, but there is someone else who wants to know what she's hiding.
This person is not on Rose's side and if the diary is gone they'll settle for Rose taking her secret...to the grave.
A very strong female protagonist and most of the characters actually seem to be good people.
Growing up, changing for better or for worse, realizing your mistakes and discovering the truth about people are all themes in this book and Cooney has a very detailed and fluid way of writing about human emotions.
When we finally learn the "secret" I don't find it disappointing but I won't divulge too much about it. Fatality as a title is both a misdirection and a subtle metaphor for the story within and if you haven't read it but enjoy say The Janie Johnson series, you'll like this book as I give it a five star recommendation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2017
I think this book Fatality is very interesting and very detailed. I think it's detailed because the whole situation about the girl dying and Rose being a witness Rose explained how it all started and ended. Rose explained about what kind of person Angelica was and how she met her and also how they knew each other. Rose explained the ideas that were going threw her head when she stole the police car and how she was going to handle it once she gets caught. The author explains how Rose's friend Angelica's summer house looked to where i can really imagine it. I think Rose should have just told the police the day she witnessed this indecent and she wouldn't be in the situation that she is in. Her diary would have never got taken if she didn't keep it a secret that she witnessed a girl getting murdered. This book is very good it has some suspense and i like that about the book. I think Rose's mother and father are a little wrong for letting the police take her diary when they know how much she loves her diary and also how protective she is about it. I don't think her mother and father should be disapionted in her because they let the police take her diary and should've known that Rose will do anything to get her diary back from somebody. Rose is very brave and risking for stealing a police car when she knows she could have very bad consequences even maybe 1 month in jail or something. I think that the officers and judge shouldn't give her any consequences but they should find out what happened to the lady that got murdered and figure out everything she knows about how she died.
September 12, 2019
When I was younger I remember reading every book at my local library by Caroline B. Cooney. This one either wasn't owned by my library when I did that or came out after that phase. But, when I saw it as an available eBook, I couldn't pass up the chance to read down memory lane and see if I still enjoyed my childhood/early young adult taste.
This book passed the test. I did not figure out all the twists before they happened. I enjoyed the characters. I enjoyed reliving teenage fears and growth and the reminder that we all grow and change. One line that drove that reminder home: "You shouldn't hold against somebody how she'd behaved in seventh grade." Also this one: "Now that Alan was eighteen he could admit none of them had had talent. But they had sure had fun."
Glad I read this one! I just may have to finish my childhood quest to read all Cooney's books (turns out it's a pretty long list!)
This book passed the test. I did not figure out all the twists before they happened. I enjoyed the characters. I enjoyed reliving teenage fears and growth and the reminder that we all grow and change. One line that drove that reminder home: "You shouldn't hold against somebody how she'd behaved in seventh grade." Also this one: "Now that Alan was eighteen he could admit none of them had had talent. But they had sure had fun."
Glad I read this one! I just may have to finish my childhood quest to read all Cooney's books (turns out it's a pretty long list!)
January 3, 2023
Don't get me wrong, Caroline B. Cooney knows how to craft a good mystery. However, this one did not hold up to the standard I expect from her. Much of it seemed a tad unrealistic and just silly. I understand where she wanted to go with it, but it didn't go there.
Fatality is about a girl named Rose who witnessed a crime the summer before while staying with her friend at the friends family's lake/summer house. Rose, somewhat stupidly, kept a diary in which she wrote everything that happened with the crime down! So now, about a year or so later, the police literally come knocking at her door and Rose's mother gives up her diary. Things obviously take a downturn from there, Rose's life become a little crazy. She wants to keep secrets but also wants to unburden herself.
Anyway, this was a well-crafted mystery for the 1990s, but doesn't hold up very well.
Fatality is about a girl named Rose who witnessed a crime the summer before while staying with her friend at the friends family's lake/summer house. Rose, somewhat stupidly, kept a diary in which she wrote everything that happened with the crime down! So now, about a year or so later, the police literally come knocking at her door and Rose's mother gives up her diary. Things obviously take a downturn from there, Rose's life become a little crazy. She wants to keep secrets but also wants to unburden herself.
Anyway, this was a well-crafted mystery for the 1990s, but doesn't hold up very well.
December 3, 2023
Read this one aloud with my daughter. This had been on her shelf for some time. We enjoy reading together, but it's even better when the book is good. This one sadly wasn't. Maybe if I'd read this as a teen I would not have picked up on some of the flaws and I would have liked the book better. Towards the end of the book there is a glaring error where the wrong name is used when it is clearly about the main character, Rose Lymond. Speaking of the main character, how does she go from being star student and Miss Goodie Two Shows to a girl who steals a police car and becomes a total sassy brat? This complete character change came too quickly. Couldn't stand her and most of the characters in the book. Her friend Chrissie was okay.
Definitely not keeping this book on our shelves.
Definitely not keeping this book on our shelves.
Read
August 17, 2021I have decided to no longer use star ratings. They are too arbitrary to me. Instead, I will be ranking an author's books against their other books. This does not mean that I do NOT like their books, just in what order I enjoy them most.
1) Wanted
2) Fatality
3) Hush Little Baby
4) Driver's Ed
5) Enter Three Witches
6) Flash Fire
7) Burning Up
8) Twins
9) Code Orange
10) Losing Christina Trilogy
11) The Terrorist
1) Wanted
2) Fatality
3) Hush Little Baby
4) Driver's Ed
5) Enter Three Witches
6) Flash Fire
7) Burning Up
8) Twins
9) Code Orange
10) Losing Christina Trilogy
11) The Terrorist
June 21, 2023
I don’t like to diss so hard on someone’s book, I know it’s their baby…but the first turn off was it was written in third person, (I personally can’t stand books written in third person, but I gave it a shot anyways) and extremely hard to follow. There was no major plot twists, or any at all really, and you never knew which timeline you were at. I can’t bring myself to DNF a book, it makes me feel too guilty. It’s something I’m working on, but I read the book anyways.
December 3, 2023
I liked this book, it had a great twist and kept me guessing the whole time. I love a good mystery quick read, and this was it. I didn’t finish it in the time I wanted to because of an eventful week dealing with school, and Halloween up and coming, but I was still just as happy. I was quite confused on Rose’s decisions to stick to silence, and was mad the whole time because she could’ve gotten help. But in the end overall it was a good book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2017
What I really enjoyed about this book was how the reader is just as clueless as the other characters about what was in the diary. For me, it was like trying to solve a mystery based on the little clues that the author left. The book however does lack the action I expected from it. I didn't like the ending where it felt like the closing of a play and everything is just revealed to everyone.
March 11, 2018
Really good book
I've never read a book by her before. But I was very impressed with it. The book kept me on my toes I never thought it would end the way that it did. It is defiantly a must read if you haven't read it yet. I really really loved it. It only had 15 chapters but they were 15 chapters of pure excitement! I will for sure have to remember this lady!
I've never read a book by her before. But I was very impressed with it. The book kept me on my toes I never thought it would end the way that it did. It is defiantly a must read if you haven't read it yet. I really really loved it. It only had 15 chapters but they were 15 chapters of pure excitement! I will for sure have to remember this lady!
May 21, 2023
Thought the ending secret was a bit weak but the the book was gripping and kept me reading throughout. Bummed one secret did not seem to come out, though. And the MC didn't even realize it when others did. If it comes out, it's not covered in the books. I do plan to read more of Caroline B. Cooney's back log.
July 21, 2017
definitely not her strongest work. or maybe it's that i'm a bit old for the YA thriller set? anyway. found this in my workplace's "library" -- a bookshelf in the breakroom -- and since I haven't read this one, and loved Cooney as a youngster, ...
i still love her sparse, certain prose.
i still love her sparse, certain prose.
August 29, 2017
Normally I love Caroline Cooney's books,this one was mediocre to say the least. It was too many things going on from a forbidden affair to a murder, to a hit and run. It just did not appeal to me. Choose a plot and stick with it!
August 12, 2018
Ok so it was a teen read! Didn't know that when I picked it but it became pretty obvious in the first few pages. But that was enough of a hook to stick with it to find out what was so awful in a diary that caused a 15 year old girl to steal a police car and steal back her diary!
May 22, 2019
A formulaic thriller for the younger set.
The behavior of the police in the book is pretty unlikely, but perhaps that might actually be how cops treat upper-middle-class white kids in New England?
The behavior of the police in the book is pretty unlikely, but perhaps that might actually be how cops treat upper-middle-class white kids in New England?
March 23, 2020
Great Read!
Caroline Cooney writes great YA books that make good reading for adults. I enjoyed this book as I have enjoyed so many of her other books. Great characters and a good storyline.
Caroline Cooney writes great YA books that make good reading for adults. I enjoyed this book as I have enjoyed so many of her other books. Great characters and a good storyline.
April 30, 2021
This is a nice little mystery. I enjoy this author's style of writing. It feels like Beverly Cleary for adults - and I mean that as a compliment. It also makes me think of my grandmother who would have loved these books. I wish she was still around for me to recommend them to her.
February 20, 2024
I’m enjoying these Caroline Cooney novels. They are written for a teen audience, but are entertaining and easy to get into. This one was fun. Kept me speculating until nearly the end. Also…I like happy endings which most of her books have.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2024
Not my fav, the suspense is what kept me reading but it had a super disappointing end. Rose's train of thought for tearing the pages out of the diary was not smart and honestly I think that this entire book could've been avoided with some simple family communication.
November 19, 2017
Famiily
An excellent read for early teens and up. Enough of a mystery for any age group. No gore, no blood.
An excellent read for early teens and up. Enough of a mystery for any age group. No gore, no blood.
March 22, 2018
Adult behaviors, particularly the police were pretty unbelievable. Stuck with the mystery for the solution.
April 28, 2018
Astounding mystery
I couldn't put this down! Although for young adult readers, this kept me guessing until the last chapter. Not too scary for 13 uo.
I couldn't put this down! Although for young adult readers, this kept me guessing until the last chapter. Not too scary for 13 uo.
July 16, 2018
I really liked this book. The ending though- I wish I could have gotten an epilogue!
December 15, 2018
Teen readers will like it
I kept reading this book even though it was for teens because I had to know what was in the diary!
I kept reading this book even though it was for teens because I had to know what was in the diary!
January 11, 2019
I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it.
Great characters and a fab unexpected twist.
Great characters and a fab unexpected twist.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2019
I found this book to be predictable and long winded. The same details seem to drag on forever in the book.
December 3, 2019
Interesting book I was alittle disappointed at the end of the book. I thought the ending didn't fit with the build up suspense but overall a fairly good book.
February 13, 2020
I will always love Caroline B. Cooney, and this book is no exception. The main character, despite being so young, is very relatable and it was page turning. I finished in an afternoon
Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews