Hush, Hush

Reminiscent of TWILIGHT, Fitzpatrick's first novel is a tale of supernatural powers and sacrificing oneself for love. Caitlin Greer conveys all the confidence and easy charm of Patch, the transfer student who becomes Nora's new biology partner--and obsession. Greer delivers his dialogue in a cavalier tone that becomes more intense as his true character is revealed. In contrast, Nora--who is filled with confusion and fear as she is pursued by an unknown force--comes across as a typical teenage girl. For this reason, Greer's narration sometimes doesn't match the gravity of the drama depicted in this novel. However, Greer gains momentum and drives the story to its revealing climax. E.N. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

October 12, 2009
Fitzpatrick debuts with a gripping chiller where humans become pawns in the hands of fallen angels. Nora Grey is assigned a new partner in her sophomore biology class. Her instincts tell her Patch is trouble, and she doesn't like the way he is already inside her head (“Part of me wanted to run away from him screaming, Fire
! A more reckless part was tempted to see how close I could get without... combusting”). Soon she is questioning her sanity—she is attacked by a masked figure that smashes her car window, but later the glass is intact. And the same figure ransacks her bedroom, but everything is in place when the police arrive. The violence and danger escalate, and Nora learns that Patch is actually a fallen angel seeking to become human. Fitzpatrick regularly tweaks the tension, resulting in a fast-paced, exhilarating read. Nora's tempestuous relationship with prototypical bad boy Patch is genuinely, even unsettlingly, seductive—fans of paranormal romance should be rapt. Ages 14–up.