Close to a Killer

by Marsha Qualey

Book Overview

Two prominent city residents have been murdered, and Barrie knew both of them. But does she know their killer? The police have connected both victims to her mother's hair salon, and the obvious focus... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385325975
• ISBN13: 9780385325974
• Release Date: March 1999
• Publisher: Delacorte Press
• Length: 182 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.8" x 8.6"
• Age Range: 12 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 7 to 12

Customer Reviews

best book I have ever read!!!

In the book Close to a Killer, the main character is Barrie Dupre, a 16 year old girl who lives with her mom Daria who is an ex-con who owns Killer Looks, a beauty salon. TaNeece, Crystal, and Cyndy are ex-cons that work full time in her mom's salon. Willa owns a book store named the Open Book which is Barrie's favorite place to hang out. Eric and Dean both work at the Open Book. The story begins with the murder of Mr. Worthington, a client's husband. His murder is followed a few day later by Mrs. Worthington's murder when she interrupts a robbery in her home. In the beinning of the murder investigation, all of the Killer Looks' employees were under suspicion. The police called all of the Killer Looks employees in for questioning, but after DAria and Barrie's house is broken into, all of the Killer Looks employees are cleared. After being questioned, all of the employees began talking to each other about the crimes. In the end, Barrie figured out who the killer was. In this book the are not a lot of positive points. Some of the positive points in this book are: Her mom straighted out her life after getting out of prison; Barrie got to see and live with her mom after seven years; and her mom became a good role model for Barrie in the end. There are many negative points in this book. her mom was in jail for seven years for murder. Everyone Barrie works with at Killer Looksis an ex-con. Barrie feels abandoned by her father and his new girl friend, who ditched her and went to France for the summer. After two people are murdered, the police automatically suspected everyone that works at Killer Looks for the murders. Dean, one of her friends, gets hit by a train and his leg gets amputated. Barrie lives in a vilent neighorhood, thier house was broken into, and the salon was set on fire by the killer. I really like this book. I would give it a five because it keeps you guessing until the end and it gives a good description of what is going on and it is easy to understand.

The book is a gripping mystery.

There's murder and mayhem, plenty of dead bodies, a unique hair salon run by convicted killers, and a teenager trying to hold it all together in CLOSE TO A KILLER by Marsha Qualey. Seventeen-year-old Barrie's mom Daria is a convicted killer who now owns a successful hair salon called Killer Looks. Many years before, Daria was involved in a protest at a nuclear power facility. She planted a bomb in a car, which went off before it was supposed to --- and she paid for this with 15 years of her life. Barrie's parents divorced, and her father married Melissa; Barrie lived with them during the time her mother was in prison. However, when Melissa wins a fellowship to study in Paris, Barrie's father decides that she should live with her mother. After a week of working for her mom, Barrie has to escape to the local bookstore and indulge her passion for books. It is not just the reading of them, but the smell, the feel, the collecting --- especially of old books, old photographs, and postcards. It is also the crafting of stories to go with the photographs and postcards. Then the murders start. Paul Worthington, the husband of a client, dies on a Tuesday afternoon instead of picking up his wife at the salon. Barrie starts to notice that someone is watching her house. Friends are beaten up and left for dead, another client killing happens, and Barrie is pulled deeper and deeper into the frightening events. The old photographs that Barrie collects become stories about killings. "Barrie knew exactly what it meant. It meant that she believed there were many people who were touched and tainted. It meant that there were others who could never, ever go back. It meant there were lots of solid families that had been smacked apart, with pieces lost or cast away and ending up for sale at a flea market in Missouri." Barrie and Daria's house is broken into twice. The first time, chicken liver is smeared over the walls and everything is trashed; the second time, the intruder gets away when Barrie discovers him or her opening a window. Then Killer Looks burns to the ground. The murders are getting uncomfortably close to home, and Barrie and her mother seem to be right in the middle. Will they ever be able to trust their friends again? The book is a gripping mystery and, as usual for Marsha Qualey, exciting and packed with fascinating people and plenty of action. --- Reviewed by Audrey Marie Danielson

Close to a Killer

Barrie's mom, Daria, owns a hair salon called Killer Looks. One of the reasons its called that is because all of the stylists happen to be women convicted of murder. When the husband of one of their regular costumers is shot, the police of course investigate Killer Looks. Barrie works there part time, keeping track of appointments and such. On her way home she often stops by a used book shop, An Open Book, that the friendly old people Willa and Eric own. They know Barrie and give her old photos that Eric finds in flea markets. Barrie likes to write stories about them. She wonders what those people's lives were like. One night at the store she meets the former druggie Wylie. A short while later another person is killed. This time it was a Killer Looks regular. The salon starts loosing buisness and people start thinking one of the ex-cons who works there is the killer. Barrie doesn't know what to think. But then when she gets very involved with it all. Dangerously involved...This is one of the best mysteries I've read. It was impossible to guess the killer and many little things made the book more than just a mystery that Barrie has to solve. And it isn't a book where the heroine takes it all into her own hands and solves everything. Barrie's character is a believable person, and this book was well done.

Close to a Killer Hits the Mark in Intrigue

Operating a beauty salon filled with ex-con cosmetolgists is Barrie's mother's idea for getting back on her feet after serving a sentence for manslaughter. Rich, suburban women love the concept until a rash of murders appears to link the salon to the killings. The "who-done-it" plot combined with quirky characters, a budding romance, and turmoil associated with inner city life makes Close to A Killer by Marsha Qualey (author of Thin Ice) more than just a mystery for teens.Barrie is at the heart of the intrigue. Her ideas for writing based on old photographs oddly connect helping the poor with adolescent angst. Not always likable--but who is when they are 17?-- Barrie typifies what suburbanites goes through when thrust into city life. That is what I enjoy most about the novel; watching Barrie evolve from someone who feels left behind into a young woman making a difference in her new community.While murder and mystery certainly move the plot along, Qualey's creative concepts for progressive community service projects provide readers with more grit than the typical cliffhanger thrillers so common in young adult literature these days. A fun, quick read, Close to a Killer is a finely constructed murder mystery with a delightfully ornery hero.

Great fun!

I really liked this book. I am not a big mystery"who done it" fan, but this was one great book! It is slow at first but by the end, you won't be able to put it down. It is beautifully written and lots of details and suprising turns. If you like mystery or just want a good,easy read,this is the book for You!