If you spent any time in the Young Adult section of a library circa 2008, you definitely saw that cover. You know the one. A girl’s face, pale, partially obscured by shadows, with a title that promised exactly what we were all craving back then: a dangerous romance mixed with a creepy, supernatural edge. Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Faria Stolarz wasn't just another Twilight clone, though plenty of people at the time tried to shove it into that box.
Honestly, looking back at it now, the book feels like a time capsule of a very specific era of teen fiction. It was the bridge between the "girl-next-door" mysteries of the 90s and the high-stakes paranormal boom that took over everything. But what’s wild is how the story actually holds up once you strip away the nostalgia. It’s a fast, punchy read that deals with some pretty heavy themes—stalking, social ostracization, and the terrifying reality of not being able to trust your own senses.
What is Deadly Little Secret actually about?
The setup is classic YA. Camelia Hammond is sixteen, lives in the fictional town of Freetown, and has a fairly standard life. She works at a pottery studio called "Knead," hangs out with her best friends Kimmie and Wes, and deals with her health-obsessed mom. Then, Ben Carter shows up.
Ben is the "new guy" with a dark past. Rumor has it he was responsible for his ex-girlfriend’s death. Naturally, everyone at school treats him like a pariah. But Camelia is drawn to him, partly because he saved her from a car accident three months prior and then vanished.
Here is the kicker: Ben has psychometry.
For the uninitiated, that means he can "see" things through touch. He gets flashes of the past, the future, and people's deepest secrets just by making physical contact. It’s a gift that feels more like a curse to him, especially because it didn't help him save his ex-girlfriend, Julie. As Camelia and Ben get closer, the "deadly" part of the title starts to manifest. Someone is stalking Camelia. Threatening notes, eerie phone calls, and "gifts" start appearing. The school thinks it's the "murderer" Ben, but the truth is a lot more grounded and, frankly, scarier.
Why the "Touch" series worked
Laurie Faria Stolarz was already a big deal when this came out because of her Blue is for Nightmares series. She knew how to write for teens without sounding like an adult trying too hard to be "hip." The dialogue in Deadly Little Secret feels real. Kimmie, the Goth best friend, isn't just a caricature; she’s loyal and funny, providing much-needed levity when things get dark.
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The pacing is where Stolarz really shines. The chapters are short. They end on hooks. You think you'll just read one more before bed, and suddenly it's 2:00 AM and you're checking your window locks.
- The Mystery: It isn't just about "who is the stalker?" It’s about "is the guy I’m falling for actually a killer?"
- The Power: Psychometry is a cool, tactile supernatural element. It’s intimate. It makes the "touch" in the series title feel significant.
- The Perspective: We get these "interrupter" chapters from the stalker’s point of view. They are genuinely unsettling.
The Matt vs. Ben Dynamic
Every great YA thriller needs a foil. Enter Matt, Camelia's ex-boyfriend. On paper, Matt is the safe choice. He’s the "all-American" boy, the one her friends think she should be with. In juxtaposition, Ben is the brooding, dangerous outsider.
The book plays with these tropes effectively. It forces the reader to question their own biases. Are we siding with Ben just because he’s the protagonist's love interest? Or is the "safe" guy actually the one we should be worried about? Without spoiling the ending for those who haven't revisited it lately, let's just say the "false appearances" theme is the backbone of the entire plot.
The Reality of Stalking in YA
One thing that hits differently reading Deadly Little Secret Laurie Faria Stolarz in the mid-2020s is how it handles stalking. In 2008, we often romanticized "obsessive" behavior in fiction. However, Stolarz makes the stalking feel invasive and wrong. The packages Camelia receives aren't "secret admirer" cute; they are calculated and designed to strip away her sense of security.
Camelia’s reaction to it—the fear, the hesitation to tell her parents, the way she tries to rationalize it—is a very realistic portrayal of how a teenager might handle a situation that feels too big for them. It adds a layer of psychological thriller to what could have been a simple paranormal romance.
How to Read the Touch Series in Order
If you're looking to dive back into Freetown, you can't just stop at the first book. The story evolves significantly as Camelia and Ben's powers (and their relationship) grow.
- Deadly Little Secret (The one that started it all)
- Deadly Little Lies (Things get messy with a new guy at the pottery studio)
- Deadly Little Games (High stakes and more psychometry lore)
- Deadly Little Voices (Premonitions and a darker tone)
- Deadly Little Lessons (The series finale set at a summer arts program)
There is also a collection called A Deadly Little Collection that bundles the first three books, which is usually the cheapest way to snag them if you're buying physical copies.
Is it worth a re-read today?
Yeah, it is.
It’s a "comfort" thriller. It’s not trying to be Gone Girl or a high-concept sci-fi epic. It’s a story about a girl, a boy with a weird power, and a town full of people who are very quick to judge. If you like the vibe of early 2010s TV shows like The Secret Circle or Pretty Little Liars, this is 100% in your wheelhouse.
The prose is accessible, the romance is "swoony" without being over-the-top, and the mystery has enough twists to keep you guessing. It's the kind of book that reminds you why you liked reading in the first place.
Actionable Steps for Fans and New Readers
If you're planning on picking up a copy of Deadly Little Secret, here is the best way to approach it:
- Check your local used bookstore first. These books were massive hits and are almost always sitting in the YA section of a Half Price Books or a ThriftBooks warehouse for under five dollars.
- Look for the "Stalker" clues. On a second read-through, the identity of the stalker is actually hinted at quite early through subtle dialogue choices. It’s fun to play detective once you already know the outcome.
- Follow Laurie Faria Stolarz on social media. She is still very active and often shares insights into her writing process and updates on her newer works like Jane Anonymous.
- Don't skip the sequels. While the first book works as a standalone, the "Touch" mythos gets much more interesting in Deadly Little Lies and Deadly Little Games.
Basically, if you want a nostalgic trip back to the era of supernatural mysteries, start here. Just maybe keep your phone nearby and your doors locked while you read.