Dead Is — by Marlene Perez

• 

  Dead Is the New Black
  

  • Sep-2008
  • 

  Book - 1
  

  Welcome to Nightshade, California--a small town full of secrets. It's home to the pyschic Giordano sisters, who have a way of getting mixed up in mysteries. During their investigations, they run across everything from pom-pom-shaking vampires to shap...

---

• 

  Dead Is a State of Mind
  

  • Jan-2009
  • 

  Book - 2
  

  A creepy, campy new mystery series Welcome to Nightshade, California--a small town full of secrets. It's home to the psychic Giordano sisters, who have a way of getting mixed up in mysteries. During their investigations, they run across everything...

---

• 

  Dead Is So Last Year
  

  • May-2009
  • 

  Book - 3
  

  Something very strange starts happening in Nightshade the summer that the eldest Giordano sister, Rose, gets a job working at Dr. Franken's research laboratory. People are starting to see double. Doppelg�ngers of Nightshade residents are popping up a...

---

• 

  Dead Is Just a Rumor
  

  • Aug-2010
  • 

  Book - 4
  

  As the creepy little town of Nightshade prepares to celebrate its 200th anniversary -- on Halloween, of course -- many of its paranormal residents are receiving mysterious blackmail letters. Psychic teen Daisy Giordano and her sisters set out to find...

---

• 

  Dead Is Not an Option
  

  • May-2011
  • 

  Book - 5
  

  It's springtime of senior year, and psychic sleuth Daisy Giordano is preparing to say goodbye to Nightshade High. But no college acceptance letters have arrived yet, and she's beginning to worry about where she'll end up come fall -- and if it will b...

---

• 

  Dead Is a Battlefield
  

  • Mar-2012
  • 

  Book - 6
  

  Jessica Walsh is starting her freshman year at Nightshade High and trying to forget about the tragic events surrounding her brother's graduation. She wants to have a normal high school experience. But that's easier said than done in Nightshade. Th...

---

• 

  Dead Is a Killer Tune
  

  • Sep-2012
  • 

  Book - 7
  

  High school freshman Jessica Walsh is a Virago -- a woman warrior who must protect her hometown from danger. And in Nightshade, California, trouble is always lurking. At the town's Battle of the Bands, Jess's boyfriend, Dominic, and his band, Side Ef...

---

• 

  Dead Is Just a Dream
  

  • Sep-2013
  • 

  Book - 8
  

  Will Nightshade turn into a nightmare? The little town of Nightshade, California, has its share of odd residents, but few horses. Jessica Walsh is at a party on the beach when she sees a ghostly white mare running through the surf. Soon after, Nights...

---

---

Series Premise

The Dead Is series blends paranormal mystery with teen drama in a town where the supernatural hides in plain sight. Each book centers on a new case—such as vampire cheerleaders, murderous predictions, or family secrets—solved by Daisy and her friends using their abilities and detective skills.

Dead Is Series Reading Order

The Dead Is series does not need to be read in order. Each book tells a complete story with its own resolution centered on a distinct supernatural mystery. Continuity is limited to recurring characters and the shared Nightshade setting. Reading out of order does not cause confusion, as each volume clearly reintroduces the town and core group while delivering an independent paranormal investigation.

Explanation of reading order types

Dead Is Series Characters

Daisy Giordano serves as the main protagonist in the early books, a teen with emerging psychic powers who acts as an amateur detective. Her sisters Poppy and Rose, along with friends like Ryan and the mysterious Slim, form a recurring support network, while later books introduce or shift focus to other Nightshade residents facing their own supernatural challenges.

Setting of the Dead Is Series

The series is set in Nightshade, a seemingly normal small town in California filled with hidden supernatural activity. Locations include the local high school, family homes, diners, and mysterious spots where mythical beings and strange events regularly occur.

Tone & Themes of the Dead Is Series

The tone is light, witty, and suspenseful with a mix of humor and mild scares. Central themes include friendship and family bonds, accepting differences, courage in facing the unknown, and balancing normal teen concerns with paranormal responsibilities.

Is the Dead Is Series Worth Reading?

This series appeals to teens and tweens who enjoy paranormal mysteries, light horror with humor, and stories featuring strong female protagonists and small-town secrets. It suits readers looking for accessible supernatural fiction similar to cozy mysteries with a teen twist.

Content Warnings and Heat Level

Mild supernatural violence and spooky elements; light romance with innocent crushes; no strong language or explicit content; appropriate for middle-grade to young adult readers.

The Dead Is series offers fun, self-contained paranormal mysteries set in a consistently quirky town. Its mostly standalone structure with familiar characters makes it easy to pick up any title. The mix of detective work, supernatural creatures, and relatable teen experiences creates an engaging read for fans of light urban fantasy.