The Lifeguard [Paperback]

Richie Tankersley Cusick (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Disaster has already struck when Kelsey visits the island home of Eric, her mother's boyfriend. Eric's daughter Beth has vanished and is thought to have drowned. In the days that follow, Kelsey discovers a dead body, runs into a shark, has several chats with the local madman and finds reasons to suspect that nearly every man she meets is Beth's murderer. So many red herrings are thrown into this plot that it seems almost logical when the killer turns out to be the one man both Kelsey and readers have been led to trust. This relentless procession of gruesome events and false alarms will leave most horror fans more dazed than alarmed. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks (August 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590432036
• ISBN-13: 978-0590432030
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,763,193 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my RTC's Fav book!!!!, April 30, 2002

By 

Sandy Casey (Connecticut, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lifeguard (Turtleback)

Oh, I love this book. OK. Here's the summary.

***Kelsey and her mom went to stay at an island with Kelsey's mom's boyfriend. When they get there, Eric was Kelsey's mom' boyfriend, told them that his daughter Beth was missing. The police can't find any clue about the disappearing. But that's not all weird. There are more disappearing before Kelsey even arrived. Some girls were missing mostly from their dates. Kelsey met Justin and his brother Neale. Both are also Eric's son. Justin is so sweet and incredible nice to Kelsey from the start. He seem to like her a lot. But on the other hand, Neale is so strange and he's mean to her. He dislike her and wouldn't talk at all to her or even to welcome her staying on the island, unlike what Justin like. Then there's Skip, a very handsome guy that Kelsey had attracted on the first place. Donna, who's really nice to Kelsey and befriend with her.
Kelsey found a note from Beth saying the she was in trouble. Kelsey put the note away and when she get back to it, it was gone. Then strange thing happen to her.***

This book is so good. But at the ending is pretty sad. When the culprit was being revealed. But I really do recommend this book along with "The Drifter", another one of my favorite; "April's Fool", "Help Wanted", "Vampire", "Someone at the door" and "Silent stalker". Enjoy!!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Nice, Fast-Paced Book!..., July 8, 2003

By 

T (Sacramento, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lifeguard (Point) (Paperback)

Richie Tankersley Cusick delivers another great thriller here with "The Lifeguard." The storyline revolves around a girl named Kelsey. Her and her mother go to Beverly Island to visit her new father-figure. When they arrive, they are bombarded with news of his daughter's disappearance. Things also take a turn for the worse when Kelsey discovers a note under her pillow, written by the missing girl! On top of all this, Kelsey finds out about the recent mysterious drownings on the island, and comes face to face with a creepy fisherman. All of this makes for a terrifying visit she'll never forget!

"The Lifeguard" was a good book. Not the very best I've read from Cusick, but close. Along with most thrillers, it gets you hooked immediately, and never lets go. I also took a liking to the ending. Not entirely surprising, but very dark and ominous. Also, it was a relatively long climax, unlike most stories, which was good. Overall, it is completely worth your time.

Also recommended:
a.) "Starstruck" by Richie Tankersley Cusick
b.) "April Fools" by Richie Tankersley Cusick
c.) "The Train" by Diane Hoh
d.) "The Invitation" by Diane Hoh
e.) "Slay Bells" by Jo Gibson
f.) "My Bloody Valentine" by Jo Gibson
g.) "Silent Witness" by Carol Ellis
h.) "Camp Fear" by Carol Ellis
i.) All R. L. Stine young-adult thrillers
j.) All books by Joan Lowery Nixon

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Lifeguard, November 3, 2003

By 

Kaylee (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lifeguard (Turtleback)

The Lifeguard by Richie Tankersley Cusick is a great suspenseful thriller. This marvelous novel pulls you in like a fish on a hook.
Kelsey, a young 15-year-old girl, goes with her mother to Beverly Island to visit her mother's fiancée Eric. When they show up at the island, Eric immediately tells Kelsey and her Mom that his daughter, Beth, has been murdered. After Kelsey and her Mom settle in, Kelsey starts getting notes from Beth who is supposed to be dead. Soon, she always feels like someone is watching her. Then, someone starts to follow her but she can't quite guess whom. Does someone know that Beth is trying to communicate with Kelsey? Is Beth really dead? You'll just have to read this powerful must read book in order to find out.
The Lifeguard is an awesome book for 7th graders and up. This is a great fiction novel. So great, that I even finished it in 5 days. Richie Tankersley Cusick also wrote The Mall, and Teacher's Pet.