The Luminaries

by Eleanor Catton
4/5 stars
Little, Brown and Company, 2013
834 pages
Adult Historical Mystery Award-Winning

Source: Library

When perusing the shortlist for the Man Booker prize, this one immediately captured my attention and once it won, I requested it from the library, saving it for my trip when I could devote my attention to it. I think that was a good decision because I enjoyed myself immensely though I don't know that I necessarily understood the astrology underpinning the undertaking.

The book begins with a massive character list. I skipped over this as I usually do though I referenced it a bit as I started. I think my experience reading War and Peace was very helpful at the beginning as, instead of trying to commit every name and description to memory, I let them flow over me and as they were repeated, they got stuck in my head regardless.

In 1866 New Zealand, twelve men have gathered to discuss several mysterious possibly related circumstances when they are interrupted by a new man to town whose presence invites them to share their stories. The twelve men are of disparate circumstances with their own unique perspective on the events leading up to that night. They are concerned to varying degrees about the incidents: a wealthy man has disappeared, an opium-addict prostitute attempted suicide, and a fortune was discovered at the home of a dead man. If I tried to explain more, you'd lose the opportunity for it to unfold for you.

As you can see from the page count, this is a monstrous book and it definitely took me a while to get situated, to feel that I had any sort of grasp on the characters and setting. But it's also an enchanting book. Once I had committed to reading it, I was committed and I had to keep frantically turning the pages to reach the end. Though I'm not well-read in late nineteenth century literature, I noticed some tropes from the time such as the immoral woman and the abuse of opium. Everything seemed very grounded in the time period and I, an American, enjoyed the feeling of the Wild West as prospecting for gold is the common employment for many men in the story.

I don't feel very qualified to delve into the literary qualities of this book but suffice it to say that I found it pretty approachable if one takes one's time. It would be hard to read all in one day unless that was literally all you had to do that day. But it is certainly worth curling up with for several evenings and puzzling out its intricate plot along with the characters. I did feel that the ending could have been more concrete but I am a reader who likes every loose thread tied up; enough answers are provided to bring the story to a satisfying close and to keep me interested in reading more of Catton's work.

ARC Review: Fake ID

by Lamar Giles
4/5 stars
HarperCollins, 2014
320 pages
YA Contemporary
Scheduled to release January 21

Source: Received an e-ARC through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn't really sure why I requested this book other than the contemporary setting because it is a bit more on the thriller side than I typically read. The plot summary didn't really grab me either but luckily as I read, I found myself drawn to the characters and the writing.

The book opens in a confusing matter with main character Nick referencing items that made no sense to me as someone just entering his world. However I soon found myself grounded in Nick's life in the Witness Protection Program due to his father. They have moved around the country because of the father's inability to live a low profile law-abiding life and this is their last chance. These tensions are fraying Nick's family with his mother especially sensitive to all of the changes. On top of that, Nick's first friend at his new school Eli is murdered and Nick finds himself drawn to solve that mystery, compelled partly by Nick's gorgeous and fiery twin sister Reya.

I can't see how anyone would unravel the complete mystery behind Eli's death as the threads upon threads strained plausibility to me. However the motives at the heart ring all too true and Nick is a diligent detective to track down all the pieces. He is also pretty funny and oddly relatable considering I am not in the Witness Protection Program (or am I?) I also liked Reya who is filled with personality and especially Nick's mother and her difficult predicament though other characters seemed more surface-level to me.

One last note is that the ending caught me off-guard because I was expecting something more conclusive whereas this leads up to something big that might happen in a sequel. However as of yet there does not seem to be a sequel definitively planned, which makes the abruptness of this ending awkward to me. I would feel more pumped about this book knowing that the ending would be resolved in a second book.

Cover: Yay for accurately showing an African-American young man on the cover (diversity is good!) though I wish you could see his face more clearly.

The Passion of the Purple Plumeria

by Lauren Willig
4/5 stars
New American Library, 2013
457 pages
Adult Historical Romance Mystery

Source: Library

Just a quick review today as I check in with Eloise and her historical research for the tenth book in the Pink Carnation series. Though I have not reviewed every book in the series for my blog (see the Lauren Willig tag for those I have reviewed), I have read every book and found myself especially enjoying the most recent ones. Sixth book The Betrayal of the Blood Lily was an especial favorite and I knew this book featured characters related to ones in that book though as they took place roughly concurrently, there was not an overlap in appearance.

Our main characters are Miss Gwen Meadows who has served as a second in command to the Pink Carnation but who I don't really remember. As an older unmarried woman, she serves as a chaperone and has cultivated a brash domineering persona that helps her to organize everything while covering up some of the softer parts of herself that have been heart. Her unlikely hero is Colonel William Reid, father to the hero of Blood Lily, whose unconventional past has led him on a crazy road to Miss Meadows.

The adventure in this book keeps them in England while they track down Gwen's charge's younger sister and Reid's daughter, both of whom have disappeared possibly under nefarious (French-related) circumstances as the English still war with Napoleon and the French. They go on a merry and slightly danger-filled journey to track the pair down. I enjoyed the banter between the couple but was never fully engaged with the plot.

Meanwhile in the present day Eloise and Colin are rapidly facing her return to America and must decide how their relationship will progress. They are also still in conflict with Colin's cousin/stepfather Jeremy and his greed. I am very invested in the Eloise/Colin relationship by now and like how this appears to be going. This was actually an instance where I wanted to focus on their story even more than the historical bits.

An added delight in my edition were interviews at the end between Miss Gwen and the author-a meta treat!

Overall: If you've read the previous books, of course you're going to want to continue! If you haven't started yet, I'd advise you to go back to the beginning so you can dive in with fresh knowledge about the Pink Carnation.

Palace of Spies

by Sarah Zettel
4/5 stars
Harcourt Children's Books, 2013
362 pages
YA Historical Mystery

Source: Received an ARC through Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.

Peggy Fitzroy is in a pickle. Having refused to marry the cad chosen by her uncle guardian, she is out on the street. Miraculously she has made the acquaintance of a mysterious Tinderflint who wants to install her in the court of King George I as a lady in waiting to the Princess of Wales. She is impersonating his former ward and becomes privy to all matter of secrets including some that may have led to her predecessor's murder...

Looking for some evidence that Americans don't know British history? How about the fact that I initially passed over this book because I don't like reading about the 17th century. If you do know your British history, you may have ascertained that I somehow confused George with Charles I and Charles II and come to the conclusion that I don't like Restoration-era stories, which is the case. I get very anxious waiting for their deaths to come. Luckily this is set a bit later though the throne is far from secure. While the Hanover line has begun in George I, there are still Jacobites who would prefer to crown James the Pretender, a Catholic to complicate matters. This forms the bulk of the political background. I think if I had a more solid grounding in this history, I might have grasped certain points faster but Zettel did an excellent job of filling me in and I don't think I missed anything by not been more familiar. I would be interested in reading a non-fiction account of the period though if you have any recommendations.

Before I delve more fully into this particular story, I wanted to share a bit more about Peggy's patroness, the Princess of Wales. I read a lot against princesses, how the Disney princesses don't encourage girls to aspire big for example or how princesses are antiquated and antifeminist, etc. Well, Princess Caroline is an example against those arguments. Though as a woman, she has limited official power, she cultivates a glittering court including mathematicians like Gottfried Leibniz as well as political ministers like Robert Walpole and is able to work her influence through softer means. I think she sounds like a fascinating figure and would greatly like to study her more.

But moving on to our fictional characters. This story centers on Peggy, the droll narrator and main character of this novel in 1716. She is orphaned, raised in her uncle's home by the charity of her aunt but kicked out after refusing to marry her lecherous fiance. Fortunately she falls in with Mr. Tinderflint, Mr Peele, and Mrs. Abbott, a trio who mold her to impersonate the now deceased Lady Francesca Wallingham and to play a role at court. Peggy has spirit for sure as evidenced by her musings on the gift that is a fire poker when men are around as well as courage for undertaking this ordeal. I loved seeing her trying to unravel the many agendas at court and especially when she got down to business in sussing out the exact character of Lady Fran.

Other important characters are Peggy's cousin Olivia who makes only a few brief appearances once the uncle shatters that relationship as well as two potential love interests though only one is really viable. Tinderflint is an especially interesting character-is he a quivering coward or does he have hidden depths? We only start to tap into him by the end of the book. Happily it sounds like there will be at least a sequel and I, for one, very much look forward to that!

The Impersonator

The Impersonator by Mary Miley
4/5 stars
Minotaur Books, 2013
311 pages
Adult Historical Mystery

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book only popped on to my radar after receiving an email from Netgalley informing me of its premise and assuring me that I'd enjoy its mystery and lively prose. The synopsis sounded intriguing and I do love a good adult mystery involving stage and pretense so I decided to give it a shot.

When Leah feels the watching eyes of a man on her while onstage, she is somewhat startled. Afterwards he approaches her and makes a proposition: she pretends to be his long-lost niece to inherit a fortune. After her luck runs out in vaudeville, she is desperate enough to give this a try. With Uncle Oliver's aid, Leah is transformed into Jessie Carr and reunited with her grandmother, aunt, and four cousins who are consequently disinherited. The more time she spends as Jessie though, the more convinced she is that the real Jessie was murdered and the more determined she becomes to find out who did it.

So it definitely took a while for this book to get going. But once it did, it was good! There's really quite a bit about Leah's vaudeville life, which was interesting especially the references to familiar names but I preferred seeing her become Jessie, absorbing all that knowledge and turning it in to her finest stage performance yet. As she settles in to the life, she also grows closer to Jessie's family and seeing those relationships form and deepen is what really won my heart. Her kindness to her young cousins Caro and Val especially charmed me-she taught the girls poker, some vaudeville routines, and just brightened their very sheltered lives. This also allows the reader to see her deeply held principles and commitment to justice. She feels very certain that Jessie was murdered and as evidence builds about a prime suspect, she relentlessly pursues the leads despite great personal risk for herself.

An important subplot is Prohibition including the fact that Oregon, the state in which this is set, went dry in 1916, before National Prohibition, something I did not know! I loved getting that and some other little tidbits that helped immerse me in 1924. Bootlegging plays a huge role in the story and it was cool to trace that. Though I've read quite a few books set in the 1920s, they tend to be YA and didn't feature alcohol as prominently as this adult book does.

The mystery was fairly straightforward I feel-there really weren't too many suspects and Jessie latches on to the right one pretty quickly though a twist in the last chapter made me gasp (for those who've read the book: David). The real spark to the mystery is a paranormal element where she seems to feel the ghost of the real Jessie urging her on and giving her strength when she needs it. Those parts were a bit weird to me but I assumed it was just Leah's strong faith in them rather than the author actually positing that such spirits were real.

Overall: I quite agree with the publisher promising an engaging mystery and lively prose-that is what I expected and what I received. The actress playing Jessie is a very sympathetic protagonist once you get past her role as con artist and the book moves at a good clip. Definitely worth checking out if you like the sound of the story as well.

The Bones of Paris

The Bones of Paris by Laurie R. King
3.5/5 stars
Bantam, 2013
432 pages
Adult Historical Mystery

Source: Received an e-ARC from the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Apparently I may sometimes lack reading comprehension because I totally thought this was the latest Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes book. I kept waiting for them to pop up and orient me in the story! Then I finally looked at it on goodreads and discovered that it is a second book (which helps explain why I felt a bit off balance while reading-presumably someone who has read the first book would be able to follow it more easily.)

The book opens with Bennett Grey, who played a big role in the introductory book but meant nothing to me so it was not until we meet Harris Stuyvesant and I realized that he was the main character that I was able to settle into the story. Harris is a down on his luck private investigator who has been hired by a young woman's worried uncle and mother to track her down as she hasn't been seen in months. Harris had previously had a relationship with the girl (lasting some few days) and is desperate for money so he jumps at the chance. While investigating, he goes deep into Parisian culture during these bright hectic 1929 days (we're approaching the stock market crash in hindsight) and uncovers a bloody trail.

As is often the case when I read historical fiction incorporating real-life personages, seeing how the author chose to render them was a pleasure. Though most only merit brief mentions like Hemingway, I got a thrill every time I recognized a name and enjoyed looking up the others on wikipedia (I had never heard of Man Ray for example; how is "Man" a first name? Isn't it merely a noun?) Another part I liked was the references to the Great War, which hang over all of our characters. Though peace has been in place for eleven years, many are still haunted by those dark days. A third element I liked was the depiction of Paris itself. Yes, there is glitter but there is also the fact that the city is built on bones and women are sadly a dime a dozen for a potential serial killer.

Meanwhile when I consider the mystery itself, I am shocked at how quickly it became so complicated while at other times, it seemed to be almost forgotten when Harris unexpectedly reunites with an old love. This enthralling woman and her possible connection to the case were interesting enough but I didn't care for them as much as Harris did. Other character relationships were not well-developed though I sensed there was potential between Harris and Bennett, a relationship that probably would have been much richer if I had read the first book.

Overall: I loved the atmosphere of Paris and how the darker underbelly was exposed but found the character relationships too muddy as well as the tone's darkness conflicting with my penchant for a light comedy. I'd wait for the next Mary Russell installment.

ARC Review: Dead Girls Don't Lie

Dead Girls Don't Lie by Jennifer Shaw Wolf
3/5 stars
Walker Children's, 2013
331 pages
YA Contemporary Mystery
Scheduled to release September 17

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had heard good things about this author's previous book Breaking Beautiful so I decided to go for it and check out her latest to see if I'd want to circle back and read the other one. Based on the plot and writing of this one, I would be willing to check out the first book from the library. I can't say I was head over heels in love to want to buy it.

Jaycee missed the last text of her best friend Rachel's life, caught up in her first kiss and lingering anger from a fight between the girls six months previously. This haunts her as she starts to believe there was more to Rachel's death than is being shared and confirmed when she receives unlikely aid from a friend of Rachel's, sending her down a path of gangs, hazing initiations, jealousy, and racial tensions in a small insular Washington town.

For me, this book's big strength was its fast-paced. I read it all in one frantic day, barely able to put it down as each chapter only impelled me to read further. I credit this to the writing and plotting of Wolf-she really kept me on the edge of my seat.

Also of interest was peeling back the layers of racism and mistrust between the old timers of the small town and the migrant workers, some of whom may be there illegally. When Rachel is murdered, it is all too easy to lay the blame at the feet of someone who allegedly has ties to a gang or whose skin is a different color from yours. I'm not sure this was handled as thoroughly as it could have been but it might be enlightening for some people and it helped to ratchet up the tension in the beginning of the book.

But its weakness for me was its timid and naive narrator, though as the book progresses the reader gets a sense of her strong moral fortitude. I guess you could compare her to Fanny Price of Mansfield Park. She lives within her father's stringent rules and doesn't try to push the bounds of what it means to be a good girl, accepting her fate as one of the uncool. But her best friend considers her the best person she knows, someone who knows right from wrong and will diligently work to expose the truth and render justice (not vengeance, a key distinction). Saying that, even as I admire those kinds of people, they don't tend to be my favorite book characters. I like a bit more flamboyance and wit a la Elizabeth Bennet. The naivety is especially frustrating when it came to the culprit; I started having my suspicions probably later than others but it was eons before Jaycee with her trusting heart.

Overall: I am eager to hear the opinion of people who have read Wolf's previous outing as well as those who are well-versed in YA mystery/thrillers. How do you think this stacks up? Personally I think this is a can-miss. Give it a read if the concept sounds intriguing to you but otherwise, don't feel bad about passing over it.

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Prep School Confidential

Prep School Confidential by Kara Taylor
4/5 stars
Thomas Dunne Books, 2013
304 pages
YA Contemporary Mystery

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Yay-I am finally getting to this! I have seen loads of reviews from my blogging friends and was hopeful that this boarding school setting combined with murder would enthrall me. The reviews I saw were mostly positive with some qualms so I had hopes.

I am very pleased to be on the positive side as I was utterly charmed by bold and brassy Anne Dowling, our heroine. She begins the book as queen of the school but is quickly kicked out after she almost burns it down. Instead she is shuffled off to a boarding school outside of Boston. Within a week her new roommate Isabella is killed and since the administration seems determined to cover it up, Anne takes it upon herself to identify who done it, uncovering layers of hypocrisy and corruption in the process while also juggling two very intriguing boys.

As I said, Anne rocks! In a rather rigid environment, she is somewhat messy and pushes up against that which she knows to be wrong. I particularly enjoyed her anger over the general lack of apathy toward Isabella's murder (Isabella being a scholarship student without famous parents and thus "not worthy") and toward the adults for covering everything up. In fact, Anne has a lot of understandable anger that she mostly channels in a productive way (tracking down Isabella's murderer). She's also snarky and kept cracking me up, which kept the pages turning.

You may notice that this review is mostly talking about Anne. That is for good reason because as our narrator and protagonist, we spend the most time with her. The aforementioned boys were not very interesting to me though I can see that she has made a clear choice by the end-we'll see if that holds up.

Meanwhile I found the mystery itself a bit confusing. It starts out seemingly straightforward (someone is killed) but soon many threads are added like the FBI tracking a teacher, a big sexual harassment case covered up, a parent's extortion, etc. That adds up and I had some trouble following it all. This is a long-winded way of saying that I did not figure out the murderer and was completely blindsided. Luckily Anne also had not really anticipated this person so we were caught off guard together.

Overall: A surprisingly fun murder mystery that left me eager for the sequel, due out next year!

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Blog Tour: Mr. Monk Helps Himself

 Thank you to Teddy for organizing this blog tour!

Mr Monk Helps Himself by Hy Conrad
4/5 stars
NAL Hardcover, 2013
286 pages
Adult Mystery Series

Source: Received a copy for this tour in exchange for an honest review.

I am a big fan of the TV show "Monk" and enjoyed reading every single book from Lee Goldberg that continued the story of Monk. Thus I was sad to read that he was stepping down from the series as I was unsure if that meant it would be continuing. Luckily Hy Conrad was there to step in and as a writer for the series, I felt confident he would remain true to the spirit of Monk and provide another enjoyable outing.

I was thrilled by the development at the end of the previous book of Natalie deciding to go for her PI license that would enable her to partner with Monk instead of merely serving as his assistant. Of course, Monk is one of the people most resistant to change so there are going to be some issues! Her first challenge is when she believes there is a case worth pursuing (the apparent suicide of her self-help mentor Miranda Bigley) but Monk does not, preferring to aid the San Francisco Police Department in their case involving a clown, despite coulrophobia's ranking in his list of 100 phobias. I loved seeing Natalie start calling him Adrian as a step toward demonstrating their new relationship and his reaction to that change. She puts up with a lot but she also seems to have a handle on how to get what she wants from Monk.

With a new author, there is always the chance of it being rocky. I personally couldn't see much of a difference in their writing styles other than a renewed emphasis on Monk's binder of phobias. I thought the two mysteries were not always well-balanced and I have mixed feelings about the portrayal of Monk's girlfriend, Ellen Morse, owner of Poop, that have been lingering ever since she was introduced. I adore how her relationship with Natalie has developed but sometimes Monk is just so disrespectful to her. I have trouble understanding why she stays.

Since my parents and sister also eagerly consumed this book, I asked them to contribute a few thoughts.
Mom (Reader1809): Natalie comes across like a real person who I'd want to be friends with-I like her flaws and how she puts up with Monk.
Dad: Needed more murders
Sister: It was fine, whatever, leave me alone (she's a teenager so yeah...)

Overall: Continues the series in fine style; I am eager to see what other stories Conrad has prepared for us.

Blog Tour: Deviant

Today I am pleased to be a tour stop for Deviant by Helen FitzGerald as part of Precious Gem Book Tours. Check out the link for other tour stops, including interviews, guest posts, and a giveaway!

Deviant by Helen FitzGerald
4/5 stars
SohoTeen, 2013
248 pages
YA Mystery Contemporary

Source: Received an ARC from publisher in exchange for an honest review.

When 16-year-old Abigail's mother dies in Scotland--leaving a faded photo, a weirdly cryptic letter, and a one-way ticket to America--she feels nothing. Why should she? Her mother gave her away when she was a baby, leaving her to grow up on an anti-nuclear commune and then in ugly foster homes. But the letter is a surprise in more ways than one: Her father is living in California. What's more, Abigail discovers she has an eighteen-year-old sister, Becky. And the two are expecting Abigail to move in with them.

After struggling to overcome her natural suspicions of a note from beyond the grave (not to mention anything positive) Abigail grows close to her newfound sister. But then Becky is found dead, the accidental victim of an apparent drug overdose. As Abigail wrestles with her feelings and compiles a "Book of Remembrance" of her sister's short life, she uncovers a horrifying global plot aimed at controlling teen behavior: one that took her sister's and mother's lives, with vast implications.

When I found out about this tour, I was excited to participate because Deviant sounded like a very unique story. I've included the publisher's synopsis above because I think it does a great job at capturing the many interesting bits of this story: Abigail's upbringing in Scotland, her movement through foster homes, her newfound relatives, her sister's death, the plot aimed at controlling teen behavior. It sounded like a very far-reaching book and I loved that it was contemporary!

I'll admit that I had a bit of trouble getting in to this book as Abigail's harsh childhood was far bleaker than my own and I tend to click faster with characters who are like me. Once she arrives in America though, I found myself much more engaged. Abigail had to acclimate herself to a whole new culture AND to a previously unknown family-what a challenge! The pieces of the puzzle come at you slowly before quickly building up to a dark conspiracy with Abigail fleeing for her life and narrowly escaping death. I mean, it is tense and the last chapters just fly by, proving that all the buildup was worth it.

For favorite character, I would have to pick sister Becky although we don't get to spend much time with her before her "overdose." She's a spark and the way her courage and work inspires Abigail was wonderful to see. I also liked their stepmother Melanie who could probably best be described as a Stepford Wife. Her robotic behavior was bizarre but gripping all the same. As I said, Abigail had a much harder life than me turning her somewhat dark and withdrawn, which is understandable although it made me feel like it was hard to connect with her (the use of third person narrative rather than first person like many other YA titles possibly contributed to this as well) but by the end, I was thoroughly absorbed in her journey.

Sadly this book does not currently seem to be part of a series although the conclusion seems ripe for one. I wonder if the author plans to continue; I know I would be interested in coming along for the ride.

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The Tell-Tale Start

The Tell-Tale Start by Gordon McAlpine
Illustrated by Sam Zuppardi
4/5 stars
Viking, 2013
177 pages
MG Mystery

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

One of my favorite classic authors is Edgar Allan Poe so I always perk up when I see contemporary novels incorporating him in some way. The twist for this book is that identical twins Edgar and Allan Poe are the multiple great-grandnephews of Poe may be one person in two bodies and the scientific implications of this have led to a mad scientist spying on them for years.

I think that premise sounds fairly bonkers and settled back for a zany ride, which is exactly what I got. My favorite part was definitely the peek into the life after death where Edgar Allan Poe watches over his relatives while also toiling under the direction of a very bossy William Shakespeare-so humorous!

The boys are brilliant geniuses and have an excess of time and energy, leading to them getting up to a lot of stuff. Mainly in this book, they travel cross-country to get their cat and end up confronting the scientist. I didn't feel like there was a whole lot to the plot given the book's relative shortness but that may make it all the more appealing to its target audience and perhaps serve as a push to reluctant readers.

This is the first in a series and thus it concludes with a very open ending that leaves room for many more adventures in the offing for Edgar and Allan.

Overall: I would say that this reminded me a lot of Lemony Snicket and I think his fans will enjoy this book as well.

Cover: Very spot-on although the eyes of the boys aren't as identical as I would have expected. Love seeing the cat, Roderick Usher :)

ARC Review: His Majesty's Hope

His Majesty's Hope by Susan Elia MacNeal
4/5 stars
Bantam Books, 2013
331 pages
Adult Historical Mystery
3rd Maggie Hope Mystery
Scheduled to release May 14

Source: Received an ARC from Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.

After enjoying Mr. Churchill's Secretary and being completely blown away by Princess Elizabeth's Spy, of course I knew I would be reading the third book in what has rapidly become one of my favorite mystery series. This book promised more adventure and deepening threats but ultimately was less satisfying to me than the previous outings although I'm not entirely sure why.

The premise is very promising as Maggie is finally getting an opportunity to flex her espionage muscle, becoming the first woman to be dropped in the field on a mission to Berlin, Germany. This expands when Maggie picks up some clues and expands her directives even further to fight Nazism. Meanwhile her own personal life implodes with family and romantic relationship troubles.

Maggie is, as always, intrepid and very daring; not bloodthirsty but committed to seeing through her cause. She faces some tough moments in this book and handles them with aplomb. The previous books have been building toward certain events and those payoff here while also setting up further events for the next book.

I think part of the reason for my enjoying this book less is due to the more somber tone because this book highlights Operation Compassionate Death aka the Nazi program to euthanize thousands of mentally ill and physically deformed children, those who were deemed unworthy of being part of the pure master race. This hangs over the entire book and Maggie part of a group who gathers evidence to expose these disgusting acts.  I guess I felt like the first two books were a little cozier and I preferred that style but I should have known that a story set during World War II will have to address this at some point. Of course, since this book is set in Germany, we're also seeing the persecution of Jews in particular the forced deportation.

A subplot I did love concerns Maggie's friend David who is gay and may have found the one to his parents' dismay. Though it does not take up much page-time, I enjoyed whenever the book shifted back to him. Something I did not enjoy was Maggie's love life, which ends very unsettled but which I will not discuss for fear of spoilers. Let's just say that I was a big fan of John in book one.

Overall: Mix of tones is a bit confusing: we have the darkness of euthanasia and Nazi evil balanced against some lighter scenes and mixed with very addictive writing that led me to finish this much faster than I had anticipated. If you've liked the previous books in the series, you'll probably want to continue.

Cover: Love this cover-the glamor of her dress plus the menacing Nazi swastika in the faint background are just excellent and so appealing to me.

Escape Theory

Escape Theory by Margaux Froley
4/5 stars
Soho Teen, 2013
269 pages
YA Contemporary Mystery

Source: Received an ARC through Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.

I read a couple of reviews of this that prompted me to request this book, emphasizing the fact that it has a mystery and is set at a boarding school (score!) I adore reading about boarding schools although I am grateful that I did not attend one; college was enough.

The boarding school featured here is entering a tragic year when one of its brightest students, Jason Hutchins or Hutch, is discovered dead from an overdose of OxyContin. This suicide casts a pall over everyone especially Hutch's best friend Matt, his girlfriend Isla, and Devon, who shared an unforgettable night with Hutch their freshman year and is acting as a peer counselor to the grieving. These sessions and Devon's own exploring lead her to the conclusion that Hutch did not kill himself but was instead murdered and she devotes all her time to figuring out just who might have done it.

Devon's obsession with Hutch (yes, obsession is the word I'd use) is a bit weird. They had one perfect night making Nutter-Butter pancakes and she still idealizes him based on that experience. But they barely talked in-between and she has largely hung on the outskirts of the school's social circle while he was very much at its center. I understand how she would cling to those fond memories but I also worried about her. On the other hand, I admired her efforts as peer counselor which were hindered by an apathetic student population as well as an interfering administration. She is also very determined as can be seen by the way she doggedly tracks down Hutch's last moments.

Honestly though the mystery was a little less engaging. I ended up having a bit of trouble following all the characters and their motivations. I had no idea who did it and the ultimate answer is so heartbreaking. Her investigation also sheds light on a prescription drug ring that involved Hutch during his life as well as almost every student at the school. This seemed a little clumsily integrated but it was acceptable.

Overall: A fun mystery, perfect for lovers of boarding school stories (and I know there are quite a few of you out there!)

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ARC Review: Red Handed

Red Handed by Matt Kindt
4/5 stars
First Second, 2013
264 pages
Adult Mystery Graphic Novel
Scheduled to release May 7

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

As part of my quest for broadening my reading horizons, I have become more open to reading graphic novels after an unfortunate period where I looked down on them (I know-I was a horrid snob!) I have since learned my lesson and am always on the lookout for ones that look intriguing such as Red Handed, which looked like a cool mystery, a favorite genre of mine.

I'm glad I read this as I found it absolutely gripping if completely confusing at first. The subtitle "The Fine Art of Strange Crimes" is certainly appropriate. See, it begins as what seems to be a collection of only loosely related short stories before you start to see how everything is tied together.  For example, it's all set in the same city with one detective at the core. I really don't want to spoil anything so I'm going to stop there other than to say that it was very interesting and if you put all the pieces together, you still won't want the solution to be what it is.

Unfortunately as is so often the case for me with graphic novels in e-format, sometimes the fonts used were difficult to read. Now I don't think it's just because my eyes but the way it was designed in general. Thus I missed a few sections of text although I think I still got the basic gist. If this is of interest, I highly recommend getting a hard copy for the best reading experience.

I'm not much of an art connoisseur so I don't feel very confident commenting on it. I thought the drawings were very realistic and grounded, fitting with the story well and never detracting. As shown on the cover, the colors are fairly muted (no neon here!)

This was a good fast (adult because of a few of the drawings) read that managed to pack a considerable punch at the end despite its brevity. If you like mysteries, I think you'd enjoy this.

ARC Review: Absent

Absent by Katie Williams
4/5 stars
Chronicle Books, 2013
182 pages
YA Contemporary Ghost Mystery
Scheduled to release May 21 (originally April 1, which is why this post is ready)

Source: Received an e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I never think of myself as a fan of paranormal stories but I do have a huge soft spot for ghost stories. When I saw that this book had a ghost with the bonus of being set entirely at a school, I knew I wanted to read it.

Paige, Brooke, and Evan are ghosts tied to their high school due to it being the scene of their deaths. Paige somehow fell from the school's roof while Brooke overdosed in the bathroom (Evan's story is best left til you read it in the book itself). When a popular girl states that Paige jumped, she is outraged but seemed calmed by discovering that she can possess the body of anyone when they think about her, something she uses both for good and evil throughout the story as she tries to set the record straight and repair her reputation. The lives and deaths of Brooke and Evan are also entwined on this journey.

Paige was kind of a loner in life, with only one real friend and living as a secret hook-up for a popular boy. After her death, she sees the cliques of school more clearly and learns what an impact she can have. There are many secrets in this book: the quiet pain of people, their crushes, and all the issues people deal with while in high school and throughout life.

My overall impression of this book was that it was pretty quiet and intense; you could read it in one sitting as it's pretty short. Although there are melancholy moments (because an awful lot of people are in pain), I felt like the book ended on a hopeful note. I especially liked the way Evan's story was handled-I predicted his plot but it still pleased me. I don't feel like there was any real standout moment or element but the whole was pretty cohesive and pleasing especially if you like stories set in high schools, with some mystery, and/or with ghosts.

Cover: Very appropriate-the butterfly lines up with an important event in the book.

Other Opinions:
Alluring Reads
ihearty.a.fiction

ARC Review: Nobody's Secret

Nobody's Secret by Michaela MacColl
4/5 stars
Chronicle Books, 2013
241 pages
YA Historical Mystery
Scheduled to release April 16

Source: Received an e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I've read both of MacColl's previous books and have really appreciated her focus on young historically significant women. Previously it was the young Queen Victoria and aviatrix Beryl Markham. This time we are visiting Emily Dickinson, a very well-known poet but not someone whose personal life I know much about. The book relies heavily on MacColl's imagination as it has Emily investigate what she suspects is a murder, something that has no direct basis in fact.

Still the book does a great job capturing what a young Emily might have been like. She is spunky and inquisitive, not a fainting flower, filled with a deep intellectual curiosity. I always say that I don't like poetry but that's not really true as I have liked what little I've sampled of Dickinson's writing and am pleased to report that excerpts from her poems open each chapter. Themes from her writing also permeate the story such as a preoccupation with bees and anonymity while living in a very small town. Something else to think about is the effect of domestic labor on a woman's ability to write (very shades of A Room of One's Own, very subtle in this book). Emily's sister Vinnie (short for Lavinia) is one of the most important secondary characters and I was pleased with the role of family.

As I said, this is a mystery with Emily attempting to uncover the identity of a dead man and insisting it was murder, piecing together all the clues. I had a sliver of an idea of what was going on but the villainy of the murderer was beyond my capability to imagine. I'm pleased that Emily was able to unravel the threads and gain some measure of peace regarding the man's final moments and I almost wish this particular story owed more to history than fiction.

Saying that, while I liked this book, I didn't love it. I wanted something more, that ineffable feeling an amazing book gives you and that was lacking here. Lovers of historical fiction and poetry should enjoy this as will fans of MacColl's previous works.

Other Opinions:
Have not seen any; if you (or a friend) reviewed this, leave a link below and I'll add it!

The Dead and Buried

The Dead and Buried by Kim Harrington
4/5 stars
Point, 2013
295 pages
YA Mystery Paranormal

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I became interested in this after reading a couple of reviews (see below for links) touching on its mystery aspect. While I mostly read YA, when I venture out to adult books, it is usually for either romance or mystery. I just feel like YA doesn't have many good mysteries. I also adore ghost stories although the ones I read tend to be love stories. The malevolent ghost here is an anomaly in my reading habits.

In this story Jade and her family have recently moved to a new house with her younger brother mentioning that he sees a girl, something Jade brushes off as she prepares for school. In addition to the usual struggles a new kid faces, Jade is soon the object of gossip because she lives in the murder house. Yes, the girl her younger brother sees is a ghost, the former most popular girl at school, Kayla, was murdered in her own home and she will torment Jade's family unless Jade finds her murderer.

As I've mentioned before on the blog, I am not good at solving mysteries and this was no exception. I fingered the same person that Jade suspects but it turns out to be someone else. The murderer's reason makes perfect sense but I'm just not good at picking out who has something to gain or who has the opportunity until the characters have already figured it out for themselves. Anyway...

One of my favorite parts of Jade's character was her interest in gemstones, inherited from her mother. Every day she picks out a new piece of jewelry to complement her mood and to shed light on what's going to happen. Another part of Jade's personality is her deep love for her much younger brother. He's technically her half-brother, sharing a father, but she makes no distinction for him; I only bring it up because it does play a role in the subplot. I love sister-sister stories but lately I've read a few really cute sister-brother sisters including this one and I think I am willing to extend my love to all focuses on sibling relationships.

I feel like such a cranky reviewer about this one point. The students study Rebecca and the story has real-life parallels to Jade's feelings of insecurity in the face of Kayla's supreme popularity.  On the one hand, I wish that had been emphasized more. But if it had, I might have found it heavy-handed and like the author didn't trust me to understand them on my own. See why I feel cranky? But I also love the Rebecca parallel because it's a great book and my sister also loved that classic so I might suggest this read for her too.

Overall: A really fun, flowing mystery with the ghost adding a great deal of tension.

Cover: It makes sense that there is a dead girl on the cover, capturing Kayla in her afterlife. Some jade green might have been a nice touch though.

Other Opinions:
Book Labyrinth
Books Live Forever
Jen Ryland/YA Romantics

ARC Review: Also Known As

Also Known As by Robin Benway
4.5/5 stars
Walker & Company, 2013
369 pages
YA Comedy Mystery
Scheduled to release February 26

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I've had mixed success with Robin Benway's writing, DNF-ing Audrey, Wait! due to its profanity but adoring The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June. I was hoping my reaction to this book would be similarly positive and I am pleased to report that it is.

I found almost everything about this book delightful from our enchanting protagonist Maggie learning to negotiate high school for the first time as an undercover spy to her new best friend to the cute boy to her parents to the rest of the spy cabal. For years, Maggie and her parents have traveled around the world using their spy tactics for good. But now Maggie is taking the lead on a case while also posing as just any other high schooler to humorous effect.

In general, I found this book to be hilarious as Maggie definitely has a quick wit and she struggles to fit in (adjusting to homework is not easy!) Her new friend is a former mean girl and the cute boy is also the son of the target. Needless to say there are many complications but Maggie deals with them mostly with grace and as much honesty as she can. I really loved her and her parents, who have to take a backseat while their beloved daughter is out there-not easy for them all. I loved that spying is a family business, something that brings them together and allows them to appreciate each other's strengths.

My one quibble, which led to a deletion of half a star, was the conclusion to the big mystery which felt a bit too pat and rushed. I like that everything was concluded in this book instead of being drawn out over a series but I did still feel like a few scenes were perhaps excessive and that a tighter focus on the mystery would have been more appropriate. I almost forgot the family's reason for being in New York; after reading about Maggie adjusting to school, it almost seemed like the sole purpose was to acclimate her to a "normal" life.

Overall: Recommended for fans of Ally Carter's Heist Society series, when you just can't get enough of fun light fast-paced stories about spies.

Other Opinions:
Great Imaginations-3/5 stars
Jen Ryland/YA Romantics

ARC Review: What We Saw At Night

What We Saw At Night by Jacquelyn Mitchard
4/5 stars
Soho Teen, 2013
243 pages
YA Mystery Thriller
Scheduled for release January 8

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I originally requested this book under the impression that it was some kind of science-fiction novel with aliens invading the world and these three kids who are awake at night being the only ones who know what is going on. Now while I happen to think that is kind of a cool premise, it's not even close to what is actually happening in the book.

Yes, there are three teens who spend their awake time at night when almost everyone else is asleep. That is because they have Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP), a fatal allergy to sunlight. To occupy their time and to compensate for the fact that XP-ers often die young, they embark on learning Parkour, something I learned about via Jake Gyllenhaal in "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" so I was glad to have those images to fall back on (I also believe there are many videos on youtube if you're interested).  The discipline can be dangerous but what actually ends up being most dangerous is what main character Allie sees at night. That is she thinks she sees two murders but when even her two best friends don't support her, she starts to have doubts.

This is the moment when the story really shifts as Allie tries to find out more while friends Juliet and Rob pull away. Then we discover that Juliet knows way more than she's shared and other plot threads start coming out, such as the small-townness of where they live and Allie's budding interest in criminal justice and serial killers. The latter part of the book also brought out more of Juliet's characterization and I saw a bit of Julie from Code Name Verity in her (an extremely positive comparison). Rob didn't make much of an impression despite being Allie's love interest but the girls' friendship really tugged on my heartstrings.

I've read some reviews that didn't like the writing style. It is written in first-person past tense with occasional interjections from present-day Allie. This reminded me of Gabrielle Zevin's Birthright trilogy and I read comfortably. But I know it's not for everyone so I just wanted to warn you.

The ending was abrupt and is what caused me to add thriller to my genre categorizations above. There is no clear-cut resolution and everything is set up for a second book, a sample of which was available in the e-ARC I read. I enjoyed the writing and plot enough that I will definitely want to check out the sequel.

Other Opinions:
YA Between the Lines
ReaderAlex
Library Lady

Tokyo Heist

Tokyo Heist by Diana Renn
4.5/5 stars
Viking, 2012
369 pages
YA Mystery Thriller Contemporary

Source: Received an ARC from Jen Ryland/YA Romantics.

A Missing van Gogh Painting
A Burglarized Mansion
A Ransom Note
Two Japanese Gangsters on the Loose
Four Destroyed Paintings
An Unexplained Suicide
And Two Girls who must solve the mystery, save the art, and catch the criminals.

This caught my interest for being a YA relatively uninterested in romance as well as for its contemporary Japanese setting. Though there's more to the story, these statements are fairly accurate.

Our main character is Violet and she adores manga, so much so that she is drawing her very own incorporating some of her real-life interests into the art. She plans to continue adding to it over the summer while staying with her father and working at a comic book store. However it seems that her father was unprepared for her arrival, not even telling his girlfriend about Violet's existence! This does not start the holiday off well but the situation picks up when Violet discovers she is going to accompany her father to Japan so he can paint a mural. She also gets to flex her detcting muscles when she learns about a missing van Gogh painting and sketches and the Japanese mobsters who are after her father's patron. Can Violet crack the case?

While writing my summary above, I realized that there are so many little threads in this book (including several I didn't feel like could fit in that already stuffed synopsis). I think that one of my big enjoyments was seeing them all come together especially since they seemed so bewildering in the beginning. Of particular enjoyment to me was Violet's attempts at detection, which she incorporates into a new manga, allowing her to puzzle items out. My disappointment though was that while the drawings are described in depth, they are not included. This is a great example of how artwork could enhcance a reading experience and I feel like this was a missed opportunity.

As I mentioned, there are a lot of threads in this book and though most are juggled and brought in well, I would have liked a lot more aboout two in particular. One was Violet's relationship with her father. He hasn't been very present in her life since she lives with her mom but he also loses himself in his art even when she is around. She is able to challenge him on his disengagment but I wasn't fully satisified.

The other element was Violet's romance. For a long time, she's been in love with her best friend but is afraid to jeopardize their friendship. Consequently, when there are movements toward romance, it is not swoony and dreamy but is instead based on their solid longstanding but mostly unseen and unfelt by the reader friendship.

Overall: A really fun ride through artwork, deception, and love with an exciting Tokyo/Japan backdrop. Highly recommended!