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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
Definitely a great choice if, like me, you’ve found yourself with a taste for books that have an updated Agatha Christie feel.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I received this book as an eARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
3.5, rounded up. This would be perfect for fans of Karen M. McManus or Holly Jackson; it joins the plethora of YA murder mysteries that have been popping up over the last decade or so. The book feels fresh, though; it only gives us the POV of two characters instead of five or ten, which allows us to get to know them better (though I definitely prefer Iris to Alice). While the side characters end up being a little flat and some plot points glossed over, the mystery itself was fun, and the authors also addressed issues of abuse.
Overall it's an enjoyable read, and the Agatha Christie Easter eggs will be delightful for those who have read her books.
3.5, rounded up. This would be perfect for fans of Karen M. McManus or Holly Jackson; it joins the plethora of YA murder mysteries that have been popping up over the last decade or so. The book feels fresh, though; it only gives us the POV of two characters instead of five or ten, which allows us to get to know them better (though I definitely prefer Iris to Alice). While the side characters end up being a little flat and some plot points glossed over, the mystery itself was fun, and the authors also addressed issues of abuse.
Overall it's an enjoyable read, and the Agatha Christie Easter eggs will be delightful for those who have read her books.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
yknow what i loved this absolutely ripped through it just a fun little time!! i love dual perspective when they’re both interesting and i love a little enemies to besties arc, i will read the sequel and i imagine ill have fun with that too
3.5 stars - cute YA mystery centering female friendship. The mystery wasn't too predictable and the ameteur sleuthing was actually well done, with the girls acting in an intelligent way to discover the clues. Would read the sequel.
Last summer, Alice Ogilve’s basketball-star boyfriend Steve dumped her. Then she disappeared for five days. Where she went and what happened to her is the biggest mystery in Castle Cove, because she’s not talking. Or it was, at least. But now, another one of Steve’s girlfriends has vanished: Brooke Donovan, Alice’s ex–best friend. And it doesn’t look like Brooke will be coming back. . .
Enter Iris Adams, Alice’s tutor. Iris has her own reasons for wanting to disappear, though unlike Alice, she doesn’t have the money or the means. That could be changed by the hefty reward Brooke’s grandmother is offering to anyone who can share information about her granddaughter’s whereabouts. The police are convinced Steve is the culprit, but Alice isn’t so sure, and with Iris on her side, she just might be able to prove her theory.
In order to get the reward and prove Steve’s innocence, they need to figure out who killed Brooke Donovan. And luckily Alice has exactly what they need—the complete works of Agatha Christie. If there’s anyone that can teach the girls how to solve a mystery it’s the master herself. But the town of Castle Cove holds many secrets, and Alice and Iris have no idea how much danger they're about to walk into.
I'm afraid this YA novel was too juvenile for me so please bear in mind that my review is not from the target audience.
Despite the plot moving along at a good pace (particularly in the second half of the book) there was too little character development. Iris and Alice were so interchangeable that I had to keep checking whose POV it was supposed to be. At the start it didn't seem to matter to Alice that her life-long best friend had disappeared, she didn't even seem particularly moved when Brooke's body was found. Towards the end of the book both Alice and Iris started to feel some real emotion and the book became more interesting but I'm afraid it was too little too late.
My thanks to NetGalley and OneWorld for an advance copy in return for an honest review.
Enter Iris Adams, Alice’s tutor. Iris has her own reasons for wanting to disappear, though unlike Alice, she doesn’t have the money or the means. That could be changed by the hefty reward Brooke’s grandmother is offering to anyone who can share information about her granddaughter’s whereabouts. The police are convinced Steve is the culprit, but Alice isn’t so sure, and with Iris on her side, she just might be able to prove her theory.
In order to get the reward and prove Steve’s innocence, they need to figure out who killed Brooke Donovan. And luckily Alice has exactly what they need—the complete works of Agatha Christie. If there’s anyone that can teach the girls how to solve a mystery it’s the master herself. But the town of Castle Cove holds many secrets, and Alice and Iris have no idea how much danger they're about to walk into.
I'm afraid this YA novel was too juvenile for me so please bear in mind that my review is not from the target audience.
Despite the plot moving along at a good pace (particularly in the second half of the book) there was too little character development. Iris and Alice were so interchangeable that I had to keep checking whose POV it was supposed to be. At the start it didn't seem to matter to Alice that her life-long best friend had disappeared, she didn't even seem particularly moved when Brooke's body was found. Towards the end of the book both Alice and Iris started to feel some real emotion and the book became more interesting but I'm afraid it was too little too late.
My thanks to NetGalley and OneWorld for an advance copy in return for an honest review.
This is an ok read--- sometimes uneven, but overall teens will like it.
A really fun YA murder mystery that gives Agatha Christie her well-earned flowers, I'm so glad this isn't a one-and-done series. More Christie-in-the-21st-century adventures please!
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A fun mystery that I can honestly say I didn't ID the killer until the third act. That is longer than my usual and it didn't feel like anyone jumped the shark or it got pulled out of thin air. Hope to get more of the side characters in the next book, but getting the duo dynamic done first is more important for a first book.
As a long-time Christie reader, i was very happy with the quotes at the beginning of each chapter and found them fitting without being spoilers for the upcoming chapter.
As a long-time Christie reader, i was very happy with the quotes at the beginning of each chapter and found them fitting without being spoilers for the upcoming chapter.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
One of the characters is the child affected by domestic abuse and it does come up.