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emily_mh's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This book had such a great atmosphere, coming mostly from the setting of a big country house full of secret passages and concealed doors. It was spooky but also really cosy! The mystery itself was compelling, with multiple believable suspects (maybe a few TOO many suspects as I found it a challenge to remember names and connections, and we only got to know side characters in a shallow way).
I liked that Zaiba gave everyone a chance, even if they were a bit rude. There was a lot of grace with that, and it payed off every time for her! She was also a great leader: skilled in teamwork and delegation with the detective knowledge to back it up.
All in all, this instalment took after the first book in the series in a lot of ways in terms of what I enjoyed! I’m sad I’ve only got one book left to go of Agent Zaiba.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement and Pregnancy
Minor: Death, Blood, Vomit, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: missing loved one, loss of a loved oneluftschlosseule's review
3.0
Zaiba befriends the new girl in school and is invited to what has to be one of the oldest houses in the city. She discovers that mysterious things have been happening, and that there is talk of ghosts. How fortunate that Zaiba is a detective and more than willing to take on this case with her friends!
This might be the third installment in a series, but you can get into it without any prior knowledge. We're roughly told what happened before, in bits and pieces here and there, avoiding a boring info dump.
The setting is gorgeous: In an old manor, at a house warming party which will be followed by a sleepover. I loved how diverse the cast it, Zaiba is no token minority person. Every character had their own story to tell.
But let me be honest with you, I have a thing for old houses. Especially if they come with secret compartments and hidden rooms. I'd love to go there exploring myself.
The crime as such was pretty straightforward and my strong suspicions about the culprit's identity proved to be right. But I had a fun time with this, and am sure that especially younger readers will have some, too.
If you look for a middlegrade book with an American-Pakistani main character, look no further, you found it.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
This might be the third installment in a series, but you can get into it without any prior knowledge. We're roughly told what happened before, in bits and pieces here and there, avoiding a boring info dump.
The setting is gorgeous: In an old manor, at a house warming party which will be followed by a sleepover. I loved how diverse the cast it, Zaiba is no token minority person. Every character had their own story to tell.
But let me be honest with you, I have a thing for old houses. Especially if they come with secret compartments and hidden rooms. I'd love to go there exploring myself.
The crime as such was pretty straightforward and my strong suspicions about the culprit's identity proved to be right. But I had a fun time with this, and am sure that especially younger readers will have some, too.
If you look for a middlegrade book with an American-Pakistani main character, look no further, you found it.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
starshynebrite's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
ballgownsandbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
So fun!! I binged this whole series in a weekend and I love it so much: Zaiba's British-Pakistani identity is absolutely fantastically portrayed and I adored seeing a smart, determined girl solve mysteries while also being so connected to her cultural heritage! Zaiba's sidekicks, best friend Poppy and little brother Ali, are also fantastic, and I love that Poppy is interested in fashion and food and that that's shown to be an asset rather than trivial or silly! I've also passed the books on to my seven year old sisters (the actual target audience!) and they're absolutely hooked too!
With regard to this book specifically, I thought the mystery was the most compelling of the three (so far - I don't know if there are plans for more books), and it took me the longest to solve myself. The stakes seemed slightly higher than in the previous two books, and the general atmosphere felt a little creepier, which was fun!
With regard to this book specifically, I thought the mystery was the most compelling of the three (so far - I don't know if there are plans for more books), and it took me the longest to solve myself. The stakes seemed slightly higher than in the previous two books, and the general atmosphere felt a little creepier, which was fun!
fatimak's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
This fun, charming, action-packed third installment in the Agent Zaiba series didn't disappoint. In fact, I think it's the best book in the series yet. The mystery is intriguing from the very beginning and the reveal was brilliantly satisfying. I absolutely love the characters in this series. I once again found my heart swelling with joy at the thought of all the South Asian kids reading this book and finding such excellent representation in Zaiba, who is a brilliantly smart, kind, inquisitive, and fun main character. I liked how the team grows in this book as well, which promises some fun dynamics in future books.
I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.