A review by muninnherself
The Case of the Fire Inside by John Allison

5.0

This was the first case of the Mystery-Solving Teens of Bad Machinery that I ever read, leading me spiralling into the worlds of Scary Go Round and Giant Days.

Here we find Linton and Jack becoming increasingly interested in girls, Sonny wishing he was still a kid, Mildred getting in trouble with a Bad Boy and Lottie being a force of nature. Luckily Shauna is a steadying influence.
When Ellen arrives unexpectedly at school unable to read or write but *very* good at swimming she causes all kinds of unusual events to unfold in Tackleford. Also Lottie is banned from every public swimming pool in Britain.