Loco Motive by Mary Daheim

Summary:
From USA Today bestselling author Mary Daheim comes her latest Bed-and-Breakfast book featuring innkeeper Judith McMonigle Flynn and her irrepressible cousin Renie in a mystery that takes them on the wrong side of the tracks. . . . Loco Motive

It's autumn at Hillside Manor B&B, and with the changing leaves come some unexpected guests. There's Judith's son and daughter-in-law, with their two children in tow, a couple with an impossible (and unbelievable?) last name who show up from nowhere, and a pair of giggly young women who don't seem to know where they're going.

As Halloween draws nigh, Judith can barely cope with her gala of guests, but at least the worst guest from the first part of the week checks out--almost permanently. Wee Willie Weevil, infamous daredevil and martial-arts movie icon, insisted on performing his dangerous stunts from Judith's roof and left the B&B via an ambulance.

Hoping to escape the domestic mayhem, Judith agrees to accompany Renie on a cross-country train trip to Boston with first-class accommodations on the Empire Builder. Judith's bubble bursts when she discovers that Wee Willie and his entourage are fellow travelers. Although confined to a wheelchair, the diminutive stunt man seems capable of derailing the cousins' vacation.

Cousin Renie does her best to ease Judith's mind until the train collides with a truckload of sugar beets. Forced to wait for a new engine in a small Montana town in the middle of nowhere, the passengers can do nothing but watch and wait. Even before the train can get back on track, the cousins discover that their sleeper attendant has gone missing. Worse yet, another passenger's final destination is the nearest morgue.

Judith and Renie have to move full speed ahead if they want to blow the whistle on the killer before death strikes again. Can the train continue its journey? Will the cousins ever get to Boston? Stay aboard! (from GoodReads)

Review:
This is my first Bed-and-Breakfast mystery even though I've had two of these books sitting on my shelf for a few years now. I really enjoy mysteries so I was excited to sink my teeth into this series. While I liked the book overall, there were definitely things I had issues with.

Let's start with the good: I really like the protagonist Judith. I thought it was funny how she's an amateur sleuth and just stumbles upon these cases (unlike Nancy Drew, who is specifically asked to use her talents). I also felt like I could relate to Judith even though she's an older woman. One instance in particular where she's hesitant to tell her visiting son and his family that she's going to miss the Halloween festivities is definitely how I would act in that situation. The banter between her and her cousin Renie is really funny too. I also liked how they were traveling cross-country by train, which is something I've never done. I'd like to try it now because it sounds exciting!

I didn't like that it took over 100 pages to actually get to the mystery part of the story. The beginning stuff was mostly just filler that was unneeded. The mystery itself was a little confusing and there were so many characters that had their hands in the crime! It was difficult to keep track of them, especially since they had aliases and secret identities. Also the incident with Roy, the train attendant, was never resolved.

Overall, I did like Loco Motive because it was a mystery and I always love those. The problems I had with the book weren't enough to send me away from this series and I'm about to read the next book since I own it. We'll see how I like it.

Rating: 7 out of 10.
FTC: sent from publisher

2010/William Morrow/311 pages.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Summary:
On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne's fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick's clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn't doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife's head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media--as well as Amy's fiercely doting parents--the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he's definitely bitter--but is he really a killer? 

As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn't do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet? (from GoodReads)

Review:
WHAT?! What did I just read?? Gone Girl was not what I was expecting at all. Everyone has been raving about it and I finally got around to reading this book. I was expecting a simple mystery... but the story is much more complicated.

The book jumps between Amy's diary and Nick's points-of-view so we get both perspectives. It's obvious that these are two very unreliable narrators; Nick even admits to lying to the police to the reader. The book is written so you can't tell if Nick did it or not, which I very much liked. Though I guessed part of the twist that comes at the halfway mark, there were plenty of other surprises throughout the novel. Nothing is as it seems in the story so expect to see the whole book world turned upside down. And that ending ... not expecting that at all! I loved how Gone Girl kept me on my toes.

The actual writing of Gone Girl is very good and sucks you right in. I couldn't put this book down. I wanted to know what happened next, especially with all the twists and turns. Your sympathies for each character change as you find out new information and it was a true roller coaster ride. I wish I could say more because I have so many thoughts, but I don't want to give anything away. All I can say is: READ THIS!!! You won't be disappointed.

Rating: 10 out of 10!!!
FTC: borrowed from the library.

2012/Weidenfeld & Nicolson/395 pages.

Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone by Kat Rosenfield

Summary:
An arresting un-coming-of-age story, from a breathtaking talent.

Becca has always longed to break free from her small, backwater hometown. But the discovery of an unidentified dead girl on the side of a dirt road sends the town--and Becca--into a tailspin. Unable to make sense of the violence of the outside world creeping into her backyard, Becca finds herself retreating inward, paralyzed from moving forward for the first time in her life.

Short chapters detailing the last days of Amelia Anne Richardson's life are intercut with Becca's own summer as the parallel stories of two young women struggling with self-identity and relationships on the edge twist the reader closer and closer to the truth about Amelia's death. (from GoodReads)

Review:
I love mysteries and I thought Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone sounded like a nice addition to the genre. However, I found that readers' opinion of this novel will depend on their tastes: those who enjoy literary prose will fall in love with Kat Rosenfield's writing, while those who like action-filled plots may be disappointed.

I think I fall in the middle of these two tastes, which is why I liked Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone but didn't love it. In the beginning, I was entranced by the beautiful decriptions of summer and small-town life, especially the discussion of how gossip spreads. The writing is very flowery and pretty. As the story continued, I became impatient because I wanted to find out what happened to Amelia. The plot moves very slowly with much emphasis on the narration.

The book is mostly from the point-of-view of Becca, who desperately wants to leave Bridgeton for a more exciting life at college. But when the dead body of a young girl is found, she feels confused and unsure of her future plans. I didn't really care for Becca and I think that's because we never get very deep into her character. On the other hand, I loved Amelia's chapters. I thought she was much more interesting and more happened during those parts of the book, probably because her sections were free of the literary prose.

Overall, I liked Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone but can't help but feel the plot and characters were dragged down by the extensive description. If the author can find a nice balance between the two, she'll have a winning novel.

Rating: 7 out of 10.
FTC: borrowed from the library.

2012/Dutton Juvenile/279 pages.

Serial Hottie by Kelly Oram

Summary:
Hockey-obsessed tomboy Eleanor Westley has never been the object of a guy's affection before. So when the hottest boy she's ever seen moves in across the street and starts treating her like she's the center of his universe, naturally she's going to be a little skeptical. But everything starts to make sense when girls who look just like Ellie start dying all around the city. Obviously the new guy is the killer, and of course he only likes her because he wants to slice her into tiny pieces. Right? The more Ellie gets to know Seth the more she's convinced he's a psychopathic killer. Problem is, he's the sweetest psychopathic killer she's ever met. Not to mention he's brutally hot. No matter how hard she tries, she can't help but fall for him. Will Ellie find true love, or will her summer of firsts turn out to be a summer of lasts? (from GoodReads)

Review:
I was excited to read Serial Hottie because I thought it sounded different from other books I've recently read. It also seemed so relatable. Many people (including me) have probably observed their neighbors and found out some interesting things. However, most people don't think their neighbor is a serial killer, so that's what made Serial Hottie so unique.

The thing about Seth, who is the potential love interest/mass murderer, is that he's actually creepy! He takes an unhealthy interest in Ellie and seems to be obsessed with her. He also has a knife collection, reads about serial killers and is an expert in self-defense. Seth's character was bordering on being too weird, even if he wasn't the killer. The thing about Seth that makes him easier to stomach is that he had early-life trauma and might have a personality disorder. So his heart is in the right place most the of the time and with some therapy, he might actually be able to tone it down. What's interesting that we just started personality disorders in my abnormal psych class, so in a few days I might be able to figure out with one Seth fits into.

Ellie is now one of my favorite female characters! I love that she is a tomboy who doesn't mind playing rough with the boys. She was definitely a good match for Seth's intensity because she's just as quick to throw a punch as any guy. Ellie was also hilarious and there were times where I found myself laughing out loud at some of things that occur in Serial Hottie.

The mystery was one of the best parts, especially trying to figure out if it was Seth. Serial killers have to have neighbors somewhere, so you never know what the people next door may be getting into.

Serial Hottie is one of those books you want to immediately reread as soon as you finish. Though I wish Seth wasn't as intense and creepy, it was definitely a change from the Gary Stus we're sometimes subjected to. For those who want something different in their YA, I definitely recommend Serial Hottie!

Rating: 8 out of 10.
FTC: ebook sent by author.

2012/Bluefields/374 pages.

The Girl in the Park by Mariah Fredericks

Summary:
When Rain's once best friend Wendy is discovered dead in Central Park, she is shocked and upset. Though not liked by everyone at their prep school, Wendy was still full of life and fun to be around. But now the newspapers are accusing Wendy of only being a party girl, whose actions caused her demise. Rain decides she wants to clear Wendy's name and set the record straight - and the best way she can think of doing that is by exposing her murderer.

Review:
I really enjoyed The Girl in the Park. It was short and an extremely quick read, especially for a mystery. However, the book read just like an episode of Law and Order (which I liked very much). I was instantly drawn into the murder and having a great narrator like Rain made the novel that much better. Even though the book is short, the author hits a lot of points and we get backstory on Wendy as well as an array of suspects. Rain realistically looks for clues and questions suspects like Nancy Drew, but it doesn't seem corny or campy. The whole time I was unsure of the culprit but the ending is very satisfying. All the clues added up and I was pleased with how everything was resolved. For such a short book, I thought that the author wrote an exciting mystery that everyone can enjoy.

Rating: 8 out of 10.
FTC: received from Flamingnet Book Reviews

2012/Schwartz & Wade Books/217 pages.

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Summary:
The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon "Rippermania" takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities. (from GoodReads)

Review:
I've come to love Maureen Johnson and all her books, so my expectations were high when I started The Name of the Star. And luckily for me, they were mostly fulfilled. I thought that this book was a great addition to the fantasy genre.

There were certain elements of the plot that I knew I would love: the boarding school setting in London (double points there) and the Jack the Ripper references. Oddly enough, even though I love both history and horror, I really didn't know much about Jack the Ripper. So I was very happy that the book went into detail about that because I felt like I learned something new. Obvsiously, the Ripper was a serial killer and he murdered his victims in gruesome ways, which made the story a whole lot creepier. I was actually a little freaked out while reading The Name of the Star, so you if you like that kind of thing, I would definitely check this out.

The book also delves into the paranormal because there are ghosts involved and Rory has a special ability when it comes to ghosts. I liked that side of the story, because it actually made the story scarier. What do you do if you can't see something dangerous? That can be quite the problem.

As always, I loved Maureen Johnson's writing style and Rory had a great voice. I really enjoyed The Name of the Star and am curious to read the sequel.

Rating: 8 out of 10.
FTC: borrowed from library.

2011/Putnam Juvenile/372 pages.

A Million Suns by Beth Revis

Summary:
It's been three months since Amy was awoken from her cryogenically frozen chamber and found herself on the spaceship Godspeed traveling to a new planet. It was tough transitioning to a world where there are always four walls surrounding her, but she had Elder to help her. However, now that Eldest is dead, Elder has become the leader of Godspeed. While he is dealing with imminent rebellion of the crew, Amy is sent on a hunt to unlock the secrets of Godspeed....before it's too late.

Review:
I really enjoyed Across the Universe, the predecessor to A Million Suns, when I first read it. I was very excited to get my hands on the sequel, and I'm happy to say that A Million Suns did not disappoint. The story picks up right where Across the Universe left off, and even though many things were revealed at the end of that novel, there are still more secrets to be uncovered in this book.

I love mysteries, so I liked watching Amy hunt for clues and thought it was a very interesting way for Amy to discover new information about Godspeed. I guessed some of the secrets, but there were still plenty of twists and turns to keep me on my toes. On Elder's side, he is dealing with mutiny from the crew, who want a more equal form of government. While I understood the complaints of the crew, when reading from Elder's point-of-view, it's easy to sympathize with him. Even though he was not voted to be the leader, he still has the citizens' best interests at heart.

Even though A Million Suns was a great continuation of this trilogy, it still suffered a little bit of middle book syndrome. It wasn't quite as awesome as Across the Universe. That being said, I still can't wait to read the conclusion because this book left off with a huge cliffhanger.

Rating: 8 out of 10.
FTC: Flamingnet Book Reviews.
Release Date: January 10, 2012

2012/Razorbill/390 pages.

Second Glance by Jodi Picoult

Summary:
An intricate tale of love, haunting memories, and renewal, Second Glance begins in current-day Vermont, where an old man puts a piece of land up for sale and unintentionally raises protest from the local Abenaki Indian tribe, who insist it's a burial ground. When odd, supernatural events plague the town of Comtosook, a ghost hunter is hired by the developer to help convince the residents that there's nothing spiritual about the property. Enter Ross Wakeman, a suicidal drifter who has put himself in mortal danger time and again. He's driven his car off a bridge into a lake. He's been mugged in New York City and struck by lightning in a calm country field. Yet despite his best efforts, life clings to him and pulls him ever deeper into the empty existence he cannot bear since his fiancee's death in a car crash eight years ago. Ross now lives only for the moment he might once again encounter the woman he loves.

But in Comtosook, the only discovery Ross can lay claim to is that of Lia Beaumont, a skittish, mysterious woman who, like Ross, is on a search for something beyond the boundary separating life and death. Thus begins Jodi Picoult's enthralling and ultimately astonishing story of love, fate, and a crime of passion. Hailed by critics as a "master" storyteller (Washington Post), Picoult once again "pushes herself, and consequently the reader, to think about the unthinkable" (Denver Post).

Second Glance, her eeriest and most engrossing work yet, delves into a virtually unknown chapter of American history -- Vermont's eugenics project of the 1920s and 30s -- to provide a compelling study of the things that come back to haunt us -- literally and figuratively. Do we love across time, or in spite of it? (from GoodReads)

Review:
Jodi Picoult once again amazes me with her writing and plotting prowess in Second Glance. Unlike most of her other novels, Second Glance does not feature a court case or trial, instead focuses on a decades old mystery that features ghosts. I love mysteries, ghost stories, and historical fiction (the second part of Second Glance is historical fiction) so Second Glance is pretty much the book for me.

What I didn't like about Second Glance was the beginning was quite confusing. In a short span of pages, a lot of new characters are introduced and since it keeps switching point-of-view, I really had to keep track of what was going on. But as the story progesses, I figured out who everyone was and loved seeing the characters interact and weave together because they are all inter-related in some way.

The ghost story aspect was awesome; it was spooky and creepy but was more than just horror. It felt like it could be real. The ghost story ties into the mystery and Jodi Picoult takes us back in time to the 1930's and we get to see the basis for everything that is happening in present day. I was not expecting this blast to the past but felt it added a lot to the novel and made it so much more interesting. The historical fiction part focuses on Vermont's eugenics and sterilization program that I never knew existed. I liked learning about a little known fact of history and thought that Jodi Picoult deftly brought attention to an important, yet little known, subject.

Though there were many characters, it was easy to understand them all and watch them develop throughout the novel. I sympathized with all of them and was glad to see some of them find happiness in the end.

Second Glance is a bit of a departure from Jodi Picoult's usual formula but it works and makes the novel a lot more interesting. If you like ghosts, love, mystery and history I would definitely suggest Second Glance as the book to read.

Rating: 9 out of 10.
FTC: borrowed from library.

2003/Atria Books/432 pages.

The Agency: The Body at the Tower by Y.S. Lee

Summary:
Now nearly a full-fledged member of the Agency, the all-female detective unit operating out of Miss Scrimshaw's Academy for Girls, Mary Quinn is back for another action-packed adventure. Disguised as a poor apprentice builder and a boy, she must brave the grimy underbelly of Victorian London - as well as childhood memories of fear, hunger, and constant want - to unmask the identity of a murderer. Assigned to monitor a building site on the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament, Mary earns the confidence of the work crew, inching ever nearer her suspect. But if an irresistible desire to help the city's needy doesn't distract her and jeopardize her cover, unexpectedly meeting up with an old friend - or flame - just might.

A suspenseful and evocative window into a fascinating moment of history, The Body at the Tower is the must anticipated second outing with a daring young detective. (from book jacket)

Review:
I was really excited to read The Body at the Tower, which is the sequel to A Spy in the House. In the first novel of the trilogy, the reader is introduced to Mary Quinn, who escapes execution and comes to reside at Miss Scrimshaw's Academy for Girls. However, Miss Scrimshaw's is merely a cover for a corp of women detectives known as the Agency. When Mary is recruited, she must go undercover as a spy on several dangerous missions, and The Body at the Tower begins on Mary's second mission. As the summary stated, Mary must pretend to be a boy in order to discover a murderer.

I really like it when I start a series where a few books have already been published because that means less waiting time for me. I was glad to jump right into Mary's world again, which is an interesting one at that. First, the novel takes place in Victorian London, a wonderful setting for all sorts of mischief. Second, I love the fact that Mary is a spy and detective, and even though this is unrealistic in some aspects, Y.S. Lee makes a convincing case that there may have just been a few of these brave women running around. Mary is very smart and cunning, which makes her a joy to follow around. She slips up a few times, but she plays a boy well.

Everything is going great, until she runs into the handsome and devilish James Easton again. I was especially glad to see this gentleman, because despite being arrogant at times, he and Mary make a great pair. There is always a lot of chemistry and witty banter between them, and my favorite scenes were always the ones that featured these two characters.

Though The Body at the Tower lagged at times, specifically the funeral of John Wick, who was the victim in this story, most the time there were a lot of twists and turns and clues to be solved. The ending is satisfying, the villain's means and motives made sense and once again Mary Quinn saved the day.

I really enjoyed The Body at the Tower and look forward to more of Mary's escapades, but unfortunately The Traitor and the Tunnel, the last book in the trilogy, will not be published in the US until Spring 2012. Hopefully I will be able to find some other suitable reading material to tide me over until then.

Rating: 8 out of 10.
FTC: borrowed from library.

2010/Candlewick Press/337 pages.

Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

Summary:
The community of Cryer’s Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshman Tiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD, 16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany’s empty desk in the one-room school house, but somehow life goes on... until Kendall's boyfriend Nico also disappears, and also without a trace. Now the town is in a panic. Alone in her depression and with her OCD at an all-time high, Kendall notices something that connects Nico and Tiffany: they both sat at the same desk. She knows it's crazy, but Kendall finds herself drawn to the desk, dreaming of Nico and wondering if maybe she, too, will disappear...and whether that would be so bad. Then she begins receiving graffiti messages on the desk from someone who can only be Nico. Can he possibly be alive somewhere? Where is he? And how can Kendall help him? The only person who believes her is Jacian, the new guy she finds irritating...and attractive. As Kendall and Jacian grow closer, Kendall digs deeper into Nico's mysterious disappearance only to stumble upon some ugly—and deadly—local history. Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried. (from GoodReads)

Review:
I loved Cryer's Cross! I wasn't really sure what to expect, because I've only read one of Lisa McMann's books (Wake) and I wasn't a fan of the sparse writing style. But, Cryer's Cross was definitely more detailed which I liked.

I love spooky stories so I knew would enjoy this one. I liked that you don't really ever know what's going on and if the two kids disappeared due to a person or something more supernatural. And the creepiness is really subtle at first; almost too subtle because it doesn't start taking effect until after the halfway mark. Everyone was saying how scary Cryer's Cross was and while it was definitely spooky, I was never really scared. The ending was really creepy but I was a little confused because I was reading it so fast.

I thought that Kendall was a really awesome character. She has OCD, and it's the first time I've a read a book with a character with this disorder. Although, hers seems pretty mild and not at all like the ones on the tv shows. But anyway, it was a nice addition to Kendall's characterization because it's a tough disorder to have and it made it hard for her to cope with the disapperances of both Tiffany and Nico.

A new family moves to the town of Cryer's Cross, and Kendall becomes friends with the two kids, Marlena and Jacian. I loved these two. Marlena is really sweet and becomes friends with Kendall when she really needs it. And Jacian, whew! He was pretty hot and an excellent soccer player and really cared about Kendall. I really liked scenes with those two.

What was interesting about this book is that Cryer's Cross is tiny, which is lacking in a lot of books about Suburban America. Kendall and the other high schoolers go to school in a one-room classroom. I didn't even know they still have those. But I liked the small town feeling because it just seems creepier with all those open fields where someone or something could be lurking.

All in all, I really enjoyed Cryer's Cross. I think it could have been a bit longer to further develop the mystery, but regardless it was still nicely down and definitely creepy!

Rating: 8 out of 10.

FTC: read as an e-book on Pulse It.

2011/Simon Pulse/240 pages.

Secret Society by Tom Dolby

Summary:

Rumors of secret societies are always floating around, especially in a city as big as New York. Nick, Patch, Lauren, and Phoebe have grown up hearing whispers of a huge clandestine organization, but they assumed that if there ever was a secret society, it would have disappeared by now. So imagine Nick, Lauren and Phoebe's surprise when they discover that they part of a new class of Initiates of the Society, a group dedicated to helping its members achieve their greatest dreams and find sucess. Tattooed with the symbol of an ankh on their neck, the high schoolers are roped into lavish parties and find themselves part of a society that may not be entirely benevolent, which becomes apparent when body is found dead in Central Park with the ankh tattoo on the neck.

Review:
I really enjoyed reading Secret Society. Secret societies have always fascinated me and the fact that there could really be an organization like the one in the novel gives me the creeps. The Society is pretty evil, and has a lot of power politically, socially and economically, which is good for its members and not so good for its opponents. The story is fast-paced and there is never a dull moment as Nick, Patch, Lauren and Phoebe try to discover the mysteries of the Society. The characters were a little boring and one-dimensional with not much growth or development, which is usually a turn-off for me. The only character I was interested in reading about was Nick's father who doesn't play a big role until the end. He is very manipulative and is hiding a lot of secrets from his son. However, the stellar plot and pacing make up for the novel's other faults.

Secret Society ends on a cliffhanger and I cannot wait to read the sequel to find out what happens. This is a really short review because I don't really have much to say. Secret Society was good but not great and it has a really interesting plot which makes it worthwhile. I would recommend this for fans of mysteries and prep school stories.

Rating: 7 out of 10.

FTC: received copy from Flamingnet Review program.

2009/Katherine Tegen Books/341 pages.

The Agency: A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee

Summary:

Orphan Mary Quinn lives on the edge. Sentenced as a thief at the age of twelve, she's rescued from the gallows by a woman posing as a prison warden. In her new home, Miss Scrimshaw's Academy for Girls, Mary acquries a singular education, fine manners, and a surprising opportunity. The school is a cover for the Agency - an elite, top secret corps of female investigators with a reputation for results - and at seventeen, Mary's about to join their ranks.

With London all but paralyzed by a noxious heat wave, Mary must work fast in the guise of lady's companion to infiltrate a rich merchant's with hopes of tracing his missing cargo ships. But the Thorold household is full of dangerous secrets, and people are not what they seem - least of all Mary.

Packed with action and suspense, and evoking the gritty world of Victorian London, this first book of the Agency series debuts a daring young detective who lives by her wits. (from inside jacket)

Review:

A great start to an exciting new series, A Spy in the House will not disappoint fans of both historical fiction and mysteries. Seeing two of my favorite genres combined is what attracted me to A Spy in the House, and the book was just as good as I hoped it would be.

Mary is an unusual protagonist. She is almost hanged for stealing, but is rescued by a Good Samaritan who sees Mary's skills as useful in another application. So we have a character who is not a bad person, but one who will do what it takes to survive, even if it is something that is illegal. This, and Mary's wit, intelligence, and strength, makes her a formidable spy and investigator. She is assigned to the Thorold household, ostensibly as a companion to Mr. Thorold's young daughter, but instead she is supposed to search for evidence of illicit trade. Along the way, she forms a relationship with handsome and sharp James Easton, who is also doing a bit of investigating on his own. I loved seeing James and Mary interact, because they are both very similar. Their witty comments back and forth always made me laugh, but together as a team they were able to accomplish a lot.

As for the mystery, I am usually able to guess the outcome before it is written, but this time I was surprised. There is a twist, which is to be expected, but it was perpetrated by a character that flew under my radar the entire book. Luckily, Mary is able to figure it out in the nick of time and save the day.

I thought A Spy in the House was an excellent beginning to a thrilling new series. I can't wait for Mary to solve more mysteries and for her to delve a little farther into her past and heritage, which was focused on a little in this book. The sequel, The Body at the Tower, is already published, and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.

Rating: 8 out of 10.

FTC: borrowed from library.

2010/Candlewick Press/335 pages.

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Summary:

A story of love, murder, and madness aboard an enormous spaceship bound for the future.

Amy is a cryogenically frozen passenger aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed. She expects to wake up on a new planet, 300 years in the future. But fifty years before Godspeed's scheduled landing, Amy's cryo chamber is unplugged and she is nearly killed.

Now, Amy is caught inside an inclosed world where nothing makes sense. Godspeed's passengers have forfeited all control to Eldest, a tyrannical and frightening leader, and Elder, his rebellious and brilliant teenage heir.

Amy desperately wants to trust Elder. But can she? All she knows is that she must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets before whoever woke her tries to kill again. (from back cover)

Review:

Across the Universe totally amazed me. I heard so many good things about it, and when I received a review copy in the mail, I was overjoyed. Across the Universe lived up to my expectations and even surpassed them.

In a world of incredible technology (seriously, what will Apple release next?), science fiction seems to be almost a prediction of our future rather than a fantastical imagining of it. In Across the Universe, the United States has the techology to cryogenically freeze humans and send them on a spaceship that will be able to travel for three hundred years. Once there, the humans can be awakened and start inhabiting the planet. However, humans are also needed to man the ship during its voyage, so generations of people are being born over and over again on the ship.

What I loved about the novel, and what kind of freaked me out, was the total claustrophobia of living on Godspeed. It's a huge spaceship, but it still has its boundaries. It's modeled after the earth, but as Amy notes, the air smells different, the sky isn't quite as blue, and there are no stars. As I was sitting in my room, I could almost feel the walls close around me. I would never want to be stuck on a ship, alive or asleep. This novel really made me appreciate even more the beautiful planet we have. Across the Universe definitely stressed the importance of real, not fabricated, nature.

I love mysteries, and the fact that this ship was full of them, made the novel better in my opinion. Someone is trying to murder the frozen people, and the whole time the reader is wondering who it is and why. I kind of guessed who the perpretrator was before the ending, but there were so many twists and turns that it didn't matter. This was definitely a ship built on secrets and lies. By the end, we discover that Eldest has been hiding a lot from Elder and the rest of Godspeed's residents. Everything you thought was true is pretty much false, leaving you feeling like you were the one who had been lied to the entire time.

Across the Universe features two narrators: Amy and Elder. Amy and her parents are some of the cryogenically frozen passengers, but Amy is woken fifty years too early. She is rightly confused and a little shocked at what she discovers on Godspeed, in regards to both technology and practices. Eldest has some unusual methods to control the populace, and it is very creepy, when Amy and Elder discover them. I actually liked Elder as a narrator better; I thought he was much more interesting and a more active character in the story.

Another thing that fascinated me about Across the Universe was the way that Eldest changes Earth's history to suit his agenda. For instance, Elder comments on how Hitler was a strong leader and even reads a revised version of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, which is way different than the original. I love history and seeing how easily it can be changed creeped me out.

The only problem I had with Across the Universe was the ending. Not the content so much as the way it was written. With twenty pages left to go, suddenly everything is neatly tied up with a little bow The murderer is caught, out of the way, everyone learns the truth and everyone lives happily ever after. I was a little confused when the author started telling us everything that happened rather than showing us. I wish there was a little more detail as to how everything got accomplished because I'm sure it wasn't as easy as the narrators made it sound like.

Overall, I really enjoyed Across the Universe and thought that Beth Revis's world-building was incredible. I felt as though I was living on Godspeed, and I really think that Revis effectively captured the claustrophobia of the ship. The mystery was engaging, the characters interesting to watch, and the technology was unbelievable. Across the Universe is a gem of science fiction.

Release Date: 1/11/11 (!!)

Rating: 9 out of 10.

FTC: received copy from publisher.

2011/Razor Bill/398 pages.

All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab

Carly: She was sweet. Smart. Self-destructive. She knew the secrets of Brighton Day School's most priveleged students. Secrets that got her killed.

Neily: Dumped by Carly for a notorious bad boy, Neily didn't answer the phone call that she made before she died. If he had, maybe he could have helped her. Now he can't get the image of her lifeless body out of his head.

Audrey: She's the reason Carly got tangled up with Brighton's fast crowd in the first place, and now she regrets it - especially since she's convinced that the police have put the wrong person in jail. Audrey thinks the murderer is someone at Brighton, and she wants Neily to help her find out who it is.

As reluctant allies Neily and Audrey dig into their shared past with Carly, her involvement in Brighton's dark goings-on comes to light. But figuring out how Carly and her killer fit into the twisted drama will force Audrey and Neily to face hard troubles about themselves and the girl they couldn't save. (Taken from back cover)

All Unquiet Things was an amazing book! I love mysteries, and this one actually seemed realistic. It wasn't like Nancy Drew where you sometimes have to suspend belief (seriously, how does Nancy always solve the mystery?). But I could actually see Neily and Audrey going through Carly's things, subtlely questioning their friends, discussing possible suspects. They didn't somehow get access to police records or stumble across blood stains in someone's house. It was more deliberative and thoughtful and more real. That's one of the reasons I enjoyed All Unquiet Things so much. I felt like I was there with Audrey and Neily, wondering who the murderer was. And as for the actual killer - it was huge surprise. I would never have guessed the culprit in a million years, and somehow it made perfect sense. So kudos to Anna Jarzab for creating an extremely well-written mystery.

As for the characters, I really liked Neily and Audrey. I liked their alternating point-of-views, and especially that the book didn't switch narrators every other chapter. Sometimes that can get tiresome because I constantly have to be aware of whose speaking or else I get confused. In this book, I only had to readjust my perspective a few times, instead of twenty. Carly was also interesting, because she was a puzzling character at times. I enjoyed seeing her in flashbacks and trying to decipher her character.

Another thing - if you've read The Secret Year by Jennifer R. Hubbard, these books are pretty similar. I read them back-t0-back, so I was even more aware of the similarities. Mainly they both have the main character/love interest dead for the story and you get to see the character through flashbacks and diary entries. The stories are really different, but when if you think about it, how many books employ this theme? So if you liked one, you'll probably like the other.

9 out of 10.

Death By Denim by Linda Gerber

Aphra and her mom have been hiding out in France, biding their time until The Mole's minions decide to come after them again. And after three months in Lyon, someone has discovered them. On the run again, Aphra and her mom put their trust into the CIA to help them escape. But when their contact is found dead in the Seine River, the two realize that The Mole means business. Against the wishes of her mother, Aphra travels to Italy as bait to flush out The Mole, and hopefully have him captured. But, as usual, things do not go according to plan, and Aphra must use her stealth and cunning to save the day.

I think this trilogy is perfect for anyone who likes mystery or action novels. The same plot spans over three novels, but we get a whole new array of locations and characters in each book. It's also somewhat of a spy novel, since Aphra's mom works for the CIA, so any fans of The Bourne books/movies will really enjoy these books. That being said, I like the originality that comes with this mystery/action/spy novel, since it encompasses a whole slew of genres. Aphra is still her spunky self, and we get to see love interest Seth again. The relationship between Aphra and Seth is almost a Romeo and Juliet one, because the two want to be together but can't due to circumstances beyond their control. The sentence structure thing that annoyed me in Death By Latte is gone (thank goodness!) but I still felt like this book could be a lot longer. Maybe it's just me wanting to read more of Aphra kicking the bad guys' butts. Anyway, I thought the ending was perfect. It tied up the loose ends, but the epilogue leaves room for the reader's imagination. I really hope that Linda Gerber continues to write about Aphra and company, because I don't know if I will be able to find more mystery/action/spy books that can compare.

8 out of 10.

Release Date: May 14, 2009

Top 8 by Katie Finn

Madison MacDonald is like most teenagers -- addicted to Friendverse, a popular social networking site like MySpace or Facebook. She's spent days putting up pictures, writing about herself, and figuring out which friends to put as her Top 8. So when Madison goes to the Galapagos Islands for spring break, she's gets kind of stir crazy not being able to check her profile. But when she gets back, she sees that her profile has been hacked! Unflattering pictures have been posted, and the hacker has said some pretty mean things about her friends and classmates. But the worst thing of all, the hacker broke up with Madison's very cute boyfriend! Madison must figure out who the hacker is and bring him or her to justice. Her social (and love) life depends on it.

I liked this book a lot. As a fan of Facebook, I could understand why Madison was so upset after her profile was hacked. In Madison's case, everyone has a Friendverse, and everyone looks at each other's profiles, meaning everyone saw the nasty things the hacker wrote. Even though I think the characters put a little too much emphasis on this social networking site, but it was still realistic for today's teens. I also liked how the book was a mystery and Madison had to figure out who the hacker was. At several times I thought I knew who the culprit was, but I ended up being wrong, so that was a surprise. But what was really cool about this book was that it had Madison's Friendverse profile page and some other people's pages. It also showed I.M's and texts sent between Madison and her friends. I thought these things were a nice touch and made the book fun to read and look at.

8 out of 10.

Death By Latte by Linda Gerber

Aphra Connelly is back and ready for action in this thrilling sequel to Death By Bikini. She decides to visit her mother in Seattle, but the feeling in unreciprocated. Aphra's mother Natalie is practically upset that she's there, and Natalie's partner Joe hates Aphra even more. So when Seth shows up, unannounced, demanding his ring back, Aphra feels like she has no control over her life. And suddenly things get worse. When Joe is found dead, poisoned by a hot cup of joe (pun intended) Aphra and her odd group of family and friends must flee in order to save their lives.

This book, like its prequel, was an exciting read. I felt like Death By Bikini was rushed, but Death By Latte was more evenly paced. Aphra remains the cute and clever heroine, and now we get to see Aphra's mom, who was absent in the first book. Certain things annoyed me, though: like how Aphra couldn't stop mentioning her lifeguard and first aid training in her narration. Take it from someone who's certified in both plus other things; you don't think about it all that often. I know, I know, she was in a situation where that training could have come in handy, but still. Also, I hate when writers constantly use such sentence structures as "I wondered if Stuart's perception of her [Natalie] as independent kept him from offering to help her with it. I wondered if I should. Offer, I mean." For some reason, it drives me crazy! So any authors out there, refrain from this please! But besides those two minor annoyances I really did like the book and can't wait for Death By Denim.

7 out of 10.

Release Date: Tomorrow! (Sept. 18)

Hell Week by Rosemary Clement-Moore

Maggie Quinn is back and ready for action in the latest installment of the Maggie Quinn: Girl vs. Evil series. This time, Maggie is going to be a freshmen at college and is rushing a sorority. No, she's not interested in looking cool or meeting cute guys; she's trying to write a column for the school newpaper, even though they don't accept freshmen reporters. So she continues through rush, and onto becoming a pledge, trying to survive the expensive clothes and snobby girls just so she can write a hard-hitting expose. Along the way she discovers that sisterhood is not all about nail polish and parties. There's something sinister lurking in the Sigma Alpha Xi house, and Maggie must figure out what it is before it's too late.

I actually really enjoyed this book. Even though it's part of a series, it isn't necessary to read all the other books. Some parts I was confused about previous events, but it didn't stop the suspense. Maggie is a great character: she's funny and serious at the same time and her commentary on sororities and fraternities is very satirical. I liked reading a book about a quirky heroine who fights evil in her spare time. The mystery about the Sigma Alpha Xis is suspenseful and spooky, and in a good way, too. This very refreshing book makes me want to go back and read the others in the series. Kudos to Rosemary Clement-Moore!

7 out of 10

Release Date: August 2008

Death By Bikini by Linda Gerber

Aphra Connolly seems like the luckiest girl in the world. She lives on a beautiful island resort where she gets to spend her time in the company of the rich and famous. Although, living on an island leaves few opportunities for her to meet people her own age. So when the cute Adam Smith and his family arrive, Aphra is beyond excited. The thing is, the day after the Smith's check-in, a girl is found dead on the beach, with the strings of her bikini top tied around her neck. Is this too much of a coincidence? Could Adam and his family be responsible for the murder? Aphra will have to discover the truth before it's too late.

I thought that this was a really refreshing read. It has been a long time since I read a mystery, and this was the perfect book. It has the right amount of intrigue, suspense, humor and romance. The characters, especially Aphra, are believable and relatable. Aphra is a clever heroine who uses her wit and cunning to find out clues and ultimately save the day. My only qualm with this book is that it needs more plot points. The climax occurred fairly quickly for a mystery. However, there is a sequel, Death By Latte, which should satisfy readers' appetites after this delicious story.

8 out of 10