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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2163 KP) rated The Tiara on the Terrace (Young and Yang #2) in Books

Mar 9, 2018

Like most teens in Luna Vista, Sophie Young and Grace Yang are working on the floats for the upcoming Winter Sun Festival. This is the 125th anniversary of the parade, and the town wants to make an especially good impression. Sadly, the work is interrupted one day when the festival president is found dead on one of the floats. Certain it wasn’t the accident the police think it is, Sophie and Grace begin to investigate. But when their pool of suspects could also be the next victim, can they solve the crime?

I really enjoyed the first book starring these two thirteen-year-olds, and I enjoyed this one just as much. They are realistic characters who just happen to solve crime. There is a large cast of other characters, but I was soon able to keep them all straight thanks to their distinct personalities. The clues were buried under red herrings, but as the solution came to light, it all made perfect sense. Definitely recommended for middle grade readers or anyone who loves a good mystery.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/01/book-review-tiara-on-terrace-by-kristen.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.

Kudos

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2163 KP) rated Due or Die in Books

Jan 19, 2019

Due or Die

Jenn McKinlay | 2012 | Mystery

8.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Due Read This Book

Carrie Rushton has just been elected president of the Friends of the Library. Even though Lindsay Norris isn't a member of the group since she's the head of the library itself, she is thrilled to be working with someone bringing fresh ideas and perspectives. However, after Carrie's first meeting in her new role, she returns home to find her husband shot to death. People are quick to jump to the conclusion that Carrie is guilty, but Lindsay is sure the woman is innocent. Will a winter storm coming to the area turn the trail of the real killer cold?

While I still don't have all the supporting characters straight in my head, the characters important to this mystery are all well developed. That includes not only the suspects, but the main characters. Thanks to a couple of sub-plots, I found the pacing uneven, although things did pick up for the climax. Things do fit together well, but there is a major timing issue in the climax. It annoys, but it is minor overall. While I always enjoy Jenn's books, I found this one super funny, laughing out loud multiple times over the course of the story. I'm already looking forward to my next stop at this library.