Carter, Ally. See How They Run. (Embassy Row, Book Two)

Carter, Ally. See How They Run.  (Embassy Row, Book Two)  Scholastic Press  2016  323p    $9.99  ISBN 978-0-545-65493-7  ms/jr  Mystery/Detective  VG 

In book two of the Embassy Row set of three novels, Grace is distraught over the death of her mother.  No one blames her, least of all her brother and grandfather, but Grace knows she is responsible for her mother’s death.  Adria, a small country with an unusual history, is the setting for this adventure-packed novel with its quick, realistic and entertaining style.  It is definitely not a stand-alone book, and the reader might be a bit confused by his/her lack of knowledge of the events that led to Grace’s current emotional state if he/she starts the series with the second novel.  In the exposition, one encounters a brief description of the history of Adria, which Ms. Chancellor recounts as she describes the need for a secret society of females who are record keepers and protectors of information.  The reader might be a bit confused by this society, because in book two there is little follow-through with respect to this group.  Grace is perplexed about her new role as a member of the society, and her confusion continues. When Grace’s brother brings a friend to Adria from West Point (where they are cadets), the friend is murdered.  It appears that Alexei, son of a Russian diplomat, is responsible, but Grace knows that Alexei would never commit such a crime.  Or would he?  Grace spends a large part of the novel investigating Spence’s death and trying to help Alexei.  However, she is unaware of the danger she is in.  In the background is Dominic, AKA the Scarred Man, who seems to be Grace’s self-appointed protector, especially when he binds up the wounds she incurs while helping Alexei escape arrest.  It is increasingly evident that Grace herself is a target.  In a surprise ending, everything is not resolved, but the reader learns why Grace is protected by Dominic in a moment of revelation.  Book three has lots of questions to answer, and fans of this series will undoubtedly pour right into Carter’s falling action and resolution in an attempt to find closure for a number of questions they will have at the end of took two.              

Summary: Grace knows she played a role in her mother’s death, but she must learn to accept it.  This book begins with her turmoil, exacerbated by events such as the death of her brother’s friend Spence, a car explosion that might have killed Grace’s friend Alexei, the accused killer of Spence, and new revelations about Grace’s country of Adria.   

Murder-Fiction, Fantasy-Fiction                                   --Martha Squaresky