McClintock, Norah Out of Tune

McClintock, Norah     Out of Tune   Orca    2018   222p   10.95  978-1-4598-1465-3            ms/hs Mystery/Detective    VG       
When one of Riley’s classmates turns up missing, and murdered, the search is on for her killer. Suddenly, it seems there are several suspects, with sufficient motives and no alibi, who may have wanted the girl dead.         In this murder mystery, the third in the Riley Donovan series, our sleuth Riley figures out who killed one of her classmates, a girl who had everything going for her. The mystery will keep readers turning pages, but the author's choice of words can sometimes be a bit confusing. Will definitely appeal to those who like a good mystery story, in middle school and high school. Use of the word "bitch" and "perky breasts" but no really bad language.
                                    Kennedy, Carol

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

Hoover, P.J. Tut: My Epic Battle to Save the World.

Hoover, P.J.  Tut: My Epic Battle to Save the World. Macmillan/Tor Books      2017  336p  $15.95  ISBN 978-0-7653-9082-0  ms/hs Mystery/Detective   VG-BN

This is the second book in Hoover’s series about the young Pharaoh Tutankhamun transported to modern times, but it can be read as a stand-alone as well, with hints of a sequel too.

Gil is gone.  Gilgamesh, guardian of the teenaged Tutankhamun, has disappeared and Tut is desperately trying to find him.  In the epic battle at the end of the first book in the series, Tut’s friend Henry is grievously injured and Tut gives up part of his immortal life force to sustain him.  Tut’s guardian Gilgamesh channels his own scarab heart into Tut in exchange and then disappears.  Tut must rescue his “older brother” from Apep, God of Chaos, with the help of his friends Tia and Henry.  The adventures come fast and furious as the frantic Tut searches Washington, D.C., for Gil and a way to save the world from Chaos. 

This solidly written fantasy will hold the reader's attention from beginning to end with its lively prose and well-developed characters, creative plot twists, wit, and dramatic story line.  The modern participants are excellent representations of those of Egyptian mythology, offering a nice introduction for further investigations. The book includes a glossary of Egyptian and Sumerian gods and monsters, a list of real people, a description of “all things Shabti", instructions for playing Senet, and instructions for caring for your Sumerian monster.  

Summary: Gil is gone.  Gilgamesh, guardian of the teenaged Tutankhamun, has disappeared, and Tut is desperately trying to find him. This solidly written fantasy will hold the reader's attention from beginning to end with its lively prose and well-developed characters, creative plot twists, wit, and dramatic story line. This is the second book in Hoover’s series about the young Pharaoh Tutankhamun transported to modern times but it can be read as a stand-alone as well, with hints of a sequel there as well.  
                 

Fantasy, Ancient Egypt-Fiction                                          --Susan Ogintz

Key, Watt. Hideout.

Key, Watt. Hideout. Macmillan/Farrar Strauss    2017  311p  $16.99  ISBN 978-0-374-30482-9        ms/hs  Mystery/Detective  E-BN 

Twelve-year-old Sam loves his fishing boat. However, he does not like to fish, so he escapes for hours exploring the surrounding bayous. Sam disregards his father’s restrictions on going into the bayou. This leads to his meeting Davey, who is hiding in a bedraggled shack deep in the bayou. Sam is concerned over Davey’s plight and tries to help him out by bringing tools to fix up the shack. But Davey’s family is involved in criminal activities, and Davey’s brother’s friends are disreputable. The situation becomes explosive, so Sam and Davey flee for their lives into the bayou. 
    

Readers will enjoy the fast-paced switches in the story.  Sam tries to help his friend but becomes more entangled in small lies at home. It is a nail-biting and nerve-tingling read for young readers up to the very end.

Summary: “The son of a Mississippi policeman finds a boy living in hiding in the wilderness and tries to help him without giving away his secret”
                 

Adventure-Fiction, Mississippi-Fiction                            --Linda McNeil

Rubin, Sarah. The Impossible Clue.

Rubin, Sarah.  The Impossible Clue. Scholastic/Chicken House      2017  293p  $17.99      ISBN 978-0-545-94025-2  elem/ms      Mystery/Detective  VG-BN

Alice Jones is good at solving mysteries.  However, in this case she feels she is being used.  So she is determined to find the missing professor.  It is an exciting undertaking for Alice, but it provided a fast-paced, nail-biting experience for readers.

This mystery novel will captivate young and young-adult readers.  The action never stops, and it leaves the reader with more questions throughout.  The ending is a complete surprise and provides the entire explanation of the mystery.                 

Alice Jones has a way of solving mysteries.  A classmate has talked her into helping his father find his missing partner, a scientist who was inventing an invisible suit.

Missing Persons                                                                        --Linda McNeil