Mini Reviews: The "Who-Dun-It?" edition

The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin

by Josh Berk

Being a hefty, deaf newcomer almost makes Will Halpin the least popular guy at Coaler High. But when he befriends the only guy less popular than him, the dork-namic duo has the smarts and guts to figure out who knocked off the star quarterback. Will can’t hear what’s going on, but he’s a great observer. So, who did it? And why does that guy talk to his fingers? And will the beautiful girl ever notice him? (Okay, so Will’s interested in more than just murder . . .) (description from Amazon.com)

I was really surprised how funny this book was...even though it's a great mystery and there's some great suspense, I ended up laughing out loud through most of my reading.  Will and his new friend, Devon, build a great rapport and they deal with Will's deafness is a really cool way.  I would love to read a follow up mystery starring these two self-proclaimed "Hardy Boys." 

Dead is a Battlefield

by Marlene Perez

Dead Is series, book six

Jessica Walsh is starting her freshman year at Nightshade High and trying to forget about the tragic events surrounding her brother’s graduation. She wants to have a normal high school experience. But that’s easier said than done in Nightshade. There’s a new guy at school who seems to be turning the girls into lovesick zombies. And Jessica has other worries—like her crush on a cute but moody lead singer, and the mysterious tattoo that appeared on her arm one day that lets her know whenever there is trouble brewing. Jessica learns she’s a Virago, a woman warrior chosen to fight evil whenever it threatens her hometown. But does a lowly freshman really have what it takes to keep Nightshade safe? (description from Amazon.com)

I LOVE this series.  They are fun to read, quick enough to sneak in between other books I have to review and each turns out to be a pure guilty pleasure. Technically this is book six in the Dead Is  series, but it feels totally fresh because there is a new main character. Jessica is just as sassy and smart as Daisy was...I couldn't be happier with where these books are going. :)

The Aviary

by Kathleen O'Dell

Twelve-year-old Clara Dooley has spent her whole life in the Glendoveer mansion, where her mother is a servant to the kind and elderly matron of the house. Clara has never known another home. In fact, she's confined to the grand estate due to a mysterious heart condition. But it's a comfortable life, and if it weren't for the creepy squawking birds in the aviary out back, a completely peaceful one too.

But once old Mrs. Glendoveer passes away, Clara comes to learn many dark secrets about the family. The Glendoveers suffered a horrific tragedy: their children were kidnapped, then drowned. And their father George Glendoveer, a famous magician and illusionist, stood accused until his death. As Clara digs deeper and deeper into the terrifying events, the five birds in the aviary seem to be trying to tell her something. And Clara comes to wonder: what is their true identity? Clara sets out to solve a decades-old murder mystery—and in doing so, unlocks a secret in her own life, too. (description from Amazon.com)

I really loved this book. I thought the characters were charming, and just a tad creepy.  I was sucked right into poor Clara's story and could not wait to find out why she had to live the sheltered life that she did.  I thought the mystery of the birds was fascinating. This read like a "classic," and I thoroughly enjoyed it!