UNNATURAL HABITS (Phryne Fisher series - bk 19)

by Kerrie Greenwood   (Not in our Library)   LWH

[Burb: 1929: Girls are going missing in Melbourne. Little, pretty golden-haired girls. And not just pretty. Three of them are pregnant, poor girls from the harsh confines of the Magdalene Laundry. People are getting nervous. Polly Kettle, a pushy, self-important Girl Reporter with ambition and no sense of self preservation, decides to investigate - and promptly goes missing herself.It's time for Phryne and Dot to put a stop to this and find Polly Kettle before something quite irreparable happens to all of them. It's all piracy and dark cellars, convents and plots, murder and mystery .... and Phryne finally finds out if it's true that blondes have more fun]

Always a lot of fun, Phryne is up to her usual antics, trying to get to the bottom of her new investigation... finding young pregnant girls that seem to have gone missing from the Abbotsford Convent/Laundry, along with a young reporter she rescued from danger. Always light hearted with a laugh here and there Kerrie weaves an interesting tale. Dot, along with Phryne will find the clues and although putting themselves in extreme danger will save the day.

Although I've read a few in this series I must confess that since seeing the ABC series of Phryne Fisher, I do read the books like I'm watching the show, picturing all the quirky characters and their mannerisms, which makes the stories more interesting to me.

COLIN FISCHER

by Ashley Edward Miller   (LWH)

[Blurb: SOLVING CRIME, ONE FACIAL EXPRESSION AT A TIME
Colin Fischer cannot stand to be touched. He does not like the color blue. He needs index cards to recognize facial expressions.
But when a gun is found in the school cafeteria, interrupting a female classmate's birthday celebration, Colin is the only for the investigation. It's up to him to prove that Wayne Connelly, the school bully and Colin's frequent tormentor, didn't bring the gun to school. After all, Wayne didn't have frosting on his hands, and there was white chocolate frosting found on the grip of the smoking gun...]

Colin Fischer is a modern day Sherlock Holmes, constantly gathering facts in his little notepad. A bit unusual? ... yes, he has Aspergers syndrome, a developmental disorder that affects a person's ability to socialize and communicate effectively with others. This causes him to be alienated at school and often bullied. He is a character that grows on you. Because he is incredibly intelligent and logical he is very good at gathering clues.

This is a quick read which I think boys will particularly like.

BURNING BLUE

by Paul Griffin

[Blurb: 'How far would you go for love, beauty, and jealousy?

When Nicole Castro, the most beautiful girl in her wealthy New Jersey high school, is splashed with acid on the left side of her perfect face, the whole world takes notice. But quiet loner Jay Nazarro does more than that--he decides to find out who did it. Jay understands how it feels to be treated like a freak, and he also has a secret: He's a brilliant hacker. But the deeper he digs, the more danger he's in--and the more he falls for Nicole. Too bad everyone is turning into a suspect, including Nicole herself.

Award-winning author Paul Griffin has written a high-stakes, soulful mystery about the meaning--and dangers--of love and beauty']

Great, great, great book. Couldn't put it down. Nicole was beautiful and there were many jealous of her, but who would be so cruel as to throw acid in her face? Although Jay isn't her friend, he decides to make it his business to find out who has done this hideous crime. When Nicole finds out about Jay she starts to confide in him and they soon become friends, and Jay finds that somehow there is a link between his father and her parents, which he can't quite work out.

He discovers there are many who may have wanted to harm Nicole, but as the plot thickens there are many twists and turns that will have you guessing until the end. Well worth a read.

THE ACCUSED

By John Grisham   (LWH)

This is the third book in the great new YA fiction 'Theodore Boone' series, by John Grisham. The series is aimed at 8-13 yr olds so its not a super complicated read or plot for those wanting to get into crime thriller novels. Although this book follows on from the other two in the series you can certainly read it as a stand alone novel.

Theo is a bit of a whiz with law, both his parents being lawyers, and he often helps out friends when called upon. However the tables are turned when Theo is accused of a crime of theft and all the evidence leads to him being guilty. He is being set up and must try to find evidence to show the Police he is innocent. Someone is slashing his tyres and breaking into his locker but he has no idea who could be doing this to him or why. There is also another story woven through the book, continued from the previous books, about a man who is on a murder trial but suddenly goes missing. There is lots going on to take your attention. I'm sure teens will love this series and will be greatly anticipating the next book to come.

NOTORIOUS NINETEEN

by Janet Evanovich   (STAFF)  (LWH)

Stephanie Plum is up to her old tricks in this nineteen book in the series. She's certainly living up to her standards as bounty hunter in New Jersey, arresting those villains that have skipped bail. True to form she has already had her car and her boyfriend, Morelli's, car blown up in the first couple of chapters. With Ranger close at hand, keeping her out of danger, as much as he can, she will still find trouble with her off-sider Lula.

I must admit, although I did enjoy it, it was the same ol' same ol'. Maybe because I'd read so many in the series it just didn't have the spark that I was used to in the others. Having said that they are always a good, light, holiday read.

THE SECRET KEEPER

by Kate Morton   (STAFF) (LWH)

Fabulous, fabulous book. Very intriguing, couldn't put it down. A story with many layers of mystery, secrets and deception.

Laurel witnesses a crime when she is a teenager. While hiding up a tree she sees her mother stab and kill a stranger, who comes to their home during a birthday party. Fifty years on, Laurel discovers some of the mystery of why this has happened and who this man was. Now her mother is close to death, and time is running out to get the answers to the many questions that has haunted her all her life. There are secrets and more secrets. All is not what it seems.

The story shifts between 1940's during the war, 1961 and 2011 and is woven around three characters whose lives will be fatefully entwined forever. There are twists and turns throughout which makes the story spellbinding. It touches on childhood memories, family tragedies and living during the London Blitz. A fantastic new release novel by an Australian author who has also written The Forgotten Garden and The Distant Hours.

THE MESSENGER BIRD

by Ruth Eastham   (LWH)

I love a good spy read and this book beckoned me to read it after seeing the cover, reading the blurb and having previously read The Memory Cage, Ruth's first novel.

Nathan's father is arrested for breaking the Official Secrets Act and he must prove his father's innocent. To save his father he must follow the secret clues his father has left for him and follow the trail of Lilly, someone from the past who was also accused like his father. This book takes you on an interesting and dangerous ride as Nathan and his friends must solve the puzzles and codes before his father's enemies do. His father has warned him to trust no one and not to tell his mother or sister what he is doing. Time is running out for Nathan to solve the Enigma code.

This book is quick and easy to read, covering historical events. I think boys would love it.

THE TRUTH ABOUT VERITY SPARKS

by Susan Green
This was an unusual story that was short-listed in the Book of the Year for Younger Readers category of the 2012 CBCA Awards.


Set in the late 1800's, a thirteen yr old girl named Verity Sparks discovers she is talented in finding lost objects. Verity works as a milliner in London and thinks she is just an ordinary lower class girl until she is accused of steeling some jewellery and her life takes on a very different direction.
She is helped by the Plush family who explain she has an almost perfect memory and possesses the talent of Teleagtivism. They ask her to help them solve cases in their Confidential Inquiry Agency. Soon there are chases through the dark alleys of London and lots of adventure. Will Verity find out the truth about her parents and why she has this special talent? A great story with mystery and suspense.

THE KITE IDENTITY 3: Everyone Lies

by Harry Edge   (LW)

Even though I hadn't read the first two books in this series I caught on quickly to the story and the characters. I liked this story even though it was aimed at Young Adults. It was fast paced, exciting and full of suspense right until the end.  As the characters travelled from country to country you were kept in touch with what was happening in each place and with each character, which built the suspense. 

Luke believes his father is still alive, although he has been reported to have died in a helicopter crash, and he and his sister are now sole heirs to their father's fortune and company, Kite Industries. Is Luke's Uncle a villain and a murderer? Has he sent an assassin to kill his sister? I tell you there is romance, suspense, murder and deceit in this book. You'll want to read the whole series I'm sure.