The teenage sleuth returns for another mystery
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Murder At The Masquers: An Adriana Hofstetter Mystery is the fourth in a delightful series of murder mysteries by Bruce Kimmel.

Kimmel has done it again, but in an endearing way. He has penned his fourth and hopefully an ongoing series of Adriana Hofstetter mysteries. This time our persistent teenage sleuth becomes embroiled in a "Murder At the Masquers". If Kimmel had hit his stride with "Murder At the Hollywood Historical Society"; then with "Masquers" he has pulled ahead of the pack. His writing style has become more relaxed with his Adriana Hofstetter mysteries; they are a lot of fun to read.

Any story that begins with a gay teenager (Billy) singing and recreating Michael Bennett's grueling original choreography for Turkey Lurkey Time (Promises, Promises) and including Donna McKechnie's head popping as a birthday present had me hooked. It's always fun when Kimmel throws in a Broadway reference that perhaps contemporary musical theater goers won't get right away. The regular characters of Adriana, Billy, Margaret and Detectives Ramirez and Coyne have become old friends. We know what makes them tick, what drives them and their interpersonal relationships.

To celebrate her sixteenth birthday Adriana investigates an unsolved murder from 1966 involving a despotic acting teacher (who was stabbed over sixty times) and the many suspects including his students and his widow.

Hollywood of yore is once again a character as it was the previous Adriana Hofstetter adventure "Murder At Hollywood Historical Society". Masquers has it share of colorful characters although some seem to be very similar. How can you make nine semi-successful/unsuccessful actors that different from one another, but Kimmel gives them their own uique and quirky personalities that makes you wonder which one might be the murderer. The acting teacher, although dead, was one note (or perhaps a concerto) as he was aceberic, nasty, vicious, and misogynist and those were his good qualities. If there was something a little more positive; a little more ying to the yang would have made the character more than. one note to me.

So why would Adriana want to find out who murdered a person who had been dead for 45 years with no redeeming attributes? I posed a similar question in my review of "Murder At The Grove" where she tried to prove a person was murdered when she had no personal involvement with that victim. I answered my questions by stating: "It didn't matter that she hardly knew the victim because that's who Adriana Hofstetter is. It is that what makes her a refreshing character because she doesn't need a reason to prove a friend innocent of murder or that someone she hardly knew was murdered instead of dying of a drug overdose."

The answer to my query this time is because it doesn't matter whether she knows the victim or not. She has become a true detective and true detectives search out the truth not depending if they knew the victim or not. Adriana Hofstetter is not the same detective we first met at Murder At Hollywood High.

It is a great read. Take it to read on the beach, on the plane, on the train, on a car trip (as long as you are a passenger and not the driver) and the engrossing adventures of Adriana Hofstetter will make time pass.  For the next one I would love to see a little more plotting along the lines of his other mysteries "Writer's Block" and "Rewind" which I highly recommend. Both novels subvert the traditional mystery novel formats and I even went back and read them a few more times.
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Chosen by Publishers Weekly as one of the six best mysteries of 2006, Impulse involves the reader in two mysteries, one recent, and one from twenty-five years earlier.  Frank Meredith Smith, returning to Scott Academy, his Baltimore boarding school, for his fiftieth reunion, has been under suspicion at his Arizona home for four years, ever since his wife Sandy disappeared without a trace.  The author of mystery stories and of a successful TV series, Frank has mixed feelings about this reunion.  A "Campus Kid," whose father was a well-loved English teacher at Scott, Frank loved the freedom of exploring the 900-acre campus, but he also suffered the loss of his older brother Jack as a direct result of an incident at Scott.

His return to campus is greeted enthusiastically by Brad Stark, Director of Development, who is hoping that he will persuade Frank to make a considerable donation to the school.  To keep Frank interested in the school, Stark persuades Frank to investigate and possibly write about the disappearance of four twelve-year-olds who had been part of the 25th reunion class.

The action cuts from scene to scene, sometimes without transitions, as the author presents characters in action.  The reader must often fill in the blanks regarding when, where, and who is involved in some of these short scenes, but eventually all connect to the central mysteries.  While Frank is in Baltimore, police detectives in Arizona unearth new information about his wife's death.  In a conversation with Frank, his daughter Barbara betrays her own uncertainty about her father's role in her mother's disappearance.  In the meantime, Rosemary Mitchell, an old friend and fellow "Campus Kid," becomes Frank's assistant investigating the disappearances of the four young boys--or was it five?

The novel is beautifully paced, with both mysteries unfolding simultaneously and keeping the reader constantly involved with the action.  Frank is a sympathetic main character, and his daughter Barbara's questions about her mother's death and her father's possible role in it are natural and understandable.  Rosemary Mitchell, as Frank's 66-year-old companion, is realistic, not at all Miss Marple-ish, and the complications of the 25-year-old case provide plausible twists regarding the disappearances of the four young boys.  Though the writing is not always smooth and the use of transitions between some of the scenes might make the action a bit easier to follow, the mysteries and their resolutions are top-notch.  n  Mary Whipple
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It has been a few months since the events depicted in the preceding novel, "Early's Pride," and retired detective Brady Kincaid is back in town. He is back to visit his many friends, catch up on what he has been happening in the small town of Early, Michigan and to attend the annual Early's Founders Day Fair. However, his plans quickly go out the window and the former Detective is asked to again help the small police force, as a murder has been committed.
Librarian Penny Penelope has been found dead at the town's bookstore, Brickley's Books. She was struck several times in the head by an axe and based on the lack of blood at the scene, it is clear that her body was moved and later dumped at the bookstore. It is bad enough to have a dead body in a bookstore on any day, but even worse when the Fair is about to open and the bookstore is set to host Miss Holly LaFrance who will be signing copies of her new book. The very same book that was blasted in a scathing syndicated review column that happened to run in the local paper today.
 Brady is needed and despite some misgivings about being paired with Officer Alice Drinker, he is glad to assist. He misses serious police work and this case intrigues him from his first visit to the crime scene. As the fair opens and the investigation moves forward, they find that the killer wasn't the only one with secrets to hide. Public image is one thing but as so often the case, private reality is far different.
With many of the characters involved in Early's Pride back, this is another enjoyable read with characters that feel like old friends. Unlike the previous book, the focus in this "cozy" style murder mystery is primarily on Brady Kincaid and the case as well as some important decisions about his future that he needs to make. As such, there is less romance than in the previous book. Not to say there is not a romantic element, there certainly is, but the primary element in this novel is the mystery. The solution, which is readily apparent from early in the novel to seasoned mystery readers, still provides an enjoyable read and a very entertaining story.
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This is a YA book but can also easily be enjoyed by an older audience if you like a mystery .. we were all teenagers once & this reminded me of some of the turmoil faced at that time of life.

Poor John doesnt have much luck with the girls .. after a night out there is a car accident on the way home & Riley his girlfriend is killed. Finally moving on as youngsters do in the handsome guy gets girls interested scenario the school prom is looming .. Charley & Megan think it would cheer him up to  fast-forward to after the prom & Megan has disappeared only to be discovered murdered & John is accused .. this evokes all the feelings of guilt associated with the death of Riley.
The mystery is investigated by John & Charley .. & we hear their points of view. Steady pace, quite well written, the characters had some substance, overall a decent read if you like a little suspense that is not scary.
I received a copy via Red Adept Publishing & Sages Blog Tours in exchange for my opinion.
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Decent book with a compelling plot; more a upper teenage level read but good
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This is a well written, fun, teen mystery.  Perfect for the beach or a road trip.  Mansfield's lead character, Cathy Banks, captures the angst of being a teenager... everyday occurrences become high drama!  Mansfield's style reminds one of classic Nancy Drew or The Hardy Boys with a cliff hanger at the end of every chapter.  A great read for the young teen.
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Pipsie and her helpful sidekick, Alfred Z. Turtle are back with more science-based sleuthing in this second installment of the Pipsie, Nature Detective series.

What's more fun and challenging than a scavenger hunt? A mystery to solve along the wayl! Someone (or something) has filched Pipsie & Alfred's lunch when their back was turned. Now, while on their scavenger hunt, they're also on the look out for clues to determine who their Lunchnapper might be. With growling stomachs and focused sleuthing, Pipsie and Alfred are determined to make this new mystery history!

Unlike some educational children's books that lose their charm to dry, boring information-packed pages, Pipsie & Alfred keep the story fresh, fun, and exciting. This newest, outdoor adventure will continue to intrigue children with the wonders of science and nature surrounding them.

Pipsie is a fantastic role model. I want to buy a purple pith helmet and join her and Alfred on ALL their adventures!
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This is book #14 in the Hannah Swensen mysteries, and maybe it is time for the author to shake things up a bit. Although I enjoyed the mystery, this series is becoming predictable and Hannah using cookies and chocolate to cure everyone's problems is getting a little old. It also seemed like this one had even more recipes and food descriptions than the earlier novels. Although cookies are the theme for all of these cozies, in the future I would like to have a little more story and a little less baking. I was happy to read that something is finally starting to change in Hannah's relationships with Norman and Mike. Expect a surprise on that front near the end of this book. In this story set in a little town in Minnesota, we learn of two cousins who had lived with Grandma Knudson for a year when they were in high school. The cousins looked very much alike but were as different as could be. Suddenly one of them returns as a Lutheran minister and agrees to substitute for the local minister while he and his new wife are on their honeymoon. Soon the substitute minister is found dead in the church office and questions arise as to whether he was who he said he was or whether he had been the other cousin. Hannah, is an amateur sleuth who make her living running a cookie and coffee shop in town. She along with her two sisters, her mother, and her boyfriend Norman promise Grandma Knudson they will find the killer.
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Great mystery! It was fun to get tangled up in this mystery with engaging characters from the previous mysteries by Patricia Wood. The foreshadowing was just enough to keep me going but not enough to make me figure out "whodunit." The best thing about a good sequel is getting reacquainted with old friends. The characters acquire more depth and interest as you go along.
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It was a good mystery as to who killed the girl.  I enjoyed the buildup to the end.  Is a enjoyable read.
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This was a delight to read. I loved Asiyas sense of humour, wit, and curiosity in tackling this mystery. (Also, yes to all her X-men comic references.) I remember watching teen sleuth shows like Veronica Mars, and the contemporary Nancy Drew nods from Asiya are both compelling and apt here too. Perfect for any teen looking for a good mystery with well-paced intrigue.

Asiyas cautious but down-to-earth approach to her crush Michael was also sweet and his role in the mystery was well-played. As a Muslim Bengali-Canadian teen, Asiya draws a relatable balancing act around understanding her immigrant parents desire to protect her (from everything) while also trying to assert her own path and interests in life.

This book is a wonderful YA cozy mystery, which balances its exploration of many other real-world facets with humour and wit. I cant wait to pick up the sequel to learn more about Asiya and Michael in the future.
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The main character, Regan Reilly, is a private detective whose roommate from a summer program 10 years ago disappeared.  Now at a reunion, the body of the roommate is discovered and Regan hopes to figure out what happened.  But she has to do her sleuthing long distance from aboard a cruise ship.  The plot slows a bit in the middle, then races to a sudden end.  While not a serious murder mystery like Agatha Christie, this is a fun read to pass a few hours.
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Kalina Greystone has returned home to the apparently fictional small town of Ellesworth, on the Massachusetts South Coast, in the equally fictional Salem County.. She's running the comics store she inherited from her father, and employing her nephew, AJ, as, currently, her sole staff. In  keeping with both tradition and good marketing, they're participating in the town's annual Solstice Fair.

The baking competition gets a bit more exciting than usual, when the winning scones are not Mrs. Grant. She is angry and she is vocal, and vents her anger at the judges.

A short time later, things get even more exciting, when Mrs. Grant's good friend, Mrs. Davies, drinks some tea and suddenly dies, rather unpleasantly. Mrs. Davies, famous for her fruit tarts, is not the offending scone baker. Kalina's nephew, AJ, witnesses the whole thing.

The detective investigating the death is Kalina's old high school boyfriend, Detective Chris Harper.

What happens from here is in some ways quite predictable, but the mystery itself, and the motive and perpetrator behind it, is not quite so predictable, and pretty well done. I like Kalina, Chris, and for that matter AJ, who is a pretty smart and likable teenager. And since it's a novella, it's not a huge time investment of time to see if it's your thing.

Recommended.

I bought this book.
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The irrepressible trio of teen sleuths find themselves in a heep of trouble when they try to help a classmate and his family keep their family ranch by trying to find a legendary, invaluable sword believed to be last possessed by a relative of theirs. A fun and enjoyable mystery complete with mean bad guys and harrowing chases.
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Our favorite 13 yr super sleuth is back and better than ever ! ! !

After a fun, intriguing summer, Skylar is back and yet again more changes have come into her life. Her dad was lucky enough to sell his non-alcoholic cough syrup, while in Paris over the summer. This means a move to a bigger house ! ! !  Skylar just wants to a house still close to her bff, Alexis and in the same school district. I mean really, what 13 yr old wants to start middle school in a new school ???

House hunting becomes a bore, UNTIL they reach a mansion sitting on a steep hillside, dark storm clouds are looming over this deserted, abandoned home. The windows are cracked, screens torn, shingles missing and birds have made the inside their home. Yet, this place calls to Skylar. . . . there of course is a mystery behind it. The owner, Xandra Collins, disappeared without a trace three years ago. Xandra has hidden jewels buried somewhere on her estate. Her heirs have searched and no luck. NOW, its Skylar's turn, she is excited and soon starts turning over clues. . . . . But, the question is will she find them before someone else does ???

I can not express enough how much I love the Skylar Robbin books  ! ! ! Carrie hits the mark on excitement and laying the story out. Its an easy read for any teen, I am sure they will be sucked in as quick as us adults are.  Thank you for another great novel and I look forward to the next book ! !

5 super sleuth stars
 Wende
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I love mysteries, and this second book in the series did not disappoint. Church secretary, Cindy, again finds herself embroiled in a mystery as the bodies of homeless people start piling up, and the dogs they were given at a charity event turn up missing. Rabbi Jeremiah tries very hard to stay out of the fray, but he ends up in the middle of it, despite his best efforts. The mystery behind the rabbi deepens considerably in this book, and we the readers are left wondering just who is this Jeremiah.
Just like the first book, the author manages to keep any gore at a minimum which makes the story thoroughly delightful. I can handle the more detailed mysteries and thrillers, but to have a nice, light mystery is such a welcome change. Although a reader will be perfectly able to follow this story without reading the first in the series, I highly recommend you do so. It will make this one even better.
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Hannah returns happily married and adjusting to married life. Fortunately a mystery occurs to mother involving the whole family.  The murder is solved albeit not cleanly as there are parts that are never explained. Then a disappearance happens in the last chapter sitting up a plot for the next book!