DC Super Hero Girls: Katana at Super Hero High

So, after the disappointment of the recent DC SuperHero Girls graphic novel, I figured I may as well read Lisa Yee's most recent DC SuperHero Girls novel and see how it compares.  And honestly - it's almost as different as night and day!

Katana at Super Hero High is definitely a refreshingly good read.  In fact, I'd say this is the best DC SuperHero Girls book written to date.  Not only does it highlight some of DC's lesser known characters (and I'm not just talking about Katana, because Miss Martian also plays a larger role in the story, as does Big Barda), but it actually has a nicely plotted mystery to it that gives readers the opportunity to learn all about Katana's past, her family, and her heritage.  Instead of the normal teen angst or obvious super villain battles, Lee provides readers with a quest of sorts.

First, there's the sudden appearance of 100 mysterious swords in an underground tunnel.  Then there's the constant chittering sounds that suddenly appear throughout the school, with Katana as the focal point.  Then there's Liberty Belle's history project for the students to look into their heritage and report what they find.  Katana is surprised as she begins to learn that all three things are connected, and their impact will forever change her point of view about her life as a hero!

Wonder Woman, Supergirl, and Batgirl - all of whom played large parts in the previous three books - have only supporting roles in this story, which really gives Katana and Miss Martian a chance to shine.  Yee may be writing these stories for the pre-teen age kids, but she treats the characters in this book with respect and does not dumb-down the story at all.  While Katana has some self-doubt and there is a bit of teen angst, it is not overplayed, and it flows nicely with the story.  There is a natural progression as Katana looks into the secret of the 100 swords, as she and Miss Martian learn how to deal with the ghost-crabs, and how she and her fellow super hero students must face off against a villain from Katana's past.

Something else I will mention, and not just about this book, but about the series as a whole, is the treatment of Harley Quinn.  Instead of the dark psychopath that DC has made her in recent years (with the exception of Palmiotti/Conner's take), Yee allows her to be a free-wheeling, high-spirited, fun-loving, hyper-active teen who simply seems to enjoy life.  And, of course, this is clearly a different reality, as these characters were not all teens at the same time, and most of them were not "heroes" in their teen years; however, it's nice to see the author really just having some fun with the characters.

As with the previous books, the epilogue in this books features the set up for the next book scheduled to come out - featuring, who else?  Harley Quinn!

RATING:  8 cryptic haikus out of 10 for combining female super heroes, the comic genre, and prose novels, and making it fun to read.

DC Super Hero Girls, Graphic Novel No. 3 - Summer Olympus

The DC SuperHero Girls are back in their third graphic novel - but sadly, this story does not quite hold up as well as the previous two did.  The concept is not so bad - it's summer vacation, and the heroes of Super Hero High School are all planning their vacation trips.  Wonder Woman gets an invite from her god-father, Zeus, to spend some time on Mount Olympus, and she is welcome to bring as many friends as she wants.  Sounds like a great set up for having these young heroes have a hey-day in the home of the Greek gods, right?

Unfortunately, that's not the direction it goes.  Rather, writer Shea Fontana, who has written two rather enjoyable stories prior to this one, instead chooses to have all of Wonder Woman's friends abandon her for other summer adventures, leaving only Bumblebee to accompany Wonder Woman on her journey to Olympus.  Summer Olympus becomes one of Wonder Woman feeling sorry for herself and upon arriving at Olympus, meeting her half-sister, Siracca, who, like her, is a half-god, half human.  They wallow in self-pity at being different and suffer through silly "dad jokes" from Zeus.  Yes, I realize these stories are aimed for younger readers, but this one felt a little too dumbed-down for my taste.

On the brighter side, Fontana and artist Yancey Labat provided brief snippets of the other students' summer hijinks, which include a summer tour in Europe with Batgirl, Katana, and Beast Boy.  The reason these interludes are more enjoyable is because the three young heroes find themselves following the theft of Greek artifacts from various museums throughout Europe.  With the help of Hawkgirl, they discover the connection the items have and what it could mean for their friend, Wonder Woman.  They head to Olympus to warn her, but it's too late...

And this is when the story actually gets good.  It seems two of the gods have some ideas of their own, and they intend to use the items they have gathered to cause strife and discourse throughout the world, beginning with Metropolis.  Once again, it's up to the DC SuperHero Girls to swoop in and save the day!  The last two chapters are what ultimately redeem the story, saving the graphic novel from being a complete disappointment.  I have really loved this entire DC SuperHero Girls line of books, toys, Legos, etc., so my standard is already set high.   Hopefully the next graphic novel will be back up to par.

RATING:  5 amulets of harmonia out of 10 for showing the comic world that female super heroes can stand on their own!

Samantha Wolf Mysteries, Book Two - The Secret of Camp Whispering Pines

Author Tara Ellis brings readers another well written mystery with the second Samantha Wolf book. Although the present tense still takes some getting used to (you'd think after four Curious Cat Spy Club books and one Samantha Wolf book, all in present tense, I'd be getting used to it by now), the story is engaging enough to draw you in, regardless.  I suppose present tense is the "up and coming" thing in story telling, just as books have gradually made the change from third-person to first-person POV, but I will be blunt when I say that I still prefer reading books told in the old fashioned third-person, past tense.

Nevertheless, The Secret of Camp Whispering Pines picks right up just a few weeks after Samantha and her friend, Ally, return home from Hollow Inn, where they solved their first mystery.  As with any good sleuth, Sam is antsy for another mystery, but there doesn't seem to be any coming her way.  Until Ally calls with a surprise - her aunt has an extra space for one more camper at a week-long summer camp, and Ally asks Sam to take that spot.  While it's not quite a mystery, a week in the woods with horseback riding, swimming, crafts, and sports sounds good to Sam!

Of course, this is a mystery series, so it goes without saying that as soon as they arrive at Camp Whispering Pines, strange things start to occur.  The attendance is a bit down from previous summers, and the camp's owner seems not only unhappy, but downright rude.  Then there's the story of the Sasquatch sightings in the area, which, of course, no one believes.  Until the girls catch a glimpse of what they think could be the creature!  That turns out to be the least of their concerns, however, when they return to their cabin to find raccoons rifling through their belongings.  And when the owner shows up and finds food in their cabin, which was strictly prohibited, Sam finds herself facing punishment.

Ellis keeps the pace up, with one disaster after another - one of their cabin-mates nearly drowns when her canoe sinks; Sam nearly plunges into a ravine when her horse gets out of control; and Sam and Ally get kidnapped when they get too close to solving the mystery of who is sabotaging the camp (yes, yes, yes - it's the ol' sabotage trope that permeates the children's mystery world these days - writers seem to fall back on that as the standard go-to instead of giving us haunted houses or missing heirs or other creative ideas).  Yet, the energy in the novel is high, and I found myself unable to put it down - even though I knew who was behind everything, I still wanted to see how the girls would prove it - particularly when Sam continually gets in trouble and faces higher levels of punishment (up to the point where the owner expels both her and Ally, calling their parents to come get them)!

And just in case you're wondering - was the Sasquatch real, or was it a part of the sabotage plan?  That's a very good question...

A very satisfying read, and at 214 pages, Ellis is able to provide better character and plot development than the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew books of today.  Simon & Schuster really could take a page out of Ellis' book and learn what it takes to tell a great mystery.

RATING:  8 water-logged, multi-colored flyers out of 10 for expanding the world of Samantha Wolf and giving readers a good mystery along the way.

A Ted Wilford Mystery, no. 3 - The Star Reporter Mystery

Riddle me this - when is a Ted Wilford mystery not really a Ted Wilford mystery?  Why, when Ted Wilford is not the one solving the mystery, that's when!

I enjoyed the first two books in this Ted Wilford series, and so I picked up this third mystery with the expectation that it would be just as good. I was surprised, though, when the story opened with not Ted, but rather, his brother Ronald.  Thinking this was simply a lead-in to Ted's latest mystery, I kept on reading, only to discover that no - The Star Reporter Mystery was Ronald Wilford's opportunity to shine and show off his reporting and mystery-solving skills.

While, not at all what I was expecting, the book was still a really good read, and the mystery was well plotted and rather intricate for a young adult book.  The story centers around the mysterious disappearance of Barry Knight, a fellow reporter at the newspaper where he works (the Cleveland Star). Ronald's boss asks him to look into it and see if he can't find the missing reporter.  Ronald starts with Barry's secretary, Carole Curtis, on whom he has a secret crush.  She is unable to offer much help, though. Ronald checks in at the boarding house where Barry lives, but find no clues there either (other than a violin case that appears to have been left behind).  With nothing to go on, he starts delving into the most recent stories Barry was working on - but even an interview with the man who was the subject of the last story reveals nothing new.

I have to admit, this mystery kept me guessing.  With Barry Knight, nothing is exactly what it seems.  The more Ronald delves into the mystery, the more twists and turns there are.  Ronald ultimately elects to follow up on a letter of recommendation that was the only personal item in Barry Knight's personnel file at the paper, in the hopes that uncovering elements of Barry's personal life and past life might shed some light on where he has gone.  The only problem is, the man who wrote the letter of recommendation is deceased, his wife does not recall Barry Knight, and the town high school and the local newspaper have absolutely no records of a Barry Knight having ever lived there or having gone to school there!

So this begs the question - just who is Barry Knight, really?

Ronald begins to pick up on clues that he gleans from the newspaper reports of a robbery at a local gas station in Barry's alleged home town, and ultimately he calls his brother, Ted, to come help him as he picks up on the trail of where Barry may have gone.  Along the way, Barry's father suddenly appears, hoping to locate his missing son, and the three of them head up into the mountains to a secluded hunting lodge, in the hopes of finding Barry.  It's a definite race against time, as not only are Ronald and Ted searching for Barry, but men working for a purported crime syndicate are also hunting for Barry, and a possible avalanche in the snow-filled mountains threatens them all!

Once again, Norvin Pallas has written an intriguing tale that is not obvious from the get-go, which makes for a very enjoyable read.  I am definitely thrilled that Wildside Press is reprinting this series that I (and probably countless others) would never have the opportunity to read, and I'm looking forward as more of the books are published!

RATING:  9 visits to Short Vincent out of 10 for keeping the mysteries surprising and fresh and proving that even a boys' mystery can be a great read.

Spencer & Locke - an Action Lab mini-series

What would happen if Calvin & Hobbes grew up to become police detectives?  And what if Calvin's home life was not all sun and roses?  And what if a childhood friend of Calvin's was murdered, leaving behind a child that was his?

All of those questions (and more!) are answered in Spencer & Locke, a four-issue mini-series published under Action Lab comics' Danger Zone imprint.  Written by David Pepose and art by Jorge Santiago, Jr., this series tells the story of Locke and his stuffed blue tiger, Spencer (who Locke imagines is a real, live, talking tiger that assists him on his investigations).  Of course, he is nothing more than a stuffed animal, but for Spencer, he is a life-long friend that has always been there for him, through some of the worst moments in his life (such as being beaten by his mother or sexually abused by his babysitter!).

I have always loved the Calvin & Hobbes strip, so I wondered just how this dark/noir take on the characters would go.  I'm not a fan of the dark turn that comics have taken lately, as comics should be an escape - they should be entertainment, not reflections of the darkness in the real world.  Spencer & Locke pleasantly surprised me, and for that, I am glad.

While there's no getting around the dark nature - his best friend and mother of his child murdered, his abuse, both physically and sexually as a child, and the violence galore - there is actually an almost child-like innocence to the tale, sort of like a child Locke playing grown up with his imaginary friend (in fact, I could almost imagine this whole story as nothing more than a made up game little Locke was playing with his stuffed tiger as a child).  As a reader, you immediately get drawn into Locke's world.  You feel his pain at finding his childhood friend left for dead.  You admire the fact that he moved past all of the pain in his childhood to become a police officer and fight to protect the innocent.  And you smile at his continued dependency on Spencer, an imaginary friend who proves more useful than one might expect!

The mystery, as you can obviously tell by now, is who murdered Locke's friend and why.  Pepose spins a good yarn and reveals a lot of secrets about the town, about his friend, and even about his own father.  In solving this crime, Locke has to face a lot of unresolved issues with his past and his family, and Pepose provides a really sweet twist ending that I honestly did not see coming.  He writes a very satisfying mystery that is neatly tied up, but definitely leaves you wanting for more.

Santiago's art is spectacular.  The "real" world sequences are beautifully rendered, even during the violent scenes - and yet his panels of Locke's childhood play a loving tribute to the Calvin and Hobbes strip - one of my favorites was the one with the snowmen fighting each other - so classic!

I would definitely love to see where Spencer and Locke go from here, so I'm hoping that Pepose and Santiago have more stories to tell.

RATING:  9 stuffed rabbits named Hero out of 10 for creating such a great twist on a classic strip and keeping it fresh and enjoyable.

Thea Stilton, Book Three - Ghost of the Shipwreck

It's been a while since I've read one of these Thea Stilton titles, and quite frankly, I had considered just giving them up - read what I had already bought, put them on the shelf, and then forget about them.  However, after reading this third mystery in the series, it rejuvenated my interest in the series a bit, and I may pick up a few more...

Thea Stilton and the Ghost of the Shipwreck is a fun story about not one, but two different treasures that the "Thea Sisters" find!  As with the prior book, Thea Stilton is little more than the narrator for the framing sequences, and the five mouselings - Nicky, Colette, Pamela, Paulina, and Violet - are actually the mystery-solving protagonists.

As the title and cover would suggest, the story opens with the girls stumbling into a mystery surrounding a legend about a ship that supposedly sank just off the coast off Whale Island, where the girls attend school.  Before you know it, Professor Ian van Kraken goes missing, and it's up to the girls to find him!  In an unknown-to-the-reader-at-the-time subplot, a new nautical transport company is making waves (yes, pun intended!) as its owner takes business away from the previously sole source of transportation on and off Whale Island.  With his new hydrofoil ferry, Captain Coral is able to transport people much faster than the old transport.  Of course, the reader has to wonder if there is another reason this new Captain has set shore on the island.

Meanwhile, the girls finally locate Profession van Kraken - but in doing so, they not only discover the remains of the sunken ship, but also find the treasure long thought lost to the world.  The only problem is, they aren't the only ones who were looking for it.  The girls end up kidnapped aboard the boat of someone they thought they could trust, and it is only by a stroke of luck they manage to escape and see the criminal brought to justice.

But wait!  There's more!

The mystery of the shipwreck only fills about half the book; the remaining half is devoted to yet another treasure hunt, as an old friend of Violet's asks the girls to come to Beijing to help him solve a mystery about another treasure.  Of course, the girls jump at the change and are soon whisked away to China.  Once there, Xiao shows them a unique lacquer box her mother purchased, but which a mysterious Madame Hu is desperate to obtain.  The girls soon discover the box is a map to a treasure of the Jade Princess, and it becomes a race to see whether they can beat Madame Hu to the treasure!

It's interesting the author chose to basically combine two mysteries into one - and with the cover and title what they are, it comes as a jarring surprise when barely halfway through the story the girls solve the mystery surrounding the shipwreck and go off on a secondary adventure.  At the same time, it was a bit refreshing to have two relatively quick mysteries solved in the span of one book and both of them to be fairly enjoyable.

The reading level for this book is listed on the back as "RL3" - which I would assume means Reading Level 3.  When I did a search online, different sites gave different age levels for these books - some indicated the books are aimed at grades 4 - 6, while others indicate grades 2 - 5.  I'd have to say, the books are a bit complex for beginning readers, but they are definitely pre-Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys level books.  Whatever the target level, I'd say if you or your child enjoy some fun, easy-to-read mysteries, then this is the series to read.

RATING:  6 hydraulic dredgers out of 10 for keeping the fun in easy to read mysteries for all ages!

Nancy Drew Diaries, No. 15 - The Professor and the Puzzle

When Simon & Schuster reduced the number of Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books being published per year, I had hoped that meant two things - (1) the books would have a greater page count within which to allow a story to be more fleshed out with greater character development, and (2) that the stories would have more depth and be more engaging. This most recent Nancy Drew mystery, however, evidences the fact that S&S is still trying to sell this series based on the brand name alone, which is sad.

The Professor and the Puzzle (really?  I mean, who in the world came up with this name for the mystery?) has a fairly good premise to it. Nancy, Bess and George are invited to Oracle College's Greek Gala, a big fundraising event for the college that also serves as a way to help boost their enrollment. It's a huge event just outside of River Heights where everyone, from students to faculty to sponsors, dresses up as a Greek god or goddess. This year's event, however, goes south when the keynote speaker falls from a balcony and is seriously injured.

Was it an accident?  Or did someone sabotage the railing that the young man was leaning on as he gave his speech?  And if it were sabotage, why would someone want to hurt a student who everyone claims is so well-loved at the college?  With Nancy Drew in attendance, it's a pretty sure bet she'll be on the case!

Even though the plot deals with sabotage (which these S&S writers can't seem to do anything but sabotage, making it a tiresome plot device), the underlying mystery is actually pretty good.  [NOTE:  SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!!]  At first, it appears that someone has it in for Sebastian Rivera, one of the most popular students at school that everyone appears to love.  When he falls from the balcony while giving a speech, Nancy quickly discovers that the balcony railing had been sabotaged so that it would break if anyone leaned on it.  Only, everything is not what it first appears, for soon after, Nancy finds she is on the wrong track when it turns out one of the professors who is not well-liked at all was the intended speaker, but a last minute change put Sebastian on the balcony instead.  When that professor's prized parrot goes missing, Nancy is sure someone is out to get her. Then, during her investigation, Nancy is knocked out a window and is almost seriously injured in an accident meant for the professor, Nancy realizes the stakes are high and she must find out who is behind the attacks on the professor!

And there are some great moments in the story as well - while Nancy and Bess both dress up for the party as goddesses, it is interesting to note that the author has George dress up as Hermes, a Greek god. This begs the question as to why Nancy and Bess would dress in female form, while George would choose to dress in the male form?  There's also the introduction of Iris Pappas, who is toted as an "old friend" of Nancy's from her early childhood.  The interaction between Nancy and Iris is one between good friends, and even Iris' father refers to Nancy as his "little fox."  There is a reference to "The Case of the Missing Cat," which Nancy and Iris tried to solve when they were very young.  Iris could also be a replacement for Helen Corning from the original series, as Bess and George must both leave the college early the next morning after the party, so they are unable to assist with the mystery-solving as they normally do, leaving Iris to become Nancy's new partner-in-crime (even helping her break into the security room at one point to look at the security camera footage from the night of the party).

Unfortunately, all of this could not overcome the weaker elements of the writing.  Such as, when has Nancy suddenly developed a phobia of being in large crowds?  Several times in this story, the author has Nancy become overwhelmed, to the point where she needs to sit down, from being crowded with so many people around her.  Was this some new "human weakness" that the author tried to instill in Nancy to make her more relatable with her readers?  In addition, since when did everyone start referring to Nancy as simply "Drew"?  Both George and Iris refer to her in this way throughout the story, and it makes me wonder if the book was written some time around when the television pilot was being considered for a series, since the title for that show was simply Drew. And then we have the culprit behind all of the sabotage.  To say the culprit's identity is pretty obvious from the get-go is a pretty fair statement.  It leaves the reader with a feeling that Nancy is simply blind in this story to miss all of the glaring clues that literally jump off the page when they appear!  I won't go into them for fear of spoiling it too much for those who want to read the story, but let's just say this mystery is not one of Nancy's finer moments.

And on a side-note - it is confirmed in this book that Nancy, Bess and George are still in high school.   On page 26, Iris's father, who also happens to run the college, tells the girls he hopes they will consider Oracle College after they graduate.  Later, on page 88, Iris's father warns Nancy to keep her investigation on the down-low, as he and his college will become a laughingstock if people discovery he is allowing a "high-schooler" play private eye on his campus.  Now, this could mean the girls are seniors in high school, getting ready to graduate, which could place them at 18-years old or so; or it could be the summer between their junior and senior years; or they could be juniors in high school, placing them at 16 or 17 years of age.  At any rate, Nancy and friends are no longer as carefree as the original series when they were out of school.  I would love to see this series character outlines to find out exactly how S&S sees Nancy, Bess, and George these days.

One final note, and this about the cover.  The scene depicted by Erin McGuire (who has remained the cover artists for all 15 books so far) comes straight out of the book, from page 125.  Since there are no internal illustrations (which I really miss from the Nancy Drew books!!!), it's nice to see a cover image that is a specific scene right out of the book.

The title and cover for the next book, The Haunting of Heliotrope Lane, gives high hopes that perhaps S&S is taking the series back in the direction of its original books.  One can only hope!

RATING:  5 African gray parrots out of 10 for at least providing a unique setting and supporting cast for the mystery.

Tarantula, Case File 1: Penumbra

Picked this graphic novel up based on the ad for it in Previews (the magazine that gives the solicitations of all the comics coming out in a particular month, usually 2 or 3 months in advance of their actually hitting the newsstand). I'm usually willing to give indy comics that feature female protagonists a try, and this one seemed fairly interesting.

It was not at all what I was expecting!

Who is Tarantula? That is not a question that is answered in this first story.  Yes, readers will immediately see that she is a tough-as-nails crime-fighting super hero that deals with more than simple street villains.  Yes, readers will get a brief glimpse of her origin - of how she was taken in as a little girl by Senor Muerta and trained to fight and survive.  Yes, readers will see her bravely take on a number of supernatural miscreants, such as vampires and werewolves and even demons from beyond.  But other than that, this new super hero remains a mystery.

"My name is Tarantula.  It's not the name I was born with, but it's the name that suits what I have become - - a protector of the innocent, an agent of order in a world of chaos.  And as long as I draw breath, I will destroy evil in whatever form it takes!"

That is who Tarantula is.  Written by Favian Rangel Jr. and with art by Alexis Zieritt, Tarantula is a throwback to the comics of the '40s and '50s. It is a mixture of horror and superhero.  It tells a straightforward story, gives readers just the information they need to know to enjoy the tale, and doesn't bog the book down with extended backstories or flashy splash pages every other page.  Tarantula is the tale of one woman who is determined to take down the criminal element in her town, only to discover that there is a satanic cult that is out to do more than just control her town.  Calling in a favor from her old mentor, Senor Muerta, and teaming up with the new vigilante in town, Sombra, she takes the battle to the villains in order to stop them from opening a gateway that will unleash Penumbra on the world.

The art is a bit what I would call primitive - and maybe that's not the correct word, as it's bad, per se, but it's not what I would call standard in today's comic world.  However, it is certainly fitting for the story and the character, and swings back and forth from little to no backgrounds to very detailed backgrounds (depending on what is happening with the story/characters).  And the book is colored in mostly red and black, with some blue, green, and yellow thrown in here and there for added effect.

Not sure if there will be any more original graphic novels featuring Tarantula, but if Rangel and Zieritt get together to tell more stories, I'd be likely to buy them.

RATING:  7 lucha libre detectives out of 10 for telling a comic story the way it should be told - simple, to the point, and done-in-one!

A Viv and Charlie Mystery, Book One - The Darkness Knows

"Who knows what evil lurks in the heart of man? The Shadow knows!" This catch phrase from the Shadow radio serials is pretty much commonly known, and quite frankly, it's what attracted me to the book. The title is clearly a play on the words, and the fact that it is set in 1930s Chicago and centers around a radio starlet sold me (well, honestly, it actually took a couple of months before I bought it, but I did pick it up pretty much every time I went into Barnes and Noble).

The Darkness Knows is Cheryl Honigford's first novel, but she definitely hits the ground running with this tale. The protagonist, Vivian Witchell, is a former secretary turned up-and-coming radio star who may finally be getting her big break on the detective drama, "The Darkness Knows."  Life is great, as she may also have finally caught the eye of her co-star, the gorgeous actor, Graham Yarborough. But, as with any good mystery, fate has other plans.

When Vivian overhears a has-been actress arguing with an unknown man, she doesn't really think much of it.  After all, Marjorie Fox may think she is still the big star of radio dramas, but in reality, everyone knows she is little more than a washed up drunk.  Why the station's owner, Mr. Hart (and yes, the name made me think of 9 to 5 as well), keeps her around is anyone's guess. But that was none of Vivian's concern.  At least, not until she comes back to the station late that night to pick up the umbrella she left behind and stumbles across Marjorie's body in the radio's lounge.

Who killed Marjorie Fox? That is suddenly the question everyone is asking, and Honigford writes a wonderful murder mystery that is filled with suspects. No one liked Marjorie Fox, and it seems no one feels bad that she is gone.  There are plenty of people who had motive and opportunity - but the strange note found next to Marjorie's body indicates that Vivian could very well be the next victim.  Enter: Charlie Haverman - a private detective hired as a consultant for "The Darkness Knows" radio show who now is being assigned to protect Vivian from the potential threat.

But is Vivian really in danger?  Honigford does a great job of keeping the reader guessing on that point, and it seems just when you think you have it figured out, she throws you a curve ball and leads you in a completely different direction. Now, I will say that I did guess the killer pretty early on, but that's not because the author makes it obvious - I think it's simply because all my years of reading mysteries and watching television mystery shows has taught me how to pick out a killer from a cast of suspects. However, that did not stop me from enjoying the book at all - instead, it left me thrilled at the end that I was able to solve the crime right along with Vivian and Charlie (and while I did guess the killer's identity, I did not have the motive right at all).

Honigford provides two very interesting characters in Vivian and Charlie.  Vivian is headstrong and determined, does not want to fall back on her family's wealth, and when she wants something, she will do what she needs to in order to get it (to a degree).  Charlie, on the other hand, is a man's man, a product of his time who is very protective of the females around him and who has trouble coping with a woman who won't just let him tell her what to do; yet, at the same time, he finds himself attracted to Vivian's stubborn nature, and yes, the two definitely have the whole sexual tension thing going on that every male/female detective duo seems to have.

There are also plenty of supporting characters who ground the story and bring Vivian and Charlie's world to life - Vivian's best friend and fellow secretary, Imogene ("Genie"); the elevator operator, Angelo; the owner's daughter and station gopher, Peggy; the station's electronic whiz, Morty; Vivian's arch-nemesis, Frances; Vivian's mother; fellow voice actors; and so many others that flesh out this tale of 1930s radio and give the reader a sense of reality.  It will be interesting to see how many of them carry over into the next mystery.

Overall, an excellent read and another great adult mystery series to add to my collection.

RATING:  10 cowhide chaps and matching vests out of 10 for showing readers just want kind of evil really does lurk in the hearts of men!

The Virginia Mysteries, Book 5 - Midnight at the Mansion

That pre-teen trio of detectives - Derek, Sam, and Caitlin - return for their fifth mystery-solving adventure in this latest book from author Steven K. Smith. And as Smith continues writing this series, his familiarity with the characters shows in their development as individuals,  and his storytelling techniques improve in keeping the story moving and keeping the reader engaged!

As with all of his prior books, Midnight at the Mansion is set in Virginia, this time at Richmond's historic Maymont mansion and its sister palace, the Swannanoa up in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The mystery involves the theft of two bald eagles that were kept in the animal sanctuary on the Maymont estate, and an FBI agent that literally stumbles across the three children as he attempts to evade capture by the criminals.  He barely has time to whisper, "Save the eagles," before he is up and running, leaving Sam, Caitlin, and Derek to wonder who he is and what he meant.

This book definitely has a stronger mystery than the last one, and it's got all the spooky elements that make it reminiscent of the old Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books. There's an old, abandoned mansion isolated in the mountain.  There's a dark, creepy tower with a locked room.  There are cryptic clues that the kids have to decipher before it's too late.  And the villains are the heartless, ruthless kind who are kidnapping endangered animals and selling them for profit in the secret of night.

The characters of Derek and Caitlin are much stronger in this book - Smith definitely has them growing up, which is nice, as it gives the reader an opportunity to watch as they mature and change in personality. Sam, however, seems to do nothing but whine in this book, which is somewhat annoying at times. I realize that he is the youngest of the three characters, but it would be nice to see him do something other than worry and complain (in a lot of ways, in this book Sam reminds me a lot of Bess Marvin - and all the Nancy Drew fans out there will know what I'm talking about).

On the lighter side, it's nice to see Smith utilizing other supporting cast members, such as Caitlin's father (who is the one who takes the kids hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains) and their neighbor, Mr. Haskins (who is always ready to impart some knowledge on the kids).

And I can't let it go by without saying something about the cover. Not sure who the artist is, as he or she is never identified (all the copyright page says is "Cover Design by EBookLaunch.com"), but I will admit to a smile at seeing the mansion, with the bird flying overhead. With all the blue and grey, the night sky, and the design of the mansion itself, I immediately had a flash of Scooby Doo, Where Are You? run through my mind.  It also bears some resemblance to the cover of the next Nancy Drew book coming out in January, The Haunting of Heliotrope Lane. It's nice to know the Gothic mystery covers are coming back in style!

Don't see any news about a sixth book in the series, but the author's website indicates there is an online short story available, so I supposed I'll have to check that out while I wait for the next book to be written (at least, there better be one on its way!).

RATING:  8 piercing warning whistles out of 10 for putting the "mystery" back into children's mysteries!

The Adventures of John Blake: Mystery of the Ghost Ship

For me, the name Philip Pullman I associate with the Sally Lockhart mysteries, which were four mysteries set in London, the fourth of which barely features Sally.  They were interconnected and great reads. However, for a lot of people, I know Pullman's name is probably more recognizable for his series, His Dark Materials, from which the film The Golden Compass was based.

So, when I saw this new hardcover graphic novel on the shelves at Barnes & Noble, I thought I'd give it a try. The Adventures of John Blake: Mystery of the Ghost Ship is not just the story of John Blake. In fact, John Blake doesn't really come into the story until 31 pages in; the story opens with several other of our main characters - Danielle, the employee at the International Maritime Organization in San Francisco who has been uncovering an unusual phenomena regarding an alleged "ghost ship" that has appeared throughout history; Mr. Harland, a man who seems more than determined to keep Danielle from uncovering the truth about that ship; Roger, a James Bond-type operative who is digging into the activities of the Pentagram Foundation and why they are so interested in the ship, the "Mary Alice"; and Serena Henderson, a teenage girl on vacation with her parents in the South Pacific when the ship appears, causing her to fall into the ocean - - and be rescued by John Blake himself!

And that's when the story really begins...

The "Mary Alice" is a very unique ship - its passengers are not only from all walks of life and from all around the globe - they are also gathered from various points in time throughout history! Serena finds herself overwhelmed, but John quickly takes her under his wing. In the present time, Harland's men steal all of the information that Danielle has acquired over the years regarding the "Mary Alice," and she is left wondering what she is going to do now - until a friend reveals a recent sighting of the ship in Fiji, where an Australian family reports seeing their ship and their daughter missing.  Danielle heads for Fiji, unaware that Harland is watching her every move and makes plans to go to Fiji as well.

As the story progresses, readers learn not only more about the "Mary Alice" and where it comes from, but also about John Blake and why he is such an integral part of the story and of the continued survival of the ship.  Readers also discover the identity of the person pulling Harland's strings and why that person is so desperate to get a hold of the "Mary Alice" and to silence John Blake once and for all.

This story has it all - high seas adventure, secret spy machinations, danger, and above all else, an underlying mystery. While the opening pages seem a bit disjointed as they jump from one unrelated character to another, Pullman manages to weave all the stories and characters together for one final showdown that will determine the fates of not only Danielle, John, and Harland, but the entire world and the future of science!

Pullman tells a great story, and artist Fred Fordham (with whose work I am completely unfamiliar, but would love to see him do more!) brings that story to life so vibrantly. I particularly love his scenes of the ship appearing in the fog, as well as the way that he draws John Blake's expressions - such determination expressed!

This is a great book that crosses so many genres - mystery, adventure, and comics all rolled into one. There's no indication that any further adventures of John Blake are in the works, but it would definitely be nice to see Pullman and Fordham come together to tell another story of Blake and the "Mary Alice."

RATING:  9 apprators out of 10 for mixing time travel, mystery, and high seas adventure and producing a fun story to read in visual form!

The Flash: The Haunting of Barry Allen

I may not have sped through this book as quickly as Barry Allen speeds through Central City as the Flash, but I can honestly say that I finished this book quicker than most! At 414 pages, I expected The Haunting of Barry Allen to take me closer to 4 or 5 days to finish, particularly during the week when about the only chance I have to read is when I'm eating lunch or working out on the elliptical in the gym at work; however, this book drew me in so quickly and had me so easily feeling like I was watching an episode of the television show that I couldn't put it down.

Authors Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith have written a number of science fiction / fantasy books, as well as some comics and young reader books. This appears to be their first time writing a novel based on a television show, but I give them total props - they managed to capture the character and essence of each and every person, bringing the television personas to life on the page. From Barry Allen to Oliver Queen and all of their supporting cast and sidekicks, the Griffiths brought just as many smiles to my face as I was reading the book as the television shows do when I am watching them!

The first part of a two-part book crossover (the second part of which is in the next Arrow novel), The Haunting of Barry Allen focuses more on the Flash. As the Pied Piper gathers a group of rogues (including Weather Wizard, Mist, Prism, and Peekaboo) with the idea of methodically wearing Central City's defenses down until it is ready for the taking, the Flash finds himself "blurring" out of phase with this reality and seeing not only his future self urging him to run faster, but all the failures from his past - including Gorilla Grodd, Ronnie Raymond, and the Reverse Flash.  As the blurs become more frequent and seem to happen at the very moment when he is about to stop the rogues, Caitlin and Cisco do everything they can to discover the source.  When all else fails, they call in some outside help.

Enter: Green Arrow and gang.

Oliver, Felicity, and John make a trip from Star City to help their friend. As Barry's health slowly declines, Oliver and John work feverishly to protect Central City from the attacks of the rogues, who are working with precision, sweeping in and out, causing the most damage to the city without ever getting caught.  And when the Piper makes the mayor an offer that could save the city but cost them millions - as well as their famed hero! - the Flash and Arrow know that their time is running out.

Dare I say it?  The story is very fast-paced, with the action never stopping; yet, at the same time, just like the TV show, there is plenty of character interaction and development and the right amount of humor to keep it from getting too bogged down with all the action.  The timing of the story is clearly after season one (as it references Reverse Flash being gone, and Iris knows that Barry is the Flash and is helping at Star Labs), but it's not clear whether it takes place after season two or not (although there is a reference to Zoom from season two). Regardless, not knowing exactly where it fit into the TV show continuity does not detract at all from the enjoyment of the story.

I would say this is a definite must-read for any fan of the show - and in case you are wondering, it does end with a mild cliff-hanger, which sets up the second part of this story in Arrow's Generation of Vipers.

RATING:  10 microscopes with slides of fly wings out of 10 for staying true to the television version of these characters and providing a Flash/Arrow fix during the summer break!

Dark Shadows Audio Book 48 - Deliver Us From Evil

Writer Aaron Lamont brings us back to the story of Sabrina Jennings and Cyrus Longworth, and ties up some loose ends involving Alfie Chapman (remember him from Beneath the Veil?) and his girlfriend, who is now possessed by the spirit of Danielle Roget. While these may seem like an unlikely foursome, Lamont weaves a well-crafted tale of pure evil and mournful regret that brings these four together for a night of pure terror.

Deliver Us From Evil opens with Amy Cunningham running into the last person in the world she wants to see - the woman who killed her brother! But when the two get stuck in an elevator together, Sabrina tells Amy the story of how she nearly brought the darkest evil into the world...

Told in flashback, this audio book completes the story that began in Beneath the Veil, with Alfie Chapman and his girlfriend, Emma Finney (who is now possessed wholly by the evil spirit of Danielle Roget, the French murderess). They are still on a killing spree, but there is more to be had. Alfie himself is beginning to have episodes of possession - episodes in which he is willing to give himself over to the son of the Dark Lord! But it seems that demon is toying with him, just as he is toying with Cyrus Longworth, convincing Cyrus that he is stronger and will eventually take over his body completely.

Meanwhile, Sabrina has found a way to rid herself of the werewolf curse - and she is determined to help Cyrus rid himself of the evil "John" that lives within him. Her deceased husband, Chris Jennings, appears to her and tells her where she needs to go to and what she needs to do.  At the same time, the son of the Dark Lord is leading Alfie and Danielle (Emma) on a trip as well - one that will ultimately lead to a final showdown as the son of the Dark Lord sets up the pieces to finally unleash the apocalypse on Earth!  It's a final battle of good vs. evil as Sabrina and Chris do battle with Aflie, Danielle, and "John" (revealed to really be the son of the Dark Lord), and should Sabrina and Chris lose, so will the whole world!

The story is chock full of the supernatural elements that make Dark Shadows what it is, and the dialogue and emotions remind us just how human these characters really are, even while facing unfathomable evil.  The writing is exceptional, as the story flows smoothly and builds dramatically to the big battle at the end, and you easily begin to care about Sabrina and Cyrus, longing to see them both released from the curse that haunts them.

With Lisa Richards reprising her role as Sabrina Jennings and Christopher Pennock returning to the role of Cyrus Longworth, listeners will definitely feel like the show has returned in all its glory.  This tale is a reminder of just how good these audio books can be.

RATING:  10 holiday shopping sprees at Ohrbach's out of 10 for bringing to a satisfying conclusion a stories begun 13 and 14 audios prior!

A Wells & Wong Mystery, Book 3 - First Class Murder

This series keeps getting better and better. Author Robin Stevens is getting a better feel of her characters as the series progresses, and with each book, it's easy to see that Stevens is becoming more comfortable with writing these murder mysteries. Hazel Wong and Daisy Wells have never come alive as much as they did in this book - and to see the characters beginning to grow (Hazel not only shows more backbone when it comes to Daisy, but she also begins to realize that she is becoming her own person and that she has to take a stand now and then when justice and fairness demands it) is thoroughly entertaining.

First Class Murder is an homage to Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express. The author admits in the acknowledgements at the back of the book that when her publisher suggested doing a book where a murder occurs on a train, her first thought was Christie's mystery. So, as a way of honoring the great mystery writer, Stevens has her two teenage sleuths take a trip on the Orient Express, as the bequest of Hazel's father. It is meant to be a vacation, a chance for Hazel and Daisy to get away from the events that had recently unfolded (in the last book, Poison is Not Polite) and for Hazel to try and influence Daisy to not be quite so focused on solving murders. Of course, fate has other plans when Miss Livedon, the undercover officer from the previous mystery, unexpectedly arrives on the train under an assumed name and ultimately reveals to the girls that she is searching for a spy who intends to turn over government plans to the Germans. She warns the girls to stay out of it, that it is none of their concern.  Daisy, needless to say, decides they simply must find the spy before Miss Livedon...

Until the murder happens.

Poor Mrs. Georgiana Daunt is murdered in her cabin, behind locked doors.  No one could have gotten in or out of the room, and yet she is found with her throat slit, her expensive necklace gone, and a train full of first class passengers who had motive to kill the poor woman.  Her husband, who was broke before her met her and has been using her money to fund his business.  Her maid, who is much more interested in Mr. Daunt and her lady's material possessions.  Her brother, who was left out their parents' will and has always held a grudge.  Her medium, who may or may not be real, who stood to inherit a considerable sum of money upon her death.  The Russian aristocrat, who claimed the ruby in Mrs. Daunt's necklace was actually her family's heirloom.  The magician who seems to be the only one with the capability of getting into and out of a locked room without any trouble.  Even Miss Livedon, who possibly discovered that Mrs. Daunt was the spy she was after.

In good ol' fashioned Agatha Christie style, Daisy and Hazel work their way through all of the suspects, narrowing it down one by one.  And with the help from an unexpected sidekick (the Russian aristocrat's grandson), they manage to work they way through a number of red herrings, exonerate a wrongfully accused suspect, and get the clues they need to solve the crime - but it leads to a rather unexpected solution!  By the end, both Mr. Wong and Miss Livedon have to admit that Wells & Wong make a pretty good crime-solving pair.

Oh, and in this book, we may not learn who "M" is yet, but we do learn who Wong Fung Ying is - but don't think I'll be revealing that secret here...

I'm relieved to see that Amazon has the fourth book in this series listed with a publication date of 2018, so I already have something to look forward to next year!

RATING:  10 forged birth certificates out of 10 for keeping young adult mystery series as they should be - fun, suspenseful, and engaging!