Scarlet and Ivy, Book Two - The Whispers in the Walls

Okay, c'mon, let's face it - with a title like The Whispers in the Walls, how could any true mystery lover pass this one up? Of course, fans of some of the older series books from wayyyyy back in the day might remember that the 15th Penny Parker book by Mildred Wirt was titled Whispering Walls. Could there be a correlation?  Did the author of this book read the Penny Parker series?  Was she a fan?  Hmmmmmmm...

Regardless, this second volume in the Scarlet & Ivy series is even better with the first, with a much darker mystery, some brand new sleuthing, and a few new characters thrown in to spice up the mix. Author Sophie Cleverly picks up exactly where the first book left off - Ivy and Miss Finch have arrived at the psychiatric hospital - and while book one ended with Ivy staring through the glass at her sister, The Whispers in the Walls opens up with Scarlet looking back at Ivy through that same glass, realizing that at last her wish has come true!  Her sister has found her!

Cleverly provides readers with more than just cookie-cutter characters, which makes for some really great reading.  Scarlet and Ivy find themselves changing - Ivy was always the shy, quiet one, while Scarlet was always the strong-willed, outspoken one. They are both shocked, though, to discover that Ivy's time pretending to be Scarlet has instilled in her some backbone, making her a bit more determined and a bit less timid; meanwhile, Scarlet's time in the mental institution has left her with some fears that she is having a difficult time overcoming.  The two girls are no longer polar opposites, which is a good thing, for they are about to face something even worse than Miss Fox (if that were even possible!).

There are a number of mysteries set up in this story.  First, there is Mr. Bartholomew, the new headmaster of the school (although, maybe not so new, as the twins find out that he used to run the school many years ago).  He is super-strict and none-too-friendly, but what raises questions is the fact that he seems reluctant to acknowledge what happened to Scarlet and Miss Fox.  In fact, none of the teachers will talk about it, and everyone is pretending that Scarlet was never away and that Ivy is a new student!  What gives?

Then Violet returns to school. The same Violet who nearly pushed Scarlet off the roof of the school.  The same Violet that disappeared around the time that Scarlet was carted off to the psychiatric hospital. But she's not the same Violet.  She's not hateful, or spiteful, or out for revenge.  Instead, she's quiet and secretive and ... well ... there's just something not right about her.

And that's when the thefts start.  Someone steals some clothes.  And food.  And blankets.  Mr. Bartholomew is out for blood, and students and staff alike are scared of what he will do to the person he finds out is stealing.  Ivy starts to question whether Scarlet could be the culprit when she finds her sister missing in the middle of the night.  Her distrust puts the two sisters at odds - at least, until they, along with Ivy's friend Ariadne, find a mystery to solve.  A ghost in the library.  A ghost that can apparently walk through walls.

Hidden doors, secret passageways, mysterious messages, and a terrifying secret from the school's past that someone will do anything to keep hidden - even if it means setting fire to the school!  And amidst all of this mystery and danger, Ivy and Scarlet stumble across the whispers in the walls, which ultimately lead them to a shocking discovery about their own mother!

Yes, folks, this one has it all.  Cleverly builds the suspense and mystery, all the while making the reader actually care about the characters so that you find yourself not only rooting for Ivy and Scarlet, but for Ariadne, Violet, Miss Finch, Miss Jones, and yes, even Penny.  And, oh, yes, that ending definitely sets the stage for what is to come in the third book of the series...

RATING:  8 bowls of runny, cold porridge out of 10 for wrapping a mystery within a mystery within a mystery to keep the reader engaged!