Marvellous Mystery Novels

The genre of Mystery can best be described as any work of fiction that deals with a puzzling crime. Some of the characteristics that can usually be found in mystery fiction literature include that there is usually a body/death, or some crime has been committed. There is often a puzzle of some sort for the investigator/protagonist to solve. In addition there are usually suspects and clues. These novels also include a solution or resolution to the mystery in which order has been restored or justice has been served. Below are five examples of young adult mystery books which we have read, summarized, and reviewed. To view reviews for each book, simply click on the title of the book itself. Hope these are helpful for those of you that are looking for a good mystery to read! Reference: http://www.arrtreads.org/mysterygenrestudy.htm

The She


By Carol Plum-Ucci

Summary:
Evan Barrett's parents were lost at sea when he was only nine years old. He is now seventeen years old, living with his brother and his aunt. His memory of that horrible night was almost non-existant until Grey Shailey, a troublesome popular girl at school, slipped hallucinogenic drugs into his drink at a party. Vivid memories of the mayday call from his parents and the events leading up to the accident return to him at a disturbing rate. Tales about a legendary sea monster, known as The She, also creep back into Evan's memory along with the memory of a horrible shrieking sound he heard the night of their death and many other times throughout his childhood. Disturbed by these old memories flooding back into his consciousness, Evan returns to West Hook in search of some answers regarding his parents' death.
In his search for the truth, Evan becomes involved in helping Grey Shailey to find some answers about a death she witnessed the previous summer. Between being pressured to believe in the existence of The She by Grey, and pressure from his brother to accept an accusation against their parents that is unbelievable to him, Evan's search for answers only creates more questions for him to answer.

Other books by this author:
The Body of Christopher Creed
What Happened to Lani Garver

The Dark and Deadly Pool


By: Joan Lowery Nixon

Summary:
Mary Elizabeth Rafferty (Liz) is a 16 year old girl who just started a summer pool job at the glamorous Ridley Hotel. Liz is a normal teenage girl who is still trying to grow into her height and who is afraid of the dark. The things that she deals with are typical of an everyday teenager; including love. Liz meets Francis Liverpool III (Fran), after a strange event at the pool where Liz’s ankles are grabbed by a stranger who is in the pool after hours. The stranger never identifies himself and the event is simply shrugged off by Liz’s boss as an overactive imagination. When the Ridley hotel and its guests begin to experience higher than normal robberies, Liz and Fran work together in order to find the answer. Liz is sure that all the bizarre events happening at the Ridley are somehow synchronized. Then during Liz’s closing shift, some very eerie events start taking place near the pool area. Liz finds herself caught in the middle of a deadly web, when she discovers one of the Ridley’s most prominent guests face down in the pool. As she begins to unravel the mysteries that all seem to be linked together, the main orchestrater turns out to be someone that is least expected.

Other books by this author:
Secret, Silent Screams
The Kidnapping of Christina Lattimore
Maggie Too
The Ghosts of Now

Fatality


By Caroline B. Cooney

Summary:
The novel Fatality written by Caroline Cooney tells the tale of Rose Lymond and her precious diary. When Rose went to a sleep over at Angelica Lofft's summer estate she expected to enjoy herself and do things she did not often get to do. Someone ended up dead that weekend and Rose's diary holds a horrible secret. It is four years later and the police have reopened the murder case. They take Rose's diary in for analyzing. Rose will not have this; there is something in her diary that no one can read. So, she steals her diary back and flushes these last few entries down the toilet. Rose claims she does not know anything about the murder and vows to keep silent. Rose's silence is not enough and someone tries to run her over. Someone can no longer trust Rose with this secret and will do anything to keep her from revealing it.

Other books by this author:
The Face on the Milk Carton
Emergency Room
Driver’s Ed
The Voice on the Radio
Losing Christina: Snow
Losing Christina: Fire
Losing Christina: Fog
The Stranger

The Rag and Bone Shop




by Robert Cormier

Summary:


Part I of this book is the first look at the character Trent. Part II introduces the character Jason Dorrant. The second chapter of Part II opens with the “body of seven-year-old Alicia Bartlett” being found in the woods.
The small town is determined to find out who the killer is, yet unfortunately there is no evidence to help the police. Thus, Trent, the officer who is known for getting confessions, is brought in by the local detective to interrogate Jason. Jason is brought to the police station thinking that he and other boys from the town are there to help the police, yet the focus is on him. The majority of the book is centred on Jason and Trent’s conversation inside a small, stuffy, cramped, windowless room.

The dialogue that ensues is fascinating, for the author is omniscient with both characters. This means that the reader is better able to understand the intricate push and pull between the characters. What starts off as easy-going questioning quickly becomes a vicious interrogation.

Part III starts, after a gut-wrenching conclusion to end Part II, by revisiting both Trent and Jason separately. Yet, Robert Cormier does not leave the reader entirely settled and comfortable as the last few pages are turned. It is here, at the end, when the book manages to leave the reader’s mind spinning and whirling with shock.

Other books by this author:
Frenchtown Summer
Heros
In the Middle of the Night
We All Fall Down
Tunes for Bears to Dance to
Fade
Beyond the Chocolate War
The Chocolate War

Dead Girls Don't Write Letters


By Gail Giles

Fourteen-year-old Sunny always lived in the shadow of her eighteen-year old sister, Jazz. She was a popular cheerleader who everyone wanted to be around, and everyone wanted to be like. Sunny was known as "the sister of Jazz".
When Jazz unexpectedly left after graduation to live in New York City, Sunny was overwhelmed with happiness! Then one last time Jazz steals the spot light from her sister; she is presumed dead after a massive fire burned an entire apartment building to the ground. Family life for Sunny crumbles because of the loss of her parents' favorite daughter. Sunny is left alone to take care of her parents who turn to alcohol and pills to soothe their pain. Although Sunny had some guilt for not being entirely sad about her sister’s death, things felt better without Jazz around.
Six months later, a familiar handwriting appears on a letter in the mail; it appeared that Jazz was out of town working for a theater when the fire occurred, and was returning the next day by bus.
When Jazz dramatically makes her entrance, Sunny knows it’s an IMPOSTER! This girl, Not Jazz as Sunny says, resembles Jazz and knows details, but it isn’t her! But if this girl isn’t Jazz, then who is she? What does she want? Dad figures it out just as fast, but doesn’t want to break the news to Mom; he thinks it might just send her over the edge for good.
Discover the shocking truth behind who the "Not Jazz" really is through the investigations of Sunny and her Dad.
Other Books By This Author:
-Playing in Traffic
-Shattering Glass
-What Happened to Cass McBride
-What are You Afraid of