Today I have another of my Scholastic Warehouse Sale finds to share with you for MMGM–and to give away! Here’s the description for the first book in Kim Harrington’s Sleuth or Dare series, PARTNERS IN CRIME.
When best friends Darcy and Norah have to create a fake business for a school assignment, they come up with a great idea: a detective agency! Darcy loves mysteries, and Norah likes helping people, so it’s a perfect fit.
But then their pretend agency gets a real case. Someone is missing, and it’s up to Darcy and Norah to take on the search. Unfortunately, there’s someone else out there who doesn’t want the two detectives stirring up any trouble….
With the help of hidden clues, spy gadgets, and trusted friends, can Darcy and Norah crack the case in time?
Here are the five things I loved most about this book:
1. The mystery – I’ll be honest and say I figured out the mystery early on, but I don’t think the target age would, and it was still fun to watch the clues fall into place for Norah and Darcy.
2. The friendship – Norah and Darcy are very different and sometimes annoy each other, but they draw on their similarities to keep their friendship strong and overcome the differences.
3. The parents – I like it when the parents are present and involved. In this book, there were three very different sets of parents–the overprotective, the family centered, the more permissive. It was a very realistic portrayal of how parenting differs and how that affects the kids, especially at an age where they’re exploring boundaries.
4. The age rang true – The obnoxious boys, crushes, popular kids–everything fit with that in-between middle school age. Norah’s voice was just right for a seventh grader, and the situations rang true.
5. The ending – This book ended with the perfect blend of tying up the main mystery and leaving enough of an ongoing storyline to make me want to read the next book. There currently are two others in the series. I’ll be checking them out!
So, who wants to read PARTNERS IN CRIME? I’m giving away my paperback copy. North America only, please. To enter, just leave a comment by noon on Sunday, April 27. I’ll post the winner next Monday. Good luck!
Note: This giveaway has ended.
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And here I thought I had at least reached the point of knowing about every MG series ever written. Not so –This one was a new for me. Sounds like a cross between the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. More for girl readers than boys?
Yes, it would appeal more to girls. The issues they encounter, particularly in regard to middle school life, wouldn’t apply as much to boys.
Yeah, I’ll admit it…I was a real sucker for Nancy Drew (and Trixie Beldon, before that) as a kid. There’s just something immensely satisfying about a good mystery, you know? Here’s to this one, and thanks for the recommend!
Everyone here is talking about Trixie Beldon, and I’ve never read those! How did I miss them?
I haven’t read any of these, but they sound like ones I would have LOVED as a kid. Trixie Beldons were my favorites. Your five loves of this book are things that make me love a story too.
I bought this at a Scholastic Warehouse sale too! Haven’t read it yet, but hope to soon. Trixie Beldon was my all-time favorite when I was young, too! (No need to enter me in the drawing, since I already have the book.)
Love that sale so much! There’s one coming up in a few weeks, but since I still haven’t gotten through all of the books from my last trip, I’m resisting.
This sounds really fun! I loved the premise of them setting up a pretend agency, only to have a real crime. The fact that it has involved parents and girl friendships is a plus too. Thanks for the rec!
The parents and friendship sounds fun to me.
Thanks for telling me about this book. It sounds terrific. I also like when parents are a part of stories for this age. I’d love to win this book. Thanks for running the giveaway.