A review from the first book in the series, Holly and The Framed Friend: “If you grew up reading and loving Nancy Drew books, as I did, you will love this book. It brought me back to the days of childhood when I loved to curl up with Nancy and her friends as they solved mysteries… This is definitely a YA book for tween-agers, but the story is so delightful an adult is likely to find pleasure in … in reading it and remembering those years in the past when Nancy Drew was their favorite character. Kudos to Dianne Harman for creating this fun remembrance.”
This, the second book in the series, finds Holly and Wade trying to find the person who left a bottle of drugs in a coat they donated to the church. When Holly realizes that someone has scraped the prescription information off of the bottle, she’s concerned the person may be taking drugs.
It brings back memories of her mother and her drug addiction. Holly’s determined to find the person and reach out, wondering if her life would have been different if someone had reached out to her mother.
If you loved Nancy Drew, you don’t want to miss the second book in the Holly Lewis series by two-time USA Today Bestselling Author, Dianne Harman.
more
From the beginning, this fun mystery had the feeling of a good old-fashioned mystery like The Hardy Boys (or Nancy Drew, depending on what you read as a youngster!). A good story for young adults or teens, this is a book you wouldn’t mind having your eleven-year-old read. Have no fear of inappropriate topics or language in this wholesome novel.
There are, however, a number of great lessons to learn from Holly Lewis, the sensible and well-behaved protagonist. Holly’s had a tough upbringing, having suffered through life with a mom who abuses drugs and was subsequently murdered. But she’s resilient and tough and sweet, and wants to help the world in her own innocent way.
I particularly loved the dog rescue aspect of this story. Little “Lucky,” the mutt Holly and her friends find abandoned on the side of the road, ends up being a wonderful character. I loved him as he reminded me of my own little furry friend.
She lives with a good couple now, and is surrounded by decent folks in a nice town. But even in the best of towns, there’s always something brewing beneath the scenes. Leave it to Holly to doggedly pursue the mystery and to ultimately help the folks involved at the same time!
Recommended for young readers by Aaron Paul Lazar.
Holly really likes to help people–whether it is to tutor them or to take time off from her free time to help someone. When she was asked to help and sort coats-of course she agreed and got her boyfriend Wade and another friend to help as well. While sorting through the coats Holly found a pill bottle with no label in a pocket of one of them. Holly was worried that someone needed help–she remembered that her Mom could have used help with addiction before she was murdered. Her boyfriend convinced her to at least tell Bridget what she was doing–just in case she got in trouble!
It wasn’t easy tracking down the person who had donated that particular coat but Holly persisted. With the help of the adults she knew she did eventually track the person down.
Sometimes arch enemies can become friends!
This is a book which can be read by tweens and adults–both will enjoy! I personally love that this series reminds me of the Nancy Drew Mystery series that I loved so many years ago!
This review is for the audio book.
This is a fun cozy mystery aimed at young teenagers but I can’t see why anyone who likes a good mystery with no dead bodies, violence or sex scenes in, wouldn’t enjoy it too. Anyone familiar with this author will have already meet most of the characters but this time it is the teenager Holly running the investigation, you don’t need to have read or listened to the other books but it is nice to already have background information on everyone. I like the strong character and how the author has written her as a good role model, with her drive to do the right thing for the right reason and not just because of money or gain.
When Holly’s friend Missy is looking tired and stressed out, Holly talks her school friends into helping sort out coats that had been donated for charity. When she stumbles over a pill bottle with the label scrapped off, it brings back images of her own mothers struggles with drugs and leads Holly into wanting to help the owner of the pills. But first she has to find out who they belonged to. At the same time she also rescues an abandoned puppy left at the side of the road.
The narrator speaks clearly and is pleasant enough.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.