From the best-selling author of The Specialists and Scouts comes a brand new Middle-Grade mystery series! Through a series of ridiculous events, thirteen-year-old Penny-Ann Piper has come to live on Piper Island with her quirky Aunt Grace. Although Penny’s new to the eccentric and salty Florida town, she’s proud of her connection to it. After all, her grandparents founded the oddball place where … all, her grandparents founded the oddball place where everyone makes it their business to know your business. They’re nosy that way.
So when someone steals the time capsule Penny-Ann created chronicling the island’s history, she’s determined to get it back. Principal Berger and Officer Crawl think it’s a prank, but who could have taken it, and why? Penny-Ann’s on-again-off-again best friend Josie? Rocco Garcia, the annoying (but also cute) surfer boy? Twin MMA fighters who think muscles should get them credit in math?
With the help of her new friend, Diamond, who may or may not be part of the X-Men, Penny-Ann revives Piper Investigations, her grandparents’ detective agency. But there’s more to the missing time capsule than anyone realizes. It seems someone will do anything to get Penny-Ann to back off the case…including revealing her top-secret, ultra-embarrassing past.
INCLUDES ALL THREE BOOKS:
The Case of the Bad Twin
The Gator in a Tux
The Island Mafia
more
Nancy Drew, move over and apply some sunscreen!
I really liked the first two stories in the set, the third not so much. The main character, 13 year-old wannabe private investigator Penny-Ann Piper heads a fun crew of island kids. Good series for tweens and young teens though the third book crosses into more serious criminal activity and some violence.
The Case of the Bad Twin
Fun & lots of young teen sleuthing
5stars
Penny-Ann Piper, the 13 year-old heroine of this series, is such a fun character. She’s got her faults and falls in and out of friendship on a regular basis, but she’s trying to be a model citizen of small Piper Island, the community her grandparents founded just off the Florida coast. When her latest project gets sabotaged she turns her energies to sleuthing to find the town’s missing time capsule and the culprit who stole it.
This story has lots of action, plenty of suspects, and a cast of secondary characters that are quite easy to keep straight. Penny and the small crew she assembles to help her investigate are energetic and dogged in their pursuit of the guilty party.
I can see young teens and tweens, even slightly younger children, really enjoying this children’s detective tale.
The Gator in a Tux
Action-packed adventure with teen detectives
4-4.5stars
There’s so much action in this story that I can see why a tween or young teen might find it a fun read. Penny-Ann and her crew Diamond and Rocco spend their summer chasing up the culprit who’s playing practical jokes and causing mayhem with posed taxidermied animals. The more they search, the more convoluted the antics become. These kids are resourceful, largely left on their own, and zip all over their barrier island after suspects and clues. The action got chaotic at times and the motive for all the vandalism and threats not really that clear, but it’s never boring! And the concepts of true friendship and not judging purely on appearances or prejudices come through.
This is mostly a standalone story but you will find cryptic references to the previous book in the series Since you’ve got the set, that should not be an issue.
The Island Mafia
So much confusion and danger: too much for me
3.5stars
This story started out fine but ended up by taking off in too many directions and including too many characters. It also included more violence than I’d expected or than I would want for a tween or young teen reader.
I’ve read all three stories in the Piper Investigations series and this was the least relatable. There were some funny moments and I liked the addition of heroine Penny-Ann’s ex-con mom to the cast of characters. Her handling of her debut case could hardly have gone worse. What an eccentric loose cannon! But the main mystery Penny-Ann and her friend Diamond were pursuing meandered and landed in very serious criminal territory; I did not think it a very good fit for a young reader. I just wanted it to end.
I read a complimentary copy of the set provided by Hidden Gems; this is my voluntary and honest review.
This is a collection of three cozy mystery stories with a teen sleuth at the helm. The stories are well written, easy to read and just plain fun. With a well developed setting and a heroine that is all sass and gumption, the stories just flows. We get lots of opportunities for humor and sass along with intriguing mysteries combining to make fun stories. Overall, an excellent collection of stories for your entertainment.
Highly recommended
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
Upper elementary and younger middle school kids will love the Piper Investigations series by Shannon Greenland. Although it starts out with a nostalgic kid-detective feel, the books move beyond those stereotypes. Getting to know Penny-Ann and her friends is like getting to know real people…flaws and insecurities they want to hide, and all. They are a fresh take with a familiar feel.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Title: Phenomenal!
Content:
This book was filled with suspense, laughter, and mystery.
The book follows Penny-Ann Piper. This island was founded by her grandparents. Her mom is currently in jail for conning many. Penny-Ann stays with her aunt on the island. She feels as if she has to make up for helping her mom in conning people.
Penny-Ann has made a time capsule showing the progress of Piper Island for the day it was founded. The ceremony will be in a week. One day, he drops it in the office for the night as no one would be there. The next morning it’s gone. The officer believes that it was a prank and is bound it come up sometime. Penny-Ann sees a bracelet in the office that wasn’t there the night before. She now has a mystery to solve.
I loved this story as it was a quick, fun read. The feelings that Penny-Ann has felt real. Rocco and Diamond were great characters as well. They added so much to the story.
I voluntarily agreed to review the book. There was a free copy provided to me.
Title: Loved it as much as the first! (Maybe even more.)
Content:
This book was so good. It is definitely intriguing. It ends with a little suspense, making you want to read the next book.
The story follows Penny-Ann Piper who now, with her new best friends, Rocco and Diamond, has to find Maura. Maura had with an armadillo on Old Lady Henrietta’s porch causing her to trip and break her ankle. Then an opossum is found at Mama Garcia’s store. Maura’s father Dr. Alva believes that she is innocent and is willing to pay Penny-Ann, Rocco, and Diamond one hundred and fifty dollars.
This story had mystery, comedy, and a bit of romance. The characters all seemed real in the way they acted. I loved how Penny-Ann has her own fears that she overcomes throughout the book. I will surely recommend this to others.
I voluntarily agreed to review the book. There was a free copy provided to me.
Title: Action Packed!
Content:
If you liked the first two books, then you will like this one even more.
In this book, Mama Garcia has gone missing. Penny-Ann and Diamond set out to find her. Penny-Ann’s Mom is out of jail and has got a job with Mr. De Luca. She also has a mission. Penny-Ann and Diamond help Penny-Ann’s Mom to find Tina Curtis and she drives them around. Rocco isn’t much help as he knows close to nothing about his grandma. Throughout the book, they encounter the FBI, vigilantes, and an island mafia rivalry.
I love the energy in this book. It was even more than the first two. I enjoyed the funny antics they all performed. When Penny-Ann felt scared or happy or embarrassed, I felt the same. It was amazingly written. I was intrigued throughout the book. It was excitement, mystery, and life all packed in one. Loved it!
I voluntarily agreed to review the book. There was a free copy provided to me.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.