Penny-Ann Piper is back, armed with attitude—not to mention a pea shooter, lock picks, mini binoculars, and a flashlight that may or may not have batteries.
This time she’s after Maura Alva, daughter of the local taxidermist, who pranked the island’s oldest, most beloved resident and caused her to break a leg. Maura took off and Penny’s going to find her and make her pay!
Staggering knee-deep … find her and make her pay!
Staggering knee-deep through the world of preserved animals, Penny-Ann traipses through swamps, creepy houses, and cemeteries, with her pal Diamond De Luca at her side. And this time Rocco Garcia, the flirty local surfer boy, joins in. Because well, he’s always up for a good adventure and he seems to like finding it around Penny-Ann.
But when threatening notes arrive, someone vandalizes her playhouse, and embalmed animal parts appear on her doorstep, Penny-Ann realizes this is so much bigger than Maura pulling a prank.
With only one true case under her belt but learning fast, Penny’s targeted by the sneakiest opponent she’s encountered yet. Can she patch together the puzzle or will her adversary get away with the biggest heist ever?
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Action-packed adventure with teen detectives
There’s so much action in this story that I can see why a tween or young teen might fight 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 and I found the cryptic references to the previous book in the series unnecessary and a bit annoying, especially when they are ended with “but that’s another story” and no further information. This story had plenty going on without drawing in the previous adventure.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Our teen sleuth is on the job again, trying to solve another mystery is her home town. But has she bitten off more than she can chew this time?
This is book two in the series, but it is written as a standalone. All the essentials are presented early on.
This is a cozy mystery with a teen sleuth at the helm. The story is well written, easy to read and just plain fun. With a well developed setting and a heroine that is all sass and gumption, the story just flows. I loved watching her puzzle through the mystery and learn from her mistakes. Interspersed with just the right amount of humor, this book is highly entertaining and well worth the time.
Highly recommended
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes
This series seems to get better and better, with great twists. This book could be read alone, but it’s also a great follow up.
I liked the different tests of friendship, which is an important topic for middle graders. This is an easy yet grabbing read-hard to put down and makes you want to continue without stopping. I can’t wait for the final installment!
What an exciting new read! I loved book two in the Piper Investigations series. Penny-Ann Piper continues to be an endearing character. I love her new-found and growing friendships with Diamond and Rocco. Her skills as a PI are fun to watch and have great persistence and ambition. Watching her “solve crime” is a fun pastime, and I’ve enjoyed it immensely.
Penny-Ann’s humor, sass, and tenacious attitude help give her a multifaceted personality. She’s fun to read, easy to picture, and engaging. This is a fabulous read for the young and the old.
I love how she learns lessons as she goes along. The ability to understand her mistakes and make amends is a great attribute. However, I enjoy hearing her idiosyncrises, seeing her prejudices against people she’s felt wronged by, and how difficult it can be for her to not be in control. She’s such a well-rounded and entertaining character; you immediately feel a kinship with her.
I’m sharing with all my friends, and I hope you all will give this series a try!
Check out my blog review of the first book in the series: The Case of the Evil Twin to learn more about how great this new series is: https://rebeccaswriteinspirations.blo…
Or check out my review of her YA series about a spectacular group of spies, The Specialists:
https://rebeccaswriteinspirations.blo…
Shannon Greenland is an author to read! 🙂