Penny-Ann Piper, the prying teen in a brand new sundress, has returned. And her eye is twitching. She’s been given the dreadful task of finding Mama Garcia, the island’s grouchiest citizen. She was caught speeding and opted to outrun the cops. Now there’s a warrant out for her arrest and she’s nowhere to be found.
To make matters worse, Penny-Ann’s mom, a former con artist, is fresh out of … con artist, is fresh out of prison and sticking to her side like super glue. She’s a little too eager to take down Mama Garcia.
Rocco, the surfer boy with the ridiculous dimples, is being a little too helpful. Given that Mama Garcia is his grandmother, this can mean only one thing. He’s helping her run from the law!
Diamond De Luca, Penny-Ann’s partner, joins in the search for Mama Garcia that has them tripping down a trail with mafia thugs, undercover FBI, vigilantes, and counterfeit money that leads right back to the person they least expect.
Cursed with bad luck, Penny-Ann must go deep undercover to infiltrate the mafia. Can she figure out why Piper Island is suddenly the new bad guy hang out or will they take over her beloved town?
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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 book provided by Hidden Gems; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Our teen sleuth has a new task, but not one she relishes. It is only made worse by the fact that everyone wants to help her, but none for the right reasons.
This is book three 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. This one has lots of opportunities for humor and sass making for a delightful story. Overall, an excellent addition to the series.
Highly recommended
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes
As usual Shannon Greenland has given us another great book. This is a fun to read mystery, it will entertain you and keep you guessing. Age appropriate. Written to be able to be a stand alone but I recommend reading them all. Penny Ann is an awesome sleuth who manages to wiggle her way out of more than a few tight spots.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Like the second book, this one can also be read alone but this one is my favorite of the three. I liked the adult theme turned middle grade friendly. It was easy to read and also a page turner. It wrapped up nicely and also left you with enough to believe that there could be more . . .
I recommend and also wouldn’t mind a side story, if one were to be released *wink wink*
*Spoiler*
I would have liked to find out if Mama Garcia did have a girlfriend, I’m all for diversity and inclusion-in books for all age levels.
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.
Shannon Greenland is a talented and diverse writer who pulls together a variety of intrigue, honesty, and understanding into her books. The Piper Investigation series is one of those easy reads that provides laughter, compassion, and cheer. Penny-Ann Piper is a remarkable 3D character who shows her efforts to be a good friend, lessons in becoming less controlling, and the need to forgive and be forgiven.
She explores the concept of blended families and gives us a new character to explore in the introduction of Penny-Ann’s mother and ex-con into the series. It’s a great way to see how another adult presence affects Penny-Ann, but it’s also good to see the character developing in her own way. I was hesitant to see if this new element and character would work for the established story, and I was pleasantly surprised to find it was a positive addition.
The whole mafia and Mama Garcia tie-in was special. I really liked the direction this plot took and how the young adults were able to see justice and workable relationships build. It was, also, fun to see Mama Garcia in a whole new light.
Another plus is the development of the relationships of all the characters. Their interactions are sweet and believable and so much fun. I love this series, and I love these characters!! Kudos to Shannon Greenland for making me believe and root for her newest character family!! 🙂
More on Shannon Greenland: https://rebeccaswriteinspirations.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-case-of-evil-twin-piper.html
https://rebeccaswriteinspirations.blogspot.com/2018/06/book-review-specialists.html
Shannon Greenland The Island Mafia (Piper Investigations Book 3)