What do you think?
Rate this book
The Girl is Murder #2
The Girl is Trouble
Iris Anderson and her father have finally come to an understanding. Iris is allowed to help out at her Pop's detective agency as long as she follows his rules and learns from his technique. But when Iris uncovers details about her mother's supposed suicide, suddenly Iris is thrown headfirst into her most intense and personal case yet.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published July 3, 2012
About the author
Kathryn Miller Haines
9 books138 followersKathryn Miller Haines is an actor, mystery writer, and award-winning playwright. She grew up in San Antonio, Texas, and received her BA in English and Theatre from Trinity University in San Antonio and her MFA in English from the University of Pittsburgh. She's a member of the Mary Roberts Rinehart Chapter of Sisters in Crime and has been a board member of the New York chapter of Mystery Writers of America. In addition to writing the Rosie Winter mystery series for HarperCollins, she's also written a young adult mystery series for Roaring Brook Press, a division of MacMillan, the first of which, The Girl is Murder, was nominated for 2012 Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Novel. In April 2017 she will publish her first standalone contemporary thriller, The Girl From Yesterday (Simon and Schuster). Kathryn is an adjunct faculty member for Seton Hill's MFA in writing popular fiction.
She lives in Western Pennsylvania with her husband, son, daughter and their two dogs.
She lives in Western Pennsylvania with her husband, son, daughter and their two dogs.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
November 13, 2012
I didn't like this one quite as much as the first one, although it was still good and I will read any further adventures of Iris. (I still miss Rosie Winter, though!) But I will give it four stars, if for no other reason than this quote:
“ ’That’s how it starts, isn’t it , Iris? All these awful things in the world? We don’t stand up for the people being hurt because the ones doing the hurting are our friends and family and we can’t believe that they don’t have a rational explanation for why they did this awful thing. Because what does that say about us that we could be friends or relatives with someone like that? But here’s the thing: if we turn a blind eye and allow ourselves to believe that it’s okay for them to be doing these things, before we know it, we’ll be doing those things too.’
For the first time in our friendship, Pearl had made me speechless. She was right, absolutely. Even though our lives seemed small and unimportant, deciding to tolerate something we’d normally run from, because we liked the person doing it, was what made it easy for evil to creep into our lives.” (p. 228-229)
July 1, 2012
Although not enthused with the behavior of main character Iris in The Girl Is Murder, I loved the setting and was eager to return. Thus I was very pleased that my request was accepted on Netgalley and I happily dove into this part two.
More good news-Iris has somewhat learned her lesson about lying and sneaking around although she still does quite a bit in this book. But unlike last time, it didn't really bother me. In fact, I was very much Team Iris, supporting her through her trials and travails.
And it is very good that I liked Iris so much as she is our guide through this book ramping up the suspense and danger. Iris' first problem is the threatening notes Jewish students at her school are receiving; although Iris is no longer practicing, her family background in investigation makes her an obvious candidate to figure out who is harassing them. One of the suspects is her best friend Pearl, who has been ostracized and given the unfortunate nickname Pearl Harbor. But Iris cannot imagine Pearl doing such acts and wants to get to the bottom of the case.
That is, she wants to do so until she uncovers some shocking new evidence in her mother's suicide. Let's just say there is nothing simple or straightforward but instead lies and undercover shady acts abound. This comes to consume Iris and test her beyond anything she's done so far. Because of the personal nature of the case, I was easily able to feel for Iris. Her entire world was rocked and Iris' bravery in pursuing the truth really impressed me even as she was sometimes foolhardy when considering the potential danger.
So I've shared that I liked Iris in this book but what about the other characters? First, Pearl-one of the best best friends I've read in YA lately. She is in sync with Iris and aids her at several key junctures besides just being good emotional support. Then there is Iris' love interest, the bad boy Benny. Although I don't usually like the bad boy in YA lit, it helps that he seems to have a sweet heart deep down below his juvenile delinquent antics. As for the adults, I loved Iris' aunt and continue to adore her Polish landlady. I also loved getting to know more about Iris' mother in her final days-the love she had for her daughter and husband is touching and her end is very heartbreaking. The villains, being largely pro-Nazi/anti-Semitic, are quite easy to dislike and mostly receive their justice by the end. That may not always be the case in the real world, but I'm glad it usually happens in book world.
Overall: A strong second book, successfully evoking the 1940s WWII era while also strengthening the characterization and tying together two strands of mystery into one cohesive story. I'm expecting there to be a third book that will even top this!
Cover: I love pretty much everything about this, even including the fact that she's kind of looking at me-I think it helps that her face is pretty small and she seems suspicious of me. I really love her skirt as polka-dots are my favorite pattern. It's actually the same outfit as on the cover of the first book, which is great as not much time as passed and Iris doesn't have money for new clothes.
More good news-Iris has somewhat learned her lesson about lying and sneaking around although she still does quite a bit in this book. But unlike last time, it didn't really bother me. In fact, I was very much Team Iris, supporting her through her trials and travails.
And it is very good that I liked Iris so much as she is our guide through this book ramping up the suspense and danger. Iris' first problem is the threatening notes Jewish students at her school are receiving; although Iris is no longer practicing, her family background in investigation makes her an obvious candidate to figure out who is harassing them. One of the suspects is her best friend Pearl, who has been ostracized and given the unfortunate nickname Pearl Harbor. But Iris cannot imagine Pearl doing such acts and wants to get to the bottom of the case.
That is, she wants to do so until she uncovers some shocking new evidence in her mother's suicide. Let's just say there is nothing simple or straightforward but instead lies and undercover shady acts abound. This comes to consume Iris and test her beyond anything she's done so far. Because of the personal nature of the case, I was easily able to feel for Iris. Her entire world was rocked and Iris' bravery in pursuing the truth really impressed me even as she was sometimes foolhardy when considering the potential danger.
So I've shared that I liked Iris in this book but what about the other characters? First, Pearl-one of the best best friends I've read in YA lately. She is in sync with Iris and aids her at several key junctures besides just being good emotional support. Then there is Iris' love interest, the bad boy Benny. Although I don't usually like the bad boy in YA lit, it helps that he seems to have a sweet heart deep down below his juvenile delinquent antics. As for the adults, I loved Iris' aunt and continue to adore her Polish landlady. I also loved getting to know more about Iris' mother in her final days-the love she had for her daughter and husband is touching and her end is very heartbreaking. The villains, being largely pro-Nazi/anti-Semitic, are quite easy to dislike and mostly receive their justice by the end. That may not always be the case in the real world, but I'm glad it usually happens in book world.
Overall: A strong second book, successfully evoking the 1940s WWII era while also strengthening the characterization and tying together two strands of mystery into one cohesive story. I'm expecting there to be a third book that will even top this!
Cover: I love pretty much everything about this, even including the fact that she's kind of looking at me-I think it helps that her face is pretty small and she seems suspicious of me. I really love her skirt as polka-dots are my favorite pattern. It's actually the same outfit as on the cover of the first book, which is great as not much time as passed and Iris doesn't have money for new clothes.
June 25, 2012
Back in March, I introduced you to Iris Anderson, 15 year old girl sleuth living on the Lower East Side in NYC. In that first novel, we learned that her mother had inexplicably committed suicide. Her death brought changes in live of Iris and her dad, a vet who lost his leg in Pearl Harbor.
The Girl is Trouble opens just a few weeks after The Girl is Murder ended. The first anniversary of Pearl Harbor is approaching, Iris is still attending PS 110, and hanging around with and confiding in her best friend Pearl. The Rainbows, the school badies, are still mad at Iris for events that occurred in the first novel, including Benny, Iris's crush. In other words, Iris's life is status qua at the moment.
But then, all that changes. First, Iris is asked to investigate a series of anti-Semitic notes being left in the lockers of the students who belong to the Jewish Student Federation. Then, she finds a strange man outside her house after school one day who wants her to tell her private detective Pop that Stefan says hello. And Pop is definitely upset when she gives him the message. Lastly, when Pop accidentally leaves his safe open, Iris goes snooping and finds two sets of photographs. The first set are random, candid pictures of her taken from a distance, the second set are of her mother in the hotel room at the White Swan on East 86th Street where she supposedly committed suicide - only the photos don't look like a suicide, they like more like a murder.
Suddenly, Iris has a lot on her plate, but first and foremost she needs to finds out what happened to her mother. But Pearl refuses to go to the Upper East Side, a German American neighbor at the time, because she tells Iris Jews are no longer welcomed. Iris determines to go alone, but as she is sneaking out of school, she runs into Benny, who offers to go with her.
In the hotel room at the now abandoned White Swan, they are confronted not only with her mothers blood splatter on the walls and mattress, but by a man holding a gun. Turns out, he is the estranged husband of the woman, Anna Mueller, who found Iris's mom.
And so, off they go to the biergarten (beer garden) where Anna Mueller now works. She confirms that she found the murdered Ingrid Anderson, and called the police and was handsomely paid to keep her mouth shut and say it was a suicide. Turns out, Anna was well paid, she now owns the biergarten.
Meantime, at school, more students in the in the Jewish Student Federation have received anti-Semitic notes and they are getting really annoyed at Iris for not really doing anything to find the person or persons responsible.
This is an awful lot of responsibility for one 15year old girl to shoulder, but Iris feels determined to find her mother's killer, no matter what.
OK, that is as far as I can go without giving away too much, after all, this is a mystery. And it is a good one. I thought the The Girl is Murder was also good, but it is a introductory first novel in a series, so they tend to be focused on familiarizing the reader with the recurring characters, the general setting, so the mystery may not be so interesting. For that reason, I did find The Girl is Trouble to be more intensely focused on the mystery.
Kathryn Miller Haines has once again written a realistic historical fiction mystery, full of the kind of detail that a reader can sink their teeth in and though Benny teasingly calls Iris Nancy Drew, this book is not nearly as tame as a Nancy Drew mystery (don't get me wrong, I still love Nancy Drew books). And she has filled in the personalities of characters like Benny, Pearl and Pop more, making this second novel feel even more realistic. Maybe Haines has even given Pop a new romantic interest.
Yorkville, my current stomping ground, was indeed a hotbed of Nazi support, but it was also a hotbed of anti-Nazi sentiment. The German American Bund, which is at the heart of this story, did exist, but was outlawed after the US entered the war in December 1941. Naturally, the Bund continued underground, as Haines shows in this novel. But, it should be noted that besides Germans, there were also lots of Irish and Italian in Yorkville at the time. Yorkville isn't very German anymore, but there are still traces of its Germanic residents, mostly shops and churches.
The Girl is Trouble will be released in July 3, 2012 and if you like a good YA mystery, this is a book for you.
This book is recommended for readers age 12+
This book was obtained as an ARC
The Girl is Trouble opens just a few weeks after The Girl is Murder ended. The first anniversary of Pearl Harbor is approaching, Iris is still attending PS 110, and hanging around with and confiding in her best friend Pearl. The Rainbows, the school badies, are still mad at Iris for events that occurred in the first novel, including Benny, Iris's crush. In other words, Iris's life is status qua at the moment.
But then, all that changes. First, Iris is asked to investigate a series of anti-Semitic notes being left in the lockers of the students who belong to the Jewish Student Federation. Then, she finds a strange man outside her house after school one day who wants her to tell her private detective Pop that Stefan says hello. And Pop is definitely upset when she gives him the message. Lastly, when Pop accidentally leaves his safe open, Iris goes snooping and finds two sets of photographs. The first set are random, candid pictures of her taken from a distance, the second set are of her mother in the hotel room at the White Swan on East 86th Street where she supposedly committed suicide - only the photos don't look like a suicide, they like more like a murder.
Suddenly, Iris has a lot on her plate, but first and foremost she needs to finds out what happened to her mother. But Pearl refuses to go to the Upper East Side, a German American neighbor at the time, because she tells Iris Jews are no longer welcomed. Iris determines to go alone, but as she is sneaking out of school, she runs into Benny, who offers to go with her.
In the hotel room at the now abandoned White Swan, they are confronted not only with her mothers blood splatter on the walls and mattress, but by a man holding a gun. Turns out, he is the estranged husband of the woman, Anna Mueller, who found Iris's mom.
And so, off they go to the biergarten (beer garden) where Anna Mueller now works. She confirms that she found the murdered Ingrid Anderson, and called the police and was handsomely paid to keep her mouth shut and say it was a suicide. Turns out, Anna was well paid, she now owns the biergarten.
Meantime, at school, more students in the in the Jewish Student Federation have received anti-Semitic notes and they are getting really annoyed at Iris for not really doing anything to find the person or persons responsible.
This is an awful lot of responsibility for one 15year old girl to shoulder, but Iris feels determined to find her mother's killer, no matter what.
OK, that is as far as I can go without giving away too much, after all, this is a mystery. And it is a good one. I thought the The Girl is Murder was also good, but it is a introductory first novel in a series, so they tend to be focused on familiarizing the reader with the recurring characters, the general setting, so the mystery may not be so interesting. For that reason, I did find The Girl is Trouble to be more intensely focused on the mystery.
Kathryn Miller Haines has once again written a realistic historical fiction mystery, full of the kind of detail that a reader can sink their teeth in and though Benny teasingly calls Iris Nancy Drew, this book is not nearly as tame as a Nancy Drew mystery (don't get me wrong, I still love Nancy Drew books). And she has filled in the personalities of characters like Benny, Pearl and Pop more, making this second novel feel even more realistic. Maybe Haines has even given Pop a new romantic interest.
Yorkville, my current stomping ground, was indeed a hotbed of Nazi support, but it was also a hotbed of anti-Nazi sentiment. The German American Bund, which is at the heart of this story, did exist, but was outlawed after the US entered the war in December 1941. Naturally, the Bund continued underground, as Haines shows in this novel. But, it should be noted that besides Germans, there were also lots of Irish and Italian in Yorkville at the time. Yorkville isn't very German anymore, but there are still traces of its Germanic residents, mostly shops and churches.
The Girl is Trouble will be released in July 3, 2012 and if you like a good YA mystery, this is a book for you.
This book is recommended for readers age 12+
This book was obtained as an ARC
December 30, 2021
This sequel to The Girl Is Murder begins shortly after the first one ends. This can be read as a stand-alone but I recommend starting with the first book. In this book, Iris begins investigating her mother’s suicide. Meanwhile, at school she’s asked to investigate a series of anti-Semitic notes showing up in Jewish students’ lockers.
It was interesting and gripping from start to finish. What was interesting is that Iris wasn’t uncovering new information, she was digging up information other people had hidden. If her family was up-front with her, her investigation would’ve been over. The characters and their unpredictable behavior really make this story pop.
Language: Mild
Sexual Content: None
Violence: Crime scene descriptions a little graphic
Harm to Animals:
Harm to Children:
Other (Triggers):
It was interesting and gripping from start to finish. What was interesting is that Iris wasn’t uncovering new information, she was digging up information other people had hidden. If her family was up-front with her, her investigation would’ve been over. The characters and their unpredictable behavior really make this story pop.
Language: Mild
Sexual Content: None
Violence: Crime scene descriptions a little graphic
Harm to Animals:
Harm to Children:
Other (Triggers):
October 13, 2018
Here's the thing - I liked the book fine, however, the incorrect use of German in it annoyed me a lot. There are about 120 million people in the world whose mother tongue is German, surely even more who speak it well as a second language and one would think you could ask one of them to double check on your writing.
Quoting from the book:
"Und es sieht aus wie ich habe unbefugten Zugriffen."
This is coming from a character in the book who according to the text lives in a predominantly German neighbourhood because he can't or doesn't want to assimilate to U.S. American culture and rather sticks with his own language. So the first thing he says is in German before switching to English. But this is not a German sentence.
I assume the author wanted him to say something along the lines of "Looks like you're trespassing!" which could be translated "Sieht so aus, als hätte ich euch beim unbefugten Betreten des Gebäudes erwischt!" or simply "Das sieht nach Hausfriedensbruch aus!"
Next:
"Gibt es nicht mehr von ihnen?"
Nobody would say that. "Are there any more of you?" could be translated "Treiben sich noch mehr von euch hier herum?" or simply "Sind noch mehr von euch hier?"
I'm sorry but this is just a continual source of personal annoyance, not just in this book but in a lot of books or movies where somebody is allegedly German/speaking German and then the lines turn out worse than anything 'google translate' could provide. I guess I'm particularly disappointed here because in her previous novel the author did really well when it came to that. Why not here? It cannot be that hard to have someone proofread this. Seriously, I'd even volunteer.
Quoting from the book:
"Und es sieht aus wie ich habe unbefugten Zugriffen."
This is coming from a character in the book who according to the text lives in a predominantly German neighbourhood because he can't or doesn't want to assimilate to U.S. American culture and rather sticks with his own language. So the first thing he says is in German before switching to English. But this is not a German sentence.
I assume the author wanted him to say something along the lines of "Looks like you're trespassing!" which could be translated "Sieht so aus, als hätte ich euch beim unbefugten Betreten des Gebäudes erwischt!" or simply "Das sieht nach Hausfriedensbruch aus!"
Next:
"Gibt es nicht mehr von ihnen?"
Nobody would say that. "Are there any more of you?" could be translated "Treiben sich noch mehr von euch hier herum?" or simply "Sind noch mehr von euch hier?"
I'm sorry but this is just a continual source of personal annoyance, not just in this book but in a lot of books or movies where somebody is allegedly German/speaking German and then the lines turn out worse than anything 'google translate' could provide. I guess I'm particularly disappointed here because in her previous novel the author did really well when it came to that. Why not here? It cannot be that hard to have someone proofread this. Seriously, I'd even volunteer.
April 16, 2013
This sequel to The Girl is Murder had a different feel than the first book. Instead of throwing in a lot of superficial allusions to it's 40's time frame (a somewhat-but not completely-unfair summary of the first book's modus operandi), this book mostly highlights the big-picture aspects of WWII America, focusing on anti-semitism and wartime anxiety instead of Deanna Durbin. Which results in a heavier book, though that's probably unavoidable considering the main plot is Iris' efforts to find out the truth behind her mother's death.
Overall, I liked this book just about as much as the first book, though each has it's faults. In the case of The Girl is Trouble, my main complaint would be that both of the two main plots were extremely obvious. But I suppose that's a fair trade-off for an exciting ending, considering the rather anti-climactic reveal in The Girl is Murder. I also found most of the teen characters rather flat and unbelievable, and even Iris doesn't much sound like a teenager, though I suppose her life experience has aged her--and no matter how many "golly"s are thrown in, her voice doesn't sound steeped in 40s life.
Don't mean to sound too harsh, though; I did like the book, and recommend it. And yes, the "40s-era-Veronica-Mars" comparisons still hold for this second book, and I still picture Keith Mars with one leg as Iris' father.
July 10, 2012
The Girl is Trouble by Kathryn Miller Haines is the quickly paced, satisfying second installment in the Girl is Murder series. I have not read the first installment, and I don't think it is necessary for the reader to pick that book up to enjoy The Girl is Trouble. I had a great time reading the book without any idea at first that their was a first. Hats off to the author for the smooth writing! I wasn't put off at all by references to previous cases.
Although Iris is perfectly likeable, I felt like she didn't read like a fifteen year old. I kept thinking of her older than she actually is. And though she is an okay character, that's just it. She is just okay. I didn't find myself smitten with her or even really rooting for her. She just is not interesting enough to connect to. I did find her best friend rather intriguing though- Pearl.
There are two fun cases that we get to solve with Iris. And they really keep the plot moving. This is a great read for a younger audience and mystery junkies! Everyone needs a little mystery every once and awhile :) Take this one to the beach!
Although Iris is perfectly likeable, I felt like she didn't read like a fifteen year old. I kept thinking of her older than she actually is. And though she is an okay character, that's just it. She is just okay. I didn't find myself smitten with her or even really rooting for her. She just is not interesting enough to connect to. I did find her best friend rather intriguing though- Pearl.
There are two fun cases that we get to solve with Iris. And they really keep the plot moving. This is a great read for a younger audience and mystery junkies! Everyone needs a little mystery every once and awhile :) Take this one to the beach!
June 9, 2014
Loved this! Great storyline and development. I also liked that there were less superficial slang words and more capturing of the whole time period. Iris understands she's not the best detective but still searches for the truth which I love! Admitting your own mistakes is important. Very good sequel, better than the first (which was pretty good by itself)!
Haines also focuses on bigger motifs appropriate for the setting. Can there be a good nazi? Or should you "paint the enemy with a wide brush" (or something like that)? This was a good read. I look forward to more books about Iris!
Haines also focuses on bigger motifs appropriate for the setting. Can there be a good nazi? Or should you "paint the enemy with a wide brush" (or something like that)? This was a good read. I look forward to more books about Iris!
February 7, 2014
4.5 Stars! The Girl is Trouble was even better than the Girl is Murder. In this volume we find out that there is more to Iris' mother's suicide than was previously determined. In addition to tracking down the events leading up to her mother's death, Iris is looking into a series of anti-Semitic letters that have been showing up in the lockers of Jewish students. There is plenty of action and plot twists in the book to keep the reader wondering who did it up until the end of the book. Hoping that another book in the series is coming out soon!
January 18, 2016
Who knew the second book would be even better then the first?! I was always on the edge of my seat! Their are just no words other than this book was truly an AMAZING read! Hoping that there will be a third one.
Read
January 25, 2016Very much enjoyed. Love the setting and characters.
August 15, 2018
Set in 1940′s New York, Haines’ YA detective novel is a quick read that offers sophisticated detective noir with a side of high school hijinx. This story completely helps me relive what it feels like to be a teenager. No, my mother was not murdered nor was my father a wounded vet turned detective. TGIT shares even the most mundane moments of teenage life with us, including school assemblies and clique politics. Like your typical double-edged sword, these moments of “the average kid at school” do not make for the most exciting reading. Score points for relatability, lose points for inconsistent pacing.
I feel like certain parts of the story need to *terrible cockney accent* turn it up to eleven (props to anyone who gets this Spina Tap reference). There are scenes that are supposed to be romantic and while we are offered a nibble, I want a full course meal. I don’t need any crazy sex romping, but I do need emotional tension. Emotional tension is also lacking in some of the dramatic investigative work, and while Iris’ mother’s case is full of intriguing details, I am at a loss for while I feel so unsatiated.
One quality I did appreciate, however, is the representation given to poor and abused teens, especially 👀 that this is a historical YA novel. Iris’ love interest lives with younger siblings and an alcoholic father. Through Iris, we see him struggle to keep his family afloat and I really appreciate that he is not assigned the blame for making bad choices when all of his options are essentially shit.
Before I sign off for the night, I will clarify that this book is actually a sequel and I have not read the first novel, The Girl is Murder. I had no problem following the narrative but I wonder if some of my issues might have been cleared up if I had more context. That being said, as a standalone I did enjoy this story but I wouldn’t say I loved it. I liked it just enough to keep going.
Read if you like: The Diviners, the Sally Lockhart series, Nancy Drew
3.5/5 stars
I feel like certain parts of the story need to *terrible cockney accent* turn it up to eleven (props to anyone who gets this Spina Tap reference). There are scenes that are supposed to be romantic and while we are offered a nibble, I want a full course meal. I don’t need any crazy sex romping, but I do need emotional tension. Emotional tension is also lacking in some of the dramatic investigative work, and while Iris’ mother’s case is full of intriguing details, I am at a loss for while I feel so unsatiated.
One quality I did appreciate, however, is the representation given to poor and abused teens, especially 👀 that this is a historical YA novel. Iris’ love interest lives with younger siblings and an alcoholic father. Through Iris, we see him struggle to keep his family afloat and I really appreciate that he is not assigned the blame for making bad choices when all of his options are essentially shit.
Before I sign off for the night, I will clarify that this book is actually a sequel and I have not read the first novel, The Girl is Murder. I had no problem following the narrative but I wonder if some of my issues might have been cleared up if I had more context. That being said, as a standalone I did enjoy this story but I wouldn’t say I loved it. I liked it just enough to keep going.
Read if you like: The Diviners, the Sally Lockhart series, Nancy Drew
3.5/5 stars
September 29, 2018
The Girl is Trouble should be read as soon as possible after The Girl is Murder. The second book is set almost immediately after the first book.
The protagonist is 15, but the story seems more adult than young adult. Adultery, blackmail, undeage smoking, and underage drinking, as well as overhearing a fatal shooting then seeing the victim are just a few things that make this story seem a little intense for a YA classification.
This book also touches on anti-semitism, anti-immigrant sentiment, and other issues that are still troublesome today.
The story is well written, and the setting of NYC during WWII seems believable. I appreciated that Iris and her father were able to find out what really happened to her mother.
The protagonist is 15, but the story seems more adult than young adult. Adultery, blackmail, undeage smoking, and underage drinking, as well as overhearing a fatal shooting then seeing the victim are just a few things that make this story seem a little intense for a YA classification.
This book also touches on anti-semitism, anti-immigrant sentiment, and other issues that are still troublesome today.
The story is well written, and the setting of NYC during WWII seems believable. I appreciated that Iris and her father were able to find out what really happened to her mother.
January 6, 2019
I read "This Girl is Murder" and I liked it, but was kind of ho-hum. This continuation of Iris' story was much more complex and I really enjoyed it a lot. I liked the deeper themes introduced as Iris struggles with so many questions about different character's actions, including her Pop, her best friend Pearl, her crush Bennie and her Uncle. There are shades of gray, but also actions by characters I won't mention that really shine, those who go beyond their own self-interest and preservation for the greater good. World War II is a rich backdrop for stories of heroism and hopefully stories like this one will inspire us to such behavior today when it is sorely needed. Thanks for a great story, Kathryn!
October 24, 2021
This has been on my to-read list since 2013. I finally reread the first book and finished up this duology. It was fun. Nothing I would read again, but I enjoyed it. The audio, by Rachel Botchan, wasn't my favorite, but it was okay.
Iris is thrilled that her dad is officially letting her help. She's also got a case of her own. The Jewish society has been getting threatening notes in their lockers and they'd like Iris to figure out who the culprit is. She gets a little distracted when she learns some new information about her mother's supposed suicide. Since her dad is being tight-lipped it's up to Iris to unravel the secrets on her own.
I liked the different plot twists the author incorporated and I do think she does a great job at writing unique and lifelike characters.
Iris is thrilled that her dad is officially letting her help. She's also got a case of her own. The Jewish society has been getting threatening notes in their lockers and they'd like Iris to figure out who the culprit is. She gets a little distracted when she learns some new information about her mother's supposed suicide. Since her dad is being tight-lipped it's up to Iris to unravel the secrets on her own.
I liked the different plot twists the author incorporated and I do think she does a great job at writing unique and lifelike characters.
January 1, 2024
These books probably aren't going to win major literary awards any time soon, but man are they fun! I love Iris so much, even when she frustrates me, and the worldbuilding of 1940s NYC during WWII is so good. There were so many twists and turns, and it was so easy to keep turning the pages - I just blew through this one! I'm sad there aren't any more books with Iris Anderson, but I definitely plan to pick up Miller Haines's other series. Highly recommend!
July 24, 2022
the mystery in this book hooked me right in although i could say i don't really like the main protagonist, iris.
sure she is smart and clever, everyone in the book said so. but what about pearl? honestly, i think she is far more smarter, cleverer and bravest than iris can ever be and somehow it was quite unfair how her story ended up.
sure she is smart and clever, everyone in the book said so. but what about pearl? honestly, i think she is far more smarter, cleverer and bravest than iris can ever be and somehow it was quite unfair how her story ended up.
May 23, 2018
Enjoyed book two. A great read for the advanced MS girls. Nothing too scandalizing (no sex scenes), but enough intrigue to keep a girl reading and learning about the time period of some of the best slang!
December 30, 2019
My only complaint is that Iris jumps to the worst possible interpretation, even when it conflicts with prior knowledge but trusts some implicitly. Though, come to think about, I did that at that age.
January 4, 2020
This is an amazing book ive ever read. This book is smoothly explaining about how’s iris life after pop’s back from war and this book is focusing to findout whether her mother been murdered or is that a suicide. G0sh u have to read this one!
July 20, 2019
I could have finished this, but I also could have not, and I chose to not.
September 28, 2019
Fast paced plot for teenage readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2021
Previewed
June 4, 2018
I'm sorry I waited so long to read this follow-up to The Girl is Murder. I liked this one even better! My review is here.
October 5, 2014
This month, I read The Girl is Trouble by Kathryn Miller Haines. This book is the sequel to The Girl is Murder, which I read over the summer. The main character of this book is Iris Anderson, who lives in New York City, NY in 1941. Iris’ mother committed suicide right after she heard her husband was badly injured in Pearl Harbor. At least, this is what the public is led to believe. Iris is sure that there was something more to her mother’s sudden death. While Iris is investigating this tragedy of her past at home, the Jewish Student Federation is being targeted by bullies at school. Threatening notes are being placed in the Jewish Federation members’ lockers. Michael Rosenberg, the President of the Federation, approaches Iris to investigate this bullying, because he knows that Iris is now working for her father’s investigation business outside of school. Pearl, Iris’ best friend, is even targeted, even though she is not a member of the Jewish Student Federation. Pearl and Iris stakeout the lockers to identify the culprits, but to no avail. All of the notes are being placed in the lockers when nobody is there to see them. As the struggle to find the bullying note-maker continues, Iris uncovers more details about her mother’s death. After she starts to connect the dots, Iris is wondering whether her mother, the woman she knew and loved, wasn’t leading a double life. In addition to telling this riveting story, the author’s message is that love endures despite the fact that new facts are revealed about the ones you love. Read this exciting book to uncover the thrilling tale of Iris’ mother and the capture the culprit that left the horrific notes in the lockers of the members of the Jewish Student Federation.
I absolutely loved The Girl is Trouble. This book had so much action, and the all the details that seemed meaningless tied perfectly into the story and made me love it even more. I really loved how every detail was relevant and created a very intricate novel. On page 111, Iris meets Anna Mueller, the woman who found her mother dead in Room 3C of the White Swan, a hotel in Yorkville, a primarily German part of New York City. “ ‘… The papers said you were the one who found her. That was no suicide,’ said Iris. ‘No it wasn’t,’ said Anna (111-112).” Anna uncovered the fact that Iris’ mother’s death was not a suicide. This was the best source to hear it from because she would know firsthand since she was the one who found her. Iris was also told false information, which was that her mother was a Nazi. Later, on page 332, Pop, Iris’ father, says that he was supposed to go to the White Swan to meet with Steven Haupt, the man who killed Iris’ mother. Pop didn’t end up going. “‘Someone was killed there. The hotel owner. A man named Mueller (332).” Iris realizes that this was the ex-husband of Anna Mueller, the maid who found her mother dead. All of the details in this book connect, creating a thrilling story. Another aspect of this book that I loved was justice was served as much as possible in the two tales in this novel. The note-maker was caught red-handed, and the killer of Iris’ mother was caught and punished. “‘All I ever wanted was for him to be captured and punished. It was the only way anyone was going to learn the truth about what happened to your mother, said Pop (320).” Steven Haupt was taken to the hospital and would be punished after he healed. Although the note-maker was caught, Pearl covered his tracks to protect all other Jewish students at P.S. 110. If the real note-maker was caught, then nobody in the Jewish Student Federation would be trusted; it would become similar to The Boy Who Cried Wolf. The note-maker had a very important part of the Federation, and it he were caught, it would be a poor reflection on the Federation. The note-maker didn’t make the notes himself, he black-mailed another person to do it for him. Finally, another thing I loved about The Girl is Trouble is that it was non-stop action. The plot was constantly growing, and the story only got better with time. From the beginning, the plot was very interesting. On page 1, Iris was already stalking a man on the street to collect information for a case. “‘Do you see where he went?’ asked Pop. ‘Not yet,’ I said. We were uptown, trying hard to blend in with the morning crowd. I had no idea it would be so hard to keep my eye on someone while trying not to be seen myself (1).” Iris was always on the move; she was always working to give justice to one person or group, such as her family and friends or her school. I loved this book and would recommend it to everyone who loves murder mysteries. I would give it four out of five stars!
I absolutely loved The Girl is Trouble. This book had so much action, and the all the details that seemed meaningless tied perfectly into the story and made me love it even more. I really loved how every detail was relevant and created a very intricate novel. On page 111, Iris meets Anna Mueller, the woman who found her mother dead in Room 3C of the White Swan, a hotel in Yorkville, a primarily German part of New York City. “ ‘… The papers said you were the one who found her. That was no suicide,’ said Iris. ‘No it wasn’t,’ said Anna (111-112).” Anna uncovered the fact that Iris’ mother’s death was not a suicide. This was the best source to hear it from because she would know firsthand since she was the one who found her. Iris was also told false information, which was that her mother was a Nazi. Later, on page 332, Pop, Iris’ father, says that he was supposed to go to the White Swan to meet with Steven Haupt, the man who killed Iris’ mother. Pop didn’t end up going. “‘Someone was killed there. The hotel owner. A man named Mueller (332).” Iris realizes that this was the ex-husband of Anna Mueller, the maid who found her mother dead. All of the details in this book connect, creating a thrilling story. Another aspect of this book that I loved was justice was served as much as possible in the two tales in this novel. The note-maker was caught red-handed, and the killer of Iris’ mother was caught and punished. “‘All I ever wanted was for him to be captured and punished. It was the only way anyone was going to learn the truth about what happened to your mother, said Pop (320).” Steven Haupt was taken to the hospital and would be punished after he healed. Although the note-maker was caught, Pearl covered his tracks to protect all other Jewish students at P.S. 110. If the real note-maker was caught, then nobody in the Jewish Student Federation would be trusted; it would become similar to The Boy Who Cried Wolf. The note-maker had a very important part of the Federation, and it he were caught, it would be a poor reflection on the Federation. The note-maker didn’t make the notes himself, he black-mailed another person to do it for him. Finally, another thing I loved about The Girl is Trouble is that it was non-stop action. The plot was constantly growing, and the story only got better with time. From the beginning, the plot was very interesting. On page 1, Iris was already stalking a man on the street to collect information for a case. “‘Do you see where he went?’ asked Pop. ‘Not yet,’ I said. We were uptown, trying hard to blend in with the morning crowd. I had no idea it would be so hard to keep my eye on someone while trying not to be seen myself (1).” Iris was always on the move; she was always working to give justice to one person or group, such as her family and friends or her school. I loved this book and would recommend it to everyone who loves murder mysteries. I would give it four out of five stars!
July 3, 2012
I like my mystery detectives to be like Sherlock or Poirot. Those all-knowing eyes seeing the littlest clues in the most unlikely places. Or, for them to be like Jacques Clouseau, an utter clutz that still manages to solve the mystery by pure luck. The problem I had with The Girl Is Trouble is that the heroine was neither.
Iris Anderson and her dad, a veteran, are living in the Lower East Side. Her mother committed suicide almost a year ago, and dad doesn't want to talk about it. When Iris discovers new evidence, she is determined to find out what really happened.
I absolutely love the 40s setting in Manhattan. It's a historical setting that I'm not that familiar with, and it was great to be sucked back to the time of funny dances and long skirts. Of course there is also the darker side of that time; the second world war. The war is ever present in this book, but never annoyingly so. I thought the background was very well done.
This book can easily be read as a stand-alone. I haven't read the first book, The Girl Is Murder, but I had absolutely no troubles following the storyline. There were maybe a couple of references to a previous case, but nothing that threw me off.
The only thing that kept annoying me throughout the book is the heroine, Iris. There isn't really anything wrong with her. Her personality isn't obnoxious or too stupid to live. It's just that she has absolutely no hand in solving the mystery AT ALL. About every single major plot twist has to be explained to Iris by her weird best friend Pearl, which was a way more interesting character for me. The clues just kind of come to her, and the only thing Iris has to do is fit them together. Another point I didn't very much like is Iris's voice. She's supposed to be fifteen, yet she thinks like a twenty year-old. Fifteen isn't that long ago for me that I can't remember what it was like, and I am pretty sure I didn't have that many insightful views on my own life and thoughts. That's something you learn with experience, and even though tragedies like your mom dying make you grow up fast, you still don't have the life experiences to objectively categorise and analyse your thoughts and feelings. Just my two cents.
This was a very fast-paced read, and with two overlapping cases (Iris is asked to find a secret note-writer and the case of her mother) make sure the story keeps moving. There are some very interesting characters in the book like the best friend Pearl and the daughter of the landlady Betty. I recommend this for people looking for a fast mystery read, and I think a younger audience will definitely appreciate this read.
Iris Anderson and her dad, a veteran, are living in the Lower East Side. Her mother committed suicide almost a year ago, and dad doesn't want to talk about it. When Iris discovers new evidence, she is determined to find out what really happened.
I absolutely love the 40s setting in Manhattan. It's a historical setting that I'm not that familiar with, and it was great to be sucked back to the time of funny dances and long skirts. Of course there is also the darker side of that time; the second world war. The war is ever present in this book, but never annoyingly so. I thought the background was very well done.
This book can easily be read as a stand-alone. I haven't read the first book, The Girl Is Murder, but I had absolutely no troubles following the storyline. There were maybe a couple of references to a previous case, but nothing that threw me off.
The only thing that kept annoying me throughout the book is the heroine, Iris. There isn't really anything wrong with her. Her personality isn't obnoxious or too stupid to live. It's just that she has absolutely no hand in solving the mystery AT ALL. About every single major plot twist has to be explained to Iris by her weird best friend Pearl, which was a way more interesting character for me. The clues just kind of come to her, and the only thing Iris has to do is fit them together. Another point I didn't very much like is Iris's voice. She's supposed to be fifteen, yet she thinks like a twenty year-old. Fifteen isn't that long ago for me that I can't remember what it was like, and I am pretty sure I didn't have that many insightful views on my own life and thoughts. That's something you learn with experience, and even though tragedies like your mom dying make you grow up fast, you still don't have the life experiences to objectively categorise and analyse your thoughts and feelings. Just my two cents.
This was a very fast-paced read, and with two overlapping cases (Iris is asked to find a secret note-writer and the case of her mother) make sure the story keeps moving. There are some very interesting characters in the book like the best friend Pearl and the daughter of the landlady Betty. I recommend this for people looking for a fast mystery read, and I think a younger audience will definitely appreciate this read.
July 14, 2015
The main message in The Girl Is Trouble, by Kathryn Miller Haines, is that the ones who matter the most are the people who the truth is more important. The Girl Is Trouble takes place in New York City, in the 1940s, a year after Pearl Harbor. The city is full of Anti-Jewish posters, pamphlets, and someone even starts putting threatening notes in Jewish kids’ lockers at Iris’s school. Iris Anderson is a teenage girl who lives with her dad, who lost a leg at Pearl Harbor and is a detective, and she is eager to help him. One day, she finds her dad’s safe open, which contains pictures of a woman who was murdered. She realizes that this is her mother, but she was told that her mother overdosed on pills, and is scared and curious. After this, she tries to find out more, with the help of her Jewish friend Pearl, and an Italian trouble making boy, Benny. Told by Iris, she finds out the truth about the racist notes, and clues to her mother’s murder, which shows her that the truth matters to those who really care.
I enjoyed this book, as I like the mystery genre and the solutions to the crimes. One of my favorite parts of this book was Iris as a character. She is independent and will do things on her own with any help, or she never gives up on her dream of being a detective, which is unusual for this time period. Another thing that I likes about this book was that I never knew until the end the culprit behind the notes because the story was so well written that I never knew who was lying or hiding something. Iris’s friend Pearl said, “The right person needs to be punished, no matter how much it hurts…I saw him putting letters in the lockers…This was the second time I saw him do it”(283). There are many more accusations in the book so it is hard to know which one is right, which I found interesting. I can connect this story to some of Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot mysteries, because he has to solve cases using many different suspects’ information, and deduce which ones are lying. The reader comes to understand from this story that the world is not divided into good people and bad, for everyone makes mistakes. The readers also begin to understand that we should not judge someone from the bad things that they do, but look at one and know that they just made a mistake, and that they should know that one action does not show who you truly are. I enjoyed this book, it had an exciting ending and I would recommend it to anyone who likes mystery, and a good plot.
I enjoyed this book, as I like the mystery genre and the solutions to the crimes. One of my favorite parts of this book was Iris as a character. She is independent and will do things on her own with any help, or she never gives up on her dream of being a detective, which is unusual for this time period. Another thing that I likes about this book was that I never knew until the end the culprit behind the notes because the story was so well written that I never knew who was lying or hiding something. Iris’s friend Pearl said, “The right person needs to be punished, no matter how much it hurts…I saw him putting letters in the lockers…This was the second time I saw him do it”(283). There are many more accusations in the book so it is hard to know which one is right, which I found interesting. I can connect this story to some of Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot mysteries, because he has to solve cases using many different suspects’ information, and deduce which ones are lying. The reader comes to understand from this story that the world is not divided into good people and bad, for everyone makes mistakes. The readers also begin to understand that we should not judge someone from the bad things that they do, but look at one and know that they just made a mistake, and that they should know that one action does not show who you truly are. I enjoyed this book, it had an exciting ending and I would recommend it to anyone who likes mystery, and a good plot.
December 28, 2011
Things are finally starting to look up for Iris Anderson, or at least, they aren’t as chaotic and awful as they used to be. Iris is blending into her high school on the Lower East Side, even if everyone else thinks her closest friend Pearl is a bit weird. And even though the Rainbows haven’t totally forgiven her, at least they aren’t giving her too much trouble either. But the best part is that Iris’s Pop is finally letting her help out with his detective agency, as long as she follows every one of his rules and does everything his way, of course. But when Iris uncovers some unsavory details about her mother’s supposed suicide, following the rules no longer become an option. Once again, Iris finds herself sneaking around behind Pop’s back, but this time, instead of snooping in her classmates’ lives, it’s her own family that she must investigate.
I was such a fan of The Girl Is Murder that picking up its sequel, The Girl Is Trouble, was a clear no-brainer. As I expected and hoped, all the historical charm, detective flair, and personal drama that made me love The Girl Is Murder translated to The Girl Is Trouble as well. What I didn’t expect was for the second installment of Iris Anderson’s story to be so personal. It’s unsurprising that Haines would choose to shift the story in this direction, as many other mystery series work in this way as well for a good reason, but what was surprising was how Haines made Iris’s work this personal this quickly. Incorporating the mystery of Iris’s mother’s death makes me think that there might not be much more in this series, which would be a huge disappointment, considering what a fierce and fantastic Nancy Drew-esque heroine Iris is. These worries aside, The Girl Is Trouble is still a thoroughly enjoyable read, mostly because it is so extremely well plotted. The way that Haines balances multiple competing plotlines, each with its own unique mystery and secrets, is quite impressive. Without a doubt, this novel is sure to charm and thrill readers alike.
Fans of The Girl Is Murder will not want to miss its sequel, The Girl Is Trouble, nor will readers who also enjoyed What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell, Ten Cents a Dance by Christine Fletcher, and I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You by Ally Carter.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
I was such a fan of The Girl Is Murder that picking up its sequel, The Girl Is Trouble, was a clear no-brainer. As I expected and hoped, all the historical charm, detective flair, and personal drama that made me love The Girl Is Murder translated to The Girl Is Trouble as well. What I didn’t expect was for the second installment of Iris Anderson’s story to be so personal. It’s unsurprising that Haines would choose to shift the story in this direction, as many other mystery series work in this way as well for a good reason, but what was surprising was how Haines made Iris’s work this personal this quickly. Incorporating the mystery of Iris’s mother’s death makes me think that there might not be much more in this series, which would be a huge disappointment, considering what a fierce and fantastic Nancy Drew-esque heroine Iris is. These worries aside, The Girl Is Trouble is still a thoroughly enjoyable read, mostly because it is so extremely well plotted. The way that Haines balances multiple competing plotlines, each with its own unique mystery and secrets, is quite impressive. Without a doubt, this novel is sure to charm and thrill readers alike.
Fans of The Girl Is Murder will not want to miss its sequel, The Girl Is Trouble, nor will readers who also enjoyed What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell, Ten Cents a Dance by Christine Fletcher, and I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You by Ally Carter.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
June 16, 2020
3.5 stars
I found myself enjoying most of the book for the first half. However the quickened pace towards the end made me lose interest a bit as the scenes were short and uneventful. There were many turns in this novel that left me gobsmacked and others that were predictable. I felt the suspense and danger were very much present throughout the novel however, I felt the resolution was too fast.
Most of the novel centres around the mystery surrounding the death of Iris’ mother and in comes the “fake suicide” trope. All the red herrings. The other part of the novel was based on investigating the anti-semitic attacks and threats in a school environment. It was horrific to see the abuse faced by the Jewish students and this investigation took a very sharp turn . I can say I was partially shocked about the outcome.
The prevalence of the anti-semitism evident in this world greatly disturbed me and it really got to me. The school kids are so mean and insensitive - the constant Pearl Harbor comments were beyond the scale of inappropriateness.
Iris has definitely matured in this novel, making more sensible decisions and less rash behaviour. That sort of backtracked when her determination reverted her to less extreme impulsiveness. She’s not the greatest detective, but I admire her perseverance and desire for truth. In fact, I enjoyed finding more out about her best friend Pearl who is probably a better detective than Iris. I don’t know whether this is just me but I found that these 15 year olds were given way too much freedom and it didn’t seem realistic. I adored Mrs Mrozenski and just the way she speaks - you can’t find much fault in her. We have a some romance in this novel which I can’t say I particularly enjoyed, though it didn’t take over the main storyline.
I found myself getting through this novel quicker than its predecessor as the events and writing flowed. Overall, an interesting historical mystery novel that definitely gave some insight into the cruelty of the 1940s and its heavier aspects.
I found myself enjoying most of the book for the first half. However the quickened pace towards the end made me lose interest a bit as the scenes were short and uneventful. There were many turns in this novel that left me gobsmacked and others that were predictable. I felt the suspense and danger were very much present throughout the novel however, I felt the resolution was too fast.
Most of the novel centres around the mystery surrounding the death of Iris’ mother and in comes the “fake suicide” trope. All the red herrings. The other part of the novel was based on investigating the anti-semitic attacks and threats in a school environment. It was horrific to see the abuse faced by the Jewish students and this investigation took a very sharp turn . I can say I was partially shocked about the outcome.
The prevalence of the anti-semitism evident in this world greatly disturbed me and it really got to me. The school kids are so mean and insensitive - the constant Pearl Harbor comments were beyond the scale of inappropriateness.
Iris has definitely matured in this novel, making more sensible decisions and less rash behaviour. That sort of backtracked when her determination reverted her to less extreme impulsiveness. She’s not the greatest detective, but I admire her perseverance and desire for truth. In fact, I enjoyed finding more out about her best friend Pearl who is probably a better detective than Iris. I don’t know whether this is just me but I found that these 15 year olds were given way too much freedom and it didn’t seem realistic. I adored Mrs Mrozenski and just the way she speaks - you can’t find much fault in her. We have a some romance in this novel which I can’t say I particularly enjoyed, though it didn’t take over the main storyline.
I found myself getting through this novel quicker than its predecessor as the events and writing flowed. Overall, an interesting historical mystery novel that definitely gave some insight into the cruelty of the 1940s and its heavier aspects.
June 29, 2012
The Girl is Trouble by Kathryn Miller Haines
Title: The Girl is Trouble
Author: Kathryn Miller Haines
Release Date: July 3, 2012
Publisher: Macmillan
Age Group: 12-17 years
Hardcover: 336 pages
Source: Publisher
Buy This Book: B&N
Book Synopsis: Iris Anderson and her father have finally come to an understanding. Iris is allowed to help out at her Pop's detective agency as long as she follows his rules and learns from his technique. But when Iris uncovers details about her mother's supposed suicide, suddenly Iris is thrown headfirst into her most intense and personal case yet.
About the Author: Kathryn Miller Haines is an actor, mystery writer, and award-winning playwright. Her debut YA novel, The Girl Is Murder, received an Edgar Award nomination and a starred review from SchoolLibrary Journal as well as from Booklist, who called the book a "smart offering that gives both mysteries and historical fiction a good name." Kathryn lives in western Pennsylvania with her husband and son and their dogs. Visit her at kathrynmillerhaines.com.
Cover Art: This is another okay cover for me. It's very simple, almost too simple for me because if I saw this in a bookstore, I probably wouldn't be drawn to it. What I do like about the cover is the girl's eyes! The winged out makeup look gets me every time!
Pre-Thoughts: I lovelovelovelove getting packages from MacMillan! This summer, Macmillan released so many beautifully covered, thrill-seeking books! When I opened the package to find this book, I was not disappointed one bit! I had read (and loved) The Girl is Murder, so I couldn't read this book fast enough!
Post-Thoughts: Wow. That is the best word to describe this book with! After the ending to A Girl is Murder, I was interested to see how they would pick the story back up again, and not bore me. Kathryn Miller Haines, you are a genius! Every aspect of this book couldn't have been done better and I am in love with every single bit of this book! And I heard this is going to be turned into a movie? Does anyone know? I definitely hope so! A thrilling, fast-paced novel full of awesome!
Title: The Girl is Trouble
Author: Kathryn Miller Haines
Release Date: July 3, 2012
Publisher: Macmillan
Age Group: 12-17 years
Hardcover: 336 pages
Source: Publisher
Buy This Book: B&N
Book Synopsis: Iris Anderson and her father have finally come to an understanding. Iris is allowed to help out at her Pop's detective agency as long as she follows his rules and learns from his technique. But when Iris uncovers details about her mother's supposed suicide, suddenly Iris is thrown headfirst into her most intense and personal case yet.
About the Author: Kathryn Miller Haines is an actor, mystery writer, and award-winning playwright. Her debut YA novel, The Girl Is Murder, received an Edgar Award nomination and a starred review from SchoolLibrary Journal as well as from Booklist, who called the book a "smart offering that gives both mysteries and historical fiction a good name." Kathryn lives in western Pennsylvania with her husband and son and their dogs. Visit her at kathrynmillerhaines.com.
Cover Art: This is another okay cover for me. It's very simple, almost too simple for me because if I saw this in a bookstore, I probably wouldn't be drawn to it. What I do like about the cover is the girl's eyes! The winged out makeup look gets me every time!
Pre-Thoughts: I lovelovelovelove getting packages from MacMillan! This summer, Macmillan released so many beautifully covered, thrill-seeking books! When I opened the package to find this book, I was not disappointed one bit! I had read (and loved) The Girl is Murder, so I couldn't read this book fast enough!
Post-Thoughts: Wow. That is the best word to describe this book with! After the ending to A Girl is Murder, I was interested to see how they would pick the story back up again, and not bore me. Kathryn Miller Haines, you are a genius! Every aspect of this book couldn't have been done better and I am in love with every single bit of this book! And I heard this is going to be turned into a movie? Does anyone know? I definitely hope so! A thrilling, fast-paced novel full of awesome!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews