Harper Madigan: Junior High Private Eye

by Chelsea M. Campbell

7th grade detective Harper Madigan works alone. He doesn't need the vice principal assigning him a new partner to keep him in line, especially a stuffed-shirt wannabe-journalist who totally cramps his style. And he especially doesn’t need his troublemaker ex-girlfriend showing up out of the blue and asking for his help. She’s accused of attacking the star of the school musical, and with her less-than-sparkling track record, she’s only one suspension away from getting expelled. Only Harper believes she’s innocent, and now it’s up to him to prove it, even if it means making an enemy of the PTA mafia, risking his agency, and confronting the mistakes of his own dark past. But when his new partner insists on doing everything by the book, and his old nemesis–the one bully he can’t catch–starts harassing his clients, it’s going to take more than just detective work to solve the case.

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Juvenile, Audiobook, Childrens, Middle Grade

185 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 2, 2012

About the author

Chelsea M. Campbell grew up in the Pacific Northwest, where it rains a lot. And then rains some more. She finished her first novel when she was twelve, sent it out, and promptly got rejected. Since then she's written many more novels, earned a degree in Latin and Ancient Greek, become an obsessive knitter and fiber artist, and started a collection of glass grapes. Besides writing, studying ancient languages, and collecting useless objects, Chelsea is a pop-culture fangirl at heart and can often be found rewatching episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Parks and Recreation, or dying a lot in Dark Souls.

Reviews

[AC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Harper Madigan has a detective agency at his school. And he is very serious about that. He even wears a trench coat, he is that serious. Somehow, everything is going wrong at the moment. The vice principal assigned him a partner, something that he really does not need. He just can’t find something to proof that his arch enemy is a criminal. And Danigal, who he used to be very close to, asks for his help. If Harper can’t prove that she is innocent, she’s going to be expelled! Who pushed the theater diva? And how is the powerful PTA involved? They control everything at this school, after all.

After hearing what this book was about, I had to read it. I’m really, and I mean really, into kid detective stories. I love Disney’s Fillmore! , Veronica Mars and I own almost 150 The Three Investigators cassettes. I’m normally not a huge fan of crime fiction, but this book sounded just awesome. I ended up being a little bit disappointed.

The plot itself was quite good, though a little bit too straight forward for my taste. I hoped there would be more twists and turns, and I hoped the solution would be a little bit more exciting. I was not happy with the solution at all, and I even thought the ending a little too unrealistic, because the evidence was just not enough to proof who did it. At least in my opinion.

As for characters…I was frustrated with Harper, because he just does not want to see the truth. And then, when he finally changes, I just could not buy that. It was a sudden change and just not believable to me. He came across as rather arrogant, which is okay for a detective, but annoyed me at times.

I loved how serious the tone of the book was. However I had hoped for a more humorous tone, something more similar to Disney’s Fillmore!. But that was just my expectation, I can’t hold that against the book.

That all being said, I thought the book was really entertaining. Despite some small concerns, I enjoyed the story and the reading experience. Although I had my problems with the ending, it did open up the possibility of a sequel. And I would totally read that! I would however hope for a more complex plot. I suppose this is planned as a middle grade book. In that case I am sure that the audience can handle more twists and turns!

[Wooster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harper Madigan was a unique blend of classic Noir detective storytelling and middle school drama. The titular Harper Madigan is a hardboiled jaded middle schooler detective with his own officer hours, in an abandoned custodial closet. From there he leads an investigation into such things as stolen pencils and assault on a up and coming 'diva' for the school play. What makes this book unique is how it blends and remaps the typical Noir character types and reformats them for a modern younger setting. The grizzled barkeep the detective frequents is a grizzled, high school student working at an ice-cream shop. The police chief is the school's vice principal, the diva lady in red is a student in the drama club. Really the novel is a noir story with a middle school setting. The novel takes a bit of time to get a tempo going, but once it does, there's a lot of well paced gumshoe work and some satisfying scenes.

If I had to pick a favorite character, it might have to be Madigan's non-consentually assigned 'partner': aspiring journalist Austin Phelps. He perhaps has the greatest range of characterization and development in the novel. He starts as a unhidden mole into Madigan's activities, then partner, traitor, and ultimately friend. And considering how the novel ends for him, I'm more then a bit curious how a second novel would unwind with his participation.

Ultimately Harper Madigan: Junior High Private Eye is a nice recreational mystery title. Give it a chance. Not many games can have a climax that could best be compared with a Yu-gi-oh episode and play it straight. That alone made me smirk in pleasure.

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chelsea Campbell does it again!

While attempting to preorder her second Renegade X book (oops--too early), I just sort of happened across this one. So exciting! I had no idea she had another one out! I bought it immediately. Two pages in and I was already hooked.

Seventh grader Harper Madigan, private detective, offices in a condemned janitor's closet at school, solving problems for classmates while occasionally creating a few problems for Vice Principal Dodge--which is why (GASP!!!) Dodge has assigned Madigan a partner. A stuffed shirt of a partner. A journalist, no less! But Madigan won't let anyone stand in the way of his pursuit of justice.

This book is just so much fun! It's witty and dark in equal measure, and the noir novel setup is absolutely perfect--the troubled ex-girlfriend, a quest for revenge, a sinister organization...great, great stuff. And Campbell is just a master at creating characters that are interesting and likable and flawed.

My only complaint is a technical one--for some reason my copy (I bought my e-book from Barnes and Noble) has a chapter near the end that just...cuts off in mid-sentence, and I'm not totally sure what happens there! I don't know if that is an issue with all copies or if mine just got messed up somehow, but...it was a bit of an annoyance.

Even so, I really loved this, and I definitely can't wait for another Harper Madigan adventure--well done indeed, Chelsea Campbell!!! :)

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harper Madigan runs a detective agency, complete with his own trench coat, at his school, complete with his own "office" and office hours, and a carte blanche hall pass that allows him to complete his investigations. His hard-hitting cases involve things like the case of the stolen lucky pencil. But Harper's been a little down on his luck recently and the vice principal has assigned Austin Phelps, a prospective reporter, to be his partner. But Harper Madigan works alone.

This book is written in a noir style but altered for the middle school/junior high level, and it kicks off with Danigal coming to Harper because she's being accused of assaulting the lead in the school play. She swears she's innocent, but her record in the past year has been less-than-stellar and if she gets suspended one more time, she'll be suspended. And the PTA wants her suspended. Which means Harper has his work cut out for him.

For a detective story, this one is fairly straightforward. There are a few twists, but they aren't particularly crazy ones, and it was pretty easy to predict what would happen next. Despite that, the story was good, and it would still be a good story for middle-school readers.

In typical Noir style, most of the characters are pretty stereotypical, including Harper. The one character that I could say didn't fit into that was Harper's partner, Austin Phelps. He goes from definite mole to sort-of partner to traitor and ultimately ends up as a friend. I enjoyed Austin as a character. Though I know there aren't any sequels to this book, and no more cases for Harper to solve, I would definitely read another one should Campbell decide to write another one.

For this book, I listened to the audiobook, which was narrated by Nicholas Vennekotter. His narration wasn't really anything to write home about, it also wasn't terrible.

[Julie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book.I think this book is more aimed at a younger generation but even so I really enjoyed this book and in fact I stayed up well past me bed time to finish the book. I loved the characters and the way they have to learn to work together and the fact that no case is to small, it really gelled together to make an interesting and fun mystery good enough for a teenager or a mystery fan. The mystery it's self was good. and full of high school drama. The fact that most of the story takes place in a school was a fun element and took me back a few years, especially with those pesky hall passes. I hope there is another case for the junior high private investigator.
Harper Madigan is a high school boy who fights for justice against the school bullies, he doesn't wear a cape but he does wear a trench coat, if only the vice principle would let him. He works out of a condemned cleaning closet but his clients knows just were to find him when they have a problem and no case is to small for this P.i. To try and keep him in line more the vice principle assigns him an assistant in the hopes that he will be a good influence on Harper. But things don't to to plan when Harper's ex girlfriend future at the school is threatened. She is accused of pushing the lead actress off the stage, a crime even her own brother thinks she might have done. Harper is the lone voice to think otherwise, he just doesn't understand why she is keeping information from him. Can Harper find out the reason why the school PTA is trying so hard to expel his ex from the school?
I liked the narrator and thought she did a really good job of bringing the characters to life.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Clinton Harding · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Dropped Diva" is a completely cool read. Campbell nailed the feel of a hard boiled detective novel. She nailed the feel of a Raymond Chandler novel.

Main character Harper Madigan is a tough as nails, down on his luck detective with a dark past and a lot of demons... he's also in middle school. Don't let that final fact take away from how the book succeeds as a detective thriller. Campbell took all the aspects of a good detective yarn and tweaked them so they fit into a middle school setting. There is a crime underworld run by the bullies. At the top of this seedy underbelly is a mob-like organization, the adults, the parents comprising the PTA. Come on! Who else would be behind the curtain pulling the strings? Every character that stepped on to the stage was unique and colorful with a big personality. Harper is cool as cucumber (to borrow the expression from Campbell). He has a straight-laced partner trying to play by the book and keep him out of trouble. There is the dame Harper loves but who is always going to pull him into trouble. His archenemy is evil, intimidating, connected with top ranks of the PTA, and no one dares mess with him... no one but Harper Madigan! And of course there is the little guy, the underdog that needs a hero to believe in him or her.

Yes, the plot is not anything that is breaking down walls and turning the genre on its head. But that is the charm. This feels like a detective novel and it has the trappings of that type of novel. Kudos to Campbell for embracing those aspects and recoloring the setting. The twists can be seen coming. Regardless, there are enough twists to keep the pages turning fast and that makes this a fun read.

"Dropped Diva" is very much like a combination between the TV cartoons "The Kids Next Door" and "Fillmore". Both of which were cute and fun, packed full of adventure.

Hopefully Campbell will write more about Harper and his cases. I will pick them up. This is also a self published work. Support the author and self publishing, because this is the future publishing.

[Christina (Ensconced in Lit) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from member librarything giveaways in exchange for an honest review.

Harper Madigan: Junior High is about a teenaged detective, written in the style of a film noir, who solves cases in his high school, utilizing a broken down closet as his office. Things are complicated in this town with the evil and untouchable PTA (parents teachers association), a beautiful best friend who still captures his heart, and her brother who he cannot look in the eye for a reason that is yet to be revealed.

There are a lot of great things about this book. The style that it is written in is almost pitch perfect. I like the imposition of the old style black and white film detective in the broken down joint with a beautiful girl asking for help. I think that this voice kept the story going.

I had a hard time rating this book because while the prose is strong, I felt like the plot was a bit lacking. I was left at the end thinking... wait, that was the mystery? *SPOILER ALERT* I was confused that by making the exchange at the end, suddenly everything was peachy keen with the PTA. I just didn't believe that. I felt like once they had that evidence in their hands, they held all the cards at that point. What was stopping them from destroying Harper completely? They definitely had the power to do so. Furthermore, and this is just a personal preference-- Danigail was a little too much of the wimpy female. She had little acts of rebellion, but in the end, she had to have Harper save her.

That said, I think this was an enjoyable read and a good first young adult novel by Campbell!

[Charity · Rating 3 out of 5]

REVIEW BY: Angel, age 9 years, 11 months

SPOILER ALERT:

This story is about a boy named Harper Madigan who is a detective. His vice-principal assigns Harper a partner and his name is Austin. Austin wants to be a journalist. Harper's friend gives him a big case! The case is about a girl named Veronica being pushed by a girl. Harper knows that the girl is innocent, but nobody else does, not even her own brother. Harper and Austin have to solve the case because if they don't then the girl will be expelled from school and sent away to another school for bad kids. While working the clues, Harper and Austin get into trouble because they get involved in the PTA and the PTA does not like it when people get involved in cases and in the PTA. Harper and Austin solve the case, and get injured in the process, but they both think its worth it.



My favorite part was when Harper went to his bully's hideout and they played a game because they wanted to see which of them were better at the game. They bet on the game. This story would be perfect for people that like to read mystery books. I think this book is best for 4th-7th grade and I give it 3 out of 5 stars.

[Case · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has got a lot going for it. Is this a hard boiled detective novel, or a teen adventure story? You decide. For me, the juxtaposition of the two is what makes it shine. If you liked Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys, you'll enjoy Harper Madigan, not because it's similar, but because it's so different.

Reminiscent of Buffy or Angel, the story bounces between serious and funny without giving the reader a minute to catch his breath. It's not "belly-laugh" funny, but more, "cool as a cucumber" funny.

[Frances · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know why I purchased this book. It's cute, but I prefer more adult books. It's my fault.

With that said, I actually liked Harper Madigan, and loved the importance of saving his friends and his detective agency. I don't write reviews often, partially because I am lazy and partially because I find that they taint my perspective. I want to read a book and make the 'like' or 'don't like' choice on my own. If I read negative reviews, I would never find a good book. But enough about that.

This book is great for younger readers. If I had a child, I would pass this on to my kid.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't the typical book I would read, as it is intended for much younger audiences (pre-teen maybe?), but I was happy to win this in a giveaway.

Overall I thought this book was pretty fun. It was not at all realistic, but I enjoyed the adventure that Madigan went through while trying to solve this case. Most importantly to me, this was kid appropriate / child friendly.

*disclaimer* I won this book through the Goodreads First Reads Giveaway, but my review is 100% honest.

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as delightful the second time through as it was the first, and I am most definitely looking forward to Campbell's next book!

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

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