The Mystery of Shadow Hills

Skylar Robbins #1

by Carrie Cross

Thirteen-year-old sleuth Skylar Robbins plans to become a private detective like her grandfather. Stuck at her bullying cousin Gwendolyn’s Malibu estate for the summer, Skylar brings her fingerprinting kit, portable spy tools, and her journal for taking notes in secret code. She had no idea how dangerous the next eight weeks would prove to be.

As soon as Skylar gets to Malibu, mysterious things begin to happen. She discovers a hidden garden behind a rusted gate in Gwendolyn’s huge back yard. Her new friend Kat, who claims to be a witch, recognizes magical elements throughout the garden and declares it the perfect place to perform spells.

“We are going to grow gems.”

“Grow what?” There was no way I heard her right.

Kat’s eyes gleamed. “Gems. You know, rubies, emeralds, sapphires? Gems!”

Ignoring the rising tide, they sneak down to the beach at midnight and search three caves for magic seeds to plant in the abandoned garden. Practical Skylar didn’t believe in magic. Until their spells begin to work.

Skylar Robbins: The Mystery of Shadow Hills has been a #1 Best Seller in Children’s Detective ebooks, Children’s Fantasy & Supernatural Mystery ebooks, Children’s Sword & Sorcery Fantasy ebooks, and Children’s ebooks: Mystery & Detectives/Spies. This book is the recipient of the 5-Star Reader's Favorite Award and seal.

5 stars: Spellbinding! Review by GemTones on November 15, 2014 Fans of Nancy Drew and Harry Potter alike will love this fast-paced blend of detective action, mystery, witchcraft, and magic.

Genres: Mystery, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens, Mystery Thriller, Cozy Mystery

260 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2013

About the author

Carrie Cross is an avid reader who fell in love with books as a little girl after listening to Goodnight Moon at bedtime. Carrie discovered her passion for mysteries while reading Nancy Drew and The Happy Hollisters series--and then Judy Blume arrived with her unputdownable coming-of-age novels like Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret and Deenie.

A dancer since age six, Cross took three years of ballet and nine years of jazz dance, until a horrific car accident at age 18 put her in the hospital for five weeks with a broken neck, a broken hip, and severe head trauma resulting in coma. After a year of rehabilitation, Cross returned to C.S.U.N., earning a degree in Speech Communication. During college, Cross pursued a modeling career and was a note-taker and sign language interpreter for the hearing-impaired.

During an interview she was asked, "Where do you get your inspiration?"
"When I was six years old, my parents decided we needed to buy a bigger house. We looked at a creepy two-story in Santa Monica Canyon, and I played hide-and-seek with the little girl who lived there. There were closets and secret hiding places with doors that opened into other rooms. Later, I wondered, "What if there was a clue hidden in one of those closets?" And the idea for the Skylar Robbins mystery series was born.

Cross's influences include YA authors Deb Caletti, Kara Thomas, and Sarah Dessen, as well as Robert Crais and Lee Child. She lives in Southern California with her graphic designer husband Ed-- creator of the Skylar Robbins book covers--and their affectionate rescue cats, Tiki and Kona.

When she isn't writing, favorite pastimes include boating (ocean imagery appears in every Skylar Robbins novel), watching Food Network, eating sushi, playing Words with Friends, driving her Porsche "like a Grandma," trying new recipes and restaurants, and traveling to exotic islands.

Skylar Robbins mysteries have won multiple awards, and several have achieved #1 Bestseller status in Children's Detective Books on Amazon. Other accolades include being voted Book-of-the-Month by LASR readers, three 5-star Reader's Favorite awards, the 5-Star Literary Titan Book Award, and one was a Top Ten Finalist for an Author Academy Award in the YA/Middle Grade category. Many reviewers have compared Skylar Robbins to a modern Nancy Drew.

Skylar's adventures begin with THE MYSTERY OF SHADOW HILLS, and continue in THE MYSTERY OF THE HIDDEN JEWELS. For those who wonder what became of the magic garden and Skylar's bullying cousin Gwendolyn, Cross penned a 92-page fantasy novella, GWENDOLYN'S REVENGE. After she solves her second big case, the Skylar Robbins Detective Agency tackles the MYSTERY OF THE MISSING HEIRESS, and then Skylar travels past the Hawaiian archipelago to solve the MYSTERY OF THE ISLAND IDOL.

Follow Carrie Cross on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarrie...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorcarri...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Carrie_Skylar,
Website: www.carrie-cross.com
Skylar Robbins fans can follow Skylar on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/secretagent...

Reviews

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Just love Skylar. She is smart, curious and determined to be just like her grandfather the detective. What a great little mystery she wandered into while her parents were away. While staying with her not so close or nice cousin, she found herself mixing with people and things that were more than she bargained for. SJylar handled herself with scientific reasoning and maybe a little fear. It was a really fun mystery. I love the way that Carrie Cross writes. It is intelligent and positive with all the complexities of being a teen.

I can't wait for my granddaughters reach the age to appreciate these books. Keep them coming, Carrie!

[Stephanie Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

My name is Ellie and I just turned 13, so I felt like I had a lot in common with Skylar, which made this really fun to read. I opened this book thinking it would be "just" a mystery, but I got sucked right into it and soon found it was so much more! I was super-surprised when the story turned to witchcraft; that was all so cool and interesting! I loved the magic, secret garden and the cousin drama, too. Heck, there were even horses; what's not to love - this story had it all! This was a great book and I look forward to reading more in the series!

[Lynndell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Skylar Robbins:The Mystery of Shadow Hills by Carrie Cross is an all new Nancy Drew-type detective story! Skylar loves investigating and her grandfather taught her true detective skills. The reader is transported into Skylar's memories and daydreams. She's stuck for eight weeks at her grouchy cousin's old Malibu mansion while her parents travel abroad. Skylar attends summer school while she's in Malibu, but she only has to go to an art class. The descriptions of the art assignments make me want to take the class too. Skylar makes friends and learns new things. I enjoyed the mysterious happenings because they were a bit spooky. I like the fact that the author's writing allows the reader to be spooked along with Skylar, even though she's a very practical person. Very fun middle school read, 5 stars!

[Amy Lou · Rating 3 out of 5]

REVIEWED FOR BIT'N BOOK PROMOTERS

Goodreads | Website

Skylar is a teen detective wannabe, proud of her detective case and equipment passed down from her real detective grandfather. She loves adventure and mystery and getting her hands dirty.

When her parents lob her off to her aunt, uncle, and obnoxious, bullying cousin, she's fuming. But soon, the mystery of the Shadow Hills that are visible from her aunt and uncle's house keep her entertained. She starts to suspect evil goings-on up in those hills.People speak of shadows moving around in the dark of night, a circle of fire where witches cast spells, or even evil spirits dance around. Nothing good, whatever it is.

Having to deal with a new school—though granted, it's only temporary—and her unhelpful cousin being the only student she knows there, it's only the tip of the iceberg of her teenage dilemmas.

Witchcraft, mystery, a possibly possessed cousin, a possibly haunted attic, demonic spirits, human sacrifices, suspicions, new friends, old friends and resentment to parents all boil together in this cauldron bubble.

I wanted to read this book because the cover grabbed me straight away. I love this cover. Its sassy, bright, cosy mystery edge had me wanting to know what it was about. I love humorous mystery novels. The cosy kind that keep you entertained with feisty heroines and heroes and edge-of-your-seat suspense. The Scooby Doo of fiction, only slightly more mature.

This was good. But I was a little let down. It wasn't entirely what I was hoping for. Why?

Well, the main character Skylar is a little clueless at first. She's sweet, friendly, a little introvert. She doesn't really stand up for herself or know when to tell people to shove it. She's an easy target and gets pushed around a lot by her cousin, Gwendolyn, and then her 'friend' Kat. I mean, how long did it take her to realise Kat was a manipulative wench? I get that the author intends for Skylar to be clueless and a little slow on the uptake, so that she grows into herself. At the end, she does show her strength and does grow up and I was giving her a mental high five. But, boy, did it take some doing.

The novel itself is definitely better suited for a younger audience, but that's not to say I didn't enjoy it. I really did. Even being twenty-four years old. I found it unique and funny. It reminded me of books I used to read in my early teens. So, you can see what I mean about it not being exactly what I'd hoped.

I found the mystery intriguing but it wasn't quite used to its advantage. I wanted more mystery. More spookiness. I mean, she suspects there's a ghost in her attack and I was like, 'Ooooo goodie', but then it kind of dwindles off into nothing special or scary. A large chunk of the novel is spent following Kat and Skylar as they prepare 'spells' and do some gardening in their secret garden. I started to get a bit antsy because after several pages at once talking about witchcraft and the process of doing a spell, I thought, honestly, I really don't need the details. I want to know what happens next. The author has clearly paid a lot of attention to detail and done her homework. But, I don't need to know everything she knows. She could have cut out a lot of that and it would still have felt as real and interesting. More so, in fact.

As for certain events like the haunted attic, I found that they were left hanging. The family that lives nearby, and works for Gwendolyn's family, seem to know so much and yet don't tell us much.
Kat fancies the son, Carlos, and makes a love potion—well, that's not obsessive creepy—and Skylar does nothing to stop him drinking it. There's not much that happens after it. Skylar doesn't approve with Kat's love potion idea, but doesn't do much else to prevent it. It doesn't work anyway, but the knowledge of it not working is kind of just acknowledged with a—oh, yeah, it didn't work. I felt certain elements of the novel could have been done better, and when you add elements that are pretty interesting and creepy, but don't do much with them, it feels like it was just put in there to keep the plot going; to add a bit of intrigue but then not fulfill it.

I don't know. It was missing something. But, I still want to read the next books. Because the writing was good, it kept me hooked. The style, the idea of the teenage detective, was fun and quirky. I want to see Skylar grow. I want to see what other adventures she has. It's a decent read and is worth it if you like light mystery and teenage humour.

This author seems like a lovely woman, and I wish her all the best in writing. I'd love to read more about Skylar and her adventures. My rating...

3/5 

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story for children

I enjoyed this book more than I expected to. The main character is a girl, 13 and quite intelligent. She has several adventures both good and not so much and she learns from them. This is harder than you think. The plot is easily followed. The premise is surviving the summer while her parents are in Europe and finding out what is really going on in the Shadow Hills. The answers are myriad and the she learns to use her considerable mind. I highly recommend this book for all ages.

[Lauri Rottmayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Can't wait for the next one.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing

Obviously, I'm in the minority here, but I had to make myself keep reading throughout most of the book. The writing style was fine, but I didn't really feel there was any mystery. None. I'm honestly still not sure what the mystery is supposed to be after finishing the book.

So, the book isn't the mystery it claims to be, so what is it? It's a book about bullying and witchcraft. Spoiler - she learns its all been a slight of hand (or has it? the author plants seeds of doubt), but "all things Wicca" are definitely the focus of the book - spells, what plants symbolize, how to protect against evil, how to make someone weak, sacrifices, pentagrams, Ouija boards - it's all here. Not saying that the author did or didn't get things right in any of this (how would I know?) but she certainly provides enough material to interest kids and get them dabbling in it, even if "for fun." Something I can definitely not support, and believe is dangerous.

Additionally, there were a few times when the drama was a little much for me - the he's cutes and the love potions and the maybe I'll attract his attention in my bikinis. These girls are 12, 13! Puh-leeze. And including the bit about "putting on my new bra" (more than once) and lamenting over how small it is and how flat chested you are most definitely did not need to be included. We're talking pre-adolescent/entering adolescent. What do you expect? Besides, even if the rest of the story was fine I wouldn't recommend the book to guys based on that alone. Why can't characters just throw on their clothes before running out the door like they used to?

The book does get 2 stars because at least it was readable. The tenses and voice were consistent, I didn't catch editing mistakes. And there is a story, even if it's not what is claimed. If the next book doesn't talk a lot about witchcraft, I *may* pick it up, but that's highly doubtful given the bad taste in my mouth from this read.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thirteen-year-old Skylar’s been collecting items for her detective kit, and plans to be just like her grandfather. What she didn’t plan on was staying at her annoying cousin’s mansion in Shadow Hills for eight weeks while her parents tour Europe. The Hills and the attic are off limits, and that’s just got to mean adventure, or even “escape from Malibu!” But by the end of this tale, Skylar won’t be the only person needing to get away.

Skylar has a nice convincing voice as the first-person narrator of this tween mystery. Teens in her summer art class include the hearing-impaired boy with a happy, outgoing attitude, the genius artist, the skateboarder, the wannabe Wiccan and more, and they make a fine group. But outside school, Sky is soon puzzling over a Ouija board with her new best friend. She practices the arts of magical distraction on the grass of a secret garden, but who can she trust, and will she find a way to be true to herself?

A pleasing blend of careful detective work, fanciful ritual, nature’s beauty, and tense excitement makes this a cool tween adventure as Skyler grows up, conquers her fears, solves a mystery, and learns wise lessons in friendship and how to live with bullies. Shadow Hills keep their mystery hidden right to the end, but this summer is one to remember, as is the book... and there’s even the chance to develop your own detective kit at the end. Don’t let those magic tricksters fool you!

Disclosure: I was given a free ecopy of this novel and I offer my honest (if somewhat belated) review.

[Casey Fredrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main reason on why I was excited to start Skylar Robbins was due to the fact that Carrie, the author, used to live in my hometown. But as I got deeper into the book, I was intrigued. I read it within a few days and didn't want to put it down. I was right there with Skylar- even if that meant I too got tricked!

[Sandra A · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually read the 2nd book (the Mystery of the Hidden Jewels) before I read this one, so it was interesting because I already knew some things about Skylar from the future. However, I also enjoyed this book very much! There were many things that Skylar had to deal with, including living at her aunt's house with a bullying cousin while her parents went to Europe for 2 weeks, being separated from her best friend, attending summer school at a different school, addressing her fear of horses, and learning about Wiccan culture. There was also plenty of spookiness, from weird noises in the attic, possible demonic cult rituals in the hills near her aunt's house, unauthorized midnight excursions on the beach, and Wiccan rituals. I found it all very fascinating! I am an adult (a lifelong Happy Hollister and Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys fan) and I know that I would have loved to read this series when I was young. I love reading these books now! The story is rich in details, and Skylar learns how to make new friends, deal with bullies, and overcome her fears. I really liked how Skylar made friends with people from diverse backgrounds, including those of a different ethnicity. She becomes friendly with a hearing impaired student, and begins learning American Sign Language so that she can communicate better with him. The storyline is complex enough that I think it will keep kids interested and intrigued until the end.

[Linda McCutcheon]

The Mystery of Shadow Hills by Carrie Cross is the absolute perfect book for kids and teens. It is the first in a series which is a good thing since once you follow would be private eye 13 year old Skylar Robbins around Malibu as she unlocks the mystery of Shadow Hills you will want to be her side kick forever.

Skylar has decided she is just like her grandfather and needs to be a private eye. She carries her detective kit everywhere (it has a finger print kit inside)! It's a good thing she takes it to her cousin's house when she has to live there for the summer while her parents are in Europe.
While dealing with her bullying cousin and missing her parents she uncovers a secret garden, a maybe witch, caves with magical seeds, and learns about friendship.

This book is the best of everything you loved about Nancy Drew, Harriet the Spy, and some Encyclopedia Brown. It is fun, adventurous, educational, and will be a great distraction to your kids during this stay at home time in our lives.

I received a free ebook copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Darlene Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun middle-grade book that combines detective work and sorcery. Skylar Robbins is dumped at her aunt and uncle's place while her parents tour Europe. While there, she attends summer school and makes new friends, including Kat who dapples in witchcraft, the good kind, or so she says. Skylar deals with a number of issues, missing her parents and her BFF from home, being bullied by her obnoxious cousin and manipulated by her new friend. She discovers a secret garden that may have belonged to her dead aunt, the one who possibly haunts the attic. The book has some interesting and diverse characters in it, a Spanish stable boy, a hearing-impaired student, and an artistic young boy. Skylar uses her detecting skills to solve some issues, learns to face her fears and stand up for herself as the summer comes to an exciting and catastrophic end.

[Kathryn Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Skylar Robbins is quite a plucky girl. She's 12 and is really into detective work. I enjoyed reading about how she solved her case and learned how to stand up for herself. It is geared to middle grades, but, based on the reviews, adults also seem to enjoy it. I know I did! There's spells and incantations and such in the book. Almost every chapter ends on a little cliffhanger that makes you HAVE to turn the page and see what happens next. Give this book a try. Best of all, there are three more books in the series already released.

[Rhonda Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great New Series

And not just for kids. I am 64 and I loved it. Reminds me of when I was a kid reading Nancy Drew. Only this book setting is modern times and deals with some modern issues, like bullying, like peer pressure, like troubled kids playing dangerous games. And like learning who your real friends are, and sticking up for them. Plus there was a dangerous scenario towards the end of the book that showed how brave Skylar really is. Wonderful read.

[Bill Tillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great mid-grade fantasy novel. Skylab is a junior detective, who stay at her aunt and uncle's house in Malibu for the summer. She has one great adventure after another, looking for magic seeds in a cave on th beach nearly drowning! Being caught in a forest fire, encountering witches both white & black. A fun read for anyone who likes M-G fiction.

[Connie Downing · Rating 5 out of 5]

A modern day Nancy Drew. A delightful read😊

[papasteve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sorry; call me what you want—I just couldn’t get past the “magic”/witchcraft stuff. I like the main character. I got the next two books and I’m hoping the storyline is totally different in them both.

Update: I decided to get over myself and finish the book. I thought, “How is this different from any other fantasy book I’ve read (and I’ve read a lot of them), where some kind of magic was involved.” So, on to the second half of the story.

Update #2: I’m glad I went ahead and finished this book, since Skylar finally came to the understanding that all those she met who were dabbling in witchcraft and arcane magics were really just lonely, powerless people who needed to get a life. Which is mostly what all of us are. We all turn to something in trying to “get a life”, and the choices we make is what is called “the human condition.”

[Lorna Crafton · Rating 5 out of 5]

With teenage detective Skylar Robbins, Carrie Cross has added a fresh and fun character for young readers to enjoy.
Strong-willed Skylar utilizes her wits, BFFS, sleuthing skills and grandpa's detective kit to solve the clues which reveal unfolding mysteries she encounters as a modern-day teenager starting her own detective agency. Carrie Cross has taken an extra step by creating a Skylar Robbins website where fans can become Secret Agents and participate in solving the clues, comment on Skylar's experiences and be a part of the next adventure.
The well-written books are a fun read and utilize the language and point of view of students - especially girls - to relate in dealing with the harrowing issues encountered at school, with family, and the importance of having good friends to help find ones place in the world.
Evocative writing describes vividly the shimmering waters of the Pacific Ocean in "The Mystery of Shadow Hills", which finds Skylar confronting summer school bullies and unexplained happenings in the hills of Malibu, and the scary deserted mansion and creepy, menacing workmen of "The Mystery of the Hidden Jewels", in which Skylar deals with an unwanted move and middle-school angst with the help of her friends.
Lucky for fans and Secret Agents, the third book of the series, "Skylar Robbins: The Mystery of the Missing Heiress" is projected to be released
by Christmas. Secret codes and clues are posted on Skylar's Secret Agent website for young detectives who want to join and get a jump on solving the mystery. Both preteen and older readers can ready for those cold winter nights and snow days away from school by snuggling up with a good mystery - or three!

[Karen Moody · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. I read the second book first, The Mystery of the Hidden Jewels which is the second book in the series. Pre-teens and middle schoolers can really relate to Skylar. She comes to life and you just seem like you know her right off without too much detail to make you lose interest. These books will definitely hold your interest. This book started out a little sad and I thought I wouldn’t like it so much but that ended pretty quickly as Skylar made the best of a not so great situation. Something everyone has to do at some time and every child can use the encouragement of reading about someone their age doing that. It also seemed to have some scary, dark parts that weren’t that comfortable to read. But I think it showed some situations that I think most kids will experience at some time in their life and reading about it can help them know how to deal with it when it happens to them and to realize they aren’t the only ones experiencing these things. This series deals with so many different situations that this age group has to deal with. My hope is that the author will consider making another series with a boy as the main character so boys have a series like this to help them through the trials of puberty. This was a very entertaining read and age appropriate. If you have a 10-13 year old girl in your life I suggest blessing them with these books. I received this book free for an honest review.

[Theresa Needham fehse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Free book for honest review. juliesbookreview.blogspot.com

Skylar Robbins wants nothing more in life than to be a Private Investigator like her late grandpa. Skylar learns she will be spending the summer in Malibu with her Aunt Caroline, Uncle Jim and bully cousin Gwendolyn. She will also be attending a new school for the summer. Armed with PI kit and diary she sets out to have the best summer she can while her parents are in Europe.

There are few rules that need to followed: she is never to enter the attic, her great Evelyn's things are stored there, she is also not to go into "shadow hills" that is located behind the house. Shadow Hills is a nickname for the Rocky Mountain Range behind Gwen's house.

Skylar soon discovers a secret garden and a good friend from school. Kat opens a new world for Skylar. A world unlike Skylar has ever known. The adventure Skylar and Kat go on for the summer will have Skylar facing fears she never knew she had. She will find courage along the way that will save her and Malibu.

This book is for the younger readers but I LOVED IT ! ! I hated to put it down! Its well written and keeps you on the edge of your seat :) Its full of magic and mystery ! I can see Skylar Robbins being a favorite with many little girls.

5 magic stars

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading Skylar Robbins: The Mystery of Shadow Hills to my children. by Carrie Cross http://www.amazon.com/Skylar-Robbins-...
I love that there was inspiration to do activities with the family. We took the time to make amulets - or necklaces from rocks we searched for. We are planning some fun art projects too.
I also love that the book took a turn into a positive lesson that I would want to teach my kids anyway. We were able to stop after reading the book and discuss what we learned about friendship and deciphering what a true friend is or is not. My children learned something about following fads as well. All wonderful lessons that I as a mother often wonder how I will be able to reach my children and teach in a way that they would "get". This way we were able to do it together as a family all while building our own communications skills.

This book is rated 5 stars by me and the kids :) Thank you Carrie! We are looking forward to reading your future adventures!!!

[Tabitha Ormiston-Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's not easy to write well for children, and Ms Cross has done a superlative job in this entertaining adventure story.

The book starts with a couple of familiar tropes (the creepy old house, the keen boy/girl detective) and in the opening pages I was expecting a standard 'Nancy Drew' kind of offering, albeit very well done. But The Mystery of Shadow Hills unfolds layer by surprising layer, revealing with each turn something that takes us completely off guard. Oh, there's witches. Oh, no wait, the witches are real and dangerous! Oh, but wait....

Skylar is a wonderfully down-to-earth heroine; there are no child prodigies here, no soaring intellects or paranormal abilities. Just an ordinary little girl with a consuming passion and the patience to learn to use her tools. As we follow her through some really hair-raising experiences, we watch her discover the difference between real and false friendship, and after a few false starts, find her way onto a solid path of common sense.

A wonderfully enjoyable read for ages 8 to 13, but able to be enjoyed by all ages.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very fun young adult mystery. It was reminiscent of the Nancy Drew novels I grew up reading. I loved how Ms. Cross addresses the issue of bullying in this novel. Skylar learns to face her fears and stand up for herself through some strange circumstances but in the end she is a much stronger young girl because of it.

There are a lot of aspects in this book that address issues other young readers could be facing such as going to a new school, meeting new and differently abled people, and being away from your parents for a summer. Skylar uses the skills she learned from her grandfather to solve a mystery involving the strange noises coming from the hills behind her Aunt Caroline’s Malibu home.

This was a fun and interesting book and is the beginning of the Skylar Robbins Detective Agency series. It looks like there is another young female detective joining the ranks of the infamous Nancy Drew.

[Malia Haberman · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was a kid, I loved Nancy Drew. Well after reading "Skylar Robbins: The Mystery of Shadow Hills," I think Skylar is the perfect girl detective to take Nancy's place in the 21st Century.

I found this book to be fun, exciting, suspenseful, and filled with adventure and great characters. I especially liked Skylar. Throughout the book, she shows a lot of character, courage and growth in some trying, scary and sticky situations. I know all Middle Grade and Tween girls will totally love Skylar's escapades.

Plus, it has a rockin' cover! :)

I'll definitely be looking forward to more Skylar Robbins mysteries.

*I was given this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Lola Standish · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion and unbiased review. I gave Skylar Robbins 4 stars and here is why:

Although this book was meant for a younger audience I found myself engrossed in the story, it was a great plot that held a sense of mystery and adventure. It was nothing like I expected it to be and it was great to be surprised. There is also a wide range of diversity in the characters which is amazing to see.

Skylar Robbins is going to be a great children series full of magic and wonder and if you’re looking for something new to buy your kids, then look no further because if I had any I definitely would!

Great Job Carrie Cross! You’ve created a new world for the young ones of today to immerse themselves into!

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

When 13 year-old Skylar is forced to stay in a big creepy house with her mean cousin Gwendolyn for 8 weeks while her parents are away, little does she know she's in for a summer filled with art classes, practicing magic with a new friend, learning how to conquer fears, and standing up for herself... This is quite an enjoyable book about a summer of finding oneself. Along the way, I enjoyed the many little daydream vignettes when Skylar imagines herself the center of various grown-up adventures.

Aside from a few instances of left single quote pretending to be an apostrophe, I found no typographical errors in the book, and the editing is good. I got this free during an Amazon giveaway period... and I'll probably read the next in the series.

[Paula Berinstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Part of the reason is that I love reading stories set in my home town, but I also loved what the author did with it. An expensive house in Malibu that looks tacky inside and smells bad? Witches in the Malibu hills? An exotic bullying teen whose parents are in show business? Awesome!

Skylar herself is a likable protagonist--a little lost in an unfamiliar environment, a bit bewildered at being left behind when her parents go off to Europe without her, a bit malleable. But she's also driven and curious, and that saves her. Losing herself in a puzzle, learning new things, turning disadvantage to advantage: she's a character I can really relate to.

More, please.

[Bree Wolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although Mystery is not really the genre I prefer reading, I found Skylar’s adventure a page-turner … once I’d passed the first 50 pages. The story starts out a bit slow but once it’s gained momentum, there is no stopping it. I especially loved how Skylar slowly got suspicious of Kat and in the end trusted her own judgment and came out the person she wanted to be, conquering her fears and making the summer worthwhile.
I’m curious what Skylar will be up to in her next adventure.

[Lora · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mystery of Shadow Hills is easy to read and is a very captivating story.
Hey young, middle school girl named Skyler, with her grandfathers detective kit is out for an adventure of a lifetime as she is dropped off at her aunts house while her parents take a tour through Europe.
With her newfound friend Kat there is no telling what the two of them might get into. With adventures around every turn you would not want to put this book down.

[Arun Acharya · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice book for children who love mysteries. It kept me engaged thinking about witchcraft and witches good and bad. I thought there will be a battle between good and bad forces but it did not happen. Instead, Skylar ended it pretty soon. I read the whole book in two sittings. Recommended for kids and teens and also for adults who want to go back to their childhood.