Disappearance at Hangman's Bluff

Felony Bay #2

by J.E. Thompson

Just in case your memory's as short as a South Carolina snowstorm, I'm Abbey Force, and my best friend, Bee, and I spent the last few months solving this crazy mystery involving robbery, betrayal, and a lost chest of Spanish gold. We also managed to clear my dad of the crimes everyone thought he committed (even though he still hadn't woken up from his coma). Not too shabby for a summer vacation. Now school's about to begin again, but that isn't even close to the most distressing thing happening around here. First, my dad woke up, which is great, but he somehow got it into his head that he needs to start taking cases again. Then me and Bee saw something simply our neighbor's dog, Yemassee, getting kidnapped by a couple of rough-looking fellas with guns. And as if that weren't enough, we just found out that someone Daddy sued years ago is back in town, making shady business deals again. I don't know what all of this means, not yet. But I do know that if you try to mess with my dad, my friends, or my friends' dogs, you've got trouble on your hands. Trouble that goes by the name of Force.

Genres: Mystery, Middle Grade, Adventure, Crime, Realistic Fiction, Childrens, Young Adult

341 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 2, 2014

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I liked the sequel Disappearance At Hangman's Bluff even more then the first book The Girl From Felony Bay! Kids are going to love this action packed, fast paced mystery set on an island off the coast of South Carolina. Abbey and Bee use antics similar to the movie Home Alone to help them escape from criminals and solve the mystery of a retired judge's missing dog and more. LOVED it and so will middle grade readers! Can't wait to get it into their hands!

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great addition to the Felony Bay series. Those girls can rock a mystery!

[Elissa Schaeffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abbey and Bee are back! I was thrilled when I saw this book was being published as The Girl from Felony Bay was one of my favorites from 2013.

School is about to start again for Abbey Force, but that doesn't mean things are calm or "normal" for her after the summer she had clearing her Daddy's name. She and her new best friend ("hister" they call themselves) Bee find themselves in the midst of another mystery. After going to Judge Gator's house to check on his expectant Boykins spaniel, Yemassee, they find she's escaped the house. They find her on her way back carrying something in her mouth and two men chasing her. So begins a mystery of a missing dog and LOTS of other mysteries tied up into one, including the recent string of robberies on Leadenwah island. Not to mention the return of Abbey's arch-nemesis Donna LaBelle.

As before, we have a mystery to unravel but some side stories going on as well. Like the slaves' graves that Bee's grandmother is researching and that Bee takes up an interest in. We have the rich description of Leadenwah island, making the setting a character of it's own. We have Abbey and her Daddy trying to get back to life as usual now that he's awakened from his coma. And we have Abbey and Bee making not-so-good choices for the sake of solving the mystery, which of course makes for an exciting read! The danger they get in isn't sugar-coated, it's very real for the girls and their loved ones.

I loved reading about Abbey and Bee's continued adventures and I hope there are more. Recommended, ages 10 and up.

[KJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eyewitnesses to a dognapping, 12 year-old best friends Abbey and Bee hop on their ponies to follow clues throughout a South Carolina island to rescue a pregnant Boykin spaniel. Abbey charges ahead and follows her gut while Bee relies on hard facts and clear thinking. Together, they make a perfect team as Force and Force Investigators. The girls share a last name, but the way they are related "could only happen in the South." Abbey's ancestors had once owned Reward Plantation where Bee's ancestors had been slaves.

Danger and suspense build as the local crime wave continues with armed robbery and murder while a tropical storm threatens to wash away historic slave graveyards. Feisty first person narration (Abbey), strong sense of place (The South), plus a classic contemporary page-turner of a mystery that includes friendship, puppies, and ponies. While it can be enjoyed as a stand-alone, it's so good that readers might want to start with the first book in this series, The Girl from Felony Bay, a 2015-16 YHBA middle grade nominee.

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last year one of my favorite novels was Girl From Felony Bay. I loved the mystery, humor, and friendship in this story. I never wanted to put it down and each cliffhanger left me wondering about the next chapter and the next adventure. The book was dramatic and realistic, detailed and had characters that you wanted to root for. This is a story that includes important parts of our history that sometimes we overlook. So when I heard there was a sequel to be released in 2014, I immediately took interested. Would it be from the same perspective? Would it live up to the previous book's standards? As soon as it came out, I read it. And I read it again. And then I reread it. Reading Disappearance at Hangman's Bluff provided a deeper sense of knowledge about what had been included in the first book. The characters continued on a journey of mystery and excitement.
I highly recommend for 4-6th graders and adults alike.

[Candice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't often give books 5/5 stars but this one is extremely worthy of it. Disappearance at Hangman's Bluff was an incredibly action packed story. Abby and Bee Force are back at it again. These girls, sisters by poor circumstances, and using their Force and Force investigations company they started, are very good at trusting their instincts. They trust each other and balance each other, sometimes causing one to talk the other into a little mischief. In this book, they are trying to solve a small mystery that morphs into a super-mystery where everything is connected. The sequel was by far better than the original book The Girl From Felony Bay. While I loved them both, this one was stronger and better written.

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feisty and whip-smart Abbey and Bee Force are back with another mystery to solve. This one starts with the kidnapping of Judge Gator's Boykin spaniel, Yamassee, and leads, once again, to Hangman's Bluff where the girls and others are held hostage at gunpoint. The subject of slavery is addressed and central to the story in an intelligent, thoughtful and thought-provoking way without being didactic.

[Yapha · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this sequel to The Girl from Felony Bay, Abbey and Bee have another mystery on their hands. When they witness someone stealing their neighbor's pregnant Boykin Spaniel, they feel they must find her before the impending tropical storm hits the island. One clue leads to another as they uncover a murder and links to a string of robberies. Includes interesting information about slave graveyards as well. Recommended for grades 5-8.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had just as much fun hanging out with Abbey and Bee in this book too! The kids loved it, and begged at each chapter end...for one more, pleeeeease!

There is a dead body found and talk about slave graves...so tender children may not appreciate that part.

It's quite an adventure! If there is another in the Felony Bay series, we'll be sure to pick it up!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really liked this mystery based in South Carolina. You learn a lot about the history and traditions of slaves and plantations in that area, as well as the legal issues surrounding land development. Great story about 2 girls (one white, one black) and how they learn about their families' past histories and how they come to terms with it.

[Mrs. Cubby Culbertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another awesome page-turner from J E Thompson! Not often the case, Book 2 is as good, if not better than book 1. Both are awesome! The language, the character development, the plot development...just wonderful! I might be a bit partial because of the setting in SC, but it is really really a great story that is well written!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that this book was an amazing book full of twist and turns. I felt like part of the story and the writer did a fantastic job of using words to the full advantage, helping the reader to really become abbey. I also think that the ending was perfect, it displayed how strong and driven the girls were. Abbey and bee truly stepped up to the plate when it was time.

[Lilie Kyger]

I really loved how the first book was not only a mystery but a fictional story set right in the area I currently live in. This book was even more enticing because the characters are investigating a new crime along with some feuds against other characters. Kept me on the edge of my seat.

[Amy Dales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good for a sequel. Not necessary to read first book to enjoy this one. :)

[kai ☆ [hiatus] · Rating 5 out of 5]

yes.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, adventure packed story that will have students cheering for Abbey and Bee at the end. This second story featuring the two friends on a SC island has them once again solving a mystery. Judge Gator’s dog is missing and Abbey feels compelled to find her. As she and Bee go looking, they run into trouble – the kind with men and guns. Throw in her nemesis, Donna LaBelle, a few robberies, and a hurricane, and the reader is swept into a face-paced adventure mystery.
A great story for students who like strong female characters and lots of adventure.
DRC courtesy of Edelweiss

[Mark Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

It always amazes me when kid characters disobey their parents and take on dangerous criminals. The relationship between Abbey and Bee is very unique, because Abbey's relatives used to own Bee's family as slaves. Bee's family bought Abbey's old home after her dad racks up medical bills recovering from a coma. The plot describes a nice mystery that should be easily followed by readers. The author includes just enough action and suspense to keep readers wanting to reach the climax.

[Em · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know how I feel about this book. I didn't like it when I was reading it. Maybe because I didn't read the first book before I read this one. I say I didn't like it yet when I was reading, I couldn't stop and pages and pages and so more pages are turned. I was interested in what was going to happen next. Well written book but I guess I didn't feel a connection to the characters and the plot wasn't really up my lane. But good book nonetheless.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It was a really good book. The beginning was very slow, but it picked up speed as you went through. I recommend this book to anyone who has read the first book, "The Girl From Felony Bay", or is looking for a good mystery.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great Abby and Bee Force mystery!

[Anne]

I wish she had referenced her first book before releasing this. The whole summer for Abby and Bee changed in the second book.

[Sue Kelso · Rating 4 out of 5]

2nd in a series...2 girls on a barrier island decide to investigate crimes....But, much deeper and reads older than Encyclopedia Brown. narrator reminds me of scout. Lots of southern history.

[Tracy Onze · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book just as much as I liked the first. Keep them coming, Mr. Thompson!

[Lilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this one as much as the first. Another great read that is a perfect addition to a middle grade library. You won't want to put the book down when you get to the last 90 pages or so.

[Jerry Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read. Parts are very suspenseful - a page turner.

[Terynce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good beginning, good ending -- middle dragged a bit. Nice read though.

[Terynce Teaches · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good beginning, good ending -- middle dragged a bit. Nice read though.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great mystery for younger readers.

[Christine Ditzel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this better than its predecessor, but as I read them back-to-back, it took me a while to realize it due to the major continuity error.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the first one better which ud usually the case