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What We Saw: A Thriller
A chilling murder mystery lies at the heart of this page-turning thriller about a missing teacher, small town secrets, and turbulent tween friendships from master of middle grade horror Mary Downing Hahn.
When best friends Abbi and Skylar witness a clandestine meeting between a mysterious woman and someone in a dark van, they're thrilled. Finally, a mystery to spice up the summer!
Who could these people be? Why are they meeting? Are they spies? Criminals? The two girls are determined to find out. But then a local woman goes missing and is found dead in the woods. And Abbi and Skylar realize that their detective work could hold the keys to solving her murder. Suddenly, sleuthing isn't so fun anymore.
As tensions rise and their friendship frays, the girls find themselves in increasing danger, and must choose between keeping a secret or exposing a life-altering truth.
When best friends Abbi and Skylar witness a clandestine meeting between a mysterious woman and someone in a dark van, they're thrilled. Finally, a mystery to spice up the summer!
Who could these people be? Why are they meeting? Are they spies? Criminals? The two girls are determined to find out. But then a local woman goes missing and is found dead in the woods. And Abbi and Skylar realize that their detective work could hold the keys to solving her murder. Suddenly, sleuthing isn't so fun anymore.
As tensions rise and their friendship frays, the girls find themselves in increasing danger, and must choose between keeping a secret or exposing a life-altering truth.
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First published September 6, 2022
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About the author
Mary Downing Hahn
64 books4,406 followersI grew up in a small shingled house down at the end of Guilford Road in College Park, Maryland. Our block was loaded with kids my age. We spent hours outdoors playing "Kick the Can" and "Mother, May I" as well as cowboy and outlaw games that usually ended in quarrels about who shot whom. In the summer, we went on day long expeditions into forbidden territory -- the woods on the other side of the train tracks, the creek that wound its way through College Park, and the experimental farm run by the University of Maryland.
In elementary school, I was known as the class artist. I loved to read and draw but I hated writing reports. Requirements such as outlines, perfect penmanship, and following directions killed my interest in putting words on paper. All those facts -- who cared what the principal products of Chile were? To me, writing reports was almost as boring as math.
Despite my dislike of writing, I loved to make up stories. Instead of telling them in words, I told them in pictures. My stories were usually about orphans who ran away and had the sort of exciting adventures I would have enjoyed if my mother hadn't always interfered.
When I was in junior high school, I developed an interest in more complex stories. I wanted to show how people felt, what they thought, what they said. For this, I needed words. Although I wasn't sure I was smart enough, I decided to write and illustrate children's books when I grew up. Consequently, at the age of thirteen, I began my first book. Small Town Life was about a girl named Susan, as tall and skinny and freckle faced as I was. Unlike her shy, self conscious creator, however, Susan was a leader who lived the life I wanted to live -- my ideal self, in other words. Although I never finished Small Town Life, it marked the start of a lifelong interest in writing.
In high school, I kept a diary. In college, I wrote poetry and short stories and dreamed of being published in The New Yorker. Unfortunately, I didn't have the courage or the confidence to send anything there.
By the time my first novel was published, I was 41 years old. That's how long it took me to get serious about writing. The Sara Summer took me a year to write, another year to find a publisher, and yet another year of revisions before Clarion accepted it.
Since Sara appeared in 1979, I've written an average of one book a year. If I have a plot firmly in mind when I begin, the writing goes fairly quickly. More typically, I start with a character or a situation and only a vague idea of what's going to happen. Therefore, I spend a lot of time revising and thinking things out. If I'd paid more attention to the craft of outlining back in elementary school, I might be a faster writer, but, on the other hand, if I knew everything that was going to happen in a story, I might be too bored to write it down. Writing is a journey of discovery. That's what makes it so exciting.
In elementary school, I was known as the class artist. I loved to read and draw but I hated writing reports. Requirements such as outlines, perfect penmanship, and following directions killed my interest in putting words on paper. All those facts -- who cared what the principal products of Chile were? To me, writing reports was almost as boring as math.
Despite my dislike of writing, I loved to make up stories. Instead of telling them in words, I told them in pictures. My stories were usually about orphans who ran away and had the sort of exciting adventures I would have enjoyed if my mother hadn't always interfered.
When I was in junior high school, I developed an interest in more complex stories. I wanted to show how people felt, what they thought, what they said. For this, I needed words. Although I wasn't sure I was smart enough, I decided to write and illustrate children's books when I grew up. Consequently, at the age of thirteen, I began my first book. Small Town Life was about a girl named Susan, as tall and skinny and freckle faced as I was. Unlike her shy, self conscious creator, however, Susan was a leader who lived the life I wanted to live -- my ideal self, in other words. Although I never finished Small Town Life, it marked the start of a lifelong interest in writing.
In high school, I kept a diary. In college, I wrote poetry and short stories and dreamed of being published in The New Yorker. Unfortunately, I didn't have the courage or the confidence to send anything there.
By the time my first novel was published, I was 41 years old. That's how long it took me to get serious about writing. The Sara Summer took me a year to write, another year to find a publisher, and yet another year of revisions before Clarion accepted it.
Since Sara appeared in 1979, I've written an average of one book a year. If I have a plot firmly in mind when I begin, the writing goes fairly quickly. More typically, I start with a character or a situation and only a vague idea of what's going to happen. Therefore, I spend a lot of time revising and thinking things out. If I'd paid more attention to the craft of outlining back in elementary school, I might be a faster writer, but, on the other hand, if I knew everything that was going to happen in a story, I might be too bored to write it down. Writing is a journey of discovery. That's what makes it so exciting.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews
May 3, 2025
What We Saw is wasted on children. I say that in the best possible way: Mary Downing Hahn — as she so often does — has written a middle-grade book that will thrill adults.
Inseparable since third grade, rising eighth-graders Abbi Dawson and Skyler Freeman disobey Abbi’s mom and bicycle over to the “bad part of town.” They discover a hidden, abandoned treehouse, and from that perch, the girls begin spying on a weekly clandestine meeting. As any parent could have predicted, things are bound to go awry, and readers will be delighted to go along for the suspenseful ride. As in real life, the ending isn’t strictly tidy, but readers of all ages will stay up too late reading Hahn’s latest.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, Clarion Books and HarperCollins Children’s Books in exchange for an honest review.
Inseparable since third grade, rising eighth-graders Abbi Dawson and Skyler Freeman disobey Abbi’s mom and bicycle over to the “bad part of town.” They discover a hidden, abandoned treehouse, and from that perch, the girls begin spying on a weekly clandestine meeting. As any parent could have predicted, things are bound to go awry, and readers will be delighted to go along for the suspenseful ride. As in real life, the ending isn’t strictly tidy, but readers of all ages will stay up too late reading Hahn’s latest.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, Clarion Books and HarperCollins Children’s Books in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2022
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins Children's Books for the ARC.
In What We Saw, two 12 year old girls are looking for some adventure over summer break when they find a treehouse in the "bad" area of their town. They spend their time reading books from their summer reading list, avoiding bullies, and spying on a mysterious woman who comes every week like clockwork to meet up with a man. Skylar, the product of divorced parents, is convinced the couple are having an affair. Abbi, the more naive of the two, is pretty sure they're Russian spies.
When the woman goes missing, and is then found dead a few days later in the woods, Abbi and Skylar are the last people to see her alive. When they discover her true identity, it creates discord in their friendship and leads to them having to make some hard decisions that could put them at risk. Will they keep the secret, or tell everyone what they know about the dead woman?
I love Mary Downing Hahn's ghost stories, like Took and Deep and Dark and Dangerous. This was well written, and the story kept me engaged, but there were parts that gave me the ick (see spoiler below).
I don't think this is a bad book. I also don't think this is a book that's really written for 8-12 year olds. Would some like it? Yes, definitely. But a lot of them wouldn't get the references to Nancy Drew, John Steinbeck's The Red Pony, or even the parts where the kids hang out at the mall. At least where I live, mall's are pretty much extinct, unlike when I was a teenager and they were the place to hang out. Also, what 12 year old willingly hands over their phone for an entire night and what mother of a 12 year old doesn't notice?
It made the book feel like it was set in the past even though it wasn't. That, added to the things I felt weren't handled well in the book, means that I probably won't be buying this book for my library. It looks like I may be in the minority, which is fine. Mary Downing Hahn is usually a hit in my book, and one miss won't stop me devouring all her other stories.
In What We Saw, two 12 year old girls are looking for some adventure over summer break when they find a treehouse in the "bad" area of their town. They spend their time reading books from their summer reading list, avoiding bullies, and spying on a mysterious woman who comes every week like clockwork to meet up with a man. Skylar, the product of divorced parents, is convinced the couple are having an affair. Abbi, the more naive of the two, is pretty sure they're Russian spies.
When the woman goes missing, and is then found dead a few days later in the woods, Abbi and Skylar are the last people to see her alive. When they discover her true identity, it creates discord in their friendship and leads to them having to make some hard decisions that could put them at risk. Will they keep the secret, or tell everyone what they know about the dead woman?
I love Mary Downing Hahn's ghost stories, like Took and Deep and Dark and Dangerous. This was well written, and the story kept me engaged, but there were parts that gave me the ick (see spoiler below).
I don't think this is a bad book. I also don't think this is a book that's really written for 8-12 year olds. Would some like it? Yes, definitely. But a lot of them wouldn't get the references to Nancy Drew, John Steinbeck's The Red Pony, or even the parts where the kids hang out at the mall. At least where I live, mall's are pretty much extinct, unlike when I was a teenager and they were the place to hang out. Also, what 12 year old willingly hands over their phone for an entire night and what mother of a 12 year old doesn't notice?
It made the book feel like it was set in the past even though it wasn't. That, added to the things I felt weren't handled well in the book, means that I probably won't be buying this book for my library. It looks like I may be in the minority, which is fine. Mary Downing Hahn is usually a hit in my book, and one miss won't stop me devouring all her other stories.
August 19, 2022
RTC for blog
Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books for sending me a copy for review.
Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books for sending me a copy for review.
December 8, 2022
3.5 - The thriller aspects of this book were darker and more intense than I was expecting in a Middle Grade book. However, I wouldn’t recommend this to people only interested in the thriller plot. It almost takes 100 pages before that’s fully part of the story. I think this book’s true strength is the story about the friendship between Abbi and Skylar and how it grows and changes over the course of the story.
June 27, 2023
For a book labeled "juvenile fiction," there is WAY too much talk about sexy lingerie and lacy underwear. The story was decent, but those details did not need to be included.
November 17, 2022
gotta give big props to this book because it left me with a LOT to think about
June 6, 2022
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
***
I didn't know much about this one going in. The cover caught my attention and the blurb furthered that interest.
I cracked it open and was about 1/4 of the way through the book without realizing how far I'd gotten. It's a quick read, but I was also pretty absorbed in the plot.
It's summer. Abbi and Skylar are looking for adventure. They find it and so much more, right on the edge of town, from a seemingly abandoned treehouse. I, very much, identified with Abbi. I saw in her qualities I once had (and some that I still do). Both girls, though, are interesting characters. This is a coming of age story wrapped up in a murder mystery, an excellent read.
***
I didn't know much about this one going in. The cover caught my attention and the blurb furthered that interest.
I cracked it open and was about 1/4 of the way through the book without realizing how far I'd gotten. It's a quick read, but I was also pretty absorbed in the plot.
It's summer. Abbi and Skylar are looking for adventure. They find it and so much more, right on the edge of town, from a seemingly abandoned treehouse. I, very much, identified with Abbi. I saw in her qualities I once had (and some that I still do). Both girls, though, are interesting characters. This is a coming of age story wrapped up in a murder mystery, an excellent read.
February 14, 2023
Read this on a long car ride, loved it. Great edge of your seat kind of book. Great ending, and plot twist. Short “read it in one sitting” book. Definitely worth reading!
Read
January 27, 2026This woman made me fall in love with reading when I was young, I will read anything she writes. Had a great time reading this
March 7, 2023
Ugh. This was not good. At. All.
Abbi and Skylar spend the summer riding around on their bikes and go to the “bad side of town” where they find a treehouse and spy on an adult couple acting shady. Then the art teacher from their school goes missing and is found dead in the woods.
I can’t tell what age this is supposed to be written for — the girls are twelve, and it’s by MDH, so late elementary seems right, but then there’s a ton of drugs and references to the girls taking pictures of each other in lingerie(?) and affairs so it seems a little too old for a lot of elementary kids, but the girls are too immature and the plot is way too boring for middle schoolers.
Overall this book felt like it was written in the 80s but had some cell phones and iPads added to make it seem current. I can’t say anything about one of the main reasons why I hated this book so much without spoilers, so those are below if you scroll way down.
(( SPOILERS BELOW ))
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((SPOILERS))
WTF is with the Mr. Boyce (their teacher) situation? This is what made the book feel fully 80s to me — like a male teacher calling two twelve year old girls beautiful, repeatedly, doesn’t raise a red flag for anyone? And the girls saying something along the lines of “his wife doesn’t want him hanging around with us” isn’t problematic?
AND HE LET THEM IN HIS HOUSE?
And Abbi gave him her phone? Overnight? With lingerie pictures on it? And that never came up? (Other than him being a gaslighting jerk and deleting all of the pictures on her phone?)
The teacher situation was gross and entirely mishandled. Sure, he loses his job, but it’s for having an affair with a consenting adult, not for being a lecherous creep with his students.
And the murderer is conveniently not the teacher but a rando tweaker/drug dealer guy? Sure.
This book was SO BORING and the characters were one-dimensional, and I absolutely hate how the girls’ instincts that something was up with their teacher were dismissed and disregarded just because he didn’t kill someone - he was still a giant fucking creep.
MDH should stick to the ghosts.
Abbi and Skylar spend the summer riding around on their bikes and go to the “bad side of town” where they find a treehouse and spy on an adult couple acting shady. Then the art teacher from their school goes missing and is found dead in the woods.
I can’t tell what age this is supposed to be written for — the girls are twelve, and it’s by MDH, so late elementary seems right, but then there’s a ton of drugs and references to the girls taking pictures of each other in lingerie(?) and affairs so it seems a little too old for a lot of elementary kids, but the girls are too immature and the plot is way too boring for middle schoolers.
Overall this book felt like it was written in the 80s but had some cell phones and iPads added to make it seem current. I can’t say anything about one of the main reasons why I hated this book so much without spoilers, so those are below if you scroll way down.
(( SPOILERS BELOW ))
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((SPOILERS))
WTF is with the Mr. Boyce (their teacher) situation? This is what made the book feel fully 80s to me — like a male teacher calling two twelve year old girls beautiful, repeatedly, doesn’t raise a red flag for anyone? And the girls saying something along the lines of “his wife doesn’t want him hanging around with us” isn’t problematic?
AND HE LET THEM IN HIS HOUSE?
And Abbi gave him her phone? Overnight? With lingerie pictures on it? And that never came up? (Other than him being a gaslighting jerk and deleting all of the pictures on her phone?)
The teacher situation was gross and entirely mishandled. Sure, he loses his job, but it’s for having an affair with a consenting adult, not for being a lecherous creep with his students.
And the murderer is conveniently not the teacher but a rando tweaker/drug dealer guy? Sure.
This book was SO BORING and the characters were one-dimensional, and I absolutely hate how the girls’ instincts that something was up with their teacher were dismissed and disregarded just because he didn’t kill someone - he was still a giant fucking creep.
MDH should stick to the ghosts.
June 2, 2025
This book is filled with thrill and suspense. Out of most books I read this was the most exciting. I absolutely love it! 5 stars!
August 31, 2022
Can Mary Downing Hahn NOT write a good book?
I have been addicted lately to this 'Newly discovered to me' YA horror author, and it is no wonder why. Hahn usually writes about ghosts or something being haunted....however 'What We Saw' is exactly what the title says.....a thriller mystery, yes, there is not a single ghost anywhere in this book. And it was still a great read.
8th grade and best friends since 3rd; Abbi Dawson and Skyler Freeman are the main characters this time around. Yes, they are a bit older and this is for the older reader this time, being that there is drug use, drug selling and alcoholic and cheating parents; something usually NOT in a Hahn book.
One day during the summer, the girls go against their mothers, and go to the 'other and bad side of town' on their bikes. Upon finding an old tree house, they decide to climb it to read their Summer Reading lists books; when they see two cars with mysterious people that they cannot see in both of these cars. Who are they, what are they doing here on Marie Road in such a strange place? Soon the girls are obsessed with this. They return weekly and they start to take pics on their cell phones, and they capture some very weird goings on. A few days later one of their school teachers comes up missing. Are they part of this strange couple of people? Hmmmm. The girls get so involved with this that their lives take a turn for the scariest end of summer vacation ever! And it is one that will change their lives forever! Highly recommended, however I did not LOVE this as much as her others, and this one did not make me get teary eyed with the wonder of Childhood. Still a good mystery and very well written. This book comes out Sept. 22nd, 2022. It is Hahn's latest book.
4 🔪🔪🔪🔪
I have been addicted lately to this 'Newly discovered to me' YA horror author, and it is no wonder why. Hahn usually writes about ghosts or something being haunted....however 'What We Saw' is exactly what the title says.....a thriller mystery, yes, there is not a single ghost anywhere in this book. And it was still a great read.
8th grade and best friends since 3rd; Abbi Dawson and Skyler Freeman are the main characters this time around. Yes, they are a bit older and this is for the older reader this time, being that there is drug use, drug selling and alcoholic and cheating parents; something usually NOT in a Hahn book.
One day during the summer, the girls go against their mothers, and go to the 'other and bad side of town' on their bikes. Upon finding an old tree house, they decide to climb it to read their Summer Reading lists books; when they see two cars with mysterious people that they cannot see in both of these cars. Who are they, what are they doing here on Marie Road in such a strange place? Soon the girls are obsessed with this. They return weekly and they start to take pics on their cell phones, and they capture some very weird goings on. A few days later one of their school teachers comes up missing. Are they part of this strange couple of people? Hmmmm. The girls get so involved with this that their lives take a turn for the scariest end of summer vacation ever! And it is one that will change their lives forever! Highly recommended, however I did not LOVE this as much as her others, and this one did not make me get teary eyed with the wonder of Childhood. Still a good mystery and very well written. This book comes out Sept. 22nd, 2022. It is Hahn's latest book.
4 🔪🔪🔪🔪
September 23, 2025
What a very different Hahn book! Not the gentle, sad yearning of Where I Belong or the terror of Deep and Dark and Dangerous or Wait Till Helen Comes. And this murder mystery is not even like Closed for the Season, either. What We Saw is mostly a summer of change for Abbi and Skylar as the two almost 8th grade girls seek out a place to hang out and end up discovering secrets that kill. Abbi and Skylar have been inseparable since the 3rd grade, but as secrets about family, friends, and not-friends are revealed, their differences begin to take a toll on that friendship. Readers will anxiously keep turning pages to discover not only the killer, but if their friendship will survive. Infidelity is critical not only to the book’s murder but to some of Skylar’s turbulent emotions but there is no overt sexual content. Sale and use of marijuana occurs but is presented in a very negative light. Race is not indicated for any character but there is great diversity in economic status and both girls live with their single moms. Fans of Hahn’s scary books may be disappointed that this one doesn’t have ghosts, curses or a girl-stealing old woman but if they give it a chance, this one has plenty to catch their attention.
Target audience is much older than most of Hahn’s works. With references to drugs and extra-marital affairs, What We Saw should likely not be placed no lower than 6th grade.
Thanks for the digital arc, Edelweiss Above the Treeline.
Target audience is much older than most of Hahn’s works. With references to drugs and extra-marital affairs, What We Saw should likely not be placed no lower than 6th grade.
Thanks for the digital arc, Edelweiss Above the Treeline.
October 5, 2023
This is labeled as a children’s book for grades 3-5, but it is not appropriate at all for that age group. Mild profanity, married teachers having affairs, one of those teachers is murdered by a drug dealer, tween girls taking pics of each other in “sexy lingerie”, same girls shopping at Victoria’s Secret for thongs, and more. Love many of this author’s other books, but this one is a no go.
October 5, 2022
3.5 Not on par with other Mary Downing Hahn books.
July 13, 2024
3.5 stars
✨I picked up this book after seeing a friend recommend it. I love some good summer mystery nostalgia, and when I saw that this was written by the author of WAIT TILL HELEN COMES, I knew I had to grab my own copy.
✨ This definitely gave me all the summer mystery vibes I was looking for, and I loved curling up with it during a summer thunderstorm .
✨I do feel there are some things I should say for anyone considering this book for a middle grade reader. First, let me acknowledge that I am a 54-year-old woman and not the tween age group this book is intended for. I get that. With that said:
➡️There are some elements that gave me pause including a male teacher indulging the flirtations of young girls, having them in his home and encouraging them to keep secrets from their mothers. Without spoiling anything, I can only say that some inappropriate things happened here that were not sufficiently addressed as completely unethical, problematic and wrong on the part of the teacher. Instead, the book rested the blame on the heads of the young girls which did not sit well with me.
➡️I felt like this book was completely out of touch with young people of today. This read like a book set 30-40 years ago with children secretly riding bikes to remote, faraway places, hanging out in the mall, mothers never having any clue where their children are, whom they are with or what they were doing. However, it’s meant to be modern day setting.
✨With that said, I did enjoy the book (despite the ick factors I described above), and it checked all the boxes for my adult summer nostalgia reading.
✨I picked up this book after seeing a friend recommend it. I love some good summer mystery nostalgia, and when I saw that this was written by the author of WAIT TILL HELEN COMES, I knew I had to grab my own copy.
✨ This definitely gave me all the summer mystery vibes I was looking for, and I loved curling up with it during a summer thunderstorm .
✨I do feel there are some things I should say for anyone considering this book for a middle grade reader. First, let me acknowledge that I am a 54-year-old woman and not the tween age group this book is intended for. I get that. With that said:
➡️There are some elements that gave me pause including a male teacher indulging the flirtations of young girls, having them in his home and encouraging them to keep secrets from their mothers. Without spoiling anything, I can only say that some inappropriate things happened here that were not sufficiently addressed as completely unethical, problematic and wrong on the part of the teacher. Instead, the book rested the blame on the heads of the young girls which did not sit well with me.
➡️I felt like this book was completely out of touch with young people of today. This read like a book set 30-40 years ago with children secretly riding bikes to remote, faraway places, hanging out in the mall, mothers never having any clue where their children are, whom they are with or what they were doing. However, it’s meant to be modern day setting.
✨With that said, I did enjoy the book (despite the ick factors I described above), and it checked all the boxes for my adult summer nostalgia reading.
August 25, 2022
Unlike Mary Downing Hahn's best known works, What We Saw isn't a ghost story. It reads a bit like a middle grade version of her YA novel Mister Death's Blue-Eyed Girls, following two girls as they get wrapped up in a local murder. Abbi and Skylar are in the wrong place in the wrong part of town when they spot two cars pulling up and engaging in something suspicious. Raised on a steady diet of Law & Order and The Americans, the girls immediately think something shady is going on and begin to document it with Abbi's cellphone. But when one of the people ends up murdered, Abbi realizes that they're in way over their heads as things begin to escalate.
While what Abbi and Skylar do is stupid by any objective measure, it's also exactly what a couple of over-excited twelve-year-olds would do in their situation, and the fact that they're thinking Olivia Benson while the adults are all calling them Nancy Drew is pitch-perfect generational warfare. The mystery also had me fooled for a bit, so this is top-notch writing, and the way Hahn blends it with Skylar and Abbi slowly growing apart is very well done. It's also worth noting that Abbi's mother's boyfriend is a beloved figure, not an interloper, which is unusual and positive. All in all this is a solid, worthwhile middle grade read from a master of the genre.
While what Abbi and Skylar do is stupid by any objective measure, it's also exactly what a couple of over-excited twelve-year-olds would do in their situation, and the fact that they're thinking Olivia Benson while the adults are all calling them Nancy Drew is pitch-perfect generational warfare. The mystery also had me fooled for a bit, so this is top-notch writing, and the way Hahn blends it with Skylar and Abbi slowly growing apart is very well done. It's also worth noting that Abbi's mother's boyfriend is a beloved figure, not an interloper, which is unusual and positive. All in all this is a solid, worthwhile middle grade read from a master of the genre.
December 22, 2022
2.5 Stars?
I don't really much to say about this one. It was surprisingly short and not at all what I was expecting. First of all, with a cover like that, I never thought that this would be more of a middle grade book (considering how old the characters are).
I think this book could have used more fleshing out of the story--I think it could have been more compelling if we got to learn more about certain characters and had more time to grow attached to the characters that betrayed the MC and her best friend. I think some aspects were a little random and some of the choices made were really dumb (even though I know I always have to remind myself that these are children.)
I did like the ending and how realistic it was for it to end the way it did. These characters are so young and are just learning who they are and who they might become. Of the whole book, I think that was the most realistic approach to these characters.
If you want a quick thriller and if you're looking for a thriller for the younger readers in your life (no younger than 12 because some of the topics explored), then I think this one might catch their attention.
Happy reading!
I don't really much to say about this one. It was surprisingly short and not at all what I was expecting. First of all, with a cover like that, I never thought that this would be more of a middle grade book (considering how old the characters are).
I think this book could have used more fleshing out of the story--I think it could have been more compelling if we got to learn more about certain characters and had more time to grow attached to the characters that betrayed the MC and her best friend. I think some aspects were a little random and some of the choices made were really dumb (even though I know I always have to remind myself that these are children.)
I did like the ending and how realistic it was for it to end the way it did. These characters are so young and are just learning who they are and who they might become. Of the whole book, I think that was the most realistic approach to these characters.
If you want a quick thriller and if you're looking for a thriller for the younger readers in your life (no younger than 12 because some of the topics explored), then I think this one might catch their attention.
Happy reading!
May 31, 2024
A bit over 3 stars, but I’m not rounding up. It reminded me a bit of “What I Saw and How I Lied.” This book was ok. It was from the perspective of a 12-13 year old girl who (along with her best friend) witnesses some things they should not have and they get embroiled in a mystery and then something deeper. Sometimes the 13-year-old-ness POV got on my nerves. That’s not my season anymore, I guess.
June 22, 2023
I have read multiple of Mary Downing Hahn's books and this one is definitely one of my favorites💛
It's a short book with lots of twists and surprises. there was never a point where it wasn't interesting.
I look forward to reading more of her books🤩 old and new
It's a short book with lots of twists and surprises. there was never a point where it wasn't interesting.
I look forward to reading more of her books🤩 old and new
June 26, 2023
Oh my goodness she wrote a murder mystery instead of a ghost story! It is fabulous. I know the kids are going to love this one just as much as her scary stories. And it introduces them to a new genre!
July 4, 2025
From a parent perspective, this was amazing to read with my kids. There are a lot of teachable moments for the modern middle schooler. Just be prepared to have discussions about drug use, catcallers, and generally inappropriate adults.
May 10, 2023
I absolutely loved this book. It had so many turns and it always kept me thinking. (It even got my friend so interested she almost took the book) I will definitely read more books by this author!
June 21, 2023
A classic feeling of best friends and a wild murder mystery adventure. While modern (the kids have cell phones) it feels as if it could be set anytime. Some concepts might not be for sensitive readers (triggers: affairs, drug use, a murder, and the death of an animal) it is good for 10 and up.
December 28, 2023
Good quick read. Mystery and murder
October 16, 2025
I found this book super engaging. I just had a difficult time with the kid’s relationships with their teachers.
December 12, 2024
This book is my first triller murder mystery. It was very interesting to see the girl’s relationships and the plot twists are incredible this is by far the best book i have read! 5 Stars!!
December 31, 2022
I really love Mary Downing Hahn's ghost stories. This one just wasn't for me.
October 27, 2024
This book is one of my favorite Mary Downing Hahn books I've read so far!
It's about two girls (almost 13) who take a long ride on their bikes on one scorching hot summer day. They eventually go a bit too far and find a rather old tree house. So, they go up in it to take a break I the shade. They then find two rather suspicious cars with people in them that seem as if they're up to something. A few weeks later, they find out that one of the people in one of those cars had been murdered in the same exact woods that they were previously in a few weeks ago (what a page turner)! Anyway, the girls have a thrilling and mysterious adventure trying to discover who murdered her; all while keeping it a secret from everyone else they know!
Overall, this book is great, and I could not put it down!
It's about two girls (almost 13) who take a long ride on their bikes on one scorching hot summer day. They eventually go a bit too far and find a rather old tree house. So, they go up in it to take a break I the shade. They then find two rather suspicious cars with people in them that seem as if they're up to something. A few weeks later, they find out that one of the people in one of those cars had been murdered in the same exact woods that they were previously in a few weeks ago (what a page turner)! Anyway, the girls have a thrilling and mysterious adventure trying to discover who murdered her; all while keeping it a secret from everyone else they know!
Overall, this book is great, and I could not put it down!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2023
2.5 stars - wouldn’t really recommend.
This book was not what I was expecting from Hahn who has written some of my favorite spooky MG books. I absolutely love the cover with the sunset and the tree silhouette. The two bikes at the base of the tree could either be ominous or summer fun. It took until 40% of the way through (very end of chapter 6) the book for there to finally be some action regarding the premise of "murder mystery."
It was pretty predictable that the gorgeous teacher they have a crush on was connected to the gorgeous teacher who got murdered.
Creepy when the teacher calls the girls brilliant and beautiful. She keeps thinking about the sexy photos her and Skylar (12 yr old) took in her moms lingerie that are in her phone that is now with the teacher.
One positive is that I felt the girls relationship seemed pretty accurately portrayed and felt very authentic. Kind of a push and pull of best friends getting along and being angry or annoyed with each other.
Notes: Even though the characters are age 12 I wouldn’t recommend for elementary due to topics covered like drugs. I’d say 6th+. I feel like a total prude on my feelings about this book. Ha! Things that stood out to me.... Kids smoking (not main characters), Skylar finds pot in his older brothers drawer, people make suggestive comments about the girls bodies and inuendo but not details. Abbi (12 year old narrator) talks about her friends older brother (5 years older - Sr in high school) and the teacher like she has a crush on them. Lots of Talk about affairs and cheating. The girls dressing in moms sexy clothes and taking pictures. Bras and thongs. Character making/selling meth. “You don’t hang around with your mother at the mall unless you are under 11 or a loser.” Yeah. A big no thanks on this book. Do we want to encourage kids to disconnect more with parents during the middle grade years? Not wise.
Audio: good narrator (not sure who it is because it wasn't listed on Libby)- listening on 2x speed
This book was not what I was expecting from Hahn who has written some of my favorite spooky MG books. I absolutely love the cover with the sunset and the tree silhouette. The two bikes at the base of the tree could either be ominous or summer fun. It took until 40% of the way through (very end of chapter 6) the book for there to finally be some action regarding the premise of "murder mystery."
It was pretty predictable that the gorgeous teacher they have a crush on was connected to the gorgeous teacher who got murdered.
Creepy when the teacher calls the girls brilliant and beautiful. She keeps thinking about the sexy photos her and Skylar (12 yr old) took in her moms lingerie that are in her phone that is now with the teacher.
One positive is that I felt the girls relationship seemed pretty accurately portrayed and felt very authentic. Kind of a push and pull of best friends getting along and being angry or annoyed with each other.
Notes: Even though the characters are age 12 I wouldn’t recommend for elementary due to topics covered like drugs. I’d say 6th+. I feel like a total prude on my feelings about this book. Ha! Things that stood out to me.... Kids smoking (not main characters), Skylar finds pot in his older brothers drawer, people make suggestive comments about the girls bodies and inuendo but not details. Abbi (12 year old narrator) talks about her friends older brother (5 years older - Sr in high school) and the teacher like she has a crush on them. Lots of Talk about affairs and cheating. The girls dressing in moms sexy clothes and taking pictures. Bras and thongs. Character making/selling meth. “You don’t hang around with your mother at the mall unless you are under 11 or a loser.” Yeah. A big no thanks on this book. Do we want to encourage kids to disconnect more with parents during the middle grade years? Not wise.
Audio: good narrator (not sure who it is because it wasn't listed on Libby)- listening on 2x speed
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