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Investigating Julius Drake
He'll have to stop pretending if he wants to save the day and get the boy. A launch title for Triton Books - a young adult imprint from Riptide Publishing After arriving at Seattle’s prestigious Clinton Academy, fourteen-year-old Henry Walker realizes he won’t fit in. If he’s going to run with the rich and powerful, he’ll have to hide his modest background, his lack of interest in girls, and most importantly, his fascination with his handsome but troubled classmate Julius Drake. When Julius draws Henry into the investigation of a classmate’s suicide attempt, Henry can’t resist the case—or Julius. Soon, Henry’s not only facing the truth about his feelings for Julius, but also risking his life to unmask a social media imposter. “The Other Woman” is manipulating his classmates, searching out their vulnerabilities, and driving them to desperate actions. Julius himself is at risk, what with his callous parents threatening to send him away, and his mental health taking a beating both at school and at home. If Henry’s going to save the day and get the boy of his dreams, he’ll have to stop worrying what everyone thinks and stop pretending to be someone he’s not. Most of all, Henry will have to be honest about who he loves. * * * * * * * Word 63,300; page 258
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 3, 2016
1 person is currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
Daisy Harris
43 books346 followersRetired party girl and science fiction enthusiast, Daisy Harris spends most of her time writing sexy romance and plotting the fall of Western civilization. Her books can be found on Amazon, Nook, and wherever else fine erotic romance is sold.
Ms. Harris lives in Seattle, where she tortures her husband by making it rain. She enjoys watching bridges cause traffic, watching football games cause traffic, and blithely wearing wool socks with sandals.
She has never taken a single picture in which her bra strap is not showing.
Want to find out about new releases, general news, and my latest inappropriate boy band crush? Sign up for my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/b96xX
Ms. Harris lives in Seattle, where she tortures her husband by making it rain. She enjoys watching bridges cause traffic, watching football games cause traffic, and blithely wearing wool socks with sandals.
She has never taken a single picture in which her bra strap is not showing.
Want to find out about new releases, general news, and my latest inappropriate boy band crush? Sign up for my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/b96xX
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
July 14, 2016
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Riptide Publishing and NetGalley.)
This was a YA contemporary mystery story.
Henry was an okay character, and he seemed to care about his mother and her feelings. It was a bit unfair that he got blamed for something he hadn’t done though.
The storyline in this was about someone online pretending to be someone else, and manipulating people, in one case leading a class-mate to attempt suicide. The pace in this wasn’t great though, and the book really didn’t do it for me, and I lost interest quite early on. Think this might have been a case of wrong-person, wrong-book.
The ending to this was okay, but I had really lost interest by that point.
5 out of 10
“I was up late working on the case. The Other Woman is really fascinating.”
This was a YA contemporary mystery story.
Henry was an okay character, and he seemed to care about his mother and her feelings. It was a bit unfair that he got blamed for something he hadn’t done though.
The storyline in this was about someone online pretending to be someone else, and manipulating people, in one case leading a class-mate to attempt suicide. The pace in this wasn’t great though, and the book really didn’t do it for me, and I lost interest quite early on. Think this might have been a case of wrong-person, wrong-book.
The ending to this was okay, but I had really lost interest by that point.
5 out of 10
July 11, 2016
14 year old Henry is the new kid in school, the first person he meets is Julius he's a little odd but Henry is intrigued anyway. After an altercation with some bullies in the cafeteria, Henry and Julius are called into the principal's office and questioned about one of the other kids involved. Thus begins their investigation to find out what's been happening with the older kids in school because it's obvious something is going on and Julius is determined that he won't be blamed.
The investigation is a sweet little mystery and highlights the dangers of the internet but this story is really about Henry, confirming and admitting his sexuality, and the pains and insecurities of first love. I don't know if the author is planing more books about Henry and Julius but I think they deserve more.
*Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
The investigation is a sweet little mystery and highlights the dangers of the internet but this story is really about Henry, confirming and admitting his sexuality, and the pains and insecurities of first love. I don't know if the author is planing more books about Henry and Julius but I think they deserve more.
*Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
October 20, 2016
Wow finally a story I was practically glued to, from the start till the end. In general Investigating Julius Drake is a, really, well written light romance, with good storyline and great characters. At the end I wished we had a sequel to this book, because really Daisy Harris this is an awesome work!!
HIGHLY recommended book!
HIGHLY recommended book!
October 3, 2016
Investigating Julius Drake is quite the book. Where do I begin… This is a YA mystery novel and the best of it’s kind. Seriously, Daisy Harris really fleshed out these characters perfectly, nailed the plot, rocked the flow, and kept it entertaining to the end.
Who is Julius Drake? Well, he’s pretty much the center of this story though not told from his POV. Julius is a 14 year old kid who has lived in Seattle his whole life, known these same kids, gone to the same schools. Then there's Henry Walker, military kid also 14, gets into the same school as Julius through a scholarship. This is told in Henry’s POV.
There’s a mystery going on with the kids at the school and strange happenings from attempting suicides, runaways, and other seriousness. The culprit is on the internet and is quite the puppet master. Julius being the fabulous, hyper, brilliant person he is MUST find out what’s going on. He sort of gravitates toward Henry and Henry doesn’t mind at all. They are 14 and though Julius is out, Henry is confused. He knows he really likes Julius but Julius is a mystery in himself.
So we are going through this book trying to figure out who this person is who is terrifying these young kids while Henry is also figuring out Julius and the past that haunts him.
I love a great YA book. Henry is such a wonderful character. Not rich but strong, brave, loyal. I truly adored his character. There wasn’t a passive aggressive bone in his body. Even if he thought he’d get pummeled he stood up for himself. He was protective of his friends and in the end he always does the right thing. Such an admirable character. Someone you could look up to.
These boys, they have the stress of life and when they crack I found myself cracking with them. I wiped tears from my eyes right along with them.
There is a great level of suspense to this story as well which perfectly rounded out this book. I highly recommend this for ANYONE. It’s an all-around fabulous book!
Who is Julius Drake? Well, he’s pretty much the center of this story though not told from his POV. Julius is a 14 year old kid who has lived in Seattle his whole life, known these same kids, gone to the same schools. Then there's Henry Walker, military kid also 14, gets into the same school as Julius through a scholarship. This is told in Henry’s POV.
There’s a mystery going on with the kids at the school and strange happenings from attempting suicides, runaways, and other seriousness. The culprit is on the internet and is quite the puppet master. Julius being the fabulous, hyper, brilliant person he is MUST find out what’s going on. He sort of gravitates toward Henry and Henry doesn’t mind at all. They are 14 and though Julius is out, Henry is confused. He knows he really likes Julius but Julius is a mystery in himself.
So we are going through this book trying to figure out who this person is who is terrifying these young kids while Henry is also figuring out Julius and the past that haunts him.
I love a great YA book. Henry is such a wonderful character. Not rich but strong, brave, loyal. I truly adored his character. There wasn’t a passive aggressive bone in his body. Even if he thought he’d get pummeled he stood up for himself. He was protective of his friends and in the end he always does the right thing. Such an admirable character. Someone you could look up to.
These boys, they have the stress of life and when they crack I found myself cracking with them. I wiped tears from my eyes right along with them.
There is a great level of suspense to this story as well which perfectly rounded out this book. I highly recommend this for ANYONE. It’s an all-around fabulous book!
July 14, 2016
(I received a copy from Netgalley, In exchange for an honest review.)
Actual rating - 2.5
I didn't love the main characters in this, but they were okay.
This wasn't an awful read, but it wasn't one that I can say I enjoyed unfortunately. It really struggled to keep my interest, which made a lot of the book drag for me. It felt a lot longer than what it was because of it, unfortunately.
Overall, Not an enjoyable read for me.
Actual rating - 2.5
I didn't love the main characters in this, but they were okay.
This wasn't an awful read, but it wasn't one that I can say I enjoyed unfortunately. It really struggled to keep my interest, which made a lot of the book drag for me. It felt a lot longer than what it was because of it, unfortunately.
Overall, Not an enjoyable read for me.
February 17, 2019
I would have preferred this to focus more on the mystery and less on the romance angle, but what is here is quite a reasonable if quick read. The mystery and its link to student mental health was really quite interesting, although this was rushed through with the interest being on the coming out romance. Because of this the finale to the set up mystery seemed rushed and unexpectedly expressed.
I did enjoy many of the characterisations, although with the focus being on the burgeoning gay relationship, many of the females are underdeveloped. Some physical descriptions of Julius in particular are overdone, which is strange because the depictions of the emotional wellbeing of individuals is delicately covered. There is the foundation of a clever and interesting novel here, but for it to reach its potential more effort needs to go into the mystery, particularly the wrapping up of it.
I did enjoy many of the characterisations, although with the focus being on the burgeoning gay relationship, many of the females are underdeveloped. Some physical descriptions of Julius in particular are overdone, which is strange because the depictions of the emotional wellbeing of individuals is delicately covered. There is the foundation of a clever and interesting novel here, but for it to reach its potential more effort needs to go into the mystery, particularly the wrapping up of it.
October 6, 2016
Reviewed for Just Love
Young Adult books can be tough for me, partly because I’m not a kid anymore, but mostly because I often feel like the writing doesn’t reflect the things kids would actually say and do. If the voice of a YA book sounds like a 40-year-old wrote it, it’s going to be hard for me to connect with the characters and story. That is definitely not the case with Investigating Julius Drake. I think Harris does an incredible job of depicting the lives of these high school kids. I even thought while reading that she either has a very good memory for what it was like when she was that age or she definitely did her homework. The dialogue and behaviors were age appropriate and it brought back memories of my own high school days.
I really hope this book finds its way into school libraries. LGBTQIA+ kids need more books depicting what they go through as they juggle school, friends, and figuring out who they are.
One of the things I really loved about Henry is that while he’s busy investigating a mystery with Julius, we get to go on a journey of self-discovery with him. He’s coming to terms with who he is but his immediate concern is making new friends. I felt that this is so realistic to what kids go through when they move to a new school. He may crush on boys, but at 14 it’s definitely not the most important thing to him. He just wants to be liked and he won’t be pressured into making any decisions on who he should date until he takes the time to think it through – and that’s okay.
We only get Henry’s POV but I think Harris writes his internal thoughts in a way that let’s us get a peak into Julius’ head. This is something that becomes more prevalent as Henry starts picking up Julius’ observant attention to detail. Julius is one of the more interesting characters I’ve read in a long time. I did worry about his obsession with solving the case but I think all the things that make up his character have him misunderstood most of the time.
I felt there were a lot of positive messages throughout the book and some of them are subtle so it’s not like a lecture is being shoved in the reader’s face. They run the gamut from the dangers of online predators to the fact that seeing a therapist can be a huge help when dealing with the stress of being a teenager.
This was a very quick read that grabbed me and wouldn’t let go until I turned the last page. The story is written very well and I felt there’s a good balance between the mystery and romance plots. The investigation is entertaining but it’s still about Henry and Julius and how their friendship is slowly becoming something more.
I wouldn’t mind reading more of Henry and Julius’ adventures. This book could easily become a series where we follow them as they grow up and grow closer all while solving more mysteries. It isn’t just for kids, either. If you’re into YA books, readers of any age will enjoy this one. I definitely recommend it.
I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Young Adult books can be tough for me, partly because I’m not a kid anymore, but mostly because I often feel like the writing doesn’t reflect the things kids would actually say and do. If the voice of a YA book sounds like a 40-year-old wrote it, it’s going to be hard for me to connect with the characters and story. That is definitely not the case with Investigating Julius Drake. I think Harris does an incredible job of depicting the lives of these high school kids. I even thought while reading that she either has a very good memory for what it was like when she was that age or she definitely did her homework. The dialogue and behaviors were age appropriate and it brought back memories of my own high school days.
I really hope this book finds its way into school libraries. LGBTQIA+ kids need more books depicting what they go through as they juggle school, friends, and figuring out who they are.
One of the things I really loved about Henry is that while he’s busy investigating a mystery with Julius, we get to go on a journey of self-discovery with him. He’s coming to terms with who he is but his immediate concern is making new friends. I felt that this is so realistic to what kids go through when they move to a new school. He may crush on boys, but at 14 it’s definitely not the most important thing to him. He just wants to be liked and he won’t be pressured into making any decisions on who he should date until he takes the time to think it through – and that’s okay.
We only get Henry’s POV but I think Harris writes his internal thoughts in a way that let’s us get a peak into Julius’ head. This is something that becomes more prevalent as Henry starts picking up Julius’ observant attention to detail. Julius is one of the more interesting characters I’ve read in a long time. I did worry about his obsession with solving the case but I think all the things that make up his character have him misunderstood most of the time.
I felt there were a lot of positive messages throughout the book and some of them are subtle so it’s not like a lecture is being shoved in the reader’s face. They run the gamut from the dangers of online predators to the fact that seeing a therapist can be a huge help when dealing with the stress of being a teenager.
This was a very quick read that grabbed me and wouldn’t let go until I turned the last page. The story is written very well and I felt there’s a good balance between the mystery and romance plots. The investigation is entertaining but it’s still about Henry and Julius and how their friendship is slowly becoming something more.
I wouldn’t mind reading more of Henry and Julius’ adventures. This book could easily become a series where we follow them as they grow up and grow closer all while solving more mysteries. It isn’t just for kids, either. If you’re into YA books, readers of any age will enjoy this one. I definitely recommend it.
I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.
December 21, 2016
First, the good things:
a) It's easy to get into the story. I finished the book in a short time because it caught completely my attention.
b) Julius Drake won my heart. It's not a secret that I always adore the boys who are a little (or a lot) damaged. Julius is one of them for his own reasons. I loved his character and his interactions with Henry, the protagonist. Sometimes Julius was a little weird, but overall he was very cute.
c) The issues about catfishing and meeting people on internet. For boys&girls aged between 12-16 years, should be compulsory to know “how dangerous really IS the internet”, but sadly, it never happens. The young are the ones who should be more careful, but actually they pay less attention to the dangers of the internet.
d) The last chapter is the sweetest thing in the world.
And, what I didn't like of the book:
a) There is never a point of where the story is going. I got half the reading and had no idea at what topic the story would focus and that is what I felt almost the entire book.
b) The Other Woman. The synopsis tells us about her, but it's not until more than half when she's really a part of the plot. It was a little disconcerting not knowing what importance was her character.
c) The LGBT issue. I love reading books of this style, some have been a total surprise, but Investigating Julius Drake was a little loose on that topic. I expected a little more depth in Henry's thoughts about his sexuality, idk.
So, in conclusion, Investigating Julis Drake was a book I enjoyed reading (but expected a little more of the plot and characters), a cute book that speaks of the importance of not believing blindly to people on the internet. A good (and very important) lesson for the younger ones.
*Note: I received a copy via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
a) It's easy to get into the story. I finished the book in a short time because it caught completely my attention.
b) Julius Drake won my heart. It's not a secret that I always adore the boys who are a little (or a lot) damaged. Julius is one of them for his own reasons. I loved his character and his interactions with Henry, the protagonist. Sometimes Julius was a little weird, but overall he was very cute.
c) The issues about catfishing and meeting people on internet. For boys&girls aged between 12-16 years, should be compulsory to know “how dangerous really IS the internet”, but sadly, it never happens. The young are the ones who should be more careful, but actually they pay less attention to the dangers of the internet.
d) The last chapter is the sweetest thing in the world.
And, what I didn't like of the book:
a) There is never a point of where the story is going. I got half the reading and had no idea at what topic the story would focus and that is what I felt almost the entire book.
b) The Other Woman. The synopsis tells us about her, but it's not until more than half when she's really a part of the plot. It was a little disconcerting not knowing what importance was her character.
c) The LGBT issue. I love reading books of this style, some have been a total surprise, but Investigating Julius Drake was a little loose on that topic. I expected a little more depth in Henry's thoughts about his sexuality, idk.
So, in conclusion, Investigating Julis Drake was a book I enjoyed reading (but expected a little more of the plot and characters), a cute book that speaks of the importance of not believing blindly to people on the internet. A good (and very important) lesson for the younger ones.
*Note: I received a copy via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
November 28, 2018
This is basically a Sherlock high school AU and if you just accept that then it’s a very enjoyable read.
14 year old Henry has just moved to a posh new school on a scholarship because his dad is in the army. He meets Julius, a genius outcast who he has to work with to find out what caused another boy to try to commit suicide before they get the blame. But concentrating on the case is difficult when you’re trying to work out if you have a crush on your fellow investigator.
So first off I just have to say the rep in this is all over the place. Julius is written as if he could have autism but he has a line where he brushes it off saying he’s been misdiagnosed with a bunch of things but there’s nothing wrong with him he’s just smart. Which kind of felt like the author was trying to get away with writing him quirky without being held accountable. but if you’re willing to put aside the questionable rep and the fact this is an obvious AU that even follows a similar story as A Study in Pink then this is actually a really cute, fluffy and fun read. I got through it really quickly and thoroughly enjoyed it.
14 year old Henry has just moved to a posh new school on a scholarship because his dad is in the army. He meets Julius, a genius outcast who he has to work with to find out what caused another boy to try to commit suicide before they get the blame. But concentrating on the case is difficult when you’re trying to work out if you have a crush on your fellow investigator.
So first off I just have to say the rep in this is all over the place. Julius is written as if he could have autism but he has a line where he brushes it off saying he’s been misdiagnosed with a bunch of things but there’s nothing wrong with him he’s just smart. Which kind of felt like the author was trying to get away with writing him quirky without being held accountable. but if you’re willing to put aside the questionable rep and the fact this is an obvious AU that even follows a similar story as A Study in Pink then this is actually a really cute, fluffy and fun read. I got through it really quickly and thoroughly enjoyed it.
November 23, 2016
4 'I liked this. Young adult connections combined with intrigue and easy to read writing style. I really liked the attraction and development of Henry and Julius's relationship' stars.
May 21, 2017
3.5 Stars
I thought this was a nice enough YA novel. Henry moves to a prestigious school in Seattle. As the new kid on the block he finds it hard to fit in but he eventually makes friends with a few students especially the rather peculiar Julius Drake.
Julius is from a wealthy family and he is clever, eccentric and somewhat mysterious. Henry admires Julius but also feels a deeper attraction for him which he doesn't want to admit to. When a student attempts suicide Julius decides to investigate who drove him to it and Henry and a couple of his other friends team up to help. It appears someone is catfishing their school mates and manipulating them using social media. Henry, Julius and their friends decide to find out who is doing this. In the course of their investigation Henry also investigates his only feelings towards Julius hoping to get closer to him and at the same time hoping not to.
I thought this was an enjoyable story. It is well written and the characters are engaging. I don't normally read YA mostly because the characters are often too young for me and mostly end up doing things that I wouldn't approve of as a parent, such as Henry sneaking out after 10pm when his mother was fast asleep (shock, horror). Having said that I think I would still disapprove even if I had read this as a young person.
It is a lovely story though. Julius is a curious and enigmatic character who comes into his own as the story progresses and he and Henry race to unveil the manipulative cat fisher. When the story ended I wanted more. I hope this is just a first of many Henry and Julius adventures.
Copy provided by Riptide Publishing via Netgalleyin exchange for an unbiased review.
I thought this was a nice enough YA novel. Henry moves to a prestigious school in Seattle. As the new kid on the block he finds it hard to fit in but he eventually makes friends with a few students especially the rather peculiar Julius Drake.
Julius is from a wealthy family and he is clever, eccentric and somewhat mysterious. Henry admires Julius but also feels a deeper attraction for him which he doesn't want to admit to. When a student attempts suicide Julius decides to investigate who drove him to it and Henry and a couple of his other friends team up to help. It appears someone is catfishing their school mates and manipulating them using social media. Henry, Julius and their friends decide to find out who is doing this. In the course of their investigation Henry also investigates his only feelings towards Julius hoping to get closer to him and at the same time hoping not to.
I thought this was an enjoyable story. It is well written and the characters are engaging. I don't normally read YA mostly because the characters are often too young for me and mostly end up doing things that I wouldn't approve of as a parent, such as Henry sneaking out after 10pm when his mother was fast asleep (shock, horror). Having said that I think I would still disapprove even if I had read this as a young person.
It is a lovely story though. Julius is a curious and enigmatic character who comes into his own as the story progresses and he and Henry race to unveil the manipulative cat fisher. When the story ended I wanted more. I hope this is just a first of many Henry and Julius adventures.
Copy provided by Riptide Publishing via Netgalleyin exchange for an unbiased review.
May 21, 2023
Oh Julius, why do you make me feel like I should hate you?
There's a lot of mystery shrouding every page of this book — who's The Other Woman? How does she convince one boy to end his life and another to leave the state? Although this entire story rides the overarching narrative of some pretty dark themes, it's also filled with moments of adolescent awkwardness and first time crushes. I rooted for Henry even while I faltered between despising and adoring Julius. Character wise, I wanted Henry and Julius to work things out and end up together, but real life? Julius was a red flag from page one.
Overall, the book wasn't super fleshed out character wise, with most coming off one-dimensional. What was the point in the scenes where Henry talked to his dad through Skype? Or Julius's mom being home that one time and meeting Henry? These are one time scenes that take up a paragraph or two and then we never see the characters again. And poor Thea? She's another victim of being That Female Character Who Dated Our Protagonist Before He Came Out As Gay.
I'm probably not the target audience for this book, so my critic might be a little harsher than it deserves. I'd say the writing is more on par with middle school grade, possibly high school. This has some advantage to it however; despite the darker themes, the story does convey a great message for teens (or anyone really) that you can't always trust a person at face value, especially online. It also has, what I feel to be, a HFN ending.
And that last page? Worth the read, in my opinion.
There's a lot of mystery shrouding every page of this book — who's The Other Woman? How does she convince one boy to end his life and another to leave the state? Although this entire story rides the overarching narrative of some pretty dark themes, it's also filled with moments of adolescent awkwardness and first time crushes. I rooted for Henry even while I faltered between despising and adoring Julius. Character wise, I wanted Henry and Julius to work things out and end up together, but real life? Julius was a red flag from page one.
Overall, the book wasn't super fleshed out character wise, with most coming off one-dimensional. What was the point in the scenes where Henry talked to his dad through Skype? Or Julius's mom being home that one time and meeting Henry? These are one time scenes that take up a paragraph or two and then we never see the characters again. And poor Thea? She's another victim of being That Female Character Who Dated Our Protagonist Before He Came Out As Gay.
I'm probably not the target audience for this book, so my critic might be a little harsher than it deserves. I'd say the writing is more on par with middle school grade, possibly high school. This has some advantage to it however; despite the darker themes, the story does convey a great message for teens (or anyone really) that you can't always trust a person at face value, especially online. It also has, what I feel to be, a HFN ending.
And that last page? Worth the read, in my opinion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2016
This is a terrific YA mystery novel, with an introspective narrator, trying to find a place in his new school, and who finds himself looking for a seemingly crazy online stalker.
Henry's attention is caught the moment he sees and talks to the enigmatic Julius Drake, and it's lovely to watch Julius through Henry's oblivious eyes. The attraction is mutual, but Henry lacks self-confidence and courage.
So adventuring they go, in pursuit of an individual with a charming manipulative online persona, capable of twisting actions out of victims, dangerous and scary actions.
Julius is complex and troubled. Henry is light and goodness. They balance each other. They just have to say the words out loud. That's difficult and will have consequences.
I really enjoyed this strong coming-of-age novel that offers positive representations of gay young people.
It's also sweet.
Copy provided by Netgalley. Thanks to Riptide publishers. Out on October 3.
Henry's attention is caught the moment he sees and talks to the enigmatic Julius Drake, and it's lovely to watch Julius through Henry's oblivious eyes. The attraction is mutual, but Henry lacks self-confidence and courage.
So adventuring they go, in pursuit of an individual with a charming manipulative online persona, capable of twisting actions out of victims, dangerous and scary actions.
Julius is complex and troubled. Henry is light and goodness. They balance each other. They just have to say the words out loud. That's difficult and will have consequences.
I really enjoyed this strong coming-of-age novel that offers positive representations of gay young people.
It's also sweet.
Copy provided by Netgalley. Thanks to Riptide publishers. Out on October 3.
August 2, 2017
Pretty sure this was file the numbers off Sherlock fanfic AU. Not bad, but the plot was somewhat moth eaten and the characters' voices didn't ring true as 14 year olds.
July 1, 2016
This was a lot of fun, very YA, with some mystery/'crime' solving and one of the most charming boys: Julius. I hope the cast will be back in the future. I'd really love to see them again!
Henry just moved to Seattle with his mother. At his new school he has an interesting first week that quickly gets him into all sorts of trouble and eye-opening situations.
First Hal, an older boy who picked a fight with him, on his first day fails at a suicide attempt that same night. He and another boy from his class, Julius, get questioned the following day, because everyone thinks they bullied Hal.
Shortly after, Todd, a friend of Hal's, disappears.
Julius is determined to figure out the connection between both 'cases' and solve the mystery, dragging along Henry and another friend.
I really liked Henry. He's a nice kid, easy going, kind. When he meets Julius he's instantly intrigued, and with their friendship growing, he gradually learns more about himself and his sexuality.
Julius is not liked by a lot of kids, and I doubt his parents care much about him. He's a little broken, 'weird' and just overall adorable. He's also very self-involved, speaks like he's an eighty-year-old aristocrat (I think, heh.) and a genius.
Julius was so much fun, despite him remaining quite a mystery till the end, mainly, I think, because it's Henry who tells us their story. Or perhaps, because this is more Henry's story?
Most of all, I enjoyed the writing style.
The voice, Henry's voice, pulled me in from the beginning and everyone was very entertaining!
The book's easy to read, something light (low on the teenage angst even) and fun and just what I'd been looking for !
Investigating Julius Drake had everything I personally need to fully enjoy a story, and I always had a weak spot for high school settings and strange 'genius' boys.
Highly recommended if you enjoy young adult stories with memorable (Julius) and likable characters and a bit of mystery.
And many, many thanks to the publisher who kindly provided a free copy for an honest and impartial review.
Henry just moved to Seattle with his mother. At his new school he has an interesting first week that quickly gets him into all sorts of trouble and eye-opening situations.
First Hal, an older boy who picked a fight with him, on his first day fails at a suicide attempt that same night. He and another boy from his class, Julius, get questioned the following day, because everyone thinks they bullied Hal.
Shortly after, Todd, a friend of Hal's, disappears.
Julius is determined to figure out the connection between both 'cases' and solve the mystery, dragging along Henry and another friend.
I really liked Henry. He's a nice kid, easy going, kind. When he meets Julius he's instantly intrigued, and with their friendship growing, he gradually learns more about himself and his sexuality.
Julius is not liked by a lot of kids, and I doubt his parents care much about him. He's a little broken, 'weird' and just overall adorable. He's also very self-involved, speaks like he's an eighty-year-old aristocrat (I think, heh.) and a genius.
“It’s not every day you find out you’re a psychopath.”
That was the first thing Julius Drake said to me.
Julius was so much fun, despite him remaining quite a mystery till the end, mainly, I think, because it's Henry who tells us their story. Or perhaps, because this is more Henry's story?
Most of all, I enjoyed the writing style.
The voice, Henry's voice, pulled me in from the beginning and everyone was very entertaining!
God, was I staring? Or worse—doing something weird with my hands?
I guess Julius didn’t register my attention, because he kept walking, head upright and shoulders thrown back.
“First period starts at eight fifteen.” He announced it to the room in general.
“Yeah. Uh. Maybe I’ll see you in class?”
He ignored me as he left.
The book's easy to read, something light (low on the teenage angst even) and fun and just what I'd been looking for !
Investigating Julius Drake had everything I personally need to fully enjoy a story, and I always had a weak spot for high school settings and strange 'genius' boys.
Highly recommended if you enjoy young adult stories with memorable (Julius) and likable characters and a bit of mystery.
And many, many thanks to the publisher who kindly provided a free copy for an honest and impartial review.
July 22, 2016
In some ways Investigating Julius Drake is a typical YA novel, yet there is something about the story, the characters and the setting that sets it apart. It delves into the usual YA territory of fitting in, friendship and romance, but at its heart is a mystery related to the dangers of social media that makes it terribly, horribly relevant to our times.
The boys of Clinton High School are being picked out by an unknown predator for a dangerous catfishing game. So far, one has attempted suicide and one has driven across the country for a meeting. Egged on by the mysterious Julius Drake, the narrator Henry gets drawn into a investigation that could prove dangerous for all concerned.
It is impossible to overstate the importance of the subject, the way that social media can be used to so easily manipulate young (and perhaps not so young) people. The narrator Henry's acceptance of his sexuality and his attraction towards the "odd" Julius Drake forms another thread of the story. I particularly liked the way this was handled. I did wish that his friendship with Bethany didn't fall off the radar once Julius became all important, though I guess that might have been inevitable.
There were a few things I didn't like. To begin with, it was patently obvious who The Other Woman was. I knew the moment she was introduced to the story even though there is little focus on her. Second, the title -- not sure it works. Third, the climax and its repercussions. There was this peculiar thing during the climax where our protagonist has a gun pointed at him and all he can think of is "stupid bitch" and whether he should knock it out of her hand and what his army father has told him about not giving into the enemy immediately. That was a little hard to buy, especially when your life is at stake (and you're not trained in these situations). Also, made me wonder if the danger have seemed more acute if the aggressor had been male. Then, when everything is done and dusted, it turns out Henry's mother doesn't know a thing, not even that her son's life had been in danger. Is this really plausible, considering he's a 14-year-old kid?!
But again, gripes aside, I liked the book very much. Thank you to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley.
The boys of Clinton High School are being picked out by an unknown predator for a dangerous catfishing game. So far, one has attempted suicide and one has driven across the country for a meeting. Egged on by the mysterious Julius Drake, the narrator Henry gets drawn into a investigation that could prove dangerous for all concerned.
It is impossible to overstate the importance of the subject, the way that social media can be used to so easily manipulate young (and perhaps not so young) people. The narrator Henry's acceptance of his sexuality and his attraction towards the "odd" Julius Drake forms another thread of the story. I particularly liked the way this was handled. I did wish that his friendship with Bethany didn't fall off the radar once Julius became all important, though I guess that might have been inevitable.
There were a few things I didn't like. To begin with, it was patently obvious who The Other Woman was. I knew the moment she was introduced to the story even though there is little focus on her. Second, the title -- not sure it works. Third, the climax and its repercussions. There was this peculiar thing during the climax where our protagonist has a gun pointed at him and all he can think of is "stupid bitch" and whether he should knock it out of her hand and what his army father has told him about not giving into the enemy immediately. That was a little hard to buy, especially when your life is at stake (and you're not trained in these situations). Also, made me wonder if the danger have seemed more acute if the aggressor had been male. Then, when everything is done and dusted, it turns out Henry's mother doesn't know a thing, not even that her son's life had been in danger. Is this really plausible, considering he's a 14-year-old kid?!
But again, gripes aside, I liked the book very much. Thank you to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley.
September 18, 2016
Investigating Julius Drake is quirky and very engaging. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a YA story with mystery and romance.
This is a great coming of age story with a twist. Henry is a warm and likable character. He has great history and personality. Although this is written in first person from only Henry’s perspective, Daisy Harris does a great job of bringing the other characters to life through his experiences. And capturing the complex personality of Julius in this way … wow!
The mystery plot of this book is surprisingly engaging. I’ll admit I thought at first it might be a background plot device to bring Julius and Drake together. But it becomes a substantial part of this story with intriguing twists and turns.
Henry’s personal growth is down to earth and heart-warming. His story captures the confusion of attraction and sexual orientation perfectly.
Overall, I loved this book. I would love to see a sequel because Henry and Julius make a fun couple. This is the first book I’ve read by Daisy Harris, and I’m definitely going to have to check out her other books.
There is no explicit sexual content in this book. I wouldn’t recommend it to someone looking for an erotic romance.
*I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.*
This is a great coming of age story with a twist. Henry is a warm and likable character. He has great history and personality. Although this is written in first person from only Henry’s perspective, Daisy Harris does a great job of bringing the other characters to life through his experiences. And capturing the complex personality of Julius in this way … wow!
The mystery plot of this book is surprisingly engaging. I’ll admit I thought at first it might be a background plot device to bring Julius and Drake together. But it becomes a substantial part of this story with intriguing twists and turns.
Henry’s personal growth is down to earth and heart-warming. His story captures the confusion of attraction and sexual orientation perfectly.
Overall, I loved this book. I would love to see a sequel because Henry and Julius make a fun couple. This is the first book I’ve read by Daisy Harris, and I’m definitely going to have to check out her other books.
There is no explicit sexual content in this book. I wouldn’t recommend it to someone looking for an erotic romance.
*I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.*
August 25, 2016
This book left me a bit stumped about how I felt about it. It was well written, and I was engaged in the story, but somehow it still felt a little flat. I'm not sure if I ever felt a connection between Henry and Julius. Sure there was a lot of interaction between the pair but didn't feel their ultimate relationship. It felt forced at the end, a bit.
An interesting take on catfishing and finding yourself amongst a sea of insecure and gullible teenagers. All in all a fine Y/A story, it just left me wanting a bit more.
An interesting take on catfishing and finding yourself amongst a sea of insecure and gullible teenagers. All in all a fine Y/A story, it just left me wanting a bit more.
October 17, 2016
Please, please, please write about these boys again. Henry and Julius are just boys but I can already picture them as young adults and grown men. They will always be together. There is no sex and no "love" involved. Just two fourteen year olds and there band of goonies, starting high school and solving crime. I love this book.
July 19, 2016
At it's heart this book is a great mystery full of intrigue and twists. It also examines the coming out process both to oneself and the world. This theme is dealt with in an honest and spot on manner. Kudos to Daisy Harris!
November 30, 2016
3.5* I really liked the two mc's but the mystery was a little lame and took up too much of the story--I'd have liked more relationship development. It would be great if there was a book 2 since they were so young.
August 18, 2017
Great Book
The plot is interesting and makes sense. The writing is way above the standard set by so many other books in this genre, and the characters are believable. Would love to see a sequel!
The plot is interesting and makes sense. The writing is way above the standard set by so many other books in this genre, and the characters are believable. Would love to see a sequel!
July 10, 2023
3.25 stars
No steam -- these boys are only 14, after all -- but still some decent tension between them as Henry figures out his shit. Yes, I had figured out the bad guy pretty early on, but the manipulation was some top notch catfishing.
No steam -- these boys are only 14, after all -- but still some decent tension between them as Henry figures out his shit. Yes, I had figured out the bad guy pretty early on, but the manipulation was some top notch catfishing.
October 20, 2016
Okay, that was really one interesting or a rather fun story plot.
July 14, 2016
Review to come.
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