Behind the Curtain

Echo Falls #2

by Peter Abrahams

In Echo Falls you never know what's coming next -- and everyone has a secret. Things are amiss at 99 Maple Lane: Ingrid's dad's job is in jeopardy, but h e won't explain why. Ingrid's brother, Ty, is getting buff -- really buff -- but when Ty starts getting moody, Ingrid wonders if there's more to his physical fitness than lifting weights. Meanwhile, Ingrid's beloved soccer coach is replaced by an icy newcomer named Julia LeCaine, who seems a little too savvy to be in it for the postgame pizza. True to her hero, Sherlock Holmes, Ingrid begins fishing around to find out who's really pulling the strings in Echo Falls. But one morning, while en route to the dreaded MathFest, Ingrid is kidnapped and locked in the trunk of a car. Even if she escapes, will anyone believe her story?

In this sequel to Down the Rabbit Hole a clever young girl learns that mysterious forces are at work in her town -- and exposing them could put her life in jeopardy.

Performed by Colleen Delaney

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Crime, Teen

Audio CD

First published April 25, 2006

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Peter Abrahams is an American author of crime fiction for both adults and children.
His book Lights Out (1994) was nominated for an Edgar Award for best novel. Reality Check won the best young adult Edgar Award in 2011. Down the Rabbit Hole, first in the Echo Falls series, won the best children's/young adult Agatha Award in 2005. The Fan was adapted into a film starring Robert De Niro and directed by Tony Scott (1996).
His literary influences are Vladimir Nabokov, Graham Greene, and Ross Macdonald. Stephen King has referred to him as "my favorite American suspense novelist".
Born in Boston, Abrahams lives in Falmouth, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod. He is married and has four children including Rosie Gray. He graduated from Williams College in 1968.

Peter Abrahams is also writing under the pseudonym Spencer Quinn (Chet and Bernie Mysteries).

Reviews

[Jaemi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second of the Echo Falls Mystery books, which began with Down The Rabbit Hole. The main character, Ingrid Levin-Hill, is a middle school student sleuth, who loves, loves, loves Sherlock Holmes.

In this installment, Ingrid's quiet little world starts to go topsy-turvy. Her brother, the only Freshman on the High School Varsity football team, turns moody. While spotting him one night (much to her chagrin, as Ty is lifting far more weight than she could ever help him with), she notices his back is covered with pimples--also unusual for him, though she doesn't know what to make of it until later when a randomly understood comment in Health class catches her attention. Steroids can cause acne.

Meanwhile, Ingrid's father has become a different sort of person--sullen and cranky. Working all the time. No fun to talk too. While she feels a hidden issue of the local paper announcing a new hire at the Ferrand Group, where her father works, must have something to do with it, since she was never supposed to have seen that paper, there's not much she can ask about it. Besides, he seems not to hear her most of the time anyway.

Then comes the finding of a Mexican pill bottle in her old childhood tree house, finding Ty's DVD player missing only have it to return (and the pill bottle disappear). The new assistant soccer coach beaming the head coach in the head with a ball and acting innocent. The weirdness is adding up, and Ingrid is sure it has to mean something.

When she's kidnapped the morning of MathFest she knows something is going on. Only she has no evidence to back herself up, when all is said and done, and finds almost no one believing her.

____________

This was an exceptionally fun book to read. I think maybe even a little better than the first installment, though admittedly I can't remember much about it other than it left me looking out for this one. They don't need to be read in order either. While this book makes some references to the other, it's nothing really central or that will leave you lacking any pertinent information.

Ingrid is a really vibrant character, and watching her mind put things together, with and without the help of Sherlock Holmes stories that she can recall at will, is great fun.

I don't usually go in for mysteries, but I wouldn't want to miss one of these. Eagerly awaiting book 3.

[Celia Guzi · Rating 2 out of 5]

1. this book has tons of empty spaces.
2. Ingrid is extremely paranoid.
3. Ingrid's life is pretty perfect- tons of rich$$ family vacations and beautiful parents, friends, soccer star, smart... what else?
4. pretty e-z read..
5. pretty boring- i dont really care about her stupid cop issues- i mean, steriods? no big deal..

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5*

Καλογραμμένο όπως και το πρώτο βιβλίο,αλλά λιγότερο συναρπαστικό.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leider hat mich der zweite Band aus der Echo-Falls-Serie nicht besonders überzeugt, es war aber eine kurzweilige Wochenendlektüre!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5

Loved the first book as a kid, and this sequel was pretty fun! I *think* I can make an educated guess as to why this is out of print/so hard to find new, but 🤷🏼‍♀️😅

This was a super cozy read for me during a reading slump. Being back in Echo Falls with some of my favourite characters was wonderful. 🥰 I’d like to think that Ingrid, Stacey, and I (maybe even Mia!) would have been the best of friends haha! Even though I enjoyed this book, I don’t think it was as well done as the first one. And I don’t think that’s purely nostalgia talking because I recently re-read it as an adult. Something about the middle to end of the story felt a bit rushed. Maybe because there were 2 separate conflicts going on but only one of them was the mystery they focused on throughout.

Can’t wait to read the last book!

[Jeremy Preacher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really appreciate the degree to which Abrahams completely does not compromise on a cozy mystery plot just because the protagonist is an eighth grader. It was a remarkably tense read, perhaps in part because I'm used to the stakes of adult mysteries and man is this kid gonna get herself in trouble - and she does. I'm not 100% sold on the final escalation - it's one thing to have a villain revealed in the last act, but it's another to have that villain have almost no actual characterization (largely because like most of the villains in this series, she is an adult and therefore not really socializing with Our Hero very much) - and it really strikes me as more lead-in to the next book than a satisfying resolution in this one, but that's a fairly minor quibble about an otherwise delightful book.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

You are thirteen years old. You wake up to the sound of a blaring alarm. You look over at your clock and see it is eight thirty a.m. You jump up remembering you have Mathfest in thirty minutes and run downstairs. Once into the kitchen, you see that everyone has left so you have to ride your bike to Mathfest. Your heart is beating a mile a minute as you enter the garage to retrieve your bike. As you go to get your bike a hand wraps duct tape around your eyes and mouth and your whole world goes black. This is what happens to Ingrid, the main character in Behind the Curtain, written by Peter Abrahams and published in 2006. This book is a must-read because it has relatable characters and has a plot that is unpredictable.
Behind the curtain is about a girl named Ingrid, who is a thirteen years old and in seventh grade. She loves to read, especially Sherlock Holmes. Ingrid lives with her 15-year-old brother, Ty, her mom, and her dad. In this story, Ingrid gets kidnapped while on her way to Mathfest. Before Ingrid is kidnapped she can see that Ty is getting really strong. In just days Ingrid can see a difference in Ty’s strength and starts to think that something fishy is going on with him. Then she sees him hanging around shady people and suspects that something strange is going on around town. Ingrid manages to escape from her kidnapper and returns home but she wonders if anyone will believe her story. This mystery takes place throughout the town of Echo Falls. The theme of the story is to keep trying until you cannot try anymore. This story revolves around who kidnapped Ingrid and what is going on around town.

One thing that makes this book good is how easily the reader can relate to the characters. One character is Ingrid, the main character. She is easy to relate to because she is a typical seventh grader. Even if you are not in middle school anymore, most people remember living through those years. Ingrid has little fights with her brother like most people do. She lives in a house in a suburban neighborhood with her mom, dad, brother and dog. Just like many 7th graders, Ingrid plays a sport, soccer, goes to after-school activities, attends sleepovers with her friends and goes to school everyday. Ingrid's parents are easy to relate to also. They have a job that they go to every day. When they get home they have to drive Ingrid to practice, bring Ty to a game, make dinner and walk the dog. As parents they are always busy. Because the characters are easy to relate to, it helps to make the story easy to believe and keeps the reader in the story.
Another thing that makes this book so enjoyable is how unpredictable the plot is. It keeps you, the reader, at the edge of your seat wondering about every page. At the beginning of the book it seems like the story is going to be about Ingrid at Mathfest when suddenly the plot switches directions and she is kidnapped from her garage. When Ingrid escapes from the trunk of the kidnapper’s car, the plot takes another turn. Another plot twist occurs when Ingrid thinks she has identified her kidnappers, but she is mistaken and the real result is surprising. The ever-changing plot keeps the book fun to read.
Some people might not even pick this book up because it is in the mystery genre and they say they do not like mystery books because of they are too scary or suspenseful . Even though it is labeled a mystery, it is not full of high suspense or scary images. This book does not cause nightmares or leave the reader uncomfortable. It is a mystery in the daily life of a thirteen year old.
I would recommend Behind the Curtain because of the relatable characters and unpredictable story line. It is a mystery book, but it is not a scary one. Next time you are looking for a terrific book to read, give Behind the Curtain a try.

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

There is technically nothing wrong with Peter Abrahams's writing. The thing is, though, the tension hinges on how much you care about the heroine, Ingrid. And I can't stand her.
I've read the first volume of this series, and I remember disliking it, though the only reason I remember why was the "kill or be killed" message. When an author sets up the universe to work a certain way, then of course, the girl has no choice but to kill her pursuer. This time around, I think I have an idea of the other reasons.
First: our leading lady, Ingrid. Her only traits are that she loves Sherlock Holmes, and she's a chronic liar. Oh, and she's a moron, but I don't think Mr. Abrahams intended that. Why do I say this? Maybe it's because the plot is rather transparent in this one, but I could see the twist from a third of the way in--and most of the time I'm awful at predicting mystery plots. And Ingrid was oblivious, even though the clue was in her own house, right in front of her. The fact that everyone Ingrid likes is good, and everyone mean to her is evil doesn't help. There's a bit involving her getting caught doing something that looks a lot like planting evidence where this book nearly hit the wall. She is insanely forgetful--if you'd seen an orderly and a man you already suspect of drug dealing messing around with bottles of pills in a closet of the hospital, it might stick in your mind!--and doesn't do anything to deal with this problem, as a serious detective would probably do.
Mr. Abrahams has this idea, throughout his novels, that you can't trust anyone. Grampy, our cranky, violent, paranoid old wisdom-dispenser says this all the time, and Ingrid listens. I hate sneaks, and especially little-kid sneaks whose parents exist only as obstacles. Pretty much all Ingrid does here is be in a play--for the SYMBOLISM!!1--and sneak. When she sneaks, she has no allies to fall back on, and no one to help her when her stupidity does her in.
The only reason I finished this book is because I'm doing a self-set library challenge. In between reading classic books like Lord of the Flies or Machiavelli, I will read all the books in the Teen "A" section. So far, all it's done is made those other books a breath of fresh air.

[Jean Creelman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book to be slightly less captivating than I would’ve liked. The author uses odd ways to engage readers and it sounds like it would’ve been better it was aimed primarily at adults.

Ingrid, our protagonist, considers herself to be quite the investigator, a loyal fan of Sherlock Holmes. As far as the stereotypical detective novel goes (character finds himself/herself in a dangerous neighbourhood, tape records villain, gets mentioned in newspaper), this book looks like it’d be a hit with adults if not children.

While some parts definitely had potential, Abraham chose to stick to cliches and introduce unnecessary characters which confuse the readers. To put it frankly, he puts too much effort in places he shouldn’t, and not enough in characterisation or major parts.

Another big issue is that everyone apart from Ingrid appears to be hot-headed and irrational. Most characters seem to be angry for no reason, making Ingrid look unnaturally calm and rational. And while I admire Ingrid for this and the fact that she can remain extremely cool under pressure, it is pretty unrealistic for a person as young as Ingrid to solve a high-profile case such as this.

Now I’m not saying that detectives shouldn’t be young. I’ve read a number of series where the detective is reasonably young (Friday Barnes, Nancy Drew) but Ingrid seems to keep, again, unnaturally calm throughout the whole ordeal, and somehow manages to escape unscathed. What I’m saying is that the author doesn’t portray it realistically.

But overall, I would recommend this to all detective book lovers. It can pass the time nicely and although not a engrossing read, it does have some minor moments. Don’t have high expectations though.

I rate this book a 5/10; it had potential as a series but perhaps was aimed at adults more than teens or children. It is not easy, nor hard to understand this book.

from my website: https://jeantakesonfiction.wordpress....

[Watermelon Daisy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The last book, Down the Rabbit Hole, was a million times better. I even gave the last one a slightly higher rating because it was predictable yet adventurous.

This second book was just predictable. And, to be frank, very boring. I don’t like how distant I seem with Ingrid, though I do love the descriptions. The author does a marvellous job of showing thought, but it still isn’t enough. I hate how fragile Ingrid seems to be at times, even when she’s this amazing detective. It makes me wonder whether it’s her personality or if the author has a little bit of trouble making her act her age, because I was more mature than her at 13.

The minute something goes wrong, I think up a theory. It’s always correct. That’s what I mean by predictable. And though predictability is something wonderful in stories, (like, romance for example), it’s just not right in mystery/suspense.

I still liked the first book a lot better, so read that one first.

[Runa · Rating 3 out of 5]

These books are so meh! The mysteries are KIND of compelling, compelling enough for me to keep reading, but reluctantly, and throughout the whole story I just kept wanting it to be over. The mysteries are ridiculously predictable, and I get that it's supposed to be a Sherlock Holmes parallel (a series I haven't read, so I can't comment much on that), but it's just dull. Take a look at any other YA novel/mystery and it is written in a way where the stories and characters come to life, with plenty of plot twists and developed characters. The characters in this are unbearably flat, particularly Ingrid, and nothing much happens, and there is just a lot better out there. I think I'm done with this series. As much as I hate to leave a series unfinished, I don't think I want to go through book 3. There's nothing there to keep me interested.

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not think this book was a good read. This book was not intresting because it did not give a detailed description of what was going on. This made me not able to create a mental picture. I also thought this book was not intresting because the author did not drag me into the book. Also it did not catch my intrest and there was no surprises that made me wounded what would happen next. This made the book very hard to read. I think that this book was not as good as the first and that the first was a better read.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A modern day Nancy Drew. Even though it is a youth book, I don't feel like the author is writing down to his audience. It's as good as any Abrahams book written for adults, only the mode of transportation and the daily concerns of the protagonist are different. No matter the crime Ingrid is investigating, math class still rates as a top concern. Fun for a light mystery read.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing book! The storyline is a little similar to the first one though.. other than that I loved it! Why is the tile "Behind the Curtain?"

[Kristy Douglas · Rating 1 out of 5]

There were a couple of subtle racist descriptions and a homosexual term used as a pejorative. For those reasons I wouldn't recommend the book.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent follow up, nice normal characters mostly, making it believable... some fairly obvious plots, but then I'm not ten years old.
Will follow through with third.

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

"One good thing about being a kid: You could pretend to be a dunce and no one batted an eye."

—Behind the Curtain, P. 58

Freelance eighth-grade detective Ingrid Levin-Hill is back in Behind the Curtain, just a few weeks or months following her near-death encounter with a psychopath when she discovered the identity of Cracked-Up Katie's killer in Down the Rabbit Hole. Ingrid's successful foray into sleuthing, albeit against the wishes of Chief Gilbert L. Strade of the Echo Falls police force, has earned her some clout around town, though only in modest measure. To her friends, enemies, and her antagonistic math teacher, Ms. Groome, Ingrid is no different than before she brought a taste of Sherlock Holmes to her Connecticut hometown.

There were several story threads left unresolved in Down the Rabbit Hole, and they pick up without delay at the start of Behind the Curtain. Ingrid's father's father, Grampy, remains in the middle of a real-estate dispute with the Ferrand Group, a development corporation headed by well-to-do Tim Ferrand, who employs Ingrid's father. Grampy is no more seriously considering selling his land to the Ferrands than in the previous book, but a few extra legal difficulties have popped up that need to be dealt with if he wants to retain his land holdings. At the same time, Ingrid's older brother, Ty, whose behavior in Down the Rabbit Hole strongly suggested he was using performance enhancing drugs to better his play on the football field, is looking more musclebound than ever, and his mood isn't any cheerier for it. Ty carries a physical intimidation factor now, mostly because of the way he flies off the handle at even mild provocation, and he isn't afraid to use that intimidation against Ingrid. A longtime literary student of the legendary Sherlock Holmes and his detecting methods, Ingrid starts keeping a sharp eye out for evidence to confirm her suspicions about Ty, and the evidence isn't hard to find. When Ingrid follows the trail of clues, she learns Ty isn't the only individual involved with PEDs in Echo Falls. A few local unsavories are in this up to their necks, but if they go down for trafficking illegal drugs, Ty goes down, too. Ingrid knows her brother has gotten into serious trouble this time, and even her super-sleuth logic might not be enough to find a way out for him.

But the configuration of the mystery as Ingrid perceives it goes topsy-turvy in an instant when Ingrid, on her way to an interscholastic math competition she nearly slept through early on a Saturday morning, is grabbed from behind in her family's garage, rendered unconscious, and abducted in the trunk of someone's car. By calm, quick thinking, and the aid of adrenaline pumping through her veins with the fear of what could happen if the kidnapper gets her to their planned destination, Ingrid frees herself from the trunk without the perpetrator even knowing, and makes her way to safety. Ingrid's troubles are far from over, however, following her escape from the clutches of her mystery assailant. There isn't any physical evidence to corroborate Ingrid's abduction claim, and Ms. Groome is sure Ingrid would have done anything to get out of representing her school for MathFest. Chief Strade, who likely wouldn't have solved the Cracked-Up Katie murder without Ingrid's whiz-kid intervention, and whose son Joey is something close to being Ingrid's boyfriend, has nothing to go on in defense of his young star gumshoe. Doubts abound regarding Ingrid's integrity, and even her parents have a hard time believing Ingrid isn't either lying about the abduction, or thinks her own fabricated narrative to be true because she's suffering Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from her unsettling closeness to the Cracked-Up Katie homicide. The only way Ingrid is going to show everyone that she isn't a liar or worse is to prove who kidnapped her, and that isn't as straightforward as she would like. The only people with obvious reason to take a chance on committing a federal crime to silence Ingrid are Ty's steroid contacts, perhaps spooked by how close Ingrid has come to unraveling their dirty little operation, and Ingrid knows if she exposes them, Ty will hang for his own PED crimes. The only way out of this mess is to pin the offense on the drug traffickers without involving Ty, and Ingrid may have just the idea to make that happen.

Peter Abrahams has remarkably improved his storytelling for kids with this second Echo Falls mystery, in my opinion. The plot is deeper and more complex, the ethical puzzles more stimulating and challenging to reason through, and Ingrid faces self-doubts along the way as any eighth-grader is certain to, even if she is a junior detective of moderate local renown. When Ingrid quietly confronts her brother with what she knows of the corners he has cut to improve his athletic strength, he fires back with stinging insinuations that Ingrid has grown full of herself since solving the Cracked-Up Katie head-scratcher, and sees mysteries and wrongdoing wherever she goes because she's desperate to perpetuate the glory of her day in the sun. Ingrid categorically pushes back against Ty's counter-accusations, but privately wonders if he's right. Might Ingrid be overly suspicious of everyone around her, including her own brother, because she desires the rush of finding the next clue when the trail has all but died out, relentlessly pursuing her quarry until the climactic moment of apprehension? Ty is far from Ingrid's primary intellectual opponent, of course. When nearly everyone she knows believes that Ingrid's story of being snatched from her garage is a crazy coverup for her decision to skip MathFest, a doctor by the name of Vishevsky points out that Ingrid is an aspiring stage actor, and suggests a connection between Ingrid's kidnapping claim and the tendency of more than a few Hollywood starlets to have a hard time connecting with reality away from the big screen. "(A)ll these actresses and actors, had difficulty expressing their feelings in real life. It was only in the world of make-believe that their feelings came out." An astute point by Dr. Vishevsky, perhaps, but Ingrid knows she's telling the truth, and is determined to root out the criminals before anything more can go wrong. But is she one hundred percent right in what she believes happened, and why? Or might there be a hidden enemy to contend with, one far closer to Ingrid than she realizes? Will the Sherlock (or Enola) Holmes of Echo Falls establish an undeniable pattern of effective detective work by snaring another violent criminal, or are her days of clever suspect-tracking about to be permanently ended?

There's a lot of good stuff in this book, enough that I'm going to give it two and a half stars, and hesitated several hours before rounding that rating down to two instead of up to three. Peter Abrahams's writing is sleek and surprising, the language at turns bouncy, beautiful and illuminating, and interesting characters are plentiful. The sweetness of Ingrid's halting, unsure relationship with Joey Strade is back, as rewarding as it felt in Down the Rabbit Hole, and promises more to come in the third book of the series. As in Down the Rabbit Hole, there are questions left unanswered at the conclusion of Behind the Curtain, but they aren't as noticeable this time. Readers of any age will enjoy Ingrid Levin-Hill's second mystery story, and I recommend it. Look out, world, for coming up after this is the third (and final?) Echo Falls novel, Into the Dark. Like many other readers, I suspect, I can hardly wait to find out what happens next.

[Dmitry Jakobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last book I read was "Behind The Curtain" by Peter Abrahams. This book follows the life of a young 13 year old girl Ingrid, who plays soccer and idolizes Sherlock Holmes. After many mysterious changes in her town of Echo Falls, Ingrid begins to try and find out who is "really running the town." While searching for clues, Ingrid is kidnapped but escapes with an unbelievable story for others to hear. Throughout the story, this young girl try to expose the scandal in her town while putting her own life and others lives in danger.
I liked this book a lot and there is not much I would want to change about it. I thought that the author did an amazing job of using wonderful vocabulary to help the reader really understand and visualize the story. Also, when I was reading I felt as if this was a picture book. I felt this way because if the incredible vocabulary, word choice, and style of writing. If I had to change anything, it would be to make the paragraphs longer. I felt as if each paragraph was only a few pages long. This also might have been because I enjoyed the book immensely that it "flew by".
I would recommend this book mostly to kids my age and under. Although this was a very good and entertaining book, it was not very challenging. I feel that anyone above my age, and maybe even myself would become a little bored. This might because the vocabulary is good but not very "mature". I would recommend this book to all kids, teens and others who like a good story with wonderful imagery!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

12-year-old Ingrid Levin-Hill is an expert on Sherlock Holmes and a drama queen. Not really the queen, but she always gets the lead of her middle school's theater productions even when someone else auditions for the role. Using her best Sherlock-like observational skills, she decides something wrong is going on and her brother is involved. Plus, what's going on at her dad's job since that new woman VP came to town? And why, oh why is Chloe all of the sudden wanting to be friends? And then she gets kidnapped!

I've read other books by Peter Abrahams and have enjoyed them all. I have a special fondness for Ingrid though. Glad I've finally discovered her.

[Summer Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really fun follow up to the first book. One thing I’m noting during this reread is how well this trilogy is laid out.

There have been three major plots so far: Ingrid Solving mysteries, whatever Ty was up to, and the Dad work drama/Grampy farm.

Ingrid solving mysteries is always the main plot, of course, but the threads of the other two started in book one. Ty’s issue has been resolved, leaving one thread left dangling for the third.

It’s the best elements of a Nancy Drew style/monster of the week paired with really well plotted arcs for the whole trilogy

[Joe Swanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book very much. It had a great plot and it was very descriptive. It was a very intriguing book with lots of things that got your brain to think and question as you read along. There was that one big mystery of who done it and in the end of the book the antagonist is revealed and there is a lot of action that takes place during that point in the book. The descriptions were very precise that I could imagine what it would be like to be there in the moment. The book was great to read.

[Regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will read anything by this man. It is pure pleasure to hear the individual, authentic voices of teens, adults, old men, even dogs, as he builds his plot, sets the scene, and draws the reader in. You will laugh in delight as you recognize family interactions. And you will cheer for the plucky, fearless heroine who, improbably but actually, is a Sherlock Holmes fan. Read his books, whether they're under his pen name of Spencer Quinn or his name Peter Abrahams.

[Dennis Fischman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike many other reviewers, I enjoyed this book as much or more than its predecessor. Yes, I groaned at some of Ingrid’s foolish decisions and the flimsy justifications she gave herself for them, but I can certainly imagine—even remember!—people her age who would do the same. But Nigel, if you’re really going to be girl’s best friend, you’ve got to spend less time lifting your leg, or chewing on things, and more keeping her out of danger!

[Megan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rated PG-13 (Language): Audiobook
Narrator: Colleen Delany

DNF - I am completely puzzled! I marked the first installment as 5 stars which I rarely do unless I adore a book. I couldn’t even remember reading it. Then as I read this second installment I didn’t like it at all. I have no idea about the discrepancy between #1 & #2, but it wasn’t all that compelling & then Ingrid’s brother Ty cusses constantly so I had no desire to continue reading it.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ingrid is back in this second book in the Echo Falls trilogy. She is concerned because her dad seems stressed with work, her brother is moody and mean and her soccer coach has been injured and replaced by a woman who seems to be ready to replace her dad in his job. On top of all that, Ingrid is kidnapped but the evidence has disappeared and no one seems to believe her. With doubts from everyone, she is left to try to solve the mystery of her kidnapping herself. Little did she know the dangers she was about to face.

[Elby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable little mystery with a convincingly 13-yo protagonist possessing a precocious streak. Lots of hijinks, the broader family story is developed, Ingrid grows a little savvier as she stumbles through unravelling another mystery and it has a satisfying conclusion. I think the denouement could’ve been stretched out a litttllle longer. Felt rushed.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm kind of in disbelief at the # of times this girl is left waiting by herself or driven home by a newcomer to town! And I wish they'd give the dog more attention. And isn't it risky to just come off steroids instantly? Anyway, I enjoyed the quick read, not too complicated plot. That's the fun for an adult, of reading middle-grade books.

[Jennifer Ames · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not much a fan of Ingrid as I am trying to figure out the mystery behind each book. Ingrid is a little bland but otherwise how she finds the clues and solves mysteries is why I continue to read the series.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun YA mystery series. Been awhile since I read the first one but I remember that I really enjoyed it. I totally forgot that it’s set in CT and so all the references of the nearby towns and descriptions of the small, rural towns add another layer of interest!

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with every book in the Echo Falls series, it's not about whodunnit, it's about the gorgeous writing style and the scrapes Ingrid gets into and how she learns about the world via the mystery unfolding.