IN THE BALLROOM WITH THE CANDLESTICK By Diana Peterfreund

December 19, 2022 by Leave a Comment

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

IN THE BALLROOM WITH THE CANDLESTICK By Diana PeterfreundIn the Ballroom with the Candlestick by Diana Peterfreund
Series: Clue Mystery #3
Published by Amulet Books on 11/2/21
Genres: Mystery & Detective, Young Adult
Pages: 336
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
Buy on Amazon

After a tragic accident at Blackbrook Academy kills one of their own, Orchid, Scarlett, Peacock, Mustard, and Plum are desperate to put the pieces back together and finish out the year. The Murder Crew may have earned their nickname, but the last of their secrets are still coming to light and threatening to destroy friendships, futures, and more. And when another suspicious death rocks the campus and Blackbrook's dark past crashes into its present, they have a choice: Band together or turn on each other.

Because this year's prom? It's to die for.

Short and Sweet

In the Ballroom with the Candlestick picks up where the previous book left off. Vaughn is dead and everyone is still reeling from his death especially Orchid. The rest of the murder crew just wants to finish the school year, but it seems like murder is a trend at Blackbrook and this group has to stick together or let the pressure turn them against each other.

This was an okay ending to everything. Everyone finally learns that Vaughn has a twin brother and he causes a mess of things because people don’t know what his intentions are. People are still getting murdered and the murder crew is determined to finally put an end to the tragedies that has been plaguing the academy. Beth still has the shortest chapters and this time her chapters are of her trying to solve the mystery. Scarlet is still making boss moves and trying to prove that she’s able to be in charge. Mustard and Finn are doing their own thing. Orchid is trying to figure out what she can about Oliver the evil twin. I feel like with all of the POVs there’s not really much character development and over the course of three books these characters didn’t have much substance. I think my favorite thing about this book was the ending and how we got to see alternate endings and see an array of suspects.

This is a fun book series, the mystery was a little confusing, but if you’re looking for a nostalgic and fun read this series is for you.

Filed Under: Reviews

IN THE STUDY WITH THE WRENCH By Diana Peterfreund

November 2, 2022 by Leave a Comment

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

IN THE STUDY WITH THE WRENCH By Diana PeterfreundIn the Study with the Wrench by Diana Peterfreund
Series: Clue Mystery #2
Published by Amulet Books on 10/13/20
Genres: Contemporary, Mystery & Detective, Romance, Thrillers, Young Adult
Pages: 335
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
Buy on Amazon

New semester. New secrets. New murder.

In the aftermath of their headmaster’s brutal murder, Blackbrook Academy has been thrown into chaos. Half the student body hasn’t bothered to return to campus—but those who have include Orchid McKee, Vaughn Green, Scarlett Mistry, Beth “Peacock” Picach, Phineas Plum, and Sam “Mustard” Maestor, now warily referred to by the other students as the Murder Crew.

When another staff member is found dead, each teen’s reasons for sticking around come to light. Orchid and Vaughn grow ever closer to having their secrets exposed, Peacock and Scarlett struggle to change their stripes, and Plum and Mustard question everything. As everything comes to a boiling point at Tudor House, nobody’s life will ever be the same.

Short and Sweet Review

We’re back at Blackbrook Academy and after headmaster boddy’s murder the group of kids that were in the Tudor house are being called the murder crew. Our six main characters are back and this time when another body is found more secrets are unveiled about our main characters and their reasons for wanting to stay at the academy instead of going home.

Again we get all six characters POVs but I feel like some of these characters really had nothing to offer and their POV was just filler. Peacock still has the shortest chapters and all we read from her are emails she’s sending to her life coach which are recaps on what’s happening on campus or how she’s feeling, the emails are important in the end but it’s just a little weird she’s not more important. I think this book revolved around Orchid and Vaughn and a bit of Peacock more than the other characters. Scarlett likes to make things about herself, Finn is looking for his invention, and Mustard not really sure what his deal is besides the fact that he can’t really afford to get kicked out of another school. Vaughn has some weird twin thing going on and they’re looking for some invention and weird things are happening to Orchid and she thinks her past is catching up to her. The murder was glossed over mainly because their was other strange things going down at Tudor house.

The ending was good and also a bit of a cliffhanger so I’m interested in seeing how the last book will wrap everything up! 

Filed Under: Reviews

IN THE HALL WITH THE KNIFE By Diana Peterfreund

November 2, 2021 by Leave a Comment

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

IN THE HALL WITH THE KNIFE By Diana PeterfreundIn the Hall with the Knife by Diana Peterfreund
Series: Clue Mystery #1
Published by Amulet Books on 10/8/19
Genres: Mystery & Detective, Thrillers, Young Adult
Pages: 304
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
Buy on Amazon

When a storm strikes at Blackbrook Academy, an elite prep school nestled in the woods of Maine, a motley crew of students—including Beth “Peacock” Picach, Orchid McKee, Vaughn Green, Sam “Mustard” Maestor, Finn Plum, and Scarlet Mistry—are left stranded on campus with their headmaster. Hours later, his body is found in the conservatory and it’s very clear his death was no accident. With this group of students who are all hiding something, nothing is as it seems, and everyone has a motive for murder. Fans of the CLUE board game and cult classic film will delight in Diana Peterfreund’s modern reimagining of the brand, its characters, and the dark, magnificent old mansion with secrets hidden within its walls.

Short and Sweet Review

When a storm hits Blackbrook Academy, six students: Orchid, Scarlet, Peacock, Mustard, Plum, and Green are forced to stay together in one of the campus buildings. A few hours later one of the students finds the headmaster dead and now it seems like each of the students has something to hide and a motive.

This book is basically like the board game and the movie. We get the all of the characters and their POVs and all the rooms and we see some of the potential murder weapons. Some of the POVs were too much we don’t really get to know the characters especially Peacock her POV was basically just her diary and what she ate throughout the day. I thought some of the characters were boring and Green was all over the place he was considered a townie because he was a scholarship student. I think the book started off a little slow mainly because there was a lot of introduction of the characters, but once the murder took place there was a lot of running around and some teamwork and accusations thrown around. I think this would be better as a standalone because I’m not sure what the next two books could offer but I’m interested to see.


Filed Under: Reviews