The Evening in Query by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson

Fortress Cove Excessive College’s newest Sadie Hawkins Dance is being held within the very construction that provides the oceanside city its identify. Whereas the large constructing is now owned by the state, it as soon as belonged to Charles W Levy, the millionaire who misplaced his fortune and died of grief after the loss of life of his girlfriend, Forties movie starlet Mona Moody. The younger actress had been on the verge of her cinematic breakthrough when she plummeted to her loss of life from one of many Fortress’s balconies.

For headstrong younger sleuth Alice Ogilvie, the dance is the proper alternative to snoop round a spot she as soon as wandered along with her late greatest buddy, Brooke Donovan. Brooke had been Charles’ great-granddaughter, and her mom was on the Fortress’s board of administrators. The 2 women spent many hours exploring the Fortress and its mysteries whereas Brooke’s mother was in conferences.

Earlier than present-day Alice can sneak off, although, a battle breaks out between two former members of her internal circle. Rebecca Kennedy and Helen Park are each wealthy, lovely and common…and carrying the identical gown to the dance. Alice herself has to step in and break issues up when the argument turns bodily. As soon as issues have calmed down, she lastly goes searching for the key she as soon as found with Brooke:

That is so Agatha Christie: a secret passage, a hidden staircase, sneaking round at nighttime with a storm raging outdoors. A shiver of delight runs by means of me.

 

On the bookshelf, I run my flashlight alongside the row of previous books till I discover it.

 

Agatha Christie’s The Secret Of Chimneys. [I] tug the e book towards me and voilà: the nook of the bookcase cracks aside.

 

My coronary heart leaps.

 

Oh my god. I did it. I’ve to inform Iris. She needs to be right here with me.

 

I textual content her. I opened the key passage I advised you about!! Come meet me.

 

I wait a number of lengthy seconds for her to reply, however there’s nothing.

 

Impolite. What, is she too busy with Cole?

 

No matter. Her loss. I can do that myself.

Iris has been Alice’s greatest buddy because the two joined forces to determine who murdered Brooke the 12 months earlier than. She’s normally the calming affect that checks Alice’s impulsiveness, however she’s acquired her personal issues tonight. Cole Fielding, the man she’s kinda-sorta been seeing regardless of the disapproval of each her mom and Alice, appears able to spend some alone time along with her. However a misunderstanding at nighttime shakes Iris’ self-confidence, even earlier than the screaming begins.

Alice is searching for extra information on the tragic Mona Moody when she stumbles throughout a scene from a nightmare: Park standing over Kennedy’s physique, a bloody dagger in her hand. Shocked, Alice thoughtlessly accuses Park of wrongdoing, inflicting the opposite lady to flee. However after she and Iris regroup and examine notes, they understand that Park couldn’t probably have assaulted Kennedy and was more than likely arrange.

Seems that they’re just about the one individuals who assume so. Nonetheless feeling the aftermath of the earlier 12 months’s investigation, when false accusations practically ruined folks’s lives, Alice and Iris determine to assist Park clear her identify. However the additional they go, the extra dangers they discover themselves taking. Will the pressures, if not outright risks, of investigation lastly bitter them on detective work for good? Worse, will their friendship crack past restore?

I like these two very totally different youngsters, each intent on doing the precise factor regardless of all of the obstacles of their paths. Whereas reckless, Christie-mad Alice is my favourite, I’m actually extra like Iris: studious and cautious as a result of she’s properly conscious that she doesn’t have the privileges her rich greatest buddy does. And whereas Alice’s mother and father are sometimes absent, Iris nonetheless has to take care of the aftermath of abuse, which rears its head on the very worst occasions:

I assumed Cole would possibly textual content however there’s nothing. I assume I may textual content him, however what would I say? Sorry I freaked out. You bought so offended I assumed you had been going to hit me, like my dad would have carried out. I do know he is aware of about what my dad did to me final fall[, but] we’ve by no means talked about it.

 

I want I may cease interested by the Factor. I want he’d evaporate from my mind, cease making me afraid of sudden noises, even sudden silences. It was too freaky when Alice and I heard that noise outdoors earlier. I do know he’s in jail, however I additionally know he’ll get out quickly. It’s like I can by no means totally loosen up. I’m at all times ready.

This considerate take a look at the aftermath of abuse lends higher depth to this sequence, making it greater than the pleasant romp it already is. Compassionate, sensible and enjoyable, The Evening In Query showcases the lives of a detecting duo who’re very a lot equal companions in crime-solving, as they get to the reality of what actually occurred to each Kennedy and Mona Moody, and the way the 2 circumstances are related. I cherished this sequel nearly as a lot as its predecessor, and am very a lot hoping there might be extra books within the sequence, as there are actually nonetheless many extra Fortress Cove mysteries to discover!

Study Extra Or Order A Copy