The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches by Alan Bradley

The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches by Alan Bradley
Flavia de Luce #6
Published by Delacorte Press on January 14, 2014

Summary: "On a spring morning in 1951, eleven-year-old chemist and aspiring detective Flavia de Luce gathers with her family at the railway station, awaiting the return of her long-lost mother, Harriet. Yet upon the train's arrival in the English village of Bishop's Lacey, Flavia is approached by a tall stranger who whispers a cryptic message into her ear.

Moments later, he is dead, mysteriously pushed under the train by someone in the crowd...

Who was this man, what did his words mean, and why were they intended for Flavia? Back home at Buckshaw, the de Luces' crumbling estate, Flavia puts her sleuthing skills to the test.

Following a trail of clues sparked by the discovery of a reel of film stashed away in the attic, she unravels the deepest secrets of the de Luce clan, involving none other than Winston Churchill himself." -- From Goodreads

I love any and all Flavia de Luce mysteries.  While I loved this book, I definitely had some issues with it.  Luckily, they weren't major enough to rate it less than five stars.  This book is definitely a major turning point for Flavia.  Flavia must accept the terms of her mother's homecoming, and she has to grow up.  

Bradley's mystery in this book is less in the forefront.  I didn't exactly like this, but I accepted that this was the way that Bradley chose for Flavia to grow as a character.  I was excited for the ending of this book (spy school??), and I can't wait for Flavia's next adventures.

Disclosure: I borrowed the audiobook from my local library. 

The Platypus Police Squad by Jarrett Krosoczka

Platypus Police Squad by Jarrett Krosoczka

#1 The Frog Who Croaked 

#2 The Ostrich Conspiracy

Published by Walden Pond Press

I thought these books were adorable.  I love Jarrett Krosoczka (Lunch Lady!!) and was excited to read this first middle-grade books.  I thought the books were well done, and I think kids of all ages will be excited to read them.  I listened to the audiobooks narrated by Johnny Heller, and I think I'm hooked.  He sounded like a real old school detective.  

Disclosure: I downloaded the audiobooks through my library's digital media catalog.

Miss Mayhem by Rachel Hawkins

Miss Mayhem by Rachel Hawkins
Rebel Belle #2
Published by Putnam Juvenile on April 7, 2015

Summary: "Life is almost back to normal for Harper Price. The Ephors have been silent after their deadly attack at Cotillion months ago, and best friend Bee has returned after a mysterious disappearance. Now Harper can return her focus to the important things in life: school, canoodling with David, her nemesis-turned-ward-slash-boyfie, and even competing in the Miss Pine Grove pageant.

Unfortunately, supernatural chores are never done. The Ephors have decided they’d rather train David than kill him. The catch: Harper has to come along for the ride, but she can’t stay David’s Paladin unless she undergoes an ancient trial that will either kill her . . . or connect her to David for life."  -- From Goodreads

I love the characters from this series!  They feel so Southern, you're just waiting for them to say "ya'll" or something similar.  Harper is the classic Type-A control freak, who thinks she knows what everyone's best interests are.  In this book, things change when everyone has a different plan of action for "what's best".  Harper is also thrown into a Paladin trial, and if she fails it will end with her death.  The trials weren't really that dangerous, and that aspect was ended before it really began.  

Overall, this was a good, solid book for the Rebel Belle series.  It was a typical second novel, which left the readers with a lot more questions than answers.  There is no official word about a third book yet, but I hope there will be to tie up some of the loose threads.

Disclosure: I received a digital galley of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Rebel Belle series

Rebel Belle

Miss Mayhem

Confessions: The Paris Mysteries by James Patterson

Confessions: The Paris Mysteries by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
Confessions #3
Published by Little, Brown and Company on October 6, 2014

Summary: "The City of Lights sets the stage for romance, drama and intrigue in the latest Confessions novel from the world's bestselling mystery writer!

After investigating multiple homicides and her family's decades-old skeletons in the closet, Tandy Angel is finally reunited with her lost love in Paris. But as he grows increasingly distant, Tandy is confronted with disturbing questions about him, as well as what really happened to her long-dead sister. With no way to tell anymore who in her life she can trust, how will Tandy ever get to the bottom of the countless secrets her parents kept from her? James Patterson leads this brilliant teenage detective through Paris on a trail of lies years in the making, with shocking revelations around every corner." -- From Goodreads

I really struggled with this book.  I truly like this series, but Tandy seemed very whiny in this book to me.  She has a hard time trusting anyone, and with good reason.  I think the problem this book had was that there were too many "explosive" parts, so they all fell flat.   I will be finishing the rest of this series because I do want to know how it ends.

Disclosure: I borrowed the audiobook from my local library.

Magnolia by Kristi Cook

Magnolia by Krisi Cook
Published by Simon & Schuster on August 5, 2014

Summary: "In Magnolia Branch, Mississippi, the Cafferty and Marsden families are southern royalty. Neighbors since the Civil War, the families have shared vacations, holidays, backyard barbecues, and the overwhelming desire to unite their two clans by marriage. So when a baby boy and girl were born to the families at the same time, the perfect opportunity seemed to have finally arrived.

Jemma Cafferty and Ryder Marsden have no intention of giving in to their parents’ wishes. They’re only seventeen, for goodness’ sake, not to mention that one little problem: They hate each other! Jemma can’t stand Ryder’s nauseating golden-boy persona, and Ryder would like nothing better than to pretend stubborn Jemma doesn’t exist.

But when a violent storm ravages Magnolia Branch, it unearths Jemma’s and Ryder’s true feelings for each other as the two discover that the line between love and hate may be thin enough to risk crossing over." -- From Goodreads

I thought this book was a cute, summer beach read.  Jemma and Ryder have this adorable love/hate relationship going on.  The storm adds more depth to the story, with Jemma and Ryder working together to make it through.  Magnolia is one of those books I'd recommend for anyone looking for a cute contemporary.

Disclosure: I borrowed this book from my local library.