I JUST LOVED EVIL GENIUS, The first book of Family Genius Mysteries, and I was saddened that EG did not feel loved by her senator father, who had a fling with her mom. The poor nine year old was a super smart girl who found her sister traveled across the ocean to live with her her older sister in Atlanta who after years of struggling to break free of her mom's gasp finally found her freedom. I loved the characters, Mallory the gruff butler/cook, and the invisible Graham, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO READ THE NEXT BOOK! ( )

some witty dialog - some connection with characters - but just not connecting well with the worldview ( )

Lots of complicated plot moments going on here with Ana, who is quite happy doing research for others ignoring the world discovering that her grandfather is dead and his estate has been mis-managed and the home they should have between her and her siblings, has been sold.

She, with two of her siblings go to try to get justice, or at least some cash to tide them over.

Not a bad read. ( )

I read this book on the knowledge that there was a second book to follow. I found it entertaining if somewhat bizarre with the talking appliances! Overall I really enjoyed this book and would recommend to anyone wanting a light hearted murder mystery with an obscure family attached.

I love political intrigue . . . sort of. House of Cards style political intrigue leaves me cold and disgusted. I'm much more the conspiracy-type lover. So, when I read Evil Genius, I was cautious.

As it turns out, I very much so enjoyed myself. The intrigue is real, but it isn't rife with the really disgusting elements. I was delighted to know I had a second novel in the series to read. I enjoyed how, though Ana was the narrator, this story belonged to EG (the Evil Genius of the title). The story was about HER father and HER future and HER needs. It made for an interesting dynamic to hear the story from another's perspective.

I also appreciate the home front troubles in the novel. Ana has inherited the position of mother with all the responsibility and not too many of the benefits. This is another reason why I appreciated the novel coming, in the main, from her perspective. Also, the home front troubles weren't solved in this book. This sets up a good rational for a series without it seeming like a mystery a week sort of set-up. The fate of Maximillian home and Graham (and the surly butler, Mallard) give us some continuity for the next novel.

I do love the family dynamic Rice created. It's silly and funny, but also very real. These are children who were raised by themselves and have a difficult relationship with their absentee mother (and most have little to no relationship with their various fathers). All of them react in different ways to the unconventional family they are a part of. I like that there are some family traits that cannot be escaped, but that each of the siblings (and I understand there are more to be met) is an individual.

The only note I have is that the switch between Ana's first person narration and the third person narration surrounding EG is a *little* difficult to get used to. I understand why it was done, but I wish there had been a smoother way to deal with it (maybe by making both narrations first-person or third-person, but I don't know).

A (excellent characters, fun political intrigue; strange narrative shifts) ( )