Thomas Lockhaven

Ava and Carol are intrigued when they discover that their local museum has been robbed. Following in the footsteps of Ava's mother, a daring reporter and their own budding interest in crime solving, the girls open an investigation in to the mystery - determined to solve it before the cops do.

This was good. This series has been on my list for awhile now but my interest was heightened after discovering the spinoff series, Kids Murder Mystery Club, where the girls and their friend, Derik show more produce a podcast that revisits old cold cases and tries to solve them. (Spoiler: They do). Those books are wholesome tween friendly reads with lots of humour but lack much in the way of character development. The later books assume prior knowledge and while you can get by without it, having started at the start, I think Ava and Carol become more vibrant for it.

Ava and Carol are cheerful, smart, sensible, daring girls that follow in the footsteps of much adored famous detectives like Nancy Drew (a la 1930's editions), the Three Detectives boys and Alex Rider. This series is perfect for tween readers with limited violence, some educational content (Carol has an extensive vocabulary to tease Ava with) and still contain enough action to keep the plot interesting.

The mystery was funny and the girls were hilarious with their teasing snark. Their crime solving was unique and I liked how they worked together and used what they had available. The problem solving was a delight and I liked that although they did put themselves in danger they didn't excessively endanger themselves either. That line can be kind of hit and miss in children's and young adult fiction. It was nice to see a balance struck between outright stupidity and a chance to safely follow their dreams.

A fun and entertaining read for amateur detectives - or just those that love a good mystery. 5 stars. show less

Teenagers, Ava, Carol and Derik venture into the world of podcasting when they decide to begin the Kids Murder Mystery Podcast where they investigate cold case crimes. The first case file is the story of Mia Westbrook, a seventeen year old girl who was murdered the night she was named Prom Queen.

This was good, the exact type of book I would've enjoyed reading as a tween. It's a clean, cosy murder mystery with a fast paced plot and a clear, engaging writing style. There was a good balance show more between conveying the podcast element of the text and the rest of the investigation - although it could be somewhat repetitive rehashing the same interviews the reader has already seen. I don't think it would have bothered me as a kid though and it only minorly irked me now. I did like that the author points out the sound effects they used as part of the podcast. It was a small thing but one that added depth. I was pretty amused by the idea of people sending in classified information that was supposed to be held back from the public - especially the picture from the coroner's report. The name of their podcast was definitely lacking some creativity, apart from the likelihood of any fourteen year old using the word kid in the title when referring to themselves. Still, it all flowed well and kept me invested in the case.

Although I'm aware of the author's other books, I haven't gotten around to reading the Ava and Carol Detective Agency Mysteries. It's on the list. This one would have been too but it moved up when I saw cold case podcast as the focus. While the book seems to stand on its own, I would say there's probably more enjoyment in reading the other books first. The crime is interesting and logical and the investigation flows well - but there's not a lot of character development or backstory here - things I'd imagine are in the earlier ten books. It's not a dealbreaker and the introduction to the characters is fine - but it would be nice to know a bit more about Ava, Carol and Derik.

What I did see of Ava, Carol and Derik seemed good. They all seem like good friends who have known each other a long time and are aware of each other's strengths and flaws. They were entertaining as they snarked and bantered with each other but I wanted to know more about their interests and histories.

I did find the threats problematic. I mean a written threat left on your bike parked in a public street was bad, but a photo threat left taped to your bedroom window? I felt like that warranted a lot more fear and anger and response than it received. Especially since they didn't seem to tell anyone - like a parent, the cops, etc. I did like that they contacted the Detective before they proceeded with their plan but I also can't imagine a Detective letting any fourteen year olds confront a murderer. Like I know, fiction. And I know, the plot wouldn't work without it - but also as an adult, I'm having a hard time seeing it. I find it interesting comparing what I would have read and accepted as a child and what I read and accept now. Still my disbelief is more on me than any actual issues with the plot and the way the kids handle it. I did love that she kicks him in the crotch with her Nike shoe and on the podcast they quip Just Do It. Lol.

A lighthearted humourous read with murder, podcasting and amateur sleuths, I'll definitely be picking up the rest of the series. 4 stars for the target audience, 3 stars for me. show less

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

A touching story with dynamic characters that it’s impossible not to care about. The author has set up a world that is so beautiful it’s hard not to want to visit there. An imaginative world with dynamic characters in this first book sets the stage for a promising epic journey for all ages. I highly recommend including a glossary for the wonderful vocabulary used.

Book 2, it helps to read book 1 to understand why the first chapter starts the way it does. This quest becomes personal as it relate to Eevie's grandpa and she, Tommy, and Drew work together to uncover the mystery and solve numerical riddles. However, none of them could foresee just how personal the mystery can get. The writing is very young and suitable for younger readers.

I received a free copy and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Thank you to StoryOrigin and author.