Paula Berinstein

I've been an Amanda Lester fan from the moment I read the very first chapter of the very first book, and this feeling definitely doesn't change with the newest venture. Packed full of mystery, action and so much more, this book continues the series with tons of excitement and surprises.

Everything in the world of Amanda and her fellow detective students is a mess. Nick and Holmes are both missing without a trace. The only thing Amanda assumes is that they aren't together. . .unless they both show more killed themselves while fighting, but that's not her first suspicion. The only bright spot is the reappearance of the detective Bible. But even this positive note turns off-key as a hidden warning against a green monkey is found in the pages. Amanda doesn't get a chance to sink her teeth into this mystery too far before the Moriarty brothers return, and she is their main target.

This isn't just a mystery. This is a mystery with endless twists, engaging characters, danger around every bend, a dash of teenage drama, and even a tiny bit of something almost magical. The author has woven layer upon layer of plots and sub-plots together until it forms an exciting and oh-so delightful adventure. Every character has grit, whether good or bad, and each one comes to life with their own history and desires. But like a masterful puzzle, it all has its rhyme and reason, and slides together in the end.

I love how Nick and Holmes have developed in relationship to Amanda, and how Amanda has grown not only in relationship to her friends, but in ways which make her a real opponent to some very clever villains. Of course, she doesn't do any of this alone, but has support from her friends even when there are stumbling blocks on this end. These kids might be very talented, but they have their troubles like any other teen. And it's this which makes them easy to sympathize with and root for.

There's always something going on, and every scene holds valuable hints to be used later on. Especially the smooth and continual switch between scenes and characters, never leaves a boring moment but allows the plot to unfold from every angle. Still, there are tons of unexpected twists and surprises making it impossible to predict what will happen next.

I received a complimentary copy and simply enjoyed it so much that I had to leave my honest thoughts. show less

Time travel can be such a tricky thing - especially when you're trying to do good and keep your family together at the same time. There's so much going on in this story, but if you're familiar with the first book, it's not too hard to keep track of the various story lines running. There was never a dull moment, and it was easy to quickly step back through time and get wrapped up in the story. With vivid imagery, deception, and peril around every corner with a little love and steam mixed in, show more this was a thrilling new addition to the Indigo series. show less

The story starts out innocently enough - Esther wanting to repair her failing marriage, and a mysterious inheritance. The plot quickly picks up as her husband's experiments with time travel propel her backwards to a time when slavery was common, and social norms were much different from today. The characters were all interesting, with their own complexities. This isn't a simple time-travel romance, but an engaging, complex read that will hook you from the start. Highly recommend if you're show more interested in a romance with a twist. show less

***This book was reviewed for Lola’s Blog Tours.***

Bernstein's Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy is the first in a new middle-grade detective series a lá Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, and The Three Investigators. This is a world where the great literary detectives are real people. .Amanda is a young aspiring film director descended from one Inspector Lestrade, of Sherlock Holmes fame. Against her will, her family moves to the UK, enrolling her in the Legatum Continuatum, a special show more secret school for training young detectives. To get in at all, one must be descended from one of the great detectives.

Once there, however, Amanda finds a group of friends, and finds herself caught up in the classes, and in solving the appearance of patches of pink sugar that show up in places all over the school grounds. Add to that mild mystery explosions and murder, and her attention is thoroughly captured. She realises she can equate being a detective with filmmaking, helping her enjoy it more. Along with this comes the realisation that one occupation doesn't need to eclipse the others.

I will admit, I had a difficult time getting into this book, though I enjoy detective stories of all varieties. The writing felt flat at first. Once at Legatum, with new people, things improved.

At the beginning, Amanda comes across as a completely unlikeable protagonist. She's too bossy, not in a good way, and she seems very scatter-brained, jumping from topic to topic. Part of my dislike is her entrenched hatred of Sherlock Holmes. I love Doyle's stories, and I'd love to live in a world that contained, or once did, a living, breathing Sherlock. I think I'd like to attend this school. Haha, I do need to suspend my disbelief more though. Some of these skills they are learning need very specialised training. I have a grounding in forensic anthropology/archaeology. That alone was enough study to last me several years.

Based on later revelations, that required a bit more suspension of belief than I could muster, I would have given a rating of 3. My cubs of relevant age, however, absolutely loved it. They reminded me of my own philosophy as a writer. There are myriad worlds, and the rules for each are never the same.

🎻🎻🎻🎻 Recommended for fans of Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, and The Three Investigators. show less