The Weekend Was Murder

Cute but mediocre sometimes. It's funny because I wasn't aware this was a young adult until I received it. Figured that out fast when I started reading it.

The mystery isn't much of a one, but the idea of the mystery weekend was a fun touch and you can't help but like the heroine's clumsy personality. Her mom on the phone could grow cheesy sometimes. Other characters were fine and I was surprised to find a ghost thrown into the mix, even if it's done briefly. The famous author was interesting and also cleverly humorous. The cast was laughable and this turned out to be a young adult - mystery that leaned heavily on comedy and cutesy situations.

A mystery was there but the heroine doesn't really solve it, so it turns out to be more of a show more book where a crime took place and we just find out the ending due to other events taking place.

Nixon keeps the writing easy in flow and wording since it's geared toward younger audiences. Suspense is realistic but that's not what the book is aiming for. It's an enjoyable experience but nothing too exciting, and although the characters are likeable enough, they didn't leave lasting impressions. show less

Joan Lowery Nixon's books are either murder mystery or ghost story. This was both. Someone was murdered in a haunted hotel suite and the two were separate mysteries. This book had a good premise but it was not delivered as well as it could have been. My advice is to skip this one.

This book is definatly 5 star. Liz is working her summer job at the Ridly Hotel when they held a murder mystery weekend. that is a fake murder that people try to solve. When Liz goes into the scene of the crime she finds a real murdered body on the floor. While investigating, she finds out there is a ghostin the murder room.
How Liz solves this scary murder is a very good part of the book.

spooky, and strong woman leads, great for older grades around halloween.