To Right the Wrongs

January 15, 2018
In a follow-up to To Catch a Killer (2017), 16-year-old forensic enthusiast Erin finds herself in the middle of yet another murder mystery.Fresh from solving her mother's murder, Erin is ready to settle into a normal life. Her forensic-scientist uncle, Victor, is here to stay and opening up a crime lab at school, and she's dating her longtime crush, Journey. But there's one more case that needs to be solved: that of Journey's father, who has been locked up in prison for murder. Victor is looking into the case, and Erin and her friends are not allowed to get involved, but what are they supposed to do when clues keep falling in their laps? Between that, dodging their malicious new principal, and getting tangled up with a mysterious skateboarder, how can life possibly be normal? Scarborough ties up loose ends from her previous novel and shines more of a spotlight on Erin's best friends, Spam and Lysa. However, the main storyline is bland and often gets pushed aside for secondary storylines or breadcrumbs that lead to nowhere. Unfortunately, the scattered storytelling makes for a slow-paced read. Though race is rarely alluded to, Erin and Journey are white, Spam is possibly Latina, and Lysa is black.In some ways this sequel is an improvement on its predecessor, but it still misses the mark. (Mystery. 14-18)

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February 1, 2018

Gr 7 Up-The sequel to To Catch a Killer picks up right where the first book left off. Erin Blake is about to finish her sophomore year of high school and is still reeling from having just helped catch her mother and beloved biology teacher's murderer. She is also in a new relationship with boyfriend, Journey, who helped in the killer catching, along with friends Spam and Lysa. After rising to semi-fame for this super sleuthing, the friends find themselves getting to prep a summer camp for students interested in crime scene investigation (as well as a brand-new forensics lab in their school) under the tutelage of Erin's Uncle Victor. Journey, with Victor's help, is also reexamining evidence in his father's case with the hope of exonerating him for the murder he was found guilty of when Journey was a baby. Erin and friends are told to stay away from the case; but in true teen detective fashion, they jump right in. Mysterious individuals, a cranky principal, and CSI techniques will keep teens engaged. The buildup of the story is well done but the ending feels rushed. Some of the story lines don't come to satisfying conclusions, or simply end too neatly. VERDICT With the popularity of crime investigation shows, this will appeal to fans of teen mysteries and those who enjoyed the first book.-Megan Huenemann, Norris High School, Firth, NE

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