The Amateurs

The Amateurs by Sara Shepard (Allen and Unwin) PB RRP $16.99

ISBN 9781471405266

Reviewed by Daniela Andrews

What really happened the day 17-year-old Helena Kelly disappeared? Did somebody take her, or did she choose to leave? Helena’s body was found four years later, not far from her family home, but the police couldn’t solve the murder and eventually closed the case. Aerin, Helena’s younger sister, seems to be the only one fighting for answers. Now aged 16 years old, she feels disengaged with the world (and her parents) but masks her depression by distracting herself with whatever means are available at wild teenage parties. At home, her sister’s death is all she can think about. She finds herself logging on to a website called ‘Case Not Closed’, and posts a desperate plea for help in finding her sister’s murderer. That’s how she meets Seneca, Maddox and Brett, amateur sleuths who want to help (each for their own reasons).

They team up together, each bringing different knowledge and ideas to the case. It isn’t long before the threats and attacks begin. Somebody in town knows they’re investigating, and they’re keen to scare them away. They believe the attacks mean they are getting closer to the truth … but perhaps the truth is even closer than they realise.

This is a gripping, cleverly written murder mystery for readers aged 12–16 years. There are plenty of plot twists and developments that drive the story forward, making this novel difficult to put down. It is the first in a new series of books by bestselling author Sara Shepard, who wrote Pretty Little Liars. The novel ends with quite a major plot twist, so I’m sure readers will be keenly awaiting the sequel (due to be published around the middle of 2017). The main characters are well developed, strong and likeable, each of them interesting for different reasons. It will be great to learn more about them as the series progresses.

Motive Games 2: Death Down Under

Motive Games 2: Death Down Under by LD Taylor (Rhiza Press)

PB RRP $16.99

ISBN 978-1-925139-18-1 

Reviewed by Peta Biggin

In Canada, Phil Roland is a hero. He saved his dad’s company, Motive Games; solved his dad’s murder; and exposed a Mafia ring.  However, he soon finds things spinning out of control while attending the E3 East gaming show in Auckland.  It was supposed to be the big break for Motive Games.  Instead he is the focus of unwanted media attention, hackers and threats of ruination from Australian mega-distributor PFG.  It’s when a PFG executive turns up dead that Phil finds himself in the middle of a mystery that may mean the end of Motive Games and all his dreams

Motive Games 2: Death Down Under is the stand-alone sequel to Motive Games from Canadian author LD Taylor.  Having not read the first book, I was concerned that I would feel at a disadvantage.  This was certainly not the case.  There are enough references to the events of the first book to ensure that the reader feels like they are reading a self-contained story.

This is an action-packed, murder-mystery set within the world of computer gaming.  There is a good pace maintained throughout without too much violence.  There is only the barest hint of romance; certainly a book geared towards teenaged boys rather than girls.  There are also plenty of references to servers, hackers and online games for those technology or gaming inclined readers.

The lead character, Phil, can probably best be described as a whiz-kid.  He is also a teen that, by virtue of his experiences in the first book, has had to grow up fast.  He is loyal, intelligent and resourceful.  He is aided by his best friend Oliver and a quirky, ex-detective called Turpin.  Together they are a determined team that will not rest until the truth is uncovered.  They are not modern James Bond figures though – indestructible and all-conquering.  They are afflicted by their own fears, physical ailments and emotional baggage; and they work to overcome these as they endeavour to protect their friends and the future of Motive Games.

Above all, I enjoyed the minor characters.  There is a wide range of personalities and eccentricities that not only provide variety to the story but also help to bring out the humour, emotion and tension throughout the book.

Overall, I found this easy to read and very enjoyable.  It reminded me somewhat of the Conspiracy 365 books, but for an older reader, and would suit any teen who enjoys that style of storytelling.

LD Taylor began her career as a marketing writer for the 3D graphics and animation software industry.  Before her family’s immigration to New Zealand, she decided to spearhead a family project that would combine her teenage sons’ interests in video games with her own in mystery novels.  The result was Motive Games which won her the Caleb Prize in the Young Adult category. Motive Games 2: Death Down Under is her second book.  She can be found online at: http://www.motivegamesbook.com/#/

Every Breath

Every Breath by Ellie Marney (Allen and Unwin)
PB RRP $18.99
ISBN 978-1-74331-642-9
Reviewed by Ann Harth

Ellie Marney has what it takes to captivate a young adult audience in Every Breath, the first book in the Every series.

Rachel Watts and her family have been forced to leave their failing farm and move to an affordable place in Melbourne. Rachel is miserable, missing the space, the freedom and her four wheeler. Her parents and brother are exhausted from long shifts in unfulfilling jobs and Rachel deals with high school and much of the housework. The family, once close and relaxed, now snipe at each other daily.

Even though money is tight, each night Rachel takes dinner to her neighbour, James Mycroft, a 17-year-old classmate and forensic genius. Mycroft’s orphan status and haunted past make him a complex and fascinating character and Rachel’s conflicting and growing feelings for him give this book a wonderfully romantic twist that keep the pages turning themselves.

When Dave, a homeless man and friend of Mycroft’s is brutally murdered, Rachel and Mycroft are the ones to discover the grisly scene. Though the police decide it’s a random sport killing, Mycroft suspects there was a stronger motivation and convinces Rachel to help him check it out. She is swept into the complex crime investigation, and the two of them set out to prove the killing had a more specific motive than cruel sport.
In their pursuit of the truth behind the murder, Rachel and Mycroft follow a web of intricately woven clues that lead them through the streets of Melbourne, the hospital’s mental health unit and end in a terrifying and riveting scene at the zoo.

Every Breath moves at a blistering pace, made even more intriguing by the strong characters of Rachel and Mycroft. Mycroft’s battle with his painful past and the couples’ growing attraction for each other add an element of emotional conflict that takes this book to a deeper level.

I would highly recommend this for a young adult audience. This book is a powerful crime novel entwined with a sizzling romance. Readers of Every Breath will wait eagerly for Ellie Marney’s next book, Every Word.

Ellie Marney is a native Queenslander who grew up with her nose in a book. She has travelled all over the world, but now lives in Melbourne. Every Breath is her first novel for young adults. For more information on Ellie Marney and her Every series. Please visit www.elliemarney.com

Ann Harth is a published children's author and writing tutor at Australian College of Journalism. She loves to read, write and is committed to creating children's literature that inspires, entertains and triggers a tiny twist in the mind. Her latest middle-grade novel, The Art of Magic, and her book for budding authors, Writing for Children – In the Beginning are available from Amazon.