Lisa Orchard Review Post!

The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer by Lisa Orchard

ebook, 277 pages

Published March 13th 2012 by astraea press 

Review Copy: Provided by Author

Purchase: Amazon -- Barnes & Noble

 

Description from Goodreads:

This book opens in a small town in Michigan where fifteen-year-old Sarah Cole is stuck spending the summer at her Aunt and Uncle’s with her sister, Lacey. She’s not happy with the situation until she befriends a girl named Jackie. The three girls stumble upon the ruthless murder of a reclusive neighborhood woman. One of the officers investigating the crime believes the girls are responsible for her death. Fearing that this officer will frame them for the murder, the girls organize their own detective squad. They become the Super Spies and start their own fact-finding mission. The Super Spies can’t understand why anyone would want to murder the “Cat Lady” until they start digging into her past and discover a horrible crime that happened thirty years ago. They uncover a connection between the two crimes and attempt to bring this information to the police, only to be reprimanded for meddling in the inquest. Not only are the girls upset by the admonition, but they also struggle with the fact that their exuberant investigating could provide a legal loophole allowing the killer to go free. To make matters worse, the police don’t even believe them. Frustrated by this turn of events, the Super Spies realize it’s up to them to snare the Cat Lady killer.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lisa was kind enough to send me both The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer and The Super Spies and the High School Bomber for review.
I know I say this a lot, but I genuinely wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I started The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer, but I ended up really enjoying it.
It’s about Sarah Cole, who, along with her sister, is spending the summer at her Aunt and Uncle’s house in Michigan. It isn’t how she planned on spending her summer, and she isn’t thrilled being there. But then she meets a young girl named Jackie, and soon after they find themselves in the middle of a murder mystery. Eager to clear their names and track down the real killer, the girls form their own detective squad – the Super Spies.
The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer is a quick, enjoyable read that’ll keep you eagerly turning the pages to find out what happens next.
The characters: They are all rather likeable. For me, I can’t read a book if the characters don’t pull me in. That isn’t an issue here.
The story itself: I started reading this at work, which was a big mistake, because once I started reading, I didn’t want to stop. I wanted to learn more about the Cat Lady, Sarah and Jackie, and even the Wykowski boys. The story is a thrilling read, and I’d suggest that you don’t start it unless you have the time to read it in one sitting, because you’re not going to want to put it down.
Overall: I really enjoyed The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer. If you’re looking for a quick read that’ll keep you eagerly turning the pages, then why not check this one out? You won’t regret it.


The Super Spies and the High School Bomber by Lisa Orchard

ebook, 309 pages

Published July 26th 2012 by Astraea Press 

Review Copy: Provided by Author

Purchase: Amazon -- Barnes & Noble

 

Description from Goodreads:

This book opens in a small town in Michigan where Sarah and her sister Lacey are now living with their Aunt and Uncle. Still reeling from the fact her parents have disappeared, Sarah starts the school year with her new friend Jackie Jenkins. When Sarah learns the school has been bombed, she’s filled with dread. Uncle Walt is a teacher, and he was in the school when the bomb exploded. Taking matters into her own hands, Sarah decides to search for him. The rest of the Super Spies are right behind her. When a fireman chases them away from the school, Sarah becomes suspicious. She decides to investigate. The FBI arrives on the scene. Sarah realizes this bombing could have even bigger implications. Searching for the bombers, Sarah is introduced to the world of terrorism. She fears that the bombing and her parents’ disappearance are connected and terrorists are involved. To make matters worse, the bombers are determined to finish the job. Can the Super Spies find the bombers before it’s too late?

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lisa was kind enough to send me both The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer and The Super Spies and the High School Bomber for review.
My first thoughts: While I did enjoy the first book more, I have to admit that I liked The Super Spies and the High School Bomber.
The Super Spies and the High School Bomber starts off with an explosion at the local high-school. That’s scary enough, but Sarah and Lacey’s uncle was at the high-school when the explosion went off. Eager to find their uncle, as well as the truth to what happened, Sarah and the rest of the Super Spies head off towards the high-school.
While searching for Uncle Walt, they find a fireman acting strangely. He had on wearing running shoes and running off towards the field instead of the high-school, which was enough to spark Sarah’s interest. But when she finds the uniform abandoned near the baseball team, Sarah becomes determined to find out who the person was and what they were up to.
My thoughts on The Super Spies and the High School Bomber:
I’d have to give this installment a 3.5/5 stars. I did enjoy reading more about these characters, but the dialogue felt a bit strange at times, which made it hard to stay focused on the story at times. That isn’t to say that you shouldn’t read The Super Spies and the High School Bomber, because you should. It is still an enjoyable read worth checking out.
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