Could teens and tweens be better detectives than adults, including law enforcement professionals? If you've never considered the possibility, be prepared to be amazed by what you will find in The Crabtree Monsters, written by award-winning author Chris Wieland. Learn more about this first book in the Kat Dylan Mystery series and enter to win a signed copy along with a $50 gift card to Barnes & Noble!
My Review:
Revolving around tough teenage girl Kat Dylan and her ten-year-old brother Alec, The Crabtree Monsters is a captivating, action-packed mystery thriller spiced with brilliant humor that gets the readers chuckling.
Still learning to cope with her parents' divorce, Kat is exasperated by the involuntary cross-country move to Crabtree, a small run-down town outside Chicago, where her uncongenial, rather estranged Grandpa Nick serves as police chief. Her plan to escape fails epically when she and Alec become victimized in a bank robbery. What's worse, their only legal guardian in town, is now accused of being the mastermind among the masked robbers. Determined to exonerate Grandpa Nick and find out the truth, Kat and Alec choose to conduct their own investigations, unexpectedly digging out Crabtree's sad secrets along the way.
The book fascinates me with its skillful storytelling and full-fledged characters. With Kat being the first-person narrator with limited or even biased information, the story is filled with twists and turns that are impossible to anticipate. The suspense and intensity of unforseeable events keep the reader on the edge of their seat. Given the author's expertise in filmmaking, the book is ready to be adapted into an enthralling action movie.
The main characters are multifaceted and well developed. Take Kat for instance. she is smart, sharp and strong, but suffers from a subtle sense of insecurity. Feeling abandoned by both parents and unable to make any new friends, she appears to be irritable, argumentative, defensive, and sometimes as dangerous as a ticking bomb that might go off at any instant. Her complicated personality reflects the impact of divorce on children as well as the parenting challenges associated with it.
The author also does a terrific job of bringing out the sibling dynamics of the intriguing sister-brother duo. They may poke fun at each other on a daily basis while they won't hesitate to risk their own lives for each other at times of crisis. Kat and Alec can't wait for their next case. Neither can mystery fans like me. Looking forward to the next book in the series!
About the Book:
Ages 10+ | 384 Pages
Publisher: The Smart Aleck Press | ISBN-13: 9798985701302
Moving from Los Angeles to tiny Crabtree, Michigan, is the last thing thirteen-year-old Kat Dylan wants to do. Crabtree’s seen better days and isn’t what you call welcoming. Worse, the move means living with her gruff Grandpa Nick, the town’s police chief, and having to look after her little brother, Alec.
And that’s before Kat and Alec find themselves in the middle of a bank holdup by the Monster Gang—four robbers in monster masks. Before the heist is over, the kids lose their cash and Alec comes within a hair of losing his life. When it is all over, Grandpa Nick goes to jail, accused of being one of the robbers himself.
Suddenly, this boring little town isn’t so boring anymore. Kat’s determined to find out who the men are behind the masks, and she’s going to need help. But exposing the robbers could have big consequences. The deeper Kat goes, the more she learns life is about making choices, including some that are a matter of life and death.
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
About the Author:
Chris Wieland is an award-winning writer and filmmaker. He is also the father of two fierce children, including a tough, smart tween who helped him find the voice of his protagonist, Kat Dylan. He lives in Southern California with his family.
For more information, visit website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok
One lucky person will win a signed copy of The Crabtree Monsters and a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card!
Four more winners will each receive a signed copy of The Crabtree Monsters!
Giveaway ends 7/14. Open to US only. Please enter below. Good luck and happy reading!
The Crabtree Monsters Book GiveawayDisclosure: This is a sponsored post in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and The Smart Aleck Press. icefairy's Treasure Chest is not responsible for winner selection or prize fulfillment.
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