Karen McManus and Holly Jackson meets Fleur Ferris in this fast-paced YA murder mystery.
Eleanor Jones has just started at her ninth high school in less than five years. Since she and her mum are always moving on, Eleanor likes to stay on the outer, to stay invisible. So maybe it’s just bad luck that the very first person she talks to at Cooinda Secondary College, Angus Marshall, is stabbed and left for dead the same day. The last message on Angus’s phone is from Eleanor Jones.
After being interviewed by the police, Eleanor realises they don’t have all the facts and decides to investigate. In trying to understand what happened to Angus, Eleanor inadvertently becomes involved with an eclectic group of fellow students – all of whom have their own reasons to want to solve the mystery.
As they slowly unravel Angus’s secrets, Eleanor discovers the true meaning of friendship – and uncovers a danger lurking at the heart of the town…
Amy Doak is a lifelong lover of books, reading and writing. We’re excited to see her non-fiction writing career evolve into a fiction one with Eleanor Jones is Not a Murderer. It’s a fun, sharp and compelling murder mystery that’s an engaging read for YA readers and children aged 13+.
From the familiar outback town setting to the Aussie-isms used throughout, this is an authetically Australian read.
Narrated in the first person by our central character, Eleanor puts us immediately at ease. From the get-go, we’re taken into Eleanor’s confessions on being a teen outsider and the daughter of a mum who moves around a lot. They live in the ‘crappy houses on the outskirts of town’. So, Eleanor has become an expert at hiding in plain sight; it’s a feeling many of us are familiar with – particularly at that age.
But it’s harder to hide in plain sight, of course, when your new friend is stabbed and you were the last person they messaged. As Eleanor works to solve the mystery, she needs to become visible. On this journey, Eleanor discovers her strength, forming friendships and a budding romance within her new posse.
Doak writes passionately, and Eleanor has a sharp, funny and sparklingly clear voice. A voice I found had echoes of Holden Caulfield. Alongside Eleanor, there’s a fantastic cast of supporting characters – Troy and Alfie were standouts for me. Any readers can find someone to relate to. There’s a shared intimacy in the tone which is Doak’s secret ingredient to making this novel sing.
If you’re a fan of YA who-dunnit mysteries, or want an entry-point for your reluctant young reader, Eleanor Jones is Not a Murderer is the perfect introduction. An added bonus is that Eleanor Jones will be back again next year with Eleanor Jones Can’t Keep a Secret. We look forward to that!
Leave a Reply