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Mary Elizabeth #1
The Dark and Deadly Pool
Liz enjoys her summer pool job at the glamorous Ridley Hotel. Until the night, a dark and lonely night, a ghasty shadow surges up from the pool. A face — eyes wide, mouth gaping — stares at Liz. A hand clutches at her sneaker. Then it, whatever it is, is gone.
But danger isn't. Strange things are happening at the hotel, and a shaken Liz wants to know why. But whoever is behind the trouble will stop at nothing — even murder — to get what he wants...
179 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1987
17 people are currently reading
581 people want to read
About the author
Joan Lowery Nixon
189 books482 followersAuthor of more than one hundred books, Joan Lowery Nixon is the only writer to have won four Edgar Allan Poe Awards for Juvenile Mysteries (and been nominated several other times) from the Mystery Writers of America. Creating contemporary teenage characters who have both a personal problem and a mystery to solve, Nixon captured the attention of legions of teenage readers since the publication of her first YA novel more than twenty years ago. In addition to mystery/suspense novels, she wrote nonfiction and fiction for children and middle graders, as well as several short stories. Nixon was the first person to write novels for teens about the orphan trains of the nineteenth century. She followed those with historical novels about Ellis Island and, more recently for younger readers, Colonial Williamsburg. Joan Lowery Nixon died on June 28, 2003—a great loss for all of us.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
May 18, 2021
I went through a pretty good Joan Lowery Nixon phase when I was about twelve or thereabouts. Along with Lois Duncan, Ms. Nixon kept me well supplied with tense, easily digested mysteries about young girls who encountered the horrifying and the deadly on a regular basis. As I was in the process of expanding a bit on my Nancy Drew addiction, I basically ate them up with a spoon. I collected used copies of most of Nixon's books and, at one point, had quite a group of them on my shelf; now they've been whittled down to the most memorable, sentimental few. Of her mysteries I held on to Secret Silent Screams, The Kidnapping of Christina Lattimore, and THE DARK AND DEADLY POOL. And while the first two are probably better crafted, more complicated tales, THE DARK AND DEADLY POOL is my favorite because of its offbeat and lovable main characters--Mary Elizabeth Rafferty and her friend Fran or, as I like to call him--ManFran.
Mary Elizabeth takes a summer job at the super ritzy Ridley Hotel health club. Initially she thinks it will be the perfect place to spend those hot summer days. She's tall for her age, something of a klutz, and known to trip over or destroy the various objects in her path. Life has just gone that way for her over the past sixteen years. Secretly she dreams of becoming an orchestra conductor and when she's particularly zoned out she'll practice conducting in her head. Never mind the fact that she can't play an instrument to save her life and, at this point in time, she has all the confidence of an agoraphobic in a shopping mall. To make matters worse, the jittery Mary Elizabeth is closing up one night and sees a body rise up out of the pool, gape at her, and disappear once more under the surface of the water. No one will believe her, of course. Not Lamar the chief of security, not Art Mart the health club director, and not Tina her tough but friendly co-worker. Fortunately, she runs into (literally) another member of the staff who does believe her. A boy named Fran (short for Francis Liverpool III) who is shorter than her but makes up for it with an abundance of charm and determination. Together Liz and Fran attempt to solve the mystery of the dark and deadly pool...
Somehow this cozy little mystery has worn fairly well over the years. I loved it when I was twelve for its quirky main duo and for its slightly campy-creepy feel. And I still love it for those same reasons. There's something about the taller, stronger girl being courted by the smaller, Puckish boy that appeals to me. Throw in the fact that they run around rather ineptly fighting crime together and you've got yourself a winning combination, my friend. Nothing in the way of surprising or truly deep (except the, uh, pool), but everything in the way of endearing and charming. Every now and then I still pull out my old copy and settle in for a couple hours with Mary Elizabeth and ManFran. And you know what? They're still good company.
Mary Elizabeth takes a summer job at the super ritzy Ridley Hotel health club. Initially she thinks it will be the perfect place to spend those hot summer days. She's tall for her age, something of a klutz, and known to trip over or destroy the various objects in her path. Life has just gone that way for her over the past sixteen years. Secretly she dreams of becoming an orchestra conductor and when she's particularly zoned out she'll practice conducting in her head. Never mind the fact that she can't play an instrument to save her life and, at this point in time, she has all the confidence of an agoraphobic in a shopping mall. To make matters worse, the jittery Mary Elizabeth is closing up one night and sees a body rise up out of the pool, gape at her, and disappear once more under the surface of the water. No one will believe her, of course. Not Lamar the chief of security, not Art Mart the health club director, and not Tina her tough but friendly co-worker. Fortunately, she runs into (literally) another member of the staff who does believe her. A boy named Fran (short for Francis Liverpool III) who is shorter than her but makes up for it with an abundance of charm and determination. Together Liz and Fran attempt to solve the mystery of the dark and deadly pool...
Somehow this cozy little mystery has worn fairly well over the years. I loved it when I was twelve for its quirky main duo and for its slightly campy-creepy feel. And I still love it for those same reasons. There's something about the taller, stronger girl being courted by the smaller, Puckish boy that appeals to me. Throw in the fact that they run around rather ineptly fighting crime together and you've got yourself a winning combination, my friend. Nothing in the way of surprising or truly deep (except the, uh, pool), but everything in the way of endearing and charming. Every now and then I still pull out my old copy and settle in for a couple hours with Mary Elizabeth and ManFran. And you know what? They're still good company.
June 16, 2019
3.5/5
This was the perfect summer sick read. It was fun and nostalgic and took me back to summer vacation afternoons: reading stacks of library books outside while listening to David Bowie on my discman.
Nixon is prolific in 80s/90s YA thrillers and she obviously knows what she’s doing. The story was fun and I enjoyed the hotel setting. The main character was ridiculously obtuse at times (in the first 10% of the book she intentionally leads a strange guy back to her house) and she’s glaringly blind to the perp, but I didn’t hate her. Nixon did a good job of giving the characters some interesting quirks, like the MC wants to be a conductor.
*Also, hooking up with shorter guys ftw. 🙌😂
Recommended for a fun summer read that’ll definitely take you back.
((And Im definitely ordering the murder mystery sequel.))
March 8, 2023
I was a little nervous about getting to this one, because the track record of these have not been very good. And I remember that the sequel to this book is one of the ones I loved as a kid. I was a bit relieved when I found this book is miles ahead of everything else. And, honestly, the biggest issue is that its boring. But I'll take boring over wanting to throw the book across the room.
Our main character is Liz, and unlike all of the rest of the heroines of these books, she's not that bad. She's sweet, and not overly obnoxious, or making idiot decisions. She is tall - and has some hang ups about that, and she's klutzy in a way that's so cliché it's annoying. But at least she's not being embarrassingly obtuse.
The thing is - the characters in this book are actually a lot of fun. The whole thing takes place at a hotel - and the cast is made up of fun side characters who add a little sparkle to a somewhat dull plot. The main side character of note is Fran (a guy) - Liz's love interest. He's the only one of these dudes so far who has actually been a bit charming. And the romance between the two not only makes sense, but is built up believably. They're incredibly cute together - trying to navigate feelings for each other while figuring out the mystery. And it's easily the most enjoyable part of the book.
This book, however, is somewhat an inverse of most of the other books though. JLN does tension really well, and even if her characters are super annoying, the mystery are usually captivating. This one wasn't. The murder doesn't really take place until the second half of the book - and most of it involves a lot of stolen things and a few weird incidents. There's not really any tension, however, since the characters are all light-hearted, and the book really isn't driving to take itself that seriously.
Also, as for trope watch - there aren't many that pop up in this book. They're, of course, in Texas, and Liz gets a love interest to help her solve the thing. But maybe one reason this book works is that it is sidestepping a lot of JLN's usual go-tos.
Anyway, overall - it's easily the best book since A Deadly Game of Magic. It's sweet in a way that none of these books really have been. And while I found the mystery part to be rather boring - I'm at least looking forward to the sequel - hoping that it'll be as entertaining as past-me thought it was.
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Our main character is Liz, and unlike all of the rest of the heroines of these books, she's not that bad. She's sweet, and not overly obnoxious, or making idiot decisions. She is tall - and has some hang ups about that, and she's klutzy in a way that's so cliché it's annoying. But at least she's not being embarrassingly obtuse.
The thing is - the characters in this book are actually a lot of fun. The whole thing takes place at a hotel - and the cast is made up of fun side characters who add a little sparkle to a somewhat dull plot. The main side character of note is Fran (a guy) - Liz's love interest. He's the only one of these dudes so far who has actually been a bit charming. And the romance between the two not only makes sense, but is built up believably. They're incredibly cute together - trying to navigate feelings for each other while figuring out the mystery. And it's easily the most enjoyable part of the book.
This book, however, is somewhat an inverse of most of the other books though. JLN does tension really well, and even if her characters are super annoying, the mystery are usually captivating. This one wasn't. The murder doesn't really take place until the second half of the book - and most of it involves a lot of stolen things and a few weird incidents. There's not really any tension, however, since the characters are all light-hearted, and the book really isn't driving to take itself that seriously.
Also, as for trope watch - there aren't many that pop up in this book. They're, of course, in Texas, and Liz gets a love interest to help her solve the thing. But maybe one reason this book works is that it is sidestepping a lot of JLN's usual go-tos.
Anyway, overall - it's easily the best book since A Deadly Game of Magic. It's sweet in a way that none of these books really have been. And while I found the mystery part to be rather boring - I'm at least looking forward to the sequel - hoping that it'll be as entertaining as past-me thought it was.
Rating: 3.5 Stars
November 29, 2023
Getting toward the end of November, I saved these last two books because they happen to be the only ones with returning characters that are not part of any other JLN series.
The Dark and Deadly Pool focuses on Mary Elizabeth "Liz" Rafferty, a very tall and clumsy redhead who blew her first job of the summer in a burger joint by constantly knocking glasses over.
She was able to find a new job working at the health club in the very glamorous Ridley Hotel all on her own. It's an easy job to keep the pool area and sauna and Jacuzzi safe and clean and close up every night and Liz is good at remembering names and faces of the guests.
Closing up one night, Liz hears a noise coming from the pool and getting close there is a shadow under the water. A figure surges up, grabbing Liz by her sneaker and gives a scream that mixes with her own.
Liz runs off to get Lamar Boudry, the security head, but they return to find nothing. Lamar isn't interested in Liz being afraid of the dark and sends Tina Martinez to deal with situation. She's older than Liz at nineteen and is only doing this job while studying psychology in school but the two girls get along fine.
Tina tells Liz that Lamar is not happy lately because guests are leaving the hotel and getting stuff stolen while sight-seeing Houston. Liz says that isn't his fault but Tina tells her that there are also things turning up missing from the hotel as well.
This information and incident at the pool have Liz on edge and she gets spooked in the parking lot heading home enough to drop her keys and then scream when a young man offers to help her. He works at the hotel in room service and he was just leaving for the night and introduces himself with his given name as Francis Liverpool the Third but he prefers to be called Fran.
I like Fran.
Liz describes him as small-boned, short and fresh-faced that he looks younger than her even though they go to the same high school. He is witty and intelligent and charming even though Liz is holding out for a boyfriend taller than her own height but he treats her like a gentleman so a typical friend zone situation going on...
Fran tells Liz he will follow her home in his own car and she thanks him since her parents are out of town and she is still at little jittery. The next day, Liz goes to tell her boss what happened the night before.
His name is Arthur Martin but he goes by Art Mart and he is one of those conceited, weight lifting guys who has to stare at themselves in the mirror when they flex and he also has a bad attitude as well. He treats Liz as much as a nuisance as Lamar did and doesn't seem bothered, telling liz to just do her job basically.
The guests at the hotel and the health club members treat Liz so much better. Two older ladies, Mrs. Sylvia Bandini and Mrs. Opal Larabee, are always friendly even though they are very rich and can tell the designer of any person's clothing.
There is also an older gentleman, Asmir Kamara, who is foreign but not clearly established as to what country he is from. He is flirty with women and speaks in broken English, mostly using his own language to throw insults so yeah...this was a book from 1987 so not really that PC but not insulting.
There is also one other person that Liz notices, a man named C.L. Jones. He is a tall, skinny man dressed in a wrinkly gray suit and always talking with Mr. Kamara always looking very nervous.
One day two men ask Liz if she has seen Mr. Jones but she tells them nothing and makes them leave if they are not guests of the hotel or members of the health club. Liz is not very good at describing them to Tina though her descriptions are hilariously blunt enough to get eye rolls and stares of confusion.
It isn't very funny to hotel manager Lewis Parmegan when he calls Liz into his office because she happens to be a witness. To what? A theft.
Men claimed to be from a cleaning company that morning when she arrived for her shift and she bumped into one while another was getting a signature from Lamar to pick up some couches.
Very expensive couches exclusive to the hotel and after all of the other incidents of theft, the police have now been called in and Detective Jarvis is impressed with Liz's good memory at a few details...if not her "descriptions".
Liz is asked by Detective Jarvis to come in and look at some mugshots to find the thieves but she finds a photo of someone she couldn't have expected and the information she learns isn't very pleasant...
...and leads to even more tragedy that looks to pull Mary Elizabeth into the deep end of the dark and deadly pool.
A very good mystery with some interesting characters that you can't help but enjoy to help take some of the edge off this sort of neo-noir. Mrs. Bandini is constantly telling Liz that she needs to meet her grandson Eric who is very tall and handsome and Tina is using her security job to try and pick up good-looking guys while spouting psychology to explain every little thing.
Fran is also endlessly flirting with Liz and their conversations end up on two very different wavelengths sometimes and it is hilarious and sweet.
The reveal and climax are very quick and not very thrilling but everything else leading up to it and the ending are pretty good enough to earn four stars. This must be a fan favorite or one of Nixon's favorites that she wrote because the characters return in one more book but can lightning strike twice and give me another intriguing story with Mary Elizabeth Rafferty as our heroine?
The Dark and Deadly Pool focuses on Mary Elizabeth "Liz" Rafferty, a very tall and clumsy redhead who blew her first job of the summer in a burger joint by constantly knocking glasses over.
She was able to find a new job working at the health club in the very glamorous Ridley Hotel all on her own. It's an easy job to keep the pool area and sauna and Jacuzzi safe and clean and close up every night and Liz is good at remembering names and faces of the guests.
Closing up one night, Liz hears a noise coming from the pool and getting close there is a shadow under the water. A figure surges up, grabbing Liz by her sneaker and gives a scream that mixes with her own.
Liz runs off to get Lamar Boudry, the security head, but they return to find nothing. Lamar isn't interested in Liz being afraid of the dark and sends Tina Martinez to deal with situation. She's older than Liz at nineteen and is only doing this job while studying psychology in school but the two girls get along fine.
Tina tells Liz that Lamar is not happy lately because guests are leaving the hotel and getting stuff stolen while sight-seeing Houston. Liz says that isn't his fault but Tina tells her that there are also things turning up missing from the hotel as well.
This information and incident at the pool have Liz on edge and she gets spooked in the parking lot heading home enough to drop her keys and then scream when a young man offers to help her. He works at the hotel in room service and he was just leaving for the night and introduces himself with his given name as Francis Liverpool the Third but he prefers to be called Fran.
I like Fran.
Liz describes him as small-boned, short and fresh-faced that he looks younger than her even though they go to the same high school. He is witty and intelligent and charming even though Liz is holding out for a boyfriend taller than her own height but he treats her like a gentleman so a typical friend zone situation going on...
Fran tells Liz he will follow her home in his own car and she thanks him since her parents are out of town and she is still at little jittery. The next day, Liz goes to tell her boss what happened the night before.
His name is Arthur Martin but he goes by Art Mart and he is one of those conceited, weight lifting guys who has to stare at themselves in the mirror when they flex and he also has a bad attitude as well. He treats Liz as much as a nuisance as Lamar did and doesn't seem bothered, telling liz to just do her job basically.
The guests at the hotel and the health club members treat Liz so much better. Two older ladies, Mrs. Sylvia Bandini and Mrs. Opal Larabee, are always friendly even though they are very rich and can tell the designer of any person's clothing.
There is also an older gentleman, Asmir Kamara, who is foreign but not clearly established as to what country he is from. He is flirty with women and speaks in broken English, mostly using his own language to throw insults so yeah...this was a book from 1987 so not really that PC but not insulting.
There is also one other person that Liz notices, a man named C.L. Jones. He is a tall, skinny man dressed in a wrinkly gray suit and always talking with Mr. Kamara always looking very nervous.
One day two men ask Liz if she has seen Mr. Jones but she tells them nothing and makes them leave if they are not guests of the hotel or members of the health club. Liz is not very good at describing them to Tina though her descriptions are hilariously blunt enough to get eye rolls and stares of confusion.
It isn't very funny to hotel manager Lewis Parmegan when he calls Liz into his office because she happens to be a witness. To what? A theft.
Men claimed to be from a cleaning company that morning when she arrived for her shift and she bumped into one while another was getting a signature from Lamar to pick up some couches.
Very expensive couches exclusive to the hotel and after all of the other incidents of theft, the police have now been called in and Detective Jarvis is impressed with Liz's good memory at a few details...if not her "descriptions".
Liz is asked by Detective Jarvis to come in and look at some mugshots to find the thieves but she finds a photo of someone she couldn't have expected and the information she learns isn't very pleasant...
...and leads to even more tragedy that looks to pull Mary Elizabeth into the deep end of the dark and deadly pool.
A very good mystery with some interesting characters that you can't help but enjoy to help take some of the edge off this sort of neo-noir. Mrs. Bandini is constantly telling Liz that she needs to meet her grandson Eric who is very tall and handsome and Tina is using her security job to try and pick up good-looking guys while spouting psychology to explain every little thing.
Fran is also endlessly flirting with Liz and their conversations end up on two very different wavelengths sometimes and it is hilarious and sweet.
The reveal and climax are very quick and not very thrilling but everything else leading up to it and the ending are pretty good enough to earn four stars. This must be a fan favorite or one of Nixon's favorites that she wrote because the characters return in one more book but can lightning strike twice and give me another intriguing story with Mary Elizabeth Rafferty as our heroine?
September 5, 2024
Let's say 3.5☆'s.
Reads like a fun mystery with the added bonus of two enjoyable, quirky main charactors. If memory serves me correctly, I and a teenage girlfriends or two have been in Liz and Fran's situation. Pretending we don't want to get involved but at the same time just acidently touching hands and all the other stuff. They seemed like a couple of real kids.
The mystery was pretty straight forward but since it was a fun quick read of a couple of hours it didn't matter. I just went along with ride and enjoyed it. And I even found myself laughing out loud a couple of times.
Mrs. Larabee & Bandini stole the show of course. And I think I met them someplace in real life. If you need to find out what's going on, one always knows who to ask.
Reads like a fun mystery with the added bonus of two enjoyable, quirky main charactors. If memory serves me correctly, I and a teenage girlfriends or two have been in Liz and Fran's situation. Pretending we don't want to get involved but at the same time just acidently touching hands and all the other stuff. They seemed like a couple of real kids.
The mystery was pretty straight forward but since it was a fun quick read of a couple of hours it didn't matter. I just went along with ride and enjoyed it. And I even found myself laughing out loud a couple of times.
Mrs. Larabee & Bandini stole the show of course. And I think I met them someplace in real life. If you need to find out what's going on, one always knows who to ask.
July 9, 2022
I really enjoyed this story. I thought the plot was quite strong, and I liked Mary Elizabeth's character. However, my biggest problem with this book was how much of a creeper Fran was. I don't understand why so many books in the 80's were about men pushing themselves into women's lives even when the woman wasn't interested. In this book, Fran is short, Mary Elizabeth isn't interested and makes it clear, he keeps trying to invite her on dates and eventually he wears her down and she wants to be in a relationship with him. This isn't appropriate behaviour at all!
I really despised Fran's character.
I really despised Fran's character.
April 12, 2025
Fun! A nostalgic little read, definitely one that would be fun to pick up in the summer. Mary Elizabeth is a pretty solid heroine. She's fun and a little quirky without being too overly clichéd. Some of her inner thoughts made me cringe a bit, but nothing too bad, and she was a bit slow on the uptake when it came to figuring out what was going on.
The biggest issue for me here was the pacing. There's a large chunk of this novel, like the first half or so, when nothing is really happening. Then the tension and action really pick up, and it ends quite quickly.
Still, had a good time reading and already have the next book ready to download.
The biggest issue for me here was the pacing. There's a large chunk of this novel, like the first half or so, when nothing is really happening. Then the tension and action really pick up, and it ends quite quickly.
Still, had a good time reading and already have the next book ready to download.
July 17, 2022
This was a nice fast read. A mystery of the things happening at the Ridley Hotel --- thief of things like painting, meat silver tea sets 2 sofas , a pick pocket ring stealing wallets and then 2 murders. Mary Elizabeth and her new friend Fran try to solve the mystery. It is a fast moving book and was fun to read. This author has written more than 100 books and I will hopefully find more to read.
June 25, 2020
At first, I wasn’t sure if I would like this book; but it got addicting. Overall, I really enjoyed it. Some of the jokes from Fran are extremely weird.....maybe it was normal back in the day, although I don’t recall that. One thing that was very odd to me was after the murder, the health club remained open, and Liz just showed up to work the next day after finding the body? Odd, but whatever.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2025
Characters are really interesting. Liz and Fran were very likable and funny together. The only issue was the pacing… it was very slow and the mystery just dragged on. Definitely not a page turner but it was a pretty solid summer read with some great characters.
February 1, 2020
Good murder mystery.
May 23, 2020
A trip down memory lane. I can totally see why 12-year-old me loved this book.
May 26, 2020
This was pretty dull. The orchestra bit was obnoxious and a boy preferring to be called Fran just seems wrong. I appreciated the attempts at humor but still a boring story.
January 9, 2021
It's a decent YA mystery but nothing special
May 14, 2022
I need a Francis Liverpool III in my life
June 26, 2022
7.8/10
Likable Character with good writing and atmosphere, easy plot and decent intrigue.
Likable Character with good writing and atmosphere, easy plot and decent intrigue.
February 2, 2023
It was just as great as the first time I read it in 5th grade! Cheesy reading it now but amazing when I was younger. It was a perfect trip down memory lane.
January 28, 2024
fun re-read of a book I discovered waaay back in middle school.
May 8, 2024
Loved this, took a new turn and reminds me of Hush, Hush! Also....
DOLLY PARTON WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!
DOLLY PARTON WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2024
This book was fun to read and great nostalgia. Made me feel like a kid again.
January 1, 2025
A good quick reread of a favorite from childhood. I really like the main character Mary Elizabeth.
Read
December 16, 2016 "The Dark and Deadly Pool" is about a girl named Liz Mary Elizabeth. She just landed a new job at the Ridley Hotel's heath club. Her shift takes place from 3-11 PM. One night, while Liz is by the pool alone after closing, a mysterious figure comes up from the pool and reaches out to Liz. By the time Liz calls security, the man is gone! After the experience Liz starts to notice strange occurrences. When guests start to have their wallets pick-pocketed. Not only that, but roasts and turkeys are being stolen from the kitchen, and two antique sofas are stolen by people posing as cleaners. Later finding a dead guest in the pool. All in all these culminate into the final showdown with the intruder. From Liz's perspective this would be very frightening but, this whole participation really shaped Liz at the end. Overall, I think this story was very good. What strikes it as noteworthy is the plot. It was effective. My understanding of the issues were not enhanced. An audience would appreciate this work.
July 14, 2016
Well this one actually pretty good.
Looking for a quick but suspenseful filled read, I keep coming back to these books.
Been reading a lot of the author's books lately. And with most, not all, the ending seemed to either happen early or it makes you want more.
The suspense was good and at times I thought Fran was a little forward. But liked that he was honest at least.
And with Mary's "dilemma," it so reminded me of the manga series Love Com.
Either way, adorable.
At first I was like, wait wasn't there supposed to be a ghost? Then near the end I was like, ohhh okay then, now it makes sense.
Another good read. Looking forward to reading the author's other books. And the sequel sounds fun.
Looking for a quick but suspenseful filled read, I keep coming back to these books.
Been reading a lot of the author's books lately. And with most, not all, the ending seemed to either happen early or it makes you want more.
The suspense was good and at times I thought Fran was a little forward. But liked that he was honest at least.
And with Mary's "dilemma," it so reminded me of the manga series Love Com.
Either way, adorable.
At first I was like, wait wasn't there supposed to be a ghost? Then near the end I was like, ohhh okay then, now it makes sense.
Another good read. Looking forward to reading the author's other books. And the sequel sounds fun.
June 11, 2011
I originally read this when I was 11 or so and recently I started thinking about all the books that I liked when I was growing up. I didn't remember the author's name or the title of the book, but I did remembered the cover. Luckily I found this book for 2 bucks at a local used book store. I wasn't sure If I would like it 19 years later. It was a cute, fun read, it even made me laugh. When I was reintroduced to Fran (a boy who likes the main character)....I was like o yea I remember you and your cowlick ha. Mary Elizabeth Rafferty (the main character) was very refreshing and sweet but naive. It was a pleasure to meet her acquaintance again.
March 23, 2013
This story starts out promising - very spooky, but it becomes predictable. The love story moves too fast, and the dialogue seems off for teens. The ending is abrupt. I wondered if Nixon felt she was out of pages so she hurried it up too much.
I liked the story line and how Fran and Liz work together to solve the mystery. I think this is a 2 1/2 star book - not a 2 or a 3. I think I need to be more observant as I would not make a good witness. I don't think I could describe someone I just saw with clarity. I enjoyed Liz's descriptions of people - she cracked me up. Her descriptions were very true to the teen voice.
I think my students will enjoy the suspense.
I liked the story line and how Fran and Liz work together to solve the mystery. I think this is a 2 1/2 star book - not a 2 or a 3. I think I need to be more observant as I would not make a good witness. I don't think I could describe someone I just saw with clarity. I enjoyed Liz's descriptions of people - she cracked me up. Her descriptions were very true to the teen voice.
I think my students will enjoy the suspense.
October 31, 2008
The suspense was killing me in this wonderful book! really enjoyed it and It was one I'd really reccomend to mystery and horror lovers. I finished it in two days because I couldn't resist the suspense! I nearly fell off of my or sofa at times. I was acctally a but dissapointed with the ending because I personally didnt like the character. I didn't like Liz's boyfriend. There was nothing wrong with him, I just didn't like him for some reason. I thought that Liz should have gone out with the tall handsome man at the ending.
August 14, 2011
This book was almost susprisingly good. Sometimes I felt the storyline was dragging on, but the end was a shock, the main character was likeable, and I found that the writing was pretty nice (though calling flip flops "thongs" just seems wrong to me). I recommend this book to anyone looking for clean mystery fiction :)
May 31, 2010
A very light mystery with a few suspenseful moments and a dash of comedic romance, intended for young teenagers. It's not something I'm glad to have read, but I didn't mind reading it, either. I'd recommend only if you have nothing else to read or want something very light to cleanse the reading palate.
October 25, 2010
The book was really good with a good surprise ending, however, the ending was really rushed, it was like the author wasn't positive how they wanted it to end. It was in the middle of finding clues when suddenly all was revealed, I was about 10 pages from the end and I felt like it could go on for at least another 100.
May 24, 2013
This book was about a girl that got a summer job working in the health club at a 5 star hotel called the Ridley Hotel and ended up seeing a dark figure in the pool when she was closing up one night and then she solved the murder of Mr. Kamara, one of the hotel's wealthy guests that lived at that hotel.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews