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Clue Mystery #2
In the Study with the Wrench
The second book in a YA trilogy based on the board game CLUE!
In the aftermath of Headmaster Boddy’s murder, Blackbrook Academy has been thrown into complete disarray. Half the student body hasn’t bothered to return to campus—but those who have include Orchid, Vaughn, Scarlett, Peacock, Plum, and Mustard, now warily referred to by the other students as the Murder Crew. When another staff member is found dead and an anonymous threat begins to target the group, each of the teens' opportunistic reasons for sticking around come to light. Orchid’s identity comes under question while Vaughn’s family life takes a turn; Finn and Mustard grow closer; and Scarlett and Beth struggle to turn over new leaves. All of this comes to a dramatic head at Tudor House with a cliff-hanger...
In the aftermath of Headmaster Boddy’s murder, Blackbrook Academy has been thrown into complete disarray. Half the student body hasn’t bothered to return to campus—but those who have include Orchid, Vaughn, Scarlett, Peacock, Plum, and Mustard, now warily referred to by the other students as the Murder Crew. When another staff member is found dead and an anonymous threat begins to target the group, each of the teens' opportunistic reasons for sticking around come to light. Orchid’s identity comes under question while Vaughn’s family life takes a turn; Finn and Mustard grow closer; and Scarlett and Beth struggle to turn over new leaves. All of this comes to a dramatic head at Tudor House with a cliff-hanger...
327 pages, Hardcover
First published October 13, 2020
79 people are currently reading
3367 people want to read
About the author
Diana Peterfreund
53 books2,052 followersDiana Peterfreund has been a costume designer, a cover model, and a food critic. Her travels have taken her from the cloud forests of Costa Rica to the underground caverns of New Zealand (and as far as she’s concerned, she’s just getting started). Diana graduated from Yale University in 2001 with dual degrees in Literature and Geology, which her family claimed would only come in handy if she wrote books about rocks. Now, this Florida girl lives with her husband and their puppy in Washington D.C., and writes books that rock
Her first novel, Secret Society Girl (2006), was described as “witty and endearing” by The New York Observer and was placed on the New York Public LIbrary’s 2007 Books for the Teen Age list. The follow-up, Under the Rose (2007) was deemed “impossible to put down” by Publisher’s Weekly, and Booklist called the third book, Rites of Spring (Break) (2008), “an ideal summer read.” The final book in the series, Tap & Gown, will be released in 2009. All titles are available from Bantam Dell.
She also contributed to the non-fiction anthologies, Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume, edited by Jennifer O’Connell (Pocket Books, 2007), The World of the Golden Compass, edited by Scott Westerfeld (BenBella Books, 2007), and Through the Wardrobe, edited by Herbie Brennan (BenBella Books, 2008).
Her first young adult novel, Rampant, an adventure fantasy about killer unicorns and the virgin descendents of Alexander the Great who hunt them, will be released by Harper Collins in 2009. When she’s not writing, Diana volunteers at the National Zoo, adds movies she has no intention of watching to her Netflix queue, and plays with her puppy, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever named Rio.
Her first novel, Secret Society Girl (2006), was described as “witty and endearing” by The New York Observer and was placed on the New York Public LIbrary’s 2007 Books for the Teen Age list. The follow-up, Under the Rose (2007) was deemed “impossible to put down” by Publisher’s Weekly, and Booklist called the third book, Rites of Spring (Break) (2008), “an ideal summer read.” The final book in the series, Tap & Gown, will be released in 2009. All titles are available from Bantam Dell.
She also contributed to the non-fiction anthologies, Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume, edited by Jennifer O’Connell (Pocket Books, 2007), The World of the Golden Compass, edited by Scott Westerfeld (BenBella Books, 2007), and Through the Wardrobe, edited by Herbie Brennan (BenBella Books, 2008).
Her first young adult novel, Rampant, an adventure fantasy about killer unicorns and the virgin descendents of Alexander the Great who hunt them, will be released by Harper Collins in 2009. When she’s not writing, Diana volunteers at the National Zoo, adds movies she has no intention of watching to her Netflix queue, and plays with her puppy, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever named Rio.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 291 reviews
March 17, 2022
fulfilling my 2022 vow to read more YA/finish series i have started and left unfinished
book two! okay, so if you've read my GIF-heavy review of In the Hall with the Knife, you will understand that Clue is my all-time favorite movie, so this series was bound to find its way into my hot little hands.
i read the first one with the highest expectations, but although i bought the rest of the series the day each of them came out, i've been sitting on 'em without feeling any urgency to dive back in. however, since one of my 2022 goals is to finish some of the series that've been sitting on my shelves unread, here i am, dutiful AF.
both books are fine YA murder mysteries, but if i'm being honest, a lot of the affection i feel for them is being carried over by my love of the movie, which is a double-edgedsword knife in the conservatory. i know this series isn't intended to be a muppet babies kind of thing and these teenversions of the characters have no connection to their cinematic predecessors, but try telling that to my brain and my heart. these characters have been in my bones for nearly forty years, so peterfreund's new coke versions are somewhat jarring to this old dog. i mean, obviously some character tweaks were necessary to keep it YAppropriate—after all, a teenage procuress would be pretty dark for a light murder romp—and kudos to the author for updating and diversifying the cast, but—although she's CLEARLY established that these characters are WHOLLY distinct from that iconic ensemble of yore, she's gotta know that, thanks to her, some of us readers are over here picturing
as an aside to a review that is basically one long aside already, i still can't wrap my head around the rebooted game's insistence that "orchid is a Clue character now,"
and since orchid and no-connection-to-Clue-whatsoever vaughn are pretty much the series' focal points, it's just one more obstacle standing between me and my potential for loving this series.
mrs. white appears as a significant side character, which i appreciate, but swapping out mrs. white for dr. orchid in any Clue-related property is not appreciated.
if the crime is "stealing my heart," mrs. white will always be the one whodunnit.
so even though i want to love these books more than i do, i will finish the series, because every time there's a little referential easter egg, my heart soars.
in conclusion:
come to my blog!!
book two! okay, so if you've read my GIF-heavy review of In the Hall with the Knife, you will understand that Clue is my all-time favorite movie, so this series was bound to find its way into my hot little hands.
i read the first one with the highest expectations, but although i bought the rest of the series the day each of them came out, i've been sitting on 'em without feeling any urgency to dive back in. however, since one of my 2022 goals is to finish some of the series that've been sitting on my shelves unread, here i am, dutiful AF.
both books are fine YA murder mysteries, but if i'm being honest, a lot of the affection i feel for them is being carried over by my love of the movie, which is a double-edged
as an aside to a review that is basically one long aside already, i still can't wrap my head around the rebooted game's insistence that "orchid is a Clue character now,"
and since orchid and no-connection-to-Clue-whatsoever vaughn are pretty much the series' focal points, it's just one more obstacle standing between me and my potential for loving this series.
mrs. white appears as a significant side character, which i appreciate, but swapping out mrs. white for dr. orchid in any Clue-related property is not appreciated.
if the crime is "stealing my heart," mrs. white will always be the one whodunnit.
so even though i want to love these books more than i do, i will finish the series, because every time there's a little referential easter egg, my heart soars.
in conclusion:
come to my blog!!
July 15, 2021
Review coming soon.In the Study with the Wrench by Diana Peterfreund is the second book in the young adult Clue Mystery series. The story in this new young adult mystery/thriller is based on the board game of Clue. As a kid I loved playing Clue and after taking a closer look at this series I saw that it was also in one of my favorite settings of a boarding school so of course I had to read these.
The story in this series is set at Blackbrook Academy which is located in the woods of Maine. In the first book of the series there was a big storm and the students of the academy, Beth “Peacock” Picach, Orchid McKee, Vaughn Green, Sam “Mustard” Maestor, Finn Plum, and Scarlet Mistry were stranded at the academy along with Mrs White and a handful of other school employees when the body of the headmaster was discovered.
Now Orchid, Vaughn, Scarlett, Peacock, Plum, and Mustard are among the few that have returned to Blackbrook Academy where other students have deemed these students as the “Murder Crew”. Unfortunately for the group they soon end up with another dead body on the campus and with threats coming towards them they need to find out who the murderer is among them.
Now I wouldn’t say the Clue Mystery series is the strongest young adult mystery book out there but there is definitely an air of nostalgia to these after loving the game and other takes of the concept that came before. The story is always told from multiple points of view but it’s easy to follow, especially being familiar with the names. It’s overall a bit campy and silly but still fun to read and puts a smile on my face while reading. I think for me I even enjoyed this second a bit more than the first so I’ll definitely be back for the next book.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
The story in this series is set at Blackbrook Academy which is located in the woods of Maine. In the first book of the series there was a big storm and the students of the academy, Beth “Peacock” Picach, Orchid McKee, Vaughn Green, Sam “Mustard” Maestor, Finn Plum, and Scarlet Mistry were stranded at the academy along with Mrs White and a handful of other school employees when the body of the headmaster was discovered.
Now Orchid, Vaughn, Scarlett, Peacock, Plum, and Mustard are among the few that have returned to Blackbrook Academy where other students have deemed these students as the “Murder Crew”. Unfortunately for the group they soon end up with another dead body on the campus and with threats coming towards them they need to find out who the murderer is among them.
Now I wouldn’t say the Clue Mystery series is the strongest young adult mystery book out there but there is definitely an air of nostalgia to these after loving the game and other takes of the concept that came before. The story is always told from multiple points of view but it’s easy to follow, especially being familiar with the names. It’s overall a bit campy and silly but still fun to read and puts a smile on my face while reading. I think for me I even enjoyed this second a bit more than the first so I’ll definitely be back for the next book.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
August 16, 2020
First let's pause in appreciation of some of the epic pun names in this series. Rusty Naylor? Yes, please, and thank you. OK anyways... Somewhere between a 3.5 and 4 star for this one-- as a follow up to the first book in the trilogy, I was happy to see that the story seemed to move into its own direction, with new conflicts as well as continuing to build on the ones established in the first book. I will say that the pacing was a bit slow for my liking with a lot of action clustered at the end but... that ending has me so excited for the finale! Overall, I'm very happy with how much care has gone into this series & I'd recommend it to folks who enjoyed the Truly Devious series
December 30, 2020
These are so fun! I can't wait for number three, I MUST KNOW if my suspicions about . . . something . . . are correct!
And I really noticed this time how nearly every character's name was a color! Which makes you realize how many names are colors! Amber! Greyson! But Perry Winkle . . . I'm still laughing about that one! So fun and clever! And of course I loved the nod to Tim Curry in one of the names.
And I really noticed this time how nearly every character's name was a color! Which makes you realize how many names are colors! Amber! Greyson! But Perry Winkle . . . I'm still laughing about that one! So fun and clever! And of course I loved the nod to Tim Curry in one of the names.
October 13, 2020
3.5 stars
The second installment in the Clue Movie-inspired mystery series—another dead body, another mystery to solve, and (unfortunately) a bit too much time spent looking back at the first story.
Concept: ★★★★
Plot: ★★★
Character development: ★★ 1/2
Pacing: ★★ 1/2
So I really, really enjoyed the first novel in this series, In the Hall with the Knife. I HIGHLY recommend you check that book out if you haven't yet already—it's the perfect nod to the Tim Curry movie and will make you remember the board game fondly.
This book, In the Study with the Wrench, is the second novel in the trilogy. In this one, we're following the aftermath of the first novel as our motley crew of characters at Blackbrook Academy—Mustard, Scarlett, Peacock, Green, Plum, and the "new girl" to the canon Orchid—try to cope and move on from the tragic murder and events following the death of headmaster Boddy.
The group is referred to by the other students as the "Murder Crew" now. And while the group is trying to shuck off that label and ignore their recent past... fate has other plans. They discover another dead body. Again.
What's a group to do but solve another murder?
My thoughts:
So.... this is super painful for me to admit this about one of my most anticipated releases, but I just couldn't love this installment in the same way as the first one. We spend wayyy too much time rehashing the events of the first book. Now, I understand that there needs to be a "recap" grace period at the start of a sequel—it helps us to remember where the story left us if we haven't recently read the first one. But this novel spent 50% of its storyline on rehashing, regrouping, and focusing on the first book.
Because of that, this novel had a hard time standing on its own. I wish it had spent much more time on developing the current murder plotline, and more time on helping the characters grow/adapt. With its stale focus on previous plot, everything felt like one endless waiting room... waiting to wrap up the last story in order to get to the new.
I'm still very excited to read the third book in the series. Hoping this one was just a one-off problem and a victim of sequel syndrome. We'll see! Definitely still check this one out if you enjoyed the first novel—spending more time with the characters was fun.
Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
Blog | Instagram
The second installment in the Clue Movie-inspired mystery series—another dead body, another mystery to solve, and (unfortunately) a bit too much time spent looking back at the first story.
Concept: ★★★★
Plot: ★★★
Character development: ★★ 1/2
Pacing: ★★ 1/2
So I really, really enjoyed the first novel in this series, In the Hall with the Knife. I HIGHLY recommend you check that book out if you haven't yet already—it's the perfect nod to the Tim Curry movie and will make you remember the board game fondly.
This book, In the Study with the Wrench, is the second novel in the trilogy. In this one, we're following the aftermath of the first novel as our motley crew of characters at Blackbrook Academy—Mustard, Scarlett, Peacock, Green, Plum, and the "new girl" to the canon Orchid—try to cope and move on from the tragic murder and events following the death of headmaster Boddy.
The group is referred to by the other students as the "Murder Crew" now. And while the group is trying to shuck off that label and ignore their recent past... fate has other plans. They discover another dead body. Again.
What's a group to do but solve another murder?
My thoughts:
So.... this is super painful for me to admit this about one of my most anticipated releases, but I just couldn't love this installment in the same way as the first one. We spend wayyy too much time rehashing the events of the first book. Now, I understand that there needs to be a "recap" grace period at the start of a sequel—it helps us to remember where the story left us if we haven't recently read the first one. But this novel spent 50% of its storyline on rehashing, regrouping, and focusing on the first book.
Because of that, this novel had a hard time standing on its own. I wish it had spent much more time on developing the current murder plotline, and more time on helping the characters grow/adapt. With its stale focus on previous plot, everything felt like one endless waiting room... waiting to wrap up the last story in order to get to the new.
I'm still very excited to read the third book in the series. Hoping this one was just a one-off problem and a victim of sequel syndrome. We'll see! Definitely still check this one out if you enjoyed the first novel—spending more time with the characters was fun.
Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
Blog | Instagram
January 9, 2021
This is fun! I can't give it more than 3 stars, really, as I didn't remember a ton about the first book, so things didn't always resonate as much as they should have. But it's also the kind of three stars where YES. I'll read the next book.
February 10, 2022
More Clue the movie references. More fun. :)
January 3, 2021
3.5 stars
Not as strong as the first installment but these books are SO MUCH FUN. It needed a better editor and there are plenty of things that will make you scratch your head because ... the execution isn't always great, but who cares?
I'm just along for the hilariously fun ride here.
I still like all of the characters and their distinct personalities and voices. I thought I'd figured out one part of the plot, but turned out I had the wrong guy so I actually liked being wrong. Wasn't wrong about the two characters I'd been shipping since early on in book 1, though, I am excited to see where that goes in the final book.
The spoiler thoughts below are more for my own benefit, so I'll remember stuff when book 3 is published.
Not as strong as the first installment but these books are SO MUCH FUN. It needed a better editor and there are plenty of things that will make you scratch your head because ... the execution isn't always great, but who cares?
I'm just along for the hilariously fun ride here.
I still like all of the characters and their distinct personalities and voices. I thought I'd figured out one part of the plot, but turned out I had the wrong guy so I actually liked being wrong. Wasn't wrong about the two characters I'd been shipping since early on in book 1, though, I am excited to see where that goes in the final book.
The spoiler thoughts below are more for my own benefit, so I'll remember stuff when book 3 is published.
April 19, 2021
Still a really fun extension of the Clue series and the cast of characters names are great. However, this one was a bit slower than the first and I didn't feel as pulled in to a murder mystery with the Murder Crew since it didn't seem to be the focus. Each character had their own drama and things they were going through. It was good to get to know them better but it definitely didn't make the story compelling or a real page-turner. I will definitely read the next one, just to see where this goes, but this one felt a bit like filler and info (like a middle book) and less a solid mystery that stood well on it's own.
August 5, 2022
Clue is one of my favorite movies and while I'm glad that I read these YA murder mysteries inspired by the board game, my expectations were way too high. They're solid read but they don't quite have what the classic movie has. Plus, it probably doesn't help to imagine the actors from the movie as their equivalent characters here. Yeah, that's very weird. I do like the little references to that movie though because those are very cool to see worked into In the Study with the Wrench (Clue Mystery #2) by Diana Peterfreund.
May 29, 2020
*Thank you to Netgalley for the e-arc*
This is so so rare, but I liked this book more than the first in the series! We had some relationship shifts, big reveals, and even more mystery. There are six POVs in both books one and two which is pretty ambitious for an author to do - have six unique voices. I think that has a lot to do with why I enjoyed book two more because I was more familiar with the characters and used to each of their defining qualities whereas in book one I didn't get enough of them individually. Some aspects of the mystery I figured out in the beginning, but I didn't mind at all because I loved everything else that was happening.
I am definitely not okay after that ending, but I also have refused to believe what Peterfreund presented to the reader. I am in full denial.
I can't wait for book three.
This is so so rare, but I liked this book more than the first in the series! We had some relationship shifts, big reveals, and even more mystery. There are six POVs in both books one and two which is pretty ambitious for an author to do - have six unique voices. I think that has a lot to do with why I enjoyed book two more because I was more familiar with the characters and used to each of their defining qualities whereas in book one I didn't get enough of them individually. Some aspects of the mystery I figured out in the beginning, but I didn't mind at all because I loved everything else that was happening.
I am definitely not okay after that ending, but I also have refused to believe what Peterfreund presented to the reader. I am in full denial.
I can't wait for book three.
November 4, 2021
This was more fun that I could have imagined.
July 20, 2020
This is the second book in the series (the first book was :"In the Hall with the Knife"). and they are based on the board game, Clue. Again, we find the same students from the first book, now known as the Murder Crew: Scarlet, Plum, Green, Peacock, Mustard, and Orchid. Chapters are told from each of their points of view, which helps to move this story along, but it dragged for ages and ages. Let me say this without it being a spoiler: no one is murdered in the study with the wrench until maybe the last 15-20 pages. By then, I was just hoping someone would die soon. Not as fast-paced as the first book, this one DID end with a cliff-hanger, which sets us up for a third book. I just hope the third time is the charm. A good read for mystery fans, be prepared for a LONG wait for something to happen in this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2022
After reading the first book in this series and enjoying it, I knew I wanted more, and lucky for me the author has written three books in the Clue Series so far. In Book #2 In the Study with a Wrench, some of the students have left the school and others stayed behind. The ones who stayed behind include our "Murder Crew" from the first book. We have Scarlet and Orchid who have become fast friends, especially since Scarlet knows Orchid's true identity, Finn and Mustard who we see in a different light in this book - hint a bit of M/M action, Beth who is trying to become a better person overall but falls sucker to a life coach and Vaughn/Oliver Green who are still trying to juggle the identical twin act but it's a bit harder now since Orchid has fallen in love with Vaughn but doesn't know about Oliver. In Book #2 the secret tunnels have been sealed off and the group needs something from those tunnels, so one day they search and once again - find a dead body. This time of janitor Rusty Naylor. Who killed Rusty and are they still in the school? Meanwhile, Vaughn/Oliver find some diaries from their grandmother and discover a secret about their family - the founder of the school and the famous glue are closer to them than they realize. Book #2 also goes a bit deeper into Orchid's real-life tale and connects to her time in Hollywood and her past. Is anyone safe at Blackbrook Academy or is it the murder central for Rocky Point? Find out in Book#2 of Diana Peterfreund's YA boarding school Clue Mystery series.
November 23, 2021
2.5 Stars
In the Study with the Wrench didn't hold my attention the way the previous book did, and honestly I don't care that much about any of the characters. Plus there's a trope that was minor in book 1 but it's a huge part of the plot here and I hate it, and overall I thought I was going to ditch this series after this book, but then that cliffhanger happened and damn... Now I need to know what happened!!!
In the Study with the Wrench didn't hold my attention the way the previous book did, and honestly I don't care that much about any of the characters. Plus there's a trope that was minor in book 1 but it's a huge part of the plot here and I hate it, and overall I thought I was going to ditch this series after this book, but then that cliffhanger happened and damn... Now I need to know what happened!!!
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October 23, 2021Six word summary: More murder, more drama at Brookwood!
Loved: This is just such a fun series! Love love the continuation of the color-themed names, even if they are over the top (looking at your Perry!). I loved that we saw a little more development of each of the characters in this sequel. While I definitely prefer the first book, this was still so much fun to read and I will absolutely continue with the series!
Recommend for: Teens and up, fans of murder mysteries, fans of Clue
Reminds me of: Clue (movie) meets Pretty Little Liars.
Verdict: Add it to your TBR!
*Disclaimer*: I received an early copy of this title for review. All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.
Loved: This is just such a fun series! Love love the continuation of the color-themed names, even if they are over the top (looking at your Perry!). I loved that we saw a little more development of each of the characters in this sequel. While I definitely prefer the first book, this was still so much fun to read and I will absolutely continue with the series!
Recommend for: Teens and up, fans of murder mysteries, fans of Clue
Reminds me of: Clue (movie) meets Pretty Little Liars.
Verdict: Add it to your TBR!
*Disclaimer*: I received an early copy of this title for review. All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.
October 15, 2020
3.5 stars, rounded down
It seemed pretty obvious to me who was behind it, but I still enjoyed the mystery aspect. The first part of the story had a lot of recap from book one and while it was helpful because I didn’t remember much about the first book, it was almost too much and it got repetitive.
There was quite a cliffhanger at the end and I’m a big fan of Clue in general so I will read the next one.
It seemed pretty obvious to me who was behind it, but I still enjoyed the mystery aspect. The first part of the story had a lot of recap from book one and while it was helpful because I didn’t remember much about the first book, it was almost too much and it got repetitive.
There was quite a cliffhanger at the end and I’m a big fan of Clue in general so I will read the next one.
November 16, 2021
This book gave me everything I wanted from it, and I just feel immensely happy. All of the characters and everything, the plot. I'm super excited to get my hands on book three. Seriously, pick up this series. I know they're Clue books, but they're just so great.
October 18, 2020
I liked this one so much more than the first one. It was like the author really grew into her writing and it was much more original. It had a great surprise ending. I am very attached to these characters now.
October 13, 2020
I pleasantly enjoyed this sequel and surprisingly enjoyed the sequel more than the first book. I’m a huge fan of anything related to Clue, and I loved the direction this story took. In the Study with the Wrench starts off a few weeks after the ending of the first book. Now known as the Murder Crew, the survivors of the events that took place in the first book try to live normal lives after school starts again. But eventually the past catches up to each character and secrets that should have stayed buried are brought to light. Secrets that, of course, lead to another murder. In the Study with the Wrench is a sequel filled with murder, drama, and a dash of romance, and it’s a book that will leave you needing the next installment.
In the Study with the Wrench keeps the Clue retelling going strong and I was living for it all. What was great was that the story naturally flowed together and was constantly developing. It took a direction that presented new conflicts and new twists, but kept true to the characters’ nature and behaviors and kept the readers engaged. There were instances where I thought I knew the direction the story was heading in but then it would take a completely different turn, which was a great surprise. Because of the constantly moving plot and wonderful character dynamics, I had a hard time putting this book down.
Whereas the first book introduced the readers to each of the main characters and extensive character development, the second book provided more plot than character development, which I enjoyed. (*hint, hint*) If you look closely in the first book, you may be able to identify a key foreshadowing for book two. One of the reasons I enjoyed this book more than the first was that each character’s unique voice stayed true to each character. As the reader, I was given the opportunity to further learn more about the characters and become more attached to them. I loved the new side characters and the fun banter between the Murder Crew; it created wonderful dialogue that kept me engaged.
And, of course, the sprinkle of romance in the second book is exactly what I was looking for. The first book set the stage for a romance between two main characters, and I was excited to see that finally unfold bit by bit. It’s enough romance that doesn’t overpower the plot but adds a bit of complexity, especially when one secret threatens to ruin this budding romance. I definitely ship these two characters and I hope to see more of that romance in the next book.
When it comes to the writing, I can tell Peterfreund truly cares about the Clue series with how much love and technique she’s poured into this story. Peterfreund articulates the Clue series so well and wonderfully captures the essence of the Clue game and characters. Plus, I was here for all the pun names, which definitely adds a bit more of fun to the story. Her writing brings the characters to life in a captivating (yet murderous) way that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Overall, with how In the Study with the Wrench ended, I’m eagerly awaiting the third installment in this series. It’s one of those endings that leaves you questioning what really happened and hoping for the best. If you’re a fan of the Clue board game and/or movie, I definitely recommend this series! And if you’re a fan of light mysteries with wonderful character development, then In the Hall with the Knife is a great book to check out!
In the Study with the Wrench keeps the Clue retelling going strong and I was living for it all. What was great was that the story naturally flowed together and was constantly developing. It took a direction that presented new conflicts and new twists, but kept true to the characters’ nature and behaviors and kept the readers engaged. There were instances where I thought I knew the direction the story was heading in but then it would take a completely different turn, which was a great surprise. Because of the constantly moving plot and wonderful character dynamics, I had a hard time putting this book down.
Whereas the first book introduced the readers to each of the main characters and extensive character development, the second book provided more plot than character development, which I enjoyed. (*hint, hint*) If you look closely in the first book, you may be able to identify a key foreshadowing for book two. One of the reasons I enjoyed this book more than the first was that each character’s unique voice stayed true to each character. As the reader, I was given the opportunity to further learn more about the characters and become more attached to them. I loved the new side characters and the fun banter between the Murder Crew; it created wonderful dialogue that kept me engaged.
And, of course, the sprinkle of romance in the second book is exactly what I was looking for. The first book set the stage for a romance between two main characters, and I was excited to see that finally unfold bit by bit. It’s enough romance that doesn’t overpower the plot but adds a bit of complexity, especially when one secret threatens to ruin this budding romance. I definitely ship these two characters and I hope to see more of that romance in the next book.
When it comes to the writing, I can tell Peterfreund truly cares about the Clue series with how much love and technique she’s poured into this story. Peterfreund articulates the Clue series so well and wonderfully captures the essence of the Clue game and characters. Plus, I was here for all the pun names, which definitely adds a bit more of fun to the story. Her writing brings the characters to life in a captivating (yet murderous) way that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Overall, with how In the Study with the Wrench ended, I’m eagerly awaiting the third installment in this series. It’s one of those endings that leaves you questioning what really happened and hoping for the best. If you’re a fan of the Clue board game and/or movie, I definitely recommend this series! And if you’re a fan of light mysteries with wonderful character development, then In the Hall with the Knife is a great book to check out!
November 12, 2020
3.5 stars
So in the first book, I wished for more of the characters side plot stories. I got it in the book, but almost no mystery, which was kind of disappointing. Knowing that this is a Clue mystery book, I was expecting a lot more of the plot to focus on the actual murder we find out about in the beginning of the book. It was kind of more about how all the characters are coping with what happened in the first book, which I feel like could have been scaled down a lot to focus more on the murder.
I'm not saying I didn't enjoy getting to know more about the characters backstories and side plots. Getting to know exactly what happened to Orchid to make her need to change her identity was really interesting and one of the answers I really wanted to know from the first book. Something else I appreciated was Mustard's struggle with his sexuality. He has been told all his life he has to be a certain way and act a certain way, so even though he ultimately feels differently, he struggles with feeling that way. It was nice to see a character who was still finding himself.
The ending was super action packed and I loved that. I wish more of the book was like that!
So in the first book, I wished for more of the characters side plot stories. I got it in the book, but almost no mystery, which was kind of disappointing. Knowing that this is a Clue mystery book, I was expecting a lot more of the plot to focus on the actual murder we find out about in the beginning of the book. It was kind of more about how all the characters are coping with what happened in the first book, which I feel like could have been scaled down a lot to focus more on the murder.
I'm not saying I didn't enjoy getting to know more about the characters backstories and side plots. Getting to know exactly what happened to Orchid to make her need to change her identity was really interesting and one of the answers I really wanted to know from the first book. Something else I appreciated was Mustard's struggle with his sexuality. He has been told all his life he has to be a certain way and act a certain way, so even though he ultimately feels differently, he struggles with feeling that way. It was nice to see a character who was still finding himself.
The ending was super action packed and I loved that. I wish more of the book was like that!
October 20, 2020
Sometimes--very occasionally--a book manages to be important without doing the kinds of things we tend to think render a book important (in the bullshit, Canon-gatekeeping ways that we discuss importance, at any rate).
In the Study with the Wrench is one such book.
Of course, as a reader, I'm primed to love this novel. It's a continuation of In the Hall with the Knife, which I enjoyed, so it's got that delicious Big Sequel Energy. It's set in the complex, transmedial universe of Clue (the board game) and makes delightful easter-egg references to Clue: The Movie, a film from which I can recite nearly every line. ("It's you!" practically opens the novel.) It's set in a privileged-yet-somewhat-decaying private school in the wintry Northeast, a setting that, despite fully knowing better, manages to suck me in every time. And it's also just a rollicking good mystery, full of suspicious behavior and red herrings ("Communism is just a red herring") and all the generic tropes that feel like a comfort, even when deployed in the service of murder fiction.
There's a lot going for this novel, too, apart from my own personal readerly predilections. Like in its predecessor, Peterfreund does clever and inventive things within a preformatted structure, so even if we know we are getting a Plum, Scarlet, Mustard, Peacock, and Green, it never feels rote. She deftly builds upon the groundwork she laid in the first of the series, and in this installment she offers some thoughtful and complex character building. The students of the Murder Crew are--whether they like it or not--bound by the trauma of Boddy's death in book one, and here we see them rankle against that bond even as they eventually acknowledge and submit to it. We also get real character growth--they all learned something from the mistakes they made, and even though growth can be difficult, they're all a little more likeable in this novel as a result of that growth. It feels earned.
So yes--there is a lot here to like. The ensemble cast works really well here, and the new additions (Perry Winkle, for god's sake) are fun introductions into the narrative. There are nice undercurrents of acknowledging privilege and racial difference that never feel tokenistic. We also get to see these students trying to rebuild themselves and their worlds, which is undergirded by the (sometimes haphazard) efforts to rebuild Blackbrook itself after the devastation of the storm in book one. It's an elegant parallel.
What this book does, though--what makes it feel important in a way we might not generally ascribe to a middle installment of a series based on a board game--is the way that it handles the relationship between Finn and Mustard. The groundwork was smartly laid in book one, so it doesn't come as any surprise here to see them gravitate toward one another. But what Peterfreund manages to do is build a queer relationship in a way that we don't often see, either in YA or in larger literature.
YA has a tendency to be very matter-of-fact about queerness. The characters are here, and they're queer, and though they may face discrimination, there's a surety to it, to their conviction, to their identity. This is an observation, not a complaint--I'm a fan, and I can't imagine what it would be like to grow up with this kind of shining representation as ubiquitous, but I'm immensely glad it's out there. However, what is happening in this novel is different in a way that feels significant. As Finn and Mustard draw closer to one another, we are afforded the interiority of both of them, so we get to see both Finn's discovery that he is indeed attracted to Mustard and Mustard's own complicated experience of his internalized homophobia. We witness their identities unfurling; we are working it out alongside them, and I don't see that very often. It's refreshing, and real.
It's also all done in a lovely, nuanced manner that doesn't reduce or simplify either character to one note. Finn--the pragmatic scientist--rolls with his newfound awareness of his own bisexuality, and he readily fits this new information into his concept of self. Mustard, by contrast, has been struggling underneath his shame about his sexuality, a shame further reified by his father's disgust--a shame, by the way, that Peterfreund absolutely conveys to the reader even though she never explicitly has Mustard stop the narrative to explain himself. It's a great example of the old adage show, don't tell.
Taken together, these two characters' very different acknowledgements of their attractions and the very different ways they process the discovery of it being mutual feels incredibly tender, and kind, and real. We ache for Maestor, for the fear he lives in, and we want him to find his way out of it.
I think what makes this work so well--what makes it feel natural, why it feels important--is that when set into the midst of an ensemble cast, in a novel where each character's perspective is depicted, there's nothing special about their attraction to one another. It's lovely, yes, and written sympathetically, but in everyone's eyes except Mustard's, it's no different than Orchid's romance with Vaughn.
I'm not condemning the Out and Proud stories, or the centrally-positioned queer stories, or the narratives of coming out. I genuinely love those stories, too. There's value in the confrontation of that.
But when a queer romance is normal... when it's just one of many plot threads... when it's as natural as the het romance... when nobody casts aspersions on it (other than the gay kid suffering from his own internalized homophobia)... when it's not a plot device, but is instead just character building...
That.
That feels important.
In the Study with the Wrench is one such book.
Of course, as a reader, I'm primed to love this novel. It's a continuation of In the Hall with the Knife, which I enjoyed, so it's got that delicious Big Sequel Energy. It's set in the complex, transmedial universe of Clue (the board game) and makes delightful easter-egg references to Clue: The Movie, a film from which I can recite nearly every line. ("It's you!" practically opens the novel.) It's set in a privileged-yet-somewhat-decaying private school in the wintry Northeast, a setting that, despite fully knowing better, manages to suck me in every time. And it's also just a rollicking good mystery, full of suspicious behavior and red herrings ("Communism is just a red herring") and all the generic tropes that feel like a comfort, even when deployed in the service of murder fiction.
There's a lot going for this novel, too, apart from my own personal readerly predilections. Like in its predecessor, Peterfreund does clever and inventive things within a preformatted structure, so even if we know we are getting a Plum, Scarlet, Mustard, Peacock, and Green, it never feels rote. She deftly builds upon the groundwork she laid in the first of the series, and in this installment she offers some thoughtful and complex character building. The students of the Murder Crew are--whether they like it or not--bound by the trauma of Boddy's death in book one, and here we see them rankle against that bond even as they eventually acknowledge and submit to it. We also get real character growth--they all learned something from the mistakes they made, and even though growth can be difficult, they're all a little more likeable in this novel as a result of that growth. It feels earned.
So yes--there is a lot here to like. The ensemble cast works really well here, and the new additions (Perry Winkle, for god's sake) are fun introductions into the narrative. There are nice undercurrents of acknowledging privilege and racial difference that never feel tokenistic. We also get to see these students trying to rebuild themselves and their worlds, which is undergirded by the (sometimes haphazard) efforts to rebuild Blackbrook itself after the devastation of the storm in book one. It's an elegant parallel.
What this book does, though--what makes it feel important in a way we might not generally ascribe to a middle installment of a series based on a board game--is the way that it handles the relationship between Finn and Mustard. The groundwork was smartly laid in book one, so it doesn't come as any surprise here to see them gravitate toward one another. But what Peterfreund manages to do is build a queer relationship in a way that we don't often see, either in YA or in larger literature.
YA has a tendency to be very matter-of-fact about queerness. The characters are here, and they're queer, and though they may face discrimination, there's a surety to it, to their conviction, to their identity. This is an observation, not a complaint--I'm a fan, and I can't imagine what it would be like to grow up with this kind of shining representation as ubiquitous, but I'm immensely glad it's out there. However, what is happening in this novel is different in a way that feels significant. As Finn and Mustard draw closer to one another, we are afforded the interiority of both of them, so we get to see both Finn's discovery that he is indeed attracted to Mustard and Mustard's own complicated experience of his internalized homophobia. We witness their identities unfurling; we are working it out alongside them, and I don't see that very often. It's refreshing, and real.
It's also all done in a lovely, nuanced manner that doesn't reduce or simplify either character to one note. Finn--the pragmatic scientist--rolls with his newfound awareness of his own bisexuality, and he readily fits this new information into his concept of self. Mustard, by contrast, has been struggling underneath his shame about his sexuality, a shame further reified by his father's disgust--a shame, by the way, that Peterfreund absolutely conveys to the reader even though she never explicitly has Mustard stop the narrative to explain himself. It's a great example of the old adage show, don't tell.
Taken together, these two characters' very different acknowledgements of their attractions and the very different ways they process the discovery of it being mutual feels incredibly tender, and kind, and real. We ache for Maestor, for the fear he lives in, and we want him to find his way out of it.
I think what makes this work so well--what makes it feel natural, why it feels important--is that when set into the midst of an ensemble cast, in a novel where each character's perspective is depicted, there's nothing special about their attraction to one another. It's lovely, yes, and written sympathetically, but in everyone's eyes except Mustard's, it's no different than Orchid's romance with Vaughn.
I'm not condemning the Out and Proud stories, or the centrally-positioned queer stories, or the narratives of coming out. I genuinely love those stories, too. There's value in the confrontation of that.
But when a queer romance is normal... when it's just one of many plot threads... when it's as natural as the het romance... when nobody casts aspersions on it (other than the gay kid suffering from his own internalized homophobia)... when it's not a plot device, but is instead just character building...
That.
That feels important.
October 28, 2022
This book feels like it was written just to make a third book in this series. The story feels more like a world building novel for the grand conclusion in the third book. I thought it was a good story but nothing outstanding. I'm not sure how to feel about the ending and the twist.
February 28, 2021
Not as exciting as the first book but still enjoyable. Gotta press on and continue the series to find out what happens. 3 stars. Hope it gets better.
October 12, 2021
This is book 2 of the Clue mystery series. “Wrench” picks up where the first book ended. It’s the same Murder Crew with a new story.
Much like the first one, both books are a fun and easy read!
Much like the first one, both books are a fun and easy read!
June 6, 2023
Rated 3.5
July 6, 2022
Can’t wait to add this to my classroom library in the fall, and I preordered the final of the trilogy to arrive in September!
June 4, 2020
I am a lifelong Clue fan. When I was litttle, I loved to play the game and read the mini mystery books. When I was older, I watched the Tim Curry flick at least 1,000 times. (Loved the “It’s you!” nod, btw) I was ecstatic to find In the Hall with the Knife at the library in January, and even more excited to see Diana Peterfreund’s name on the cover. That book didn’t disappoint, and neither does this sequel.
As a veteran of many, many mystery novels, I am pretty good at figuring out where things are headed, but these books absolutely keep me guessing. It’s not that I didn’t suspect the bad guy. It’s that I suspected EVERYONE! I still have so many questions!!! I love these characters, and I am impressed that in such a large cast, they all have distinct voices.
Vaughn is, of course, my fave, although I feel quite frustrated with the trope of “If I just told my girlfriend this one secret I’m keeping, my whole life would be easier.” I wanted the genie from Aladdin to appear and yell “Tell. Her. The. TRUTH!” Just tell her about Oliver! But on the other hand, is there an Oliver? As soon as Mrs. White called Vaughn thinking of himself as the good twin a “fiction,” I started to ask myself, has anyone ever seen Vaughn and Oliver together? I’m beginning to worry Oliver isn’t real! And that would be devastating. I need to go back and check for clues in the first one. What have you done to me, Diana?
Overall, this book was a little more dismal in tone. There were a lot of new characters on the periphery with an air of importance that was ultimately not quite addressed. And by virtue of not being contained in Tudor house, it felt a bit less cohesive. People were all over the place and not focused on the same things. But I loved how the “Murder Crew” stuck together. I especially enjoyed Finn and Mustard finally sticking together (swoon)!
If you liked the first in this series, you won’t be able to put this down. Give me more, and give it soon, please!!!
As a veteran of many, many mystery novels, I am pretty good at figuring out where things are headed, but these books absolutely keep me guessing. It’s not that I didn’t suspect the bad guy. It’s that I suspected EVERYONE! I still have so many questions!!! I love these characters, and I am impressed that in such a large cast, they all have distinct voices.
Vaughn is, of course, my fave, although I feel quite frustrated with the trope of “If I just told my girlfriend this one secret I’m keeping, my whole life would be easier.” I wanted the genie from Aladdin to appear and yell “Tell. Her. The. TRUTH!” Just tell her about Oliver! But on the other hand, is there an Oliver? As soon as Mrs. White called Vaughn thinking of himself as the good twin a “fiction,” I started to ask myself, has anyone ever seen Vaughn and Oliver together? I’m beginning to worry Oliver isn’t real! And that would be devastating. I need to go back and check for clues in the first one. What have you done to me, Diana?
Overall, this book was a little more dismal in tone. There were a lot of new characters on the periphery with an air of importance that was ultimately not quite addressed. And by virtue of not being contained in Tudor house, it felt a bit less cohesive. People were all over the place and not focused on the same things. But I loved how the “Murder Crew” stuck together. I especially enjoyed Finn and Mustard finally sticking together (swoon)!
If you liked the first in this series, you won’t be able to put this down. Give me more, and give it soon, please!!!
April 5, 2021
In the previous book, snow and flooding trapped several Blackbrook Academy students in Tudor House, a lovely old building with several secret passageways. The headmaster was murdered, and the murderer was eventually caught and arrested.
Blackbrook Academy has somehow miraculously managed to remain open, despite massive flood damage and a bunch of students transferring out because their parents are understandably concerned about the recent murder. The school and its new headmaster are now entirely focused on moving past all of this. That means no trouble, no bad press, and no more students leaving.
Unfortunately, Blackbrook happens to have a lot of people with dark secrets, and Rusty Naylor, the head janitor, is one of them. His latest scheme gets him killed, and when his body is finally discovered the big questions are 1) Who killed him? and 2) Can Blackbrook's students convince administration that their standardized tests should at least be untimed?
The first book was better overall. This one took ages to really get going and was kind of a mess, although once I got to the last third it was hard to put down. It had a more noticeable humorous edge to it than the first, which I kind of liked. All the stressing about standardized tests in the midst of murder, Beth's life coach obsession, Vaughn and Oliver's identity swapping, a school counselor who was more interested in damage control than actual counseling, Orchid's stalker, a closed-mouthed new student named Rosa, and people's belongings mysteriously disappearing and reappearing. And then the relationship drama. There was so much going on in this book. So much.
A bit too much, honestly. You could take multiple characters, plop them into their own books, and probably produce at least two or three additional YA novels with the material crammed into this one. I was just thankful that not everyone's secret was as enormous and elaborate as Vaughn or even Orchid's. Beth's cringey life counselor emails were pretty normal by comparison, and Scarlett was just a control freak trying to figure out how to function now that her most useful connections had been severed.
This ends in what I consider to be a cliffhanger. A couple characters I'd hoped to finish this book and then call it quits with this series, but an annoying part of me kind of wants to know how it all turns out. Unfortunately, it looks like I'll have to wait until October for that, and any desire I have to finish up the series (if that is indeed the last book) might evaporate before then. Will I even remember the three billion things that came up in the first two books?
Rating Note:
I'm giving this 2.5 stars on LibraryThing and rounding down here on GR because the beginning was such a slog I considered DNFing multiple times.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
Blackbrook Academy has somehow miraculously managed to remain open, despite massive flood damage and a bunch of students transferring out because their parents are understandably concerned about the recent murder. The school and its new headmaster are now entirely focused on moving past all of this. That means no trouble, no bad press, and no more students leaving.
Unfortunately, Blackbrook happens to have a lot of people with dark secrets, and Rusty Naylor, the head janitor, is one of them. His latest scheme gets him killed, and when his body is finally discovered the big questions are 1) Who killed him? and 2) Can Blackbrook's students convince administration that their standardized tests should at least be untimed?
The first book was better overall. This one took ages to really get going and was kind of a mess, although once I got to the last third it was hard to put down. It had a more noticeable humorous edge to it than the first, which I kind of liked. All the stressing about standardized tests in the midst of murder, Beth's life coach obsession, Vaughn and Oliver's identity swapping, a school counselor who was more interested in damage control than actual counseling, Orchid's stalker, a closed-mouthed new student named Rosa, and people's belongings mysteriously disappearing and reappearing. And then the relationship drama. There was so much going on in this book. So much.
A bit too much, honestly. You could take multiple characters, plop them into their own books, and probably produce at least two or three additional YA novels with the material crammed into this one. I was just thankful that not everyone's secret was as enormous and elaborate as Vaughn or even Orchid's. Beth's cringey life counselor emails were pretty normal by comparison, and Scarlett was just a control freak trying to figure out how to function now that her most useful connections had been severed.
This ends in what I consider to be a cliffhanger. A couple characters I'd hoped to finish this book and then call it quits with this series, but an annoying part of me kind of wants to know how it all turns out. Unfortunately, it looks like I'll have to wait until October for that, and any desire I have to finish up the series (if that is indeed the last book) might evaporate before then. Will I even remember the three billion things that came up in the first two books?
Rating Note:
I'm giving this 2.5 stars on LibraryThing and rounding down here on GR because the beginning was such a slog I considered DNFing multiple times.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
May 18, 2021
This follows the events of what happened in the first book, In the Hall With the Knife, as the students of Blackbrook Academy start a new term after the murder of Headmaster Boddy. A lot of students didn’t return, but all those who were present when the old headmaster was killed are back, and they’re now known as The Murder Crew. And just when they think things might be calming down, another body – the body of head janitor, Rusty – is found in the secret passages of Tudor House.
What seems to be an accidental death is questioned though, as Finn Plum noticed a head wound on Rusty’s body that night he and Scarlett discovered it. Of course, that’s the least of his worries because he’s still trying to recover his secret invention that is locked in the passages. Meanwhile, the rest of the Murder Crew are also going through their own new set of obstacles in the aftermath of last term, and are now finding themselves involved in this new mystery against their wishes.
As much as I enjoyed the first book, I was a little disheartened to find that I didn’t enjoy this book as much. It recapped a lot of the first book to explain what was going on, so it didn’t stand out as much as its own new mystery. The only character that I really enjoyed reading this time around was Orchid, because it seemed she had more going on than just moving on from last term’s murder. Plus, her background was the most interesting of all of the students. Though, again, the author threw in an element that seemingly came out of nowhere that made me have to look back and question if this detail had come up previously because of its casual mention.
Once again, I found myself being skeptical of one of the characters in this story and boy was I excited when I realized I was sort-of right. I knew the person was sketchy as hell, but it didn’t turn out the way I thought. And the ending… that made up for a lot of the slow-moving story. I have my suspicions for what will be revealed in the third book pertaining to one character, but I can’t be specific because, again, spoilers. I hope I’m right though, because the way that book ended… I need answers!
So, yeah, this book wasn’t as great as its predecessor, but I care enough about the characters to want to find out what happens next. Here’s hoping the third book will kick this one’s butt!
What seems to be an accidental death is questioned though, as Finn Plum noticed a head wound on Rusty’s body that night he and Scarlett discovered it. Of course, that’s the least of his worries because he’s still trying to recover his secret invention that is locked in the passages. Meanwhile, the rest of the Murder Crew are also going through their own new set of obstacles in the aftermath of last term, and are now finding themselves involved in this new mystery against their wishes.
As much as I enjoyed the first book, I was a little disheartened to find that I didn’t enjoy this book as much. It recapped a lot of the first book to explain what was going on, so it didn’t stand out as much as its own new mystery. The only character that I really enjoyed reading this time around was Orchid, because it seemed she had more going on than just moving on from last term’s murder. Plus, her background was the most interesting of all of the students. Though, again, the author threw in an element that seemingly came out of nowhere that made me have to look back and question if this detail had come up previously because of its casual mention.
Once again, I found myself being skeptical of one of the characters in this story and boy was I excited when I realized I was sort-of right. I knew the person was sketchy as hell, but it didn’t turn out the way I thought. And the ending… that made up for a lot of the slow-moving story. I have my suspicions for what will be revealed in the third book pertaining to one character, but I can’t be specific because, again, spoilers. I hope I’m right though, because the way that book ended… I need answers!
So, yeah, this book wasn’t as great as its predecessor, but I care enough about the characters to want to find out what happens next. Here’s hoping the third book will kick this one’s butt!
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