Hollywood Holdup

The Red Rock Mysteries #12

by Jerry B. Jenkins, Chris Fabry

At Halloween, facing a series of disasters while pet sitting, thirteen-year-old twins Ashley and Bryce gain insights into their principal and classmate Boo, and investigate a string of robberies at fast food restaurants in and around Red Rock.

Genres: Mystery, Christian Fiction, Christian, Middle Grade, Contemporary, Young Adult, Childrens

224 pages, Paperback

First published February 3, 2006

About the author

Jerry Bruce Jenkins is an American novelist and biographer. He is best known as the writer of the Left Behind series of books for Tim LaHaye and The Chosen novels to accompany his son Dallas's TV series. Jenkins has written more than 200 books, including mysteries, historical fiction, biblical fiction, cop thrillers, international spy thrillers, and children's adventures, as well as nonfiction. His works usually feature Christians as protagonists. In 2005, Jenkins and LaHaye ranked 9th in Amazon.com's 10th Anniversary list of Hall of Fame authors based on books sold at Amazon.com during its first 10 years. Jenkins now teaches writers to become authors here at his website. He and his wife Dianna have three sons and eight grandchildren.

Reviews

[Karina (Karina's Christian Reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Number of pages: 208

Genre: Children’s fiction/Mystery

Series: Red Rock Mysteries #12 (must be read in order)

Age recommendation: 9-13

Summary: When Bryce and Ashley volunteered to house-sit for some family friends, they did not realize what they were in for. Between lots of exotic pets and strange neighbours, the Timberline twins have their hands full – but there’s more going on: a mysterious figure is going around robbing fast-food joints. Can Bryce and Ashley fulfill their house-sitting duties and find the masked bandit?

My thoughts: I liked that there wasn’t so much creepy, disturbing content as some of the other books in this series. The worst it gets is a person points a gun at someone and demands they give all the money in the cash register. No one is ever hurt and he is caught in the end
As far as I can remember there’s not much Christian content, which I find a little bit disappointing. There may have been the passing mention of God, or going to church, or being Christians, and there was definitely a little bit about what different Christian families might do for Halloween (Bryce and Ashley’s family give out candy and go trick or treating).
I thought that the story was interesting and well planned out. However, I didn’t like how Bryce and Ashley kept messing things up; it stresses me out when I know that something is going badly and when a specific character should know the whole truth but they don’t. I probably get way too involved in these fictional stories, but anyway…
It was good book but nothing spectacular in my opinion.

My personal rating: 3/5 stars.

Link to blog: https://karinaschristianreads.wordpre...

[Randy Tramp · Rating 5 out of 5]

A family crisis causes Bryce and Ashley Timberline to volunteer to house-sit for some friends, but as soon as they move in, they notice strange happenings with the neighbors. Could one of them be involved in a series of robberies? While they watch the neighbors, who are watching them?

Again, another great action-packed story. This series has been great. Bryce and Ashley are interesting characters. The plot stays exciting, causing the reader to wonder what would happen next. I loved it.

[Tammy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This fulfills the 2018 Popsugar Reading Challenge for a book about or set on Halloween.

[Michaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another exciting Red Rocks book, with even more mayhem than expected! Ashley and Bryce have taken on the role of pet sitting for one of their mom's friends. Just before Halloween, they discover of the news, that many fast food restaurants have been robbed of large amounts of money. The two kids suspect Boo Heckler of threatening someone in their grade on Halloween. Later the twins discover that Boo was just joking around and that he wasn't actually going to do anything. With Boo Heckler out of the way, they still have to take care of all the animals at the house they are watching. One night it's raining and Ashley looks out the window to catch a glimpse of the money bandit's car pull out of the apartment garage. Ashley and Bryce decide to investigate and find that one of the boys in the other apartments is using his dad's car to go steal thousands of dollars in cash, from the fast food places. Ashley and Bryce crack the case under gun point and the police come and pick up the culprit.

[Eliza Noel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This time the 13-year-old twins, Bryce and Ashley, are trying to solve a chain of fast food robberies. At the same time they're trying really hard to not kill off all the pets in the house they're house sitting for.You get both the twin's reactions as they feed a mouse to Binky, the six foot long snake, because of the unique, fun way the authors alternate between Bryce and Ashley's perspectives.
This book is constantly exciting and fun. Once you start it you will not be able to put it down!

[i have moments of nonthinkingness *miranda* · Rating 5 out of 5]

ok, i know i give a lot of 5 stars but i don't read books i don't like. this one scared me bcuz someone was in a house when the power was out (1 of my fears). lol. great book...phantom writer was the best tho!

[Trish Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good!

My daughter loved this series! She read all 15 books and asked for more. She couldn't wait to tell me all about them and asked for more like them. Thanks for writing great books that are great for kids to enjoy!

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good book and it kept me entertained all the way through. It is a good mystery book and is fairly short which is good if you have a short attention span like I do.

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. I particularly liked that Boo/Aaron kind of helped Ashley and Bryce with one of their mysteries.