The Girl Is Murder

The Girl Is Murder
By Kathryn Miller Haines
Roaring Book Press, 2011. 342 pgs. Young Adult

It's the fall of 1942 in New York City, and Iris is dying to help out at her father's detective agency, especially when she discovers that one of her Pop's cases involves a boy at her new public school. But when Pop adamantly refuses her help, Iris quickly realizes that it's much easier to lie than to ask permission. Suddenly, this once-obedient former private-school girl is sneaking out of the house, misleading her friends and family, and dancing at the Savoy till the early-morning hours. There's certainly never a dull moment in the private-eye business.

Kathryn Miller Haines is the author of my favorite mystery series The Rosie Winter Mysteries, and this book is the beginning of a new series that is similar but meant for teens. This book has all of Haines's dependable strengths: great plot that you can't predict, the sights and sounds of New York during World War II brought to life, but her real strength is Iris's character. She has created an entirely readable, sympathetic, understandable, likeable character. True, Iris resorts to shady things like lying, but you feel justified along with her, wanting her to help her Pop out, feeling all of her worry about the war, her family, her situation in life, and you hope just as she does that in the end it will be worth it. This is a great pick for teens who enjoy historical fiction and are looking for a good mystery.

BHG