A fun murder mystery with some decently solid writing. The premise itself was fun too, and enough of a hook to keep me reading through.

The Agathas
Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4)

spolier free

summary/plot: The Agathas is about Alice and Iris. Alice, who disappeared last summer, and when she returns everyone's pissed. Then Iris, who after Alice returns is hired to be Alice's tutor. Then a girl dies, one of Alice's old friends, and everyone suspects the boyfriend did it, Alice and Iris aren't so sure. Overall this book was actually a really fun read with some serious elements thrown in.

characters: It's dual pov from Alice and Iris. I like being able to see how each of them thought about different people, and it made me like the characters even more. They had their flaws, but they're also teenagers, so it was understandable flaws.

what i liked: It was fun, most of the time it was a faster pace, and i enjoyed it.

what i didn't like: there were times the pace was unsteady and that annoyed me a little bit.

final thoughts: Overall it was a fun and great read, and i really do recommend it.

A delightfully charming mystery with characters you find yourself rooting for! My only quibble is that the two leads - Iris and Alice - were difficult to distinguish on the page (chapters alternated from each perspective). When communicating, it was hard to tell them apart. I am also a bit mystified by the cover choice...seems odd and not quite a visual representation of the book. Alas, I look forward to the next Castle Cove adventure!

2.5

In case this is the first time you happen to read one of my reviews, there are two things you have to know: mystery is my favourite genre and the first mystery books — aside from children’s books — I’ve ever read were Sherlock Holmes and Miss Marple stories.
So, of course when I found out there was going to be a YA mystery called “The Agathas”, with the tagline What would Agatha Christie do? I simply had to pick it up and read it.
I wasn’t expecting it to be the next literary masterpiece of the century, but I sure hoped the Christie-ness of it all would be way more pronounced than it actually was, to be honest.
Aside from this, the mystery wasn’t the most original thing I’ve ever read, it was a very basic YA mystery that could have come out around the same time One Of Us Is Lying did. It felt a bit too old, but not enough to count as an hommage to the queen of mystery herself.
I am not going to lie, I think A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and Truly Devious are the main cause why I always struggle to find YA mysteries that I end up falling in love with, because those two series are simply superior in my eyes and nothing will ever be like them.
What I did like were the two main characters, because they were both extremely unlikeable and a bit amoral. Which might sound absurd to you, but I like unlikeable characters in mysteries, especially when they are the detectives or, like in this case, the teen sleuths. It makes it way more interesting to follow their investigation if they are not goody-two-shoes.
The writing style was nice. I honestly couldn’t put the book down, in spite of it not being the most original or intriguing thing I’ve ever read, because the style was that perfect blend of things that make YA mysteries such a quick and compulsively readable genre.
I couldn’t tell the book was written by two different authors, which — in cases like this one — I think is a good thing. You have to edit the whole thing to make it feel whole, and the authors (and, presumably, their editors) did a great job at it. I don’t know if they wrote a POV/character each or if both of them wrote both Alice and Iris, but it was a good mix.
I wasn’t sure if I was going to read the second book in the series, at first, but the more I think about it, the more I am curious to see how the two of them become closer friends and how their friendship will develop. And also, what kind of mystery they are going to try and solve next. Based on the ending of book one, I have a good idea, but we will see.
Even if it wasn’t the best book I’ve ever encountered in my life, I would still recommend it if you enjoy the genre and are looking for something quick and easy to read. You can totally ignore the fact that this is a series, so if you just want to read book one you can, the mystery at the core of the story is solved by the end of the book and you won’t miss anything.
I will be of course review the second book as soon as I get to it, in the meantime I’d love to know if you’ve read it and what you thought of it if you did. Do you like Alice or Iris more? Personally, I am team Alice for now, but we will see how it goes in the future.

In The Agathas, we are introduced to Alice Ogilvie, an Agatha Christie loving, formerly popular, high schooler who once disappeared for five days; and Iris Adams, her tutor and fellow high schooler, who has never been popular and never had the opportunity to disappear.

When Alice’s ex-best friend disappears, and Alice’s ex-boyfriend is accused, Alice decides to take matters into her own hands, and along with Iris and Iris’ group of friends, dives into a mystery that may be her undoing.



In The Night in Question, Alice and Iris are back, and this time Alice is looking into the death of a movie star from decades ago. But then one of her ex-friends is terribly injured and her other ex-friend suspected, and Iris and Alice are on the case.



I absolutely loved these books. Alice and Iris are relatable, complex, captivating characters, and the cast of supporting characters is great as well. There’s humor, and suspense, and real thrills, and the mysteries are full of twists and turns that always had me guessing and quickly turning pages. I highly recommend these books.

I love a good mystery and this one didn't disappoint! I loved how all the characters, Alice and Iris (who are polar opposites) worked together to solve the mystery of the disappearance-turned-murder of their fellow classmate. Written in the premise of Agatha Christie mysteries, this one was great.

Iris begrudgingly accepts a tutoring job because she and her mom are desperate to save money to get as far away from Castle Cove and the danger that lurks there. Alice was on house arrest for disappearing (of her own volition) for five days and costing the community a lot of time and resources. She's missed a lot of school, which is what brings her and Iris together. They agree to the tutoring terms, but no more. When Alice's former best friend goes missing and Iris is the last one to see her alive, they realize that have to join forces. No one in town seems to take the case seriously because of Alice's own disappearing act not long before this story takes place. Alice and Iris take matters into their own hands and learn a lot about their community, each other, and friendship. It's a fast-paced murder mystery with plenty of suspects and delightful references to Agatha Christie.

High school student Alice vanished after her relationship with basketball star Steve dumped her. When she came back, she refused to talk about where she was, so she became the biggest mystery in town until Steve's latest girlfriend, Brooke, also disappears, and it doesn't look like Brooke will be coming back.
Alice and classmate Iris team up in an Agatha Christie style investigation to see if they can discover where Brooke has vanished to and whether or not Steve is as guilty as he seems.

What’s better than a teen sleuth? Try TWO teen sleuths! The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson provides just that. The unlikely pair of Agatha Christie-loving Alice Ogilvie and her “zoner” tutor Iris Adams team up to crack the case of who killed Brooke Kennedy. The police think it’s basketball star Steve Anderson, Brooke’s boyfriend (and Alice’s ex-BF, which is awkward). But our intrepid detecting duo doesn’t believe it, and they decide to uncover the real culprit. They better hurry; the town of Castle Cove, California, hides plenty of secrets, and not everyone wants the truth to be revealed. This suspenseful murder mystery is a must-read for fans of Maureen Johnson’s Truly Devious series! 🕵🏻‍♀️ 🕵🏻‍♀️

Alice and Iris are two unlikely friends who find themselves following the “detective” footsteps of a favorite author, Agatha Christie, in solving a crime that has rocked their town. This book was so good, and it kept me guessing the whole time. I can’t wait for the sequel to come out! 4/5 stars.

This story takes place in a small town in southern California perched right above the ocean (although I kept wanting it to be on the east coast...) Alice is a Main - or at least she was until she pulled a stunt over the summer that got her on house arrest. The Mains rule the school. Iris is a Zoner. She does her best to stay invisible and off of everyone's radar. Alice's family is incredibly wealthy and she lives in a huge mansion; Iris' mom is a waitress at the local bar and they live in a small apartment. Alice wants her family and everyone else to appreciate her for who she is and Iris wants to get out of town to escape an abusive father (who does not live with them and is on a restraining order). This unlikely pair is thrown together by a school counselor. Iris has been hired to tutor Alice. Iris desperately wants the money so even though she's not excited about it, she's willing to do it. Alice is a bit hostile to the whole idea but she does not really have a choice - and Iris does kind of make boring school topics interesting. But what is even more interesting is murder. Alice is a big Agatha Christie fan; Iris leans more towards true crime but she's willing to give Agatha a chance. When one of the Mains is murdered, the girls team up to figure out whodunnit! Along the way the girls learn a lot about themselves and even more about each other and the often incorrect assumptions that they have made.

You may have noticed there are two authors - the story is told from two POVs - Alice is written by Liz Lawson and Iris is written by Kathleen Glasgow. It was an entertaining and fairly quick read. I am looking forward to reading the sequel which will be published at the end of May, 2023. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an ebook to review!

"The Agatha's" by Liz Lawson and Kathleen Glasgow is a thrilling and emotionally resonant young adult novel that explores the complexities of friendship, trauma, and the weight of secrets. This novel is a perfect blend of suspense, heartbreak, and hope, with characters that feel real and relatable.

The story follows a group of teenage friends who are brought together by their shared passion for the Agatha Christie mystery novels.

Lawson and Glasgow's writing is powerful and evocative, capturing the raw emotions and complexities of teenage relationships. The characters are well-drawn and multi-dimensional, with unique personalities and struggles that make them feel like real people.

What sets "The Agatha's" apart is its exploration of the impact that trauma and secrets can have on individuals and relationships. The novel does an excellent job of highlighting the importance of empathy, understanding, and forgiveness in the face of difficult situations.

Overall, "The Agatha's" is a must-read for fans of young adult fiction. Lawson and Glasgow have crafted a novel that is both suspenseful and heartfelt, with a powerful message about the importance of friendship and the strength of the human spirit. Highly recommended!

I loved this book so much! It's the perfect blend of suspense and mystery and kept me guessing to the end!!

Alice pulled a disappearing trick when her boyfriend, Steve, ditched her for her best friend, Brooke. When she returned home and refused to tell anyone where she had been or what happened, she was exiled from everyone. Her friends no longer wanted to hang out, her parents were already absentee parents and this caused them to find more reasons to not be at home. As Alice learns to be a loner, Brooke is wearing on Steve's nerves with her clingy neediness. After the fight at the party, Brooke is also missing and Steve becomes the number one suspect. Alice, however, feels like the police got it wrong. She knows Brooke is in real danger and Steve didn't do it. As she channels her inner Agatha Christie along with her tutor, Iris, (who needs the reward money for finding Brooke), Alice uncovers many secrets far more dangerous and scandalous than her disappearance.

Good fit for those looking for a suspenseful YA thriller in the manner of Karen McManus. I found this a little "tamer" than McManus' books, but for those fans this will be a good read-alike. Glasgow and Lawson also unpack a lot of other issues in this book: teen substance abuse, absentee parents, abusive parents, and navigating social hierarchy. There is a sequel coming soon, and I'm interested to see where the authors will take this series.

I did not love this one, though I had fairly high hopes for it. It somehow felt both rushed and slow, and with many secondary and tertiary characters that sometimes tended to detract from the story. However, I'm prepared to file this one under "not for me" while recognizing that others might love it.

Agatha Christie is one of my favorite authors, so when I first saw this book, I was excited!!

Things I enjoyed:

1) the timing
2) the characters
3) the writing
4) the fact that not everything worked out for them at first try.

Iris and Alice's character and relationship growth was fantastic! It made it easy to remember what was going on as more characters where introduced with new revelations. I very much enjoyed the Scooby Doo element. They are teens, not everything should go as planned for them. the puzzles, the mystery, and the ride we took to get from A-Z was phenomenal. I can't wait for the sequel!

Huge thanks to the publisher for the e-arc! I'm catching up on reviews, so a longer one is forthcoming!

Thoughts: Kathleen Glasgow is a go-to author when I need a gut punch and a good hug. Her writing is so visceral and relatable, I knew I had to pick up this book asap. I am delighted and thoroughly entertained by the dual authors and dual-pov! The characters are so fleshed out and distinct!

I also feel that his narrative is fresh and engaging in what could be considered an over-saturated market. YA thrillers are on the rise and in-demand, so it's lovely to see one so well done!

Welcome Back!

I am still working on catching up on reviews, but I have finished my first official 2023 read! I will be posting a review for that book soon! In the meantime, I want to talk about the Agathas! When I first saw this book on Goodreads, I was so excited. Everything about it sounded amazing. After that, I reached out to the publisher and I was incredibly lucky to receive an E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions. (But I want to say already that I loved this book so much I own not one but two physical copies)! So without further ado, let’s talk about the Agathas!

SPOILERS AHEAD

Alice is kind of known all around the town of Castle Cove. See last summer after a break-up with her boyfriend, Alice disappeared. However, she did not really disappear, she just ran away but on her way out she knocked some stuff over and everyone thought she was missing. So when Alice showed up again, unharmed and with no real answer to give to people who were asking where did you go? She became kind of a spectacle (in at least a small way). Now school is starting again for Alice and none of her old friends are speaking to her. Alice dreads going back to school, but one small thing she still has to herself is reading (and in particular reading mysteries). Soon after returning to school Alice’s, parents get her a tutor. It’s another student at the school, one Alice does not really know. Alice’s new tutor is Iris. Iris is the exact opposite of Alice in every way and is honestly just tutoring her for the guaranteed paycheck to help get her family out of some trouble. But when one of Alice’s old close friends goes missing, Alice and Iris become kind of become determined to figure out what happened. After all the police are barely looking, they are claiming she might just have run off like Alice did last summer. But Alice knows this can not be the truth. Can Alice and Iris solve this mystery and maybe help them both in the process?

I honestly loved this book so much. I had started reading it a few times, picking it up and putting it down. But once I really got into the mystery and the investigative part, I was sold. I never looked back. I devoured the rest of the book. Then I went to Goodreads to see if we would possibly be getting more ever (and we are)! Throughout the story, I came to love both Iris and Olive as their character’s stories unfolded in front of me. I also want to give an honorable mention to the cover. The cover of this book is absolutely amazing, I was recently in a Barnes and Noble store and saw their exclusive edition and could not resist! I can not wait to see what cover two looks like! If you have not read this one yet, I highly recommend giving it a try!

Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars

**Thank you so much to the publisher for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

An excellent addition to the growing teen mystery market. Because it is written by two authors, the main characters are wonderfully distinct and fully fleshed out. Perfect for fans of Maureen Johnson and those who read Agatha Christie as a teen.

Thank you for this arc copy of this book. It wasn't; my type of book but others may like it. I did enjoy the cover picture though.