MMGM and giveaway: Sleuth or dare by Kim Harrington

PARTNERS IN CRIME (Sleuth or Dare #1)
SLEEPOVER STAKEOUT (Sleuth or Dare #2)
FRAMED & DANGEROUS (Sleuth or Dare #3)
by Kim Harrington
Scholastic, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-545-38964-8
ISBN: 978-0-545-38965-5
ISBN: 978-0-545-38966-2
Grades 3-6
Reviewed from purchased copies.

Book #1:

Whodunit? When best friends Darcy and Norah have to create a fake business for a school assignment, they come up with a great idea: a detective agency! Darcy loves mysteries, and Norah likes helping people, so it's a perfect fit. But then their pretend agency gets a real case. Someone is missing, and it's up to Darcy and Norah to take on the search. Unfortunately, there's someone else out there who doesn't want the two detectives stirring up any trouble. . . .With the help of hidden clues, spy gadgets, and trusted friends, can Darcy and Norah crack the case in time?

 Book #2

WHO'S OUT THERE?

Norah and Darcy's detective agency, Partners in Crime, is taking on a new and chilling case. The girls' classmate, Maya, is hearing strange, crackling voices coming over the baby monitor while she's babysitting late at night. Maya is worried someone might be in danger. To help investigate, Norah and Darcy join her for a sleepover stakeout. In between eating snacks and watching TV, the girls are on high alert for anything suspicious. Soon, they stumble upon a mysterious secret they never could have imagined -- but Norah and Darcy clash over how to interpret the new clues. Can the girls get past their differences to see their way to the truth?

Book #3

Who's the culprit? Norah and Darcy are still in a fight, but crime doesn't stop just because the girls aren't speaking. Someone has set fire to their school's brand-new field house. And the prime suspect is Zane Munro, the cute boy Norah can't help crushing on.When Zane asks Partners in Crime for help, Norah and Darcy must band together to investigate. Norah knows Zane is innocent, but the clues are not in his favor. Can she and Darcy mend their friendship, crack the case, and clear Zane's name before it's too late?


I'm reviewing these three books together because they go together.  Each book is a continuation of the previous ones, which I like.  It makes it seem more realistic. Norah and Darcy are best friends.  Despite some differences they complement each other nicely.  Norah loves astronomy and shrugs off the title of 'nerd' believing that intelligence is something worth sharing.  Darcy loves black and purple and crime shows, she also has great skills on the computer that she sometimes misuses.

In the first book, Partners in Crime, Norah and Darcy form a pretend business for a class assignment.  They are surprised when an anonymous someone seeks their detective help in finding a missing person.  They decide to help but first they need to find out the identity of the person seeking their aide.  Using Darcy's computer skills and Norah's inescapable logic, can they find the mysterious requester or the missing person?

In the second book, Norah and Darcy's friendship is tested when Norah starts spending time with Fiona, the most popular girl in school, and Maya, the quietest girl in school. But the friendship issues take a back seat when Maya comes to them with a problem, mysterious noises are coming out of a baby monitor while she's babysitting. Can they catch the culprit(s) and maintain their friendship?

In the third book, Norah and Darcy's friendship seems to be over, but is it? And what about Zane, Norah's crush, did he really burn down the field house or has he been framed as he claims? Can Darcy and Norah stop fighting long enough to find out?

This is a delightful new mystery series of special appeal to girls.  Not only is the writing good but the stories are interesting and believable.  They also involve the technological side of things involving computer hacking, smart phones, and baby monitors. Okay, so baby monitors aren't really high tech, but once you've read book two you might think otherwise. This is a great series to recommend to readers who've moved past Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys or who want a more modern type of mystery. I think this series will really speak to young readers, and I really enjoyed it myself, so much so that I'm giving away a set of the whole series. If interested, fill out the form.

Rules:

1. Must be over 13-years-old.
2. You must fill out the form.
3. Winner will be contacted by email and will have 48 hours to respond.
4. Please only enter once. Thanks.

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