A.R. Book Level: 3.9
A.R. Points: 9.0
Pages: 312
I knew that this book had some great reviews, but before I read it, I was thinking, "honestly, how good can a murder mystery REALLY be?". Well, it's fantastic, and not just in a suspenseful, find-the-clues kind of way. In fact, the murder takes a back seat to the hilarious and colorful characters. In Tupelo Landing, a small town in North Carolina (population 148), Mo LoBeau and her best friend, Dale Earnhardt Johnson, III, live among a community of strange and interesting people, from Mo's adoptive parents (theatrical Miss Lana and the mysterious, amnesia-stricken Colonel) to miserable Mr. Jesse, whose boat Dale "borrows" (steals). When something terrible happens to Mr. Jesse and detectives start crawling all over Tupelo Landing, it's up to Mo and Dale (the self-named Desperado Detectives) to clear Dale's name and protect their town. I was definitely laughing out loud when I read this, and I couldn't put it down. It's funny and suspenseful and heartwarming and all-around fantastic. If this book doesn't win the Newbery, I'll be very sad.