In the Study with the Wrench

Gr 8 Up–Maine’s Blackbrook Academy is in disarray after Headmaster Boddy was murdered in Tudor House, and a flood damaged most buildings in Book 1, In the Hall with a Knife. The few returning students include the “Murder Crew,” who were involved in the tragedy: Finn Plum, Beth “Peacock” Picach, Orchid McKee, and Vaughn Green, all white, Sam “Mustard” Maestor, who is Latino, and Scarlett Mistry, who is Indian American. All have things to hide, and reasons to access the forbidden secret passages under Tudor House, where the girls now live. Another body will soon be found in those passages. This sequel can get confusing, as it follows multiple storylines, and adding in the backstory tends to slow the pace. On the plus side, the characters are distinctive, and (mildly) diverse in ethnicity and sexual orientation. Readers of the previous volume will be interested in how their stories and relationships develop, though new readers will feel less invested. Missing entirely is the tongue-in-cheek humor implicit in the Game of Clue, which makes for a disconnect between the improbable names, improbable house, and serious storylines. Still, there is a market for classic murder mysteries in the YA field, so hand this to fans of the first book. The ending hints at a third book to come.