The Dysfunctional Family’s Guide to Murder

Gr 6 Up–Ruth, 14, was not expecting to have a fabulous time spending a long weekend with her extended family in a remote farmhouse with no cell reception or Wi-Fi, but that doesn’t mean she was expecting the weekend to end in murder. Still, as an undeniable fan of Agatha Christie and a bit of an amateur sleuth, Ruth can’t help but be just a little bit intrigued by her step-grandmother’s murder. But it turns out that investigating a murder is harder than Miss Marple makes it look, especially when all the suspects are related to you. Ruth’s voice is fresh and funny, and the plot is carefully woven with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers guessing all the way to the final pages. For readers who prefer just a smidge of romance alongside their mystery, this entry has the perfect light touch with zero spice. Some of the Australian cultural references may fly over the heads of younger readers, but that’s okay, because the humor is universal. All main characters are presumed white.