In the Ballroom with the Candlestick by Diana Peterfreund
Synopsis:
The dramatic and deadly conclusion to the thrilling YA mystery series inspired by the classic board game CLUE!
After a tragic accident at Blackbrook Academy kills one of their own, Orchid, Scarlett, Peacock, Mustard, and Plum are desperate to put the pieces back together and finish out the year. The Murder Crew may have earned their nickname, but the last of their secrets are still coming to light and threatening to destroy friendships, futures, and more. And when another suspicious death rocks the campus, and Blackbrook’s dark past crashes into its present, they have a choice: Band together or turn on each other.
Review:
In the Ballroom with the Candlestick is the 3rd and final installment in the Clue Mystery trilogy. It is absolutely necessary that you read the first 2 books before this as the story progression depends on it and characters aren’t re-introduced. I highly recommend reading all 3 back to back… to back to avoid confusion. The first 2 installments are separate murder mysteries with a longer story arc, but this final book not only has a new murder mystery but wraps up previous threads as well. As a fan of the Clue movie, I loved the clever similarities. Though this story has been updated for current Young Adults and includes more diversity. I loved the complex mysteries and plot lines involving all of the main characters. And the final reveal doesn’t disappoint. This was a lot of fun, with plenty of surprises and thrilling suspense.