In the Hall with the Knife: A Clue Mystery, Book One by Diana Peterfreund
Synopsis:
When a storm strikes at Blackbrook Academy, an elite prep school nestled in the woods of Maine, a motley crew of students—including Beth “Peacock” Picach, Orchid McKee, Vaughn Green, Sam “Mustard” Maestor, Finn Plum, and Scarlet Mistry—are left stranded on campus with their headmaster. Hours later, his body is found in the conservatory and it’s very clear his death was no accident. With this group of students who are all hiding something, nothing is as it seems, and everyone has a motive for murder. Fans of the CLUE board game and cult classic film will delight in Diana Peterfreund’s modern reimagining of the brand, its characters, and the dark, magnificent old mansion with secrets hidden within its walls.
Review:
As a fan of the game and the film based on it, I knew I had to check out this new trilogy. There are clever characters with familiar names and nicknames. It’s easy to keep track of them all as they all have vastly different personalities and motivations. Each chapter is from a different rotating, major character. This is a very fun and well-developed whodunnit for teens and adults alike. From the colorful characters (maybe a pun indented) to the suspenseful plot, mystery and Clue fans will enjoy this fresh take. To be honest, I did guess the killer, but I wasn’t sure of the motivation – so it was still a thrilling adventure with several surprises along the way. I’m definitely reading the next in this fantastic series soon.