Death by Latte

Title: Death by Latte

Author: Linda Gerber

Pages: 204

Sleuth/Speak, September 2008

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Recommended to: All teens, 12 and up

Rating: A+

****Spoiler Alert***! Read no further if you haven't checked out the first book in the series, Death by Bikini! (review here).

  

   Aphra's life has completely changed ever since Seth Mulo and his family, bearing a deadly secret, showed up at she and her dad's serene island resorts just weeks ago. They brought danger, romance, and...the address to where Aphra's mom, Natalie, lives in Seattle. Determined to meet up with her mother for the first time in four years, Aphra defies her father and sets out to learn all of the secrets that Natalie has been keeping from her. 

   But when Aphra arrives in Washington, Natalie and her partner Joe seem anything but happy to see Aphra: she possesses a valuable ring, an unknowing gift from Seth, that a potential killer might be after, and now she's dragging Seth and his family into danger...

   There are very few books that I absolutely love, love, love, but this is one of them: Gerber's writing is so addictive, and the book was quick and moving, with high action and suspense. Her descriptions absolutely sparkled, and she had me at the edge of my seat, madly flipping pages to the climax and the cliffhanging ending. 

  OK, I'll admit it. I didn't have very high expectations for Death by Latte, after reading the first, fantastic book in the series. I expected it wouldn't be as good as the high-adventure, fast-paced, thrilling Death by Bikini, and I was reluctant about starting it. But-wham!-by the third page, I was drawn in, and Gerber's writing kept me in for the rest of the novel, a fast-paced read that I finished off in a day. 

   I loved the change of scenery-there was something about the busy Seattle city life and pine forests, mountains, and rivers of the Cascades that just made DBL so much more exciting and addicting. I adored the narration-Aphra has such a clear, strong voice, and it really felt like I was getting into her head. The characters were all relatable and realistic-and I was rooting for them the whole way. To put it simply, Death by Latte was definitely one of the best books I've read all year, and now I'm more eager than ever to start Death by Denim, the third in the series!

  Enter to win this book in my birthday contest by clicking here.