In this fresh and funny teen mystery, seventeen-year-old Millie joins forces with her classmate, gorgeous but mysterious Chase Albright, to try to find out who murdered Coach Killdare.
Putting the dead in deadline
To Bee or not to Bee? When the widely disliked Honeywell Stingers football coach is found murdered, 17-year-old Millie is determined to investigate. She is chasing a lead for the school newspaper – and looking to clear her father, the assistant coach, and prime suspect.
Millie’s partner is gorgeous, smart-and keeping secrets
Millie joins forces with her mysterious classmate Chase who seems to want to help her even while covering up secrets of his own.
She’s starting to get a reputation…without any of the benefits.
Drama-and bodies-pile up around Millie and she chases clues, snuggles Baxter the so-ugly-he’s-adorable bassett hound, and storms out of the world’s most awkward school dance/memorial mash-up. At least she gets to eat a lot of pie.
Best-selling author Beth Fantaskey’s funny, fast-paced blend of Clueless and Nancy Drew is a suspenseful page-turner that is the best time a reader can have with buried weapons, chicken clocks, and a boy who only watches gloomy movies…but somehow makes Millie smile. Bee-lieve it.
Things to consider before/while/after reading this review: Is Fantaskey really Beth’s last name? Because it sounds a lot like Fantasy + Key and I think it’s totally all too cool to actually be a real name. Then again, I’ve been plagued with one of the most common names in the world, or, well, maybe country, and that’ll do the trick of the all-knowing fleeting faith. All I’m saying is that if it isn’t a pseudonym some of us have really lucked out here.
Moving on, Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side was one of my favorite novels in middle school and I still find myself referencing it now and then even today. So, when I saw that Beth was releasing a novel this year labeled Nancy Drew-ish, I just had to have it—and I’m so glad I got the opportunity to slip a peak before it hits shelves.
Buzz Kill is, in fact, very Nancy Drew-ish. When I started this novel, there was what could be considered a minor confusion, because I expected much more romance than I actually got, but this book still managed to be very mysterious and completely enjoyable. There was also a modern-day Sherlock Holmes feel to it that made it equally fun and figure, if at all, this book is more for fans of the mystery genre than anything else. While fans of Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side might love the novel (like I did) these two aren’t even close to being relatable and I feel the need to cover that because I can see how being held under that misconception can ruin the novel entirely for you.
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Romance was also undoubtedly done. Chase was adorable and most girls these days have things for cute, broody little introverts anyways so if that’s your type you’ve most definitely hit the jackpot. Millie, or Millicent–as some call her–has easily become one of my favorite YA girls. I think most readers can all find a part of themselves in her, and that character relation played a big part while reading Buzz Kill, for me, as I think it will for others, too.
When it comes down to it, Buzz Kill is great for a younger audience ready for spunk and the occasionally quirky romance.
Rating: 8/10
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