Death By Bikini by Linda Gerber

Title: Death By Bikini
Author: Linda Gerber
ISBN: 9780142411179
Publisher: Sleuth Speak

Summary:
"Aphra Behn Connolly has the type of life most teenage girls envy. She lives on a tropical island and spends most of her time eavesdropping on the rich and famous. The problem is that her family's secluded luxury resort allows few opportunities to make friends - much less to meet cute boys.

So when smoldering Seth Mulo unexpectedly arrives with his parents, she's immediately drawn to him. Then a girl turns up dead on the beach the strings of her bikini top tight around her neck - and alarm bells sound. What exactly are Seth and his family hiding? And is it too great a coincidence that they turned up just one day before a murder?

As the plot thickens, Aphra finds that danger lurks behind even the most unexpected of faces..."
_______________________________________________________
Review:

There just aren't enough good who-done-it (new) mysteries in the YA lit world. This book made me wish for more titles like it - the whole suspenseful murder mystery. I really enjoyed this story - straight to the end!

There is enough of a little romantic interest to get girls interested in this book - if the whole suspense and such doesn't draw them in. The story is solid, if not a little predictable. I didn't mind the predictability so much because the story was crafted so well.

My guess is that guys wouldn't like this one (if nothing more than just the cover!), but I'm definitely handing it to girls of any age. This one will actually work for any grades 7-12. The upper end might want to look toward adult fic to find more hardcore mysteries. This one is a great starting place though!!

Other blog reviews: Here, here, and here.