Very Dangerous Things

Gr 9 Up–Dulce Castillo is a student a J. Everett School of Criminology, where each year a murder mystery game awards the winning team a cash prize. Dulce hopes to finally win the game to be able to take a fabulous trip in honor of her late mother, with her friend Emi. However, the game turns into an actual murder and even more twists unfold. This dark academia meets detective novel is clever and carefully plotted, with the subtle twists and reveals. There is a diverse set of characters, though at times there seems to be a dependence on stereotypes in character development. However, the solid weaving of Dulce’s school life and traumatic personal life make her a rich character any reader would want to root for. The pace is quick and engaging, with only the occasional deliberate lull to break up the plot effectively.