I loved everything about THE NIGHT IN QUESTION, the second book in THE AGATHAS series. This is a YA amateur detective series that is all the things I love - a little Veronica Mars + Agatha Christie + Murder, She Wrote + Nancy Drew and I flew through it.

Just such great fun and would recommend to anyone and everyone who is a fan of YA mysteries. I’d put it in the same category as TRULY DEVIOUS, GOOD GIRL’S GUIDE & THE INHERITANCE GAME series & the CHARLOTTE HOLMES series.

Picking up four months after the events of Book #1, Alice and Iris are both dealing with the aftermath of that first mystery while also trying to move forward. The book opens at a Sadie Hawkins dance at the fancy and historical Levy Castle.

Alice is eager to get lost in a mystery and decides to look into the mysterious death, back in the 1940s, of film starlet Mona Moody. Mona died at Levy Castle the circumstances around her death and the murder itself remain a mystery.

But a past mystery isn’t the only one the teen detectives have to solve. While at the dance, Alice wanders through Levy Castle and stumbles on the body of one of her classmates, face down and surrounded by a lot of blood. And this definitely was no accident.

Told with the same wit, humor and intelligence as the first book I was totally pulled in from the start. I love the dynamic between Alice and Iris and also love their extended friend group. One of the best parts of a series is getting to return to a setting and to characters that I’ve grown to love and seeing how they’ve changed and been impacted by book one was great.

I also love the complex dynamics of their friendship and that it’s not all perfect and rosy. Relationships of all kinds - friends, romantic, family - are complicated and issues are not always wrapped up easily. The girls each carry their own motivations, secrets and struggles and I think this book does a great job of portraying the challenges of being teen, but also making these girls so smart and funny and relatable.

No one is perfect. Not everything is as it seems. Bad choices are made. There’s a hint of hijinks (think a teenage version of Finlay and Vero from the FINLAY DONOVAN series).

I’m such a massive fan and really hope this series continues and I have no doubt there are plenty more mysteries to be solved in Castle Cove. In fact the authors keep teasing us with one so I’m ready to read all about it!

Huge thanks to NelGalley & Delacorte Press for the ARC. So very grateful!

Castle Cove High School's latest Sadie Hawkins Dance is being held in the very structure that gives the oceanside town its name. While the massive building is now owned by the state, it once belonged to Charles W Levy, the millionaire who lost his fortune and died of grief after the death of his girlfriend, 1940s film starlet Mona Moody. The young actress had been on the verge of her cinematic breakthrough when she plummeted to her death from one of the Castle's balconies.

For headstrong young sleuth Alice Ogilvie, the dance is the perfect opportunity to snoop around a place she once wandered with her late best friend, Brooke Donovan. Brooke had been Charles' great-granddaughter, and her mother was on the Castle's board of directors. The two girls spent many hours exploring the Castle and its mysteries while Brooke's mom was in meetings.

Before present-day Alice can sneak off, though, a fight breaks out between two former members of her inner circle. Rebecca Kennedy and Helen Park are both rich, beautiful and popular… and wearing the same dress to the dance. Alice herself has to step in and break things up when the argument turns physical. Once things have calmed down, she finally goes looking for the secret she once discovered with Brooke:

QUOTE
This is so Agatha Christie: a secret passage, a hidden staircase, sneaking around in the dark with a storm raging outside. A shiver of pleasure runs through me.

At the bookshelf, I run my flashlight along the row of old books until I find it.

Agatha Christie's <i>The Secret Of Chimneys</i>. [I] tug the book toward me and voilà: the corner of the bookcase cracks apart.

My heart leaps.

Oh my god. I did it. I have to tell Iris. She should be here with me.

I text her. <i>I opened the secret passage I told you about!! Come meet me.</i>

I wait several long seconds for her to respond, but there's nothing.

Rude. What, is she too busy with Cole?

Whatever. Her loss. I can do this myself.
END QUOTE

Iris has been Alice's best friend since the two joined forces to figure out who murdered Brooke the year before. She's usually the calming influence that checks Alice's impulsiveness, but she's got her own problems tonight. Cole Fielding, the guy she's kinda sorta been seeing despite the disapproval of both her mother and Alice, seems ready to spend some alone time with her. But a misunderstanding in the dark shakes Iris' self-confidence, even before the screaming starts.

Alice is looking for more info on the tragic Mona Moody when she stumbles across a scene from a nightmare: Park standing over Kennedy's body, a bloody dagger in her hand. Shocked, Alice thoughtlessly accuses Park of wrongdoing, causing the other girl to flee. But after she and Iris regroup and compare notes, they realize that Park couldn't possibly have assaulted Kennedy and was most likely set up.

Turns out that they're pretty much the only people who think so. Still feeling the aftermath of the previous year's investigation, when false accusations nearly ruined people's lives, Alice and Iris decide to help Park clear her name. But the further they go, the more risks they find themselves taking. Will the pressures, if not outright dangers, of investigation finally sour them on detective work for good? Worse, will their friendship crack beyond repair?

I adore these two very different teenagers, both intent on doing the right thing despite all the obstacles in their paths. While reckless, Christie-mad Alice is my favorite, I’m really more like Iris: studious and cautious because she’s well aware that she doesn’t have the privileges her wealthy best friend does. And while Alice’s parents are often absent, Iris still has to deal with the aftermath of abuse, which rears its head at the very worst times:

QUOTE
I thought Cole might text but there's nothing. I guess I could text him, but what would I say? <i>Sorry I freaked out. You got so angry I thought you were going to hit me, like my dad would have done.</i> I know he knows about what my dad did to me last fall[, but] we've never talked about it.

I wish I could stop thinking about the Thing. I wish he'd evaporate from my brain, stop making me scared of sudden noises, even sudden silences. It was too freaky when Alice and I heard that noise outside earlier. I know he's in jail, but I also know he'll get out soon. It's like I can never fully relax. I'm always waiting.
END QUOTE

This thoughtful look at the aftermath of abuse lends greater depth to this series, making it more than the delightful romp it already is. Compassionate, smart and fun, The Night In Question showcases the lives of a detecting duo who are very much equal partners in crime-solving, as they get to the truth of what really happened to both Kennedy and Mona Moody, and how the two cases are connected. I loved this sequel almost as much as its predecessor, and am very much hoping there will be more books in the series, as there are certainly still many more Castle Cove mysteries to explore!

I flew through this sequel to last year's The Agathas, and I think it was even stronger than its predecessor.

In this installment, Alice and Iris are working on two connected mysteries: one from the past, surrounding starlet Mona Moody, and one from the present, concerning Alice's former friend Rebecca Kennedy.

This series is highly entertaining, especially if you enjoy lighter mysteries. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Agathas was a whole lot of fun and The Night in Question was just as fun. Iris and Alice were up to their chaotic selves this time around and found that their communication with one another did get better. Alice's scene with her mother and the realization she wanted to solve crimes for a career was wonderful to see for a girl who felt so alone the book prior. Excited for the next one hinting that it may be about the unsolved murder from years back.

If you take Veronica Mars, add a dash of Pretty Little Liars, season with Nancy Drew, sprinkle on a little Scooby Doo gang, and toss in a whodunit worthy of Agatha Christie, you get the base for The Agathas series. This is a fun, fresh mystery series which is a pure delight to read!

In this second outing, Alice and Iris find themselves in the middle of another Castle Cove mystery - this one committed at the castle while everyone is locked in for a school dance.

The mystery is engaging and it's fun following Alice, Iris and the rest of the gang as they search for clues to this locked-room puzzle. There are plenty of suspects between the students, teachers, and servers at the party to keep you guessing.

Definitely pick this up if you're looking for a fun mystery to read this summer, this is a great escape!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for honest feedback.

Oh I love the Agathas! We return to Castle Cove with the two firends, Alice and Iris, who are more opposite then any two girls can be but they share one thing, the love of solving mysteries. And Castle Cove seems to be filled with never-ending mysteries. Unfortunately another mystery falls at their feet while enjoying a Sadie Hawkins school dance at the Levy Castle. Now they need to solve the mystery of why someone would want to hurt Kennedy and place all the blame on Park. While trying to figure out why Kennedy was stabbed and her very expensive necklace that ties Rebecca Kennedy and Mona Moody together. Mona Moody was once a film star in the 1940's who died at the Levy Castle. Now as Alice and Iris start to solve the mystery of Kennedy they are also sucked into the mystery of Mona Moody. The deeper they go to solve Kennedy's attack it begins to tie into the case of Mona and they begin to twine together even more. As the investigation goes Alice and Iris find more danger around every corner. This prompts Iris's mom to put a stop to the girls hanging out with each other. However, Iris can't honor her mother's wishes and continues to investigate with Alice. Will the two of them be able to solve the mystery of Kennedy and Mona before the parents find out what they are up to? These two, Alice and Iris, are an amazing duo and I can't wait to see what they are up to next.

5 stars = Outstanding!

I loved this! Great to spend time with Alice and Iris again. And the mysteries in this are top notch, with real stakes. Didn't want to put it down. These should definitely be read in order as there are spoilers for book one in book 2.

Fans of The Agathas should snap this up right away!

The Night in Question is the second book in The Agathas series by author duo, Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson. I loved the first book, which was a great start to a YA Mystery series, named because the main characters are such big fans of Dame Agatha Christie. How fun is that!?

Set in Castle Cove, our protagonists are high school girls, Alice and Iris. Initially, they seem like opposites, but become close friends after Iris becomes Alice's tutor and they're thrust together into the midst of a perplexing mystery. These two make quite the detective duo. I just love their friendship. Iris brings with her a lovable group of misfits, who embrace former it-girl, Alice, into their ranks.

Even though Alice and Iris are the stars of the show, the other members of the friend group also become quite involved in their cases, helping where they can.

The mystery in this installment begins at a school dance at the infamous local mansion, Levy Castle. It's there that a fellow classmate is violently attacked in a secluded room upstairs, far away from the school-sanctioned activity. Another girl in their class is accused of the crime, but Iris and Alice believe she's innocent. Determined not to let the real criminal get away, the girls haul out the ole' murder-board and get to work.

I had a lot of fun with this story. First, I will say, I was a little worried about it going in, that I wouldn't remember the characters and everything that went on in the first book.

I guess this would be a good place to note that there is a mystery from the past that sort of acts like a subplot to the main mysteries of these stories. The historical mystery involves a local film star from the 1940s, who actually lived in Levy Castle. It is discussed a bit in the first book and is explored much more in depth here.

I read the first book so long ago, I felt like I may not remember important details. I'm happy to report though, that I had no cause to worry. These authors did a great job providing subtle recaps in relation to that first book.

I really enjoyed how quickly this kicked off as well. Within the first 10-15%, we were already setting up a solid locked-room mystery. It was funny, the girl who ends up getting accused of the crime, she's a really rich girl and her Dad is like an important businessman. Alice and Iris go to their house, to offer their help in clearing the girl's name, and the Dad is all like, 'who are you? What qualifies you to help my daughter?'

He totally underestimated the girl power of our dynamic duo and I was just waiting for him to eat his words. The greatest thing about Alice and Iris is their determination. They go above and beyond to get to the truth; even if it puts them at personal risk.

This mystery got fairly complicated, but it was plotted so well. The used of mixed media added to my engagement level with the story. I always love that. I also really enjoyed the opportunity to get to know this cast of characters better. It's clear from the end of this that there is going to be another book in the series; so exciting! Agatha Christie fans unite!!!

If you love a solid YA Mystery, or Mysteries in general, I would absolutely recommend this series. It's fast-paced, well-plotted and a ton of fun.

Thank you to the publisher, Delacorte Press, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm really looking forward to continuing on with this series and as silly as it may sound, cannot wait to see what the cover looks like!!

This was a good murder mystery for kids who enjoy Maureen Johnson and Jennifer Barnes' mystery series. It is a little bit unrealistic at some points, hence my lower rating, but overall a good read for high school students and a recommended addition to the collection. Sometimes the mystery is overcomplicated and too detailed for the reader - makes it too difficult to follow along. The characters are also somewhat stereotypical, so it makes it tough to read.

The Night in Question was a great sequel to The Agathas. The novel is fast paced and switches between Alice and Iris’s POVs. Again, their small town has a crime committed against one of their high school peers and the girls, distrustful of Detective Thompson’s abilities, set their mind to finding the culprit and solving the mystery. The main complaint I had with the book was that there were too many references to things that happened in the first book that I couldn’t recall. Overall though it was a great read, similar in pace and tone to the first book.

This is another strong outing from this collaboration of authors. I did not enjoy it as much as the first one, but will still recommend it and I look foreard to seeing how these characters will develop as the series progesses,

I loved this second book almost as much as the first, with one exception--I couldn't believe Raj was able to get away with giving them all that inside information without getting caught or getting in trouble!

Besides that, I loved this! The previous book ended up with a big question about the Hollywood Starlet, Mona Moody, so I've been anxiously waiting for this second book. I loved how the beginning started out with a vicious attack in the castle where Mona Moody lived and how Iris and Alice end up being drawn into solving the mystery because the police clearly aren't looking past the obvious. I'm a huge fan of Agatha Christie, making this book a lot of fun, but I like that although Iris and Alice have become best friends, their very different backgrounds mean they have a lot of growth to do (especially Alice) when it comes to their friendship. I loved trying to figure out who the culprit was (it was pretty evident based on all the clues), but I particularly loved how they connected the mystery of the past and present. This all led to a satisfying conclusion, and I am very hopeful that there will be a third book in this series!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was so excited to see the second book of this series being based on a 1940’s movie star!! I’m absolutely obsessed with the Agatha Christie theme the authors are sticking with throughout the books! I do feel like the girls have not really evolved themselves because they still seem to be stuck with making sure they have control of everything but I do like that their relationships with others evolved tremendously! I really hope the authors continue on because this is definitely movie worthy!!

Another great mystery from YA crime queens Glasgow and Lawson!

When an attack is perpetrated at the High School Annual Sadie Hawkins dance, the past and present converge and lead Alice and Iris on a spiraling Maze of death, riches and coverups.

I absolutely love Liz and Kathleen's writing in this series. Each writes from one of the MC's perspectives, so there are unique voices to each character. This leads to hillarious sequences and brilliant character growth as they push one another to take their character in a direction (falling out of a tree house? Classic).

The books in the Agathas series really DO seem Christie-esque... with massive casts of characters, red herrings swimming all over, and often times multiple threads of the story spinning out on the page. I'd recommend these to readers of any age that love mystery!

My only critique? The ending... but you have to read it to find out why!

My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I loved this book! After I loved the first book in this series, I absolutely needed to read the second book, so I was thrilled to be accepted for an advance copy. I loved this one just as much as the original. We got all of our favorite original characters returning, plus a few extras, AND two mysteries, set several decades apart. This book was nothing short of a masterpiece. One star taken off because it was slightly convoluted and hard to follow in some places.

The girls are back with a double mystery! One from the past and one from the present.

You get all the best things from The Agathas - unlikely friendship, mystery, hijinks, teens being more competent than police - along with these two intriguing murders.

Did I figure out the solution to one? Yes. Was it an accident that I figured it out? Yes. The clue I solved it with was actual not meant to be interpreted in the way I interpreted it, but hey! It got me there! 😅

I did like book one a smidge more, but this was still amazing!

In The Agathas, we are introduced to Alice Ogilvie, an Agatha Christie loving, formerly popular, high schooler who once disappeared for five days; and Iris Adams, her tutor and fellow high schooler, who has never been popular and never had the opportunity to disappear.

When Alice’s ex-best friend disappears, and Alice’s ex-boyfriend is accused, Alice decides to take matters into her own hands, and along with Iris and Iris’ group of friends, dives into a mystery that may be her undoing.



In The Night in Question, Alice and Iris are back, and this time Alice is looking into the death of a movie star from decades ago. But then one of her ex-friends is terribly injured and her other ex-friend suspected, and Iris and Alice are on the case.



I absolutely loved these books. Alice and Iris are relatable, complex, captivating characters, and the cast of supporting characters is great as well. There’s humor, and suspense, and real thrills, and the mysteries are full of twists and turns that always had me guessing and quickly turning pages. I highly recommend these books.

I loved The Night in Question so much! The plot was so interesting and I couldn’t help but love Alice and Iris more. Overall, this book kept my interest the whole entire time. Kathleen and Liz have mastered the YA murder/mystery genre. I really hope book 3 is in the world! I will read anything they write.

I reach for YA fiction when I'm in need of an escapist read. I've been waiting for The Night in Question - the second 'Agathas' book from Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson.

The first book (The Agathas) was so much fun to read, relive my teenage angst, and provided a nice murder mystery to try and solve before the final pages. (I love channeling my inner Nancy Drew). But it's Agatha Christie that is the inspiration for our lead characters Alice and Iris, and the rest of their cadre. WWAC do? The Castle Cove police are sloppy and take the easy way to a closed case. So our amateur investigators employ their own methods of detection.

This time 'round, the body is found at a school dance that was held at the home of a wealthy local family. The problem is that there's at least 150 possible murderers. The mansion is also the home to a historic murder that had a questionable resolution. Again, Glasgow and Lawson have created a'not so easy to solve' case. There's many a red herring on that garden path to the last chapters. Every time I thought I had sussed out the whodunit, a new piece of evidence changed my guess.

Take the time to read the quotes at the top of each new chapters. Some are from Agatha Christie and some are from a 1940's film star. Each one ties into the chapter it heads.

The characters are so well done and readers will be drawn to them. (Iris is my fave) The authors have really captured the teen vibe in terms of dialogue, actions, emotions and life in general. The setting is well described and easy to imagine. (Yup, a bit of a Riverdale feel) The murder is cunningly crafted and not easily solved. Loved it all!

And my fingers are crossed - I hope there's a third book!