The synopsis:
Chloe is a 12 year old girl who is grieving the loss of her beloved uncle. The beloved uncle who gave her his African Grey Parrot is his will. The African Grey Parrot who keeps talking about murder and cyanide. Did Chloe's uncle really die of a rare genetic disease? Or was he murdered? Chloe doesn't know, but she intends to find out.
This book feels like it is still in the process of being written, as though the author is still fleshing out the characters and is playing around with story elements to see what sticks and what she should toss. The grief parts are real and raw and authentic. The African Grey Parrot info feels very well researched, though clumsily dropped into the narrative.
The main problem is everything else: the fact that she jumps straight to murder as a cause for her uncle's death, the 'loan shark' angle, the unfeeling landlord, the ex girlfriend: all of these bits are a little ridiculous but with more room to grow they might have turned into something meaningful. As it is, the reader just gets whiplash from the odd juxtaposition of grief and screwball situations.
This book did not come together for me.

I loved the use of this middle grade mystery of this book. The characters were well done for this type of book, and I enjoyed figuring out what was going on. It uses the elements perfectly and I enjoyed trying to figure out what was happening. Kristin O'Donnell Tubb has a great writing style for this type of book, can't wait to read more. I loved the mystery of the cover and how it worked with the story.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy.

I have read many of Tubb’s books at this point in my career as a school librarian. They are among some of the most recommended books in my library. She has written historical fiction, realistic fiction, but this is the first mystery that she has written that I have read.

The common denominators in all of Tubb’s books is quality characters you will fall in love with, an excellent use of word choice and similes, and finally SO MUCH HEART.

The characters in this book will fill your heart. Chloe has just lost someone dear to her and finds that she has inherited an African gray parrot. While it seems strange that a parrot steals the show, that is completely the case in this book. The camaraderie that immediately develops between Chloe and Charlie is so endearing. When you add in the other family members who are also in various stages of grief, plus a comical madcap caper where they are trying to find Uncle Will’s murderer, you have a hit on your hands.

Not only do you have wonderful characters, but the story itself is filled with so many moments that reflect real life. The characters are hurting, yes, but there are punctuated moments of laughter and caring that have become so trademark in Tubb’s writing (not to mention her supreme word choice).

If y oh have readers that are hurting, that are looking for a madcap murder mystery, or just a fun story to read, turn them to Fowl Play by Kristin O’Donnell Tubb. I guarantee neither you nor your readers will be disappointed.

This was a great read! It was a mystery that kept me hooked and I know my fifth graders would feel the same. I enjoyed the characters especially how close the family was. It was such an annoyance read and will make a great addition to my classroom library.

Adding to cart! Fun family mystery. My daughter and I read this together. We laughed through it. We were hooked early on and she always begged for one more chapter.

Wondrous book! Quick, engaging chapters kept me wanting to read! Love the family aspect of this book.. great example for kids on how families stick together. Witty writing will keep kids laughing and the mystery will keep them glued! Charlie and Chloe are a great dynamic duo. Can’t wait to put in the hands of my students!

A great family mystery happens when Uncle Will dies and his parrot, Charlie, is left to Chloe, and Chloe hears the parrot say murder, cyanide, and homicide.. She thinks her uncle was murdered. She enlists the help of her brother, her Uncle Frank(a suspect), and Grammy to find out what happened to her uncle. As this busy family comes together and finds more suspects, Chloe realizes why Uncle Will said “family is wondrous, make it all count.” What really happened to Uncle Will?