Review Title: A Chilling Summer Mystery With Bite

Review:
Tiffany D. Jackson makes a strong middle grade debut with Blood in the Water, blending summer vibes, rich history, and a dark, twisty murder mystery. Kaylani is a smart, relatable heroine whose curiosity leads her deep into a web of secrets on Martha’s Vineyard. The suspense builds perfectly, keeping me hooked until the final page. This one’s equal parts beach read and heart-racing thriller—perfect for young readers who love a smart mystery.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#BloodintheWater #NetGalley #MiddleGradeMystery #TiffanyDJackson

If you haven't already jumped on the bandwagon of reading any of this author's stories, just go on and read them now. Each one is different, each one, I feel, has a lesson, a moral, information, and they come across as deep. This was no different. I was super excited when I got picked to read this book, and I already have it ready for my students to read, as I think they would love the story.
I learned a bit of information about Martha's Vineyard that I never knew before, and I thought that was really neat.
Kaylani has a lot on her; we learn that her father is in prison, and she is determined to get him out. She is learning all about the law, which I think at her age is an amazing thing to do. Her mother wants her to be a kid, so she sends her to Martha's Vineyard for the summer. She is to have fun and not think about the grown-up things. When she steps into Martha's Vineyard, it is a whole different lifestyle than she is used to. One thing leads to another, and someone dies, but was it a shark attack like they believe, or something more? Is someone hiding something? If so, what? Mystery, death, and friendship put it all together, and see what happens with the story, Blood in the Water. I loved the twist that came, as I wasn't expecting that. She did a great job with wrapping it all together.

Tiffany D. Jackson is an auto read author for me. She always tells stories that are relevant and entertaining as they are works of fiction. Blood in the Water was nothing short of the work I am accustomed to by her.

The story follows a group of teens on a seemingly dreamlike summer trip, which quickly turns into a waking nightmare. When one of their own goes missing, the group’s tight-knit bonds begin to unravel. Secrets surface, alliances shift, and as the waters around them grow darker—both literally and metaphorically—so does the truth. What begins as a fun, sun-soaked getaway transforms into a suspenseful, slow-burning mystery that keeps readers guessing until the final page.

Jackson expertly weaves tension and character-driven drama, exploring themes like peer pressure, privilege, loyalty, and the consequences of silence. Her portrayal of teens is authentic and unflinching, and the suspense is grounded in a reality that feels all too possible. The pacing is masterful, building an atmosphere of dread while leaving breadcrumbs of truth along the way.

What sets Blood in the Water apart is its emotional depth. This isn't just a whodunit; it's a reflection on how people—especially young people—handle trauma, responsibility, and guilt. The psychological layers give the book a weight that lingers long after the final twist.

I loved this one & read it in one sitting! I've read nearly all of Jackson's books, so it was fun to see. her first middle grade book. It's still very much so. her writing, but fits the middle grade world! Loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!!

I never know how to judge middle grade books as a 30 year old woman. I feel like I don’t really know what I’m talking about most of the time. Tiffany Jackson is excellent at suspense and mystery and I was engaged to this mystery the whole time. Unfortunately, I never felt like anyone was fleshed out besides Kaylani and London. And man, did I not like London. I actually didn’t like anyone besides Kaylani and her friends. Even though we didn’t know that must about them or see them that often, they actually seemed to care about Kaylani. Cassie and London and their grandparents were so awful. Like Kaylani is way too forgiving. I don’t even know if I could say when I was a kid I was that forgiving. Especially when so much stuff was going in her life. They treated her like straight trash because of her Dad. It was disgusting to read what they said to her. Not even them too! Just other adults picking on this child. And then the next day she’d act like she was still going to listen to them. Like I get being a kid in a place you don’t know but man I would not be as chill as she was about things. The twists and turns were really good and I enjoyed this book a lot. Tiffany’s first dive into middle grade was successful, even if I wasn’t really sure how I felt about it all the way.

I'm well past the middle grade age group and obviously not the target group for Tiffany D Jackson's newest novel, but I'm a huge fan of hers and will read whatever she writes. I really truly enjoyed reading Blood In The Water. Spectacular writing and plot. Even though it was written for a younger crowd, the themes and story had a complexity to them that I, as an adult, found engaging. But I don't think it will be too mature for that targeted age group. Kaylani is a loveable character and easy to root for.

Blood in the Water by Tiffany D. Jackson

adventurous tense fast-paced
Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0 stars

This was an absolute perfect middle grade read!! This story was engaging & made you feel like you couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I think there were come really good insights/modeling about kids getting to be kids & connecting with their world and friends. The characters felt age appropriate and authentic.

This was also my first time reading Tiffany D. Jackson and I am HOOKED! I can’t wait to read the rest of her catalog!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Scholastic for a digital ARC. I am so excited for this one to be published so I can read it (or listen to it) again!

This was so much fun!

I'm a big fan of Tiffany D. Jackson's writing, and I was very excited to see what she would do with a middle-grade novel. She managed to hook me with a mystery with a plot twist I didn't expect in a middle-grade book!

This book covers a wide range of topics - we have a murder mystery, sharks, mean girls, a fun summer setting, and a protagonist obsessed with criminal justice.

If you enjoy atmospheric stories with a strong female protagonist and a great mystery, this is for you!

I've read some of TDJ's YA books, and I really enjoyed them. To say I was excited to see a middle-grade release coming is an understatement! Blood in the Water hit all the marks for me, and I believe my students will love to see this book hit our school library at the beginning of the new school year. Kaylani is crafted well enough for kids to feel empathy for her character and to find her relatable. You have no doubt she will figure out the mystery surrounding the boy's death, but there is enough tension to keep those pages turning quickly. It is a fast and enjoyable read! If I could assign half stars, I would because this comes in at 4.5 for me.

(( 3.5 ))
Even though I predicted the outcome, I still had a good time. I had a few laughs & a few of the characters irritated me. I would recommend.

Tiffany D. Jackson is a great kidlit author and this is a very engaging middle grade read. I was surprised by how quickly we got into the murder mystery—and how dark some of the elements got. I'd say this is definitely for readers on the upper end of the middle grade spectrum or even reluctant older readers who aren't yet ready for YA. This features a strong sense of place, dynamic relationships, class issues within the Black community, and a dynamic character with a strong goal—both of her own and once Chadwick dies while she's spending her summer vacation on Martha's Vineyard. A compact, powerful, driven read!

I have loved many TDJ books so i had to read this one! I think it’s perfect for the target audience as a middle grade book— it definitely read that way throughout. It was a quick read and i was able to keep track of all of the characters. something about this story didn’t feel as completely buttoned up as her books tend to feel. don’t get me wrong, i was intrigued but it was still loose. while reading, i did feel strong feelings of empathy of the fmc and strong distaste For some of the characters which is exactly what you want!

3.5 stars’

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Blood in the Water might be marketed as a middle school read, but don’t let that fool you—it hits hard and delivers! Tiffany D. Jackson never misses, and this book is no exception. She brilliantly captures the way society treats you based on your last name, the devastating feeling of being abandoned when you need people most, and the ugly side of greed and obsession with image.

It was layered, thoughtful, and still so age-appropriate without watering anything down. I went in expecting a light mystery and came out deep in my feelings and full of admiration. Jackson knows how to deliver messages with power and clarity—Blood in the Water is another win for her bookshelf.

As an avid middle grade reader and children's librarian, I was thrilled to see that Tiffany D. Jackson had written a book for the tween age range! Kids are looking for those suspenseful, murder mystery books but may not be ready for the popular ones written for teens. This gives all of the thrill but still makes it appropriate for younger readers. I've read Jackson's work for teens and it is incredible how she managed to keep what makes her work so compelling and packaged it for this audience. What I also love is that it teaches about Martha's Vineyard in regards to the Black community and their history there. I can't wait to get this into the hands of my young readers looking for murder mysteries and it will definitely be on our next year's mystery book list!

Tiffany D. Jackson was able to weave her knack for creating mysteries into a middle-grade seamlessly.

As a huge Jackson fan, I am not surprised that I loved this book, but as someone who does not read much middle-grade, I am surprised that I truly enjoyed every second of reading it. The characters were phenomenal which I feel is what Jackson does best. Creating a group of characters that are just so spectacular that you want to continue reading to see how their stories end by the end of the book.

Blood in the Water is a murder mystery on Martha's Vineyard that offers black history of the Vineyard. I was not aware of the rich black history that is in Martha's Vineyard so I really enjoyed getting to delve into the history a bit while also not losing any motion within the story. It truly was perfectly weaved throughout so that the story was still moving along but it was crucial to understand some of the history of the Vineyard.

Overall, I think this is the perfect summer read. It has ambitious characters that are trying to find the right in the world at such a young age while also allowing the kids to have fun at their young age even with the backdrop of someone being murdered. I truly would recommend this book for anyone of any age. It is just a wholesome story with rich history and social commentary.

I love me some Tiffany Jackson, so I was SUPER excited to receive an advanced copy from her & Scholastic to review! Now, this IS a middle grade book so don’t come over here with adult thriller expectations! If you’re looking for a book for a child or middle school kid in your life, this is a PERFECT summer reading book.

Kaylani gives very much Nancy Drew, very much Hardy Boys with a little Boxcar Children. Besides battling her own life issues, we follow her in Martha’s Vineyard where she’s trying to solve a murder. Something that doesn’t happen in Oak Bluffs. I enjoyed this book very much. I pretty much knew who did it, but the twist was still twisty 🤣 My favorite part of this book was 100% Kaylani finding her voice with the Watsons, bc can you say ENTITLED?

I enjoyed this, although I will say that the pacing is completely insane. The girls' "investigation" starts at 60%. The mystery is resolved at 96%.

I think this is a feature of Jackson usually being a new adult/YA writer. She talked in the notes about being new to the world of middle grade storytelling, and I think that showed. There were a lot of unresolved questions, like how the heck the villain thought they were going to get away with things at the end, and how certain things worked logistically with the murder scheme.

That said, I think this was still a pretty decent middle grade mystery/thriller. I LOVE "The Weight of Blood," and while "Blood in the Water" pulls a lot more punches (presumably on account of the target age range) I thought it was fun that this one is a bit of a 50th anniversary love letter to JAWS. Her prose is compulsively readable, and I ripped right through this. As an adult reader, I have complaints and critiques that the average middle schooler likely won't raise, and given my deep and abiding love for similar books when I was younger, I can see this as a more modern Point Horror installment or the like. Also, unrelated to my rating, but still true: that cover is so good.

I wish someone had encouraged Jackson to pump the breaks a little on the pacing, and I don't necessarily think you'll love this if you loved Jackson's more mature works, but this will be a good time for younger readers looking for a fast-paced summer read with some real bite. ;)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I absolutely loved this book! The twist completely caught me off guard—in the best way. Kaylani was such a compelling character—determined, brave, and incredibly resilient. Her story pulled me in from the very beginning, and I ended up finishing the book in just two sittings because I couldn’t put it down.

The dynamic between Kaylani and Miles was especially well done—authentic and layered. I also deeply appreciated how the story explored the reality of having an incarcerated parent. Tiffany D. Jackson doesn’t shy away from tough topics, and I respect how she portrays the complexities young people face without sugarcoating them. That honesty makes her work so powerful and relatable, especially for readers who have experienced similar challenges.

As a 32-year-old, I still find myself drawn to Jackson’s YA novels, and this one is no exception. After Allegedly and Monday’s Not Coming, she remains one of my favorite authors. I would absolutely recommend this book to preteens, teens, and adults alike—it’s a story that sticks with you.

I have read Tiffany Jacksons young adult/new adult books and loved them. I don’t often read middle grade novels, however, because it was Ms. Jackson, i wanted to give it a try. I can definitely see the appeal of this book to younger readers. It has enough drama and intrigue to hold their attention. I would definitely recommend this for younger readers.

Jackson is an auto read author for me so I went in to this not knowing anything about it.
It is middle grade which I love! Of course Jackson can write in any genre and slay.

I could not put this down.

Sweet sweet Kaylani has been struggling in school with her father recently in prison for embezzlement, to give her a break she is sent with an old family friend to Martha’s Vineyard for the summer. Nothing is quite as it seems when she gets there and soon finds herself in the middle of an investigation.

Seriously. Couldn’t put it down.
I think kids will love it.

Thanks to netgalley and scholastic for an eARC.