Alice Ogilvie is one of the “Mains,” the wealthy and popular teens at Castle Cove High School. She’s fallen out of favor, however, since she pulled a disappearing trick after her boyfriend broke up with her. No one knew where she was for five days.

Since she was on “house arrest” for a while after wasting police resources in a search, Alice fell behind on school work. Iris Adams, one of the “Zoners,” is assigned to be her tutor, for a substantial (and much-needed) fee.

Soon after they start tutoring sessions, another of the Mains goes missing. Police assume Brooke Donovan, Alice’s former friend, is doing a copycat. But then her body is found. And Alice’s former boyfriend, Steve, who started dating Brooke after their breakup, is accused of murder.

Sure, Alice was mad at Steve and Brooke, but she wants justice. And she knows Steve didn’t do it. So she and Iris decide to investigate — since the Castle Cove police are doing squat.

Alice loves Agatha Christie books and feels all the time she’s spent reading has given her some expertise when it comes to murder. She and Iris do make good progress finding some clues about other potential suspects. They face trouble, however, and even danger. This real-life murder is leading to these teens discovering a bunch of secrets the adults in the town would rather keep hidden.

The Agathas is a fun young adult mystery book. As someone who devoured my share of Agatha Christie mysteries as a young teen, I can say it got my attention! I got a kick out of at least one “Easter egg,” I guess you could call it, referring to Christie’s writing. (Can’t share it here — don’t want to spoil it; but if you know, you know.) The mystery is good, but, as in many of these types of books, more entertaining are the setting, the characters, and all the references to Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple books. I’ll enjoy the second in the series, too, I’m sure.

Rated: Moderate. Profanity includes 5 uses of strong language, around 25 instances of Moderate Profanity, about 50 uses of mild language, and about 75 instances of the name of Deity in vain. Sexual content includes a number of references to characters having sex but few details. Violence includes one murder and another attempted one, as well as several mentions of domestic violence. Book includes teen drinking and drug use, and one teen given a drug without their knowledge.

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