The Case of the Abandoned Boat

In The Case of the Abandoned Boat, join young detective Fayson, on her third visit to the lush and luxurious Caribbean island to re-connect with her richer cousins and friends, reunite the Di Island Crew detective agency they formed, and, hopefully, have fun tackling another intriguing island mystery.

Third time around though, Fayson finds her still-new friendships are feeling more fragile than ever, especially as her hard-working, loving but low-paid Mama is also accompanying her this time round. Feeling the tensions, Fayson feels wrong-footed by the fear of losing leadership of the Island Crew to richer, more confident Tia and is racked with guilt about her embarrassment at her Mama's very different dress style and manners from the more financially comfortable members of the family and community.

Meanwhile, there is the mystery of an anonymous email accusing the young detectives of being an island nuisance and the new, puzzling discovery of an abandoned boat and an unknown name, 'Sam' in one of the lifejackets. Is there a stranger on the island and does this stranger have a grudge against Di Island Crew themselves?

The Di Island Crew's mystery adventures form a thoroughly modern mystery series - a colourful , contemporary setting and a delightfully diverse cast of characters. The mysteries themselves are perfectly pitched in their level of peril for a younger fan of this detecting genre; they are cases of curiosity rather than those with sinister suspects.

Author Getten leaves enough clues, scenarios and character's back stories to lead her readers down the right path. It is the characters themselves that make this series. Navigating their differing social and economic backgrounds, family fall-outs and figuring out the power struggles that a friendship group entails creates the real heart and connection with the story. The cast is relatable, likeable and easy to empathise and become engaged with. Fayson, as the central character, is very well written as a young girl, with fluctuating levels of self confidence in herself and also experiencing a wealth of emotions from jealousy, anger, shame as well as displaying her natural kindness and moral conscience.

The Case of the Abandoned Boat is lively, fast paced, entertaining and has definitely created a new, fresh, bold gang of kids to follow on many more adventures, I hope.

192 pages / Reviewed by Jennifer Caddick, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 7+