This story is told from the point of view of 12 year old Sophie, a champion swimmer, great musician, and an excellent detective. Together with her best friends Margaret, Becca, and Leigh Ann –they solve mysteries and have fun –they are known as The Red Blazer girls. Sophie’s life could not be busier –she’s babysitting a celebrities dog, balancing all her hobbies, receiving mysterious packages, dealing with a swim rival, and now Father Julian newest piece of detective work that needs solving. The girls take a stab at authenticating his painting and its more complicated than they think.
There is SO much going on in this book that its can be a bit of a challenge to keep track of it all. But all the side stories are so interesting you hardly notice when you have completely lost sight of the main plotline –and they all come together marvelously. I wouldn’t advise this book as a stand alone –I have a feeling the main characters were better introduced in the first two books, and I had a bit of a hard time differentiating the plethora of characters. Also I bet those first two books were really good –buy the series. Smart, responsible, yet very real 12 year olds –these girls can serve as a good example without being the slightest bit goody-goody.
EL -ADVISABLE Reviewer: Stephanie MLS graduate.
