Death By Bikini by Linda Gerber

Title: Death By Bikini
Author: Linda Gerber
Publisher: Penguin
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: May 2008
Pages: 240

Rating: A-
Plot - 20/20
Characters - 16/20
Writing - 17/20
Originality - 19/20
Entertainment - 10/10
Recommendation - 9/10
Total: 91/100

Summary:
Aphra Behn Connolly has the type of life most teenage girls envy. She lives on a remote tropical island and spends most of her time eavesdropping on the rich and famous. The problem is that her family's resort allows few opportunities for her to make friends-much less to meet cute boys. So when a smoldering Seth Mulo arrives with his parents, she's immediately drawn to him. Sure, he's a little bit guarded, and sure his parents are rather cold, and okay he won't say a word about his past, but their chemistry is undeniable. Then a famous rock star's girlfriend turns up dead on the beach-strangled by her own bikini top-and alarm bells sound. Is it too great a coincidence that Seth's family turned up just one day before a murder? As the plot thickens, Aphra finds that danger lurks behind even the most unexpected of faces. . . .

Review:
What more could you ask for when you get mystery, action, adventure, and romance all in one?

I loved this novel. I really did. It started off divinely and kept you on the edge of your seat the entire time. The start of the novel was calm, we learned more about Aphra's (Gosh, I love that name! Weird, I know.) surroundings and we got to know Aphra herself and a few of the supporting characters. I was just as curiously as Aphra and I loved her instinct to find out the truth, I wouldn't of done that, but it was really neat.

It started off curiously, nothing big, but the more Aphra dug, the more and more she found out and I could barely contain myself to flip to the last chapter and find out the truth to everything. But I'm glad I held out. The adventurous and action side of this novel was a little unrealistic, but I suppose it could happen, under strange circumstances, like Aphra's. The novel, the characters, and most importantly, the mystery or plot kept me on the tip and I just went through this novel in a short matter of time to figure out the truth.

Gerber's writing was good. Not fantastic and meaningful, but I'm glad, because that type of writing wouldn't of fit for this type of novel. So I'm glad Gerber's writing was more action and mystery and a bit cryptic then having Aphra's emotions and feelings out there. It's what fit the novel and I highly enjoyed it.

So, this probably sounds fan-girly, and I guess it is. I tried my best to give a review, but if it appears...not like a review, well, I tried. But, like I say, just go get it if you haven't. (Because I know there were like a ton of reviews for this book last summer and I'm just now getting on the wagon.) But still.

*Much thanks to Carol for letting me read her copy! Thanks!


P.S. Happy Valentines Day!