Sudden Moves by Kelli Sue Landon (A Young Adult Mystery)

Short story writer and first-rate storyteller Kelli Sue Landon has chosen to give us a young adult mystery as her debut novel. Sudden Moves presents us with a tightly woven plot and a cast of believable characters who are more than puzzled by the sudden disappearance of their friend and classmate, Katie.

Michelle, Brad and Tami have just returned to Giles High after Spring Break but Katie hasn’t returned from her Florida vacation. They’re told she has moved. At first they’re annoyed that she didn’t even bother to say good-bye; then Michelle realizes Katie didn’t return the book she loaned her--the one she wasn’t supposed to lend out. Her mother’s going to kill her! Michelle’s mother is worse than demanding and overbearing and now Tami, Michelle’s best friend, just doesn’t seem to care about the book or Katie. Well, alright she’ll just start her own investigation…she’s got to get the book back.

Michelle’s unsure of how to begin so tries confiding in Tami again. Tami agrees to help by posing as a prospective renter for Katie’s house. They meet Sean the landlord and when Brad, who thought he and Katie had something special, gets involved in the fact-finding mission they realize Katie could be in trouble but how can they help?

Kelli Sue Landon’s published short stories include The Diary, Pizza Night, and Campfire Dreams. She is employed by the United States Postal Service and lives in Peoria, Illinois with her husband, spontaneously writing (“My characters run the show in my stories”) and craving Dynamint candies (unfortunately, you can‘t find them anymore). Visit Kelli Sue at The Plot Thickens or OutskitsPress

Reviewed by Lynnette Phillips, Avid Book Reviews