PAS DE DEATH by Amanda Brice: 4 stars

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Amanda Brice's latest Dani Spevak mystery was released recently, and it is adorable!

That might seem like a strange way to describe a murder mystery, but you'll understand it in a minute. PAS DE DEATH is part of a series, but it works as a standalone because all previous relevant events are referenced in a way that keeps the reader in the loop. It is YA (young adult) and done in the first person humorous/light style a la Ally Carter (Gallagher Girls). In fact, there's even a funny part in the book when Dani says it's not like she's a Gallagher Girl. Yay for bookish pop culture references! Pop culture references abound in this book, from "binders full of women" to actresses I've never heard of and wondered if they were made up. The love interest (an 18-year-old ex-boyfriend for our 15-year-old protagonist) is basically Robert Pattinson but more charming. He's even an actor playing a certain broody vampire in the Midnight movies based on books by... Bethany Beyer. Yeah.

So that's the kind of cuteness you're buying when you buy PAS DE DEATH. Since I am a huge Ally Carter fan, I also appreciated the light, humorous tone of Amanda Brice. I'd definitely read the others in her series, and not just because there's a ballerina inside me dying to get out (although yes, that is part of it). Girls who liked I'D TELL YOU I LOVE YOU BUT THEN I'D HAVE TO KILL YOU, will also enjoy PAS DE DEATH.

A little explanation of the title from the blurb:

pas de deux: (NOUN: pl. pas de deux)

1. A dance for two, especially a dance in ballet consisting of an entrée and adagio, a variation for each dancer, and a coda.

2. A close relationship between two people or things, as during an activity.

pas de death (NOUN: yeah ... totally made up)

1. A dance of death.

2. When Dani Spevak stumbles over a dead body and gets into another crazy situation.

Aspiring ballerina Dani Spevak is back home for the summer, recovering from an injury. What was supposed to be a simple day trip into New York City to visit her friends at the Manhattan Ballet Conservatory turns deadly when Dani discovers that the world of professional ballet can be cutthroat — literally.

I really love the title. And the blurb. Clearly, this is a clever author.

Now to the stars... I would put this somewhere between three and four stars (probably round up to 4), which is why this isn't featured on Afterglow. While I enjoyed it and would read more from the author, I felt it got a little too thin at parts, especially the ending, which happened way too fast. I'd have liked a little more showing vs. telling in that part, especially the parting scene between the boy and girl.

I loved the characters, particularly the eccentric grandmother. Dani was fun to spend time with, and I think she acted the way you expect a fifteen-year-old to act, even though she is angry with herself for being TSTL (too stupid to live) at times, wandering into situations she could have avoided with a little forethought. I think that's just life at that age. You sort of know better, but you have to test the limits anyway. You have to fight for your independence even if it puts you in danger. So the characters felt real, Robert Pattinson look-a-like notwithstanding. :)

The mystery was pretty good. I had it figured out way before Dani, but that could be because I'm twice her age. *shrugs* I think teenagers who like light, humorous books would eat this one up. I mean, come on! It's got ballerinas!

Bottom line: It's a great introduction to the mystery genre for younger readers (Read: clean, not overly gory or sexual).

My next NetGalley read is ROTTEN by Michael Northrop, re-releasing in April 2013 from Scholastic.

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POLL Analysis: Your Favorite Genres to Read

What genre were the last three novels you read?

Time to dissect last week's poll! I know you're excited. Okay, not really. Nobody likes dissecting polls, but this one was at least helpful.

This poll told me what my lovely blog visitors (you!) are reading, which helps me to understand what you might like me to blog about here. Right? I hope so!

So, let's put these in order here:

1. YA/Teen

2. Mystery

3. Science Fiction

4. Tie between Fantasy and Women's Lit

5. Tie between Romance and Paranormal

6. Middle Grade/Children's

7. Horror

So, realizing that these all cross over and may have been (at times) describing the same book, it's still pretty clear that we're loving on the MYSTERIES and YOUNG ADULT stuff. This was a little bit of a surprise to me because I don't know many people who talk about the latest mystery they read.

But then I thought about it and realized that--Hey! Most books do have an element of mystery in them. In fact, all books have a mystery in the sense that the reader has to keep reading to find out what happens to the characters.

Next down on the list was science fiction, which made me smile. I love science fiction--except for that stuff which is totally plausible. I like my sci-fi to hit the weird-o-meter pretty high. :-)

Regardless of my personal tastes, I'm going to make a greater effort to read and review more mysteries and sci-fi books of the YA variety... for YOU. I hope you appreciate my sacrifice. *listens blissfully to the crickets, pretends not to notice the empty room*

Perhaps you have some suggestions for me? Maybe you happen to know of a book which combines mystery, sci-fi, AND young adult themes? Let's talk. I am dying for a good YA sci-fi cozy mystery. Well, not dying. That would be really sad.

Post your favorite mystery/scifi/YA books in the comments....now. 1,2,3,Go! Or take your time. That's fine, too.