Betrayal By the Book

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I just finished reading “The Swallowtail Legacy #2, Betrayal By the Book” by Michael D. Beil, and I was blown away by this middle-grade mystery. The cover is stunning, with beautiful birds and books. The story is set on Swallowtail Island, a charming and quirky place that is hosting a writer's conference.

The protagonist, Lark, is a twelve-year-old girl who loves books and mysteries. She gets the opportunity to be a “page” for her favorite author, Ann E. Keyhart. But she soon realizes that Keyhart is not the kind and inspiring person she imagined. In fact, she's a horrible boss and a ruthless plagiarist. And when her personal assistant is found dead, Lark suspects foul play.

Lark decides to investigate the murder, along with the disappearance of the assistants' novel from her laptop. She also discovers a clue that connects her mom's book to Swallowtail Island's secrets. Lark is a brave and clever heroine, and I enjoyed following her adventures. The other characters are also fun and realistic, especially Lark's friends and family.

The mystery is not very complex, or surprising, but it's still entertaining and suspenseful. The book has a great pace, except for some slower parts in the middle. The best part is the setting, which is full of literary references and creative details. I loved how the book celebrates the joy of reading and writing.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries and books. It's a standalone story, so you don't need to read the first one to enjoy it. I'm looking forward to reading more from Michael D. Beil!

ARC Via NetGalley