Out of Tune: A Riley Donovan mystery

by Norah McClintock

Overview

Everyone in town thinks they know who killed their musical prodigy, but Riley Donovan will have the final say.

In Riley Donovan's last whodunit mystery, Alicia, a talented high school violinist, is found bludgeoned to death in a field on the outskirts of town. The small town's suspicion immediately falls on Carrie, the teen's musical rival. But Riley isn't convinced of Carrie's guilt, and even though her police-officer aunt tells her to stay out of it, Riley goes searching for the truth. Did Carrie really kill Alicia in a fit of jealous rage, or is there another explanation for Alicia's death?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781459814677
Publisher:	Orca Book Publishers
Publication date:	10/24/2017
Series:	Riley Donovan , #3
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
Lexile:	HL650L (what's this?)
File size:	1 MB
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Norah McClintock won the Crime Writers of Canada's Arthur Ellis Award for crime fiction for young people five times. She wrote more than sixty YA novels, including contributions to Seven (the series), the Seven Sequels and the Secrets series.

Editorial Reviews

"As in all good mysteries, it's the human stories with their emotional, needy backgrounds that create death and revenge. In this terrific mystery, the reader enjoys not only snappy up-to-date dialogue but also Riley's thoughtful inner talk that demonstrates both her deep insight and her relationship with her adoptive aunt—perfectly on the money for the mid-teen character…McClintock cleverly portrays teens from fourteen through eighteen, introducing themes of spousal abuse, musical giftedness, and the dangers of exhausting police work. Middle school readers will devour this exciting, complex mystery."

Resource Links

"Out of Tune is another very well-paced novel in the 'Riley Donovan Mystery' series, and Riley is a thoroughly likeable, engaging young protagonist…the plot quickly takes off and doesn't let up. Out of Tune is highly recommended for young teen readers who enjoy strong female characters and well-written mysteries."

CM Magazine

"[McClintock] struck gold again with this latest mystery in the Riley Donovan series. The plot is complex and tightly woven, the reveal is both surprising and satisfying, the violence is prominent but tastefully presented, and Riley continues to be a strong and relatable protagonist with good moral fiber."

Booklist

"McClintock creates the perfect end to the Riley Donovan Mystery series…Filled with teen drama and rumours, the novel becomes more than a straightforward whodunit…An enthralling read for all. "

Canadian Children's Booknews

"[McClintock] struck gold again with this latest mystery in the Riley Donovan series. The plot is complex and tightly woven, the reveal is both surprising and satisfying, the violence is prominent but tastefully presented, and Riley continues to be a strong and relatable protagonist with good moral fiber."

Booklist

09/01/2017
Gr 7 Up—Alicia, a popular student and talented violinist in a small town in Canada goes missing—after a short search, her body is found bludgeoned in a field. The police suspect Carrie, a classmate and fellow musician, who had spewed public vitriol after losing out to Alicia for a spot in a prestigious national orchestra. When Carrie, who maintains her innocence, appeals to teen sleuth Riley Donovon for help in clearing her name, Riley starts her own investigation, digging up some secrets as she goes. This is the third book in the revamped "Riley Donovan" series, and while it's not crucial to the central mystery to read the others first, readers might have unanswered questions about Riley's relationship with her aunt, her friends, and this town if they skip the first two. The author has written hi-lo for teens in the past, and while this title isn't in that category, the straightforward language, evenly plotted mystery, well-placed red herrings, and suspenseful situations makes this a solid choice for teens reading at a variety of levels. VERDICT What it lacks in complexity it makes up for in readability. A solid mystery.—Beth McIntyre, Madison Public Library, WI

School Library Journal

2017-08-02
A musical prodigy, Alicia, goes missing and turns up murdered in this latest Riley Donovan mystery from prolific McClintock. Red herrings are distributed carefully, as are possible suspects, as Riley uses her guardian aunt's position in the local police force as well as gossip, mostly from annoyingly whiny friend Ashleigh, to investigate. After previous outings, Riley is an experienced solver of mysteries and is approached to clear an acquaintance who is suspected of having committed the crime. Moorebridge is a small Canadian town with a largely white population where most everybody has heard of one another even if they don't know them personally. The threads of the mystery eventually lead Riley to discover the perpetrator and to find a solution that, of course, puts her in danger. The key to the plot (both the novel's and the crime) is the tremendous pressure and competition endemic to the world of gifted musicians. And this small community has three! The swift pace and Riley's straightforward narration make this accessible, and low but not absent levels of gore and violence keep pages turning. A solid whodunit. (Mystery. 11-15)

Kirkus Reviews