Blood in the Low Country (The Atkins Family Series)

Kaylani is still reeling over her father’s incarceration, and she still believes he is innocent. When the Watsons, family friends of her father who gave him his first break, invite her to Martha’s Vineyard for the summer, she doesn’t want to go, but her father encourages her to take the break and get away. Though she can’t remember London, they are the same age and share a room, but whoa, the snootiness!

Kaylani and London end up at a late night party after curfew with Cassie, London’s older sister. When things get heated between Chadwick, family friend and Cassie’s ex, and Jaden, a local boy, the party breaks up, and Cassie takes Chadwick home. The next morning, Chadwick is missing, and Kaylani, who is working on her lawyer skills to help her father, thinks she might be able to help Cassie, but that girl is looking guiltier every day.

This middle grade debut by bestselling author Tiffany Jackson is everything readers would expect. With fast-paced writing, strong characters, and a conclusion that wraps up mysteries readers weren’t even contemplating, this is hopefully just the first of many middle grade books by Jackson. Fantastic.