This is the kind of YA that I want front and center. This is one of my favourites in the detective YA genre and I have read a lot of them. I haven't read and didn't plan to read the rest of this series, but I feel like I should.

The characters were all really strong. The only ones I didn't feel any connection to was Pip's friend group outside of Cara, but I think it would be hard to weave that in and keep the integrity of the story. Trying to build those characters in YA is when you get random truth or dare scenes thrown in, and I'm grateful I didn’t need to read that.

Ravi is a sweetheart and had a maturity that makes sense for someone that lost their big brother so early. I might just read the rest of the series because of him.

The core plot was excellent. So many moments of tension and moments where I read so fast to figure out what was going on. I think I clocked something about the ending really early but I was still surprised by another. I enjoy that it wasn't as simple as just solving Andie's murder, but required figuring out her life overall.

In the end, highly reccomend this book as a solid YA staple.

This is a specific style of book. If you did not enjoy strange houses or pictures at least to some extent, you will not enjoy this one. The reverse is true, if you enjoyed those you will enjoy this one.

Personally, I enjoyed Strange Pictures more because of that one felt like it had one story pulled through that was happening in the present. This one was piecing together a story that already happened. Both are good, but this one was a little more removed than I like in a novel.

The files, for the most part, all felt meaningful. There was only one that I think was out of place, and I wish had more going on. That might be asking too much to have EVERYTHING be connected. But then I think back to Strange Houses and the forward acknowledgment that these books, as all stories, only present what the author wants you to look at.

Anyways, I felt nothing towards any character. The story was interesting. I could not put it down. Overall, do reccomend.

I could not put this book down. I absolutely understand this is a specific type of storytelling that isn't for everyone. That being said, it's exactly for me.

I was genuinely so stressed at one moment I had to flip several pages ahead to make sure things turned out okay, haha.

All the chapters little mysteries were so cool and the little details of things like making things were the right size, or why a skilled artist would suddenly need a grid to draw, or what smudges where meant what in the process. Loved it all.

The bookends were also very good. Much like the first one, the last little bit added a depth to the story I enjoyed.

Much like Strange Houses, my one complaint is I felt very little towards any character. At least I felt some love for Iwata in this one, so definitely an improvement from the first. Although, I dont think this book //needs// better characters or character writing. I very much read it as more of being part of a conversation moreso than a fiction novel. It's like a true crime podcast more than a fiction book. (Which is funny because I hate true crime podcasts)