WICKED LITTLE SECRETS

This complicated sequel to Prep School Confidential (2013) continues this series set in yet another hyperexclusive prep school as Anne tries to solve some mysteries left over from the opening installment only to encounter more intrigue.

Intrepid 17-year-old sleuth Anne just can’t let go of an unsolved mystery she thinks may be related to the murder of her roommate, which occurred in the first book. Thirty years ago, scholarship student Matthew Weaver disappeared. His body was never found, and the investigation went nowhere. Anne keeps finding clues, however, that point to murder by at least one of the school’s illustrious, wealthy alumni, possibly including her boyfriend’s father. As Anne delves deeper, she begins to uncover unpleasant information that may put her in danger. Along the way, old and new relationships evolve, making the romance elements of the novel a bit different from the genre norm. Taylor stuffs the story with characters that mostly come across as believable, and she includes enough romance to satisfy readers looking for it while keeping the mystery complex enough to challenge. Though familiarity with the first book is assumed, she provides enough background to allow new readers to follow the action, and a nifty surprise will whet their appetites for the third book.

A solid investigative mystery.