Eleanor Jones is Not a Murderer (Amy Doak, Penguin)

Amy Doak’s debut, Eleanor Jones is Not a Murderer, is a young adult mystery novel for aspiring detectives. Eleanor thinks of herself as an unexceptional person with medium hair, skin, height and shape. She likes to keep to herself and do things on her own terms, which has served her well at nine different schools over the past five years. At her new school, however, she decides to be friendly to a random boy, Angus, who is struggling with his books. But when he turns up stabbed (but alive) the next day, the cops realise Eleanor was the last person to speak to him before the attack. Eleanor realises that the cops don’t have all the information, so she sets out to put together the pieces of a puzzle that only an exceptional young woman can complete. Eleanor Jones is Not a Murderer is a tense page-turner that invites readers to sort clues and question everything around them. It’s also a book for young readers who, though clever and determined, are nonetheless facing the everyday misgivings of adolescent life. Doak has written an ode to the strength of women, believing in yourself and finally finding your people. This is a book for young feminist readers who love a mystery solved by a strong heroine.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Danielle Bagnato is a book reviewer and marketing and communications professional. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

Category: Reviews