At The Yellow Book Road in San Diego, owner Ann Diener is eager to introduce teens to All Fall Down, the launch title of Ally Carter’s Embassy Row series, due from Scholastic Press in January.
I love mysteries, so I thought I'd give one that was on my to-read shelf, Ally Carter's All Fall Down, a try. Departing from her realistic mysteries, the author creates the country of Adria, where foreign embassies are located together in a neighborhood setting. This unknown land conjures up a perfect setting for murder, intrigue, espionage, and suspense—and brings in an element of fantasy as well.At 13, Grace Blakely saw her mother die in a fire, and three years later, circumstances have brought her back to her grandfather, who is the U.S. Ambassador to Adria. Although those around her think she is unstable, the teen has three coherent thoughts in her head: she is not crazy, her mother was murdered, and someday she will take revenge.
The relationships in this book are seen from Grace’s point of view, which results in many wrong perceptions and misunderstandings. Who are the good guys? Who are the bad guys? It can be tricky to discern what is reality and what is in Grace’s disturbed mind, but that adds to the thriller aspect of the story. This is where the author seems to be on top of her game, and I love the roller coaster ride!
With its seaside setting, cliffs, and underground tunnels, Adria provides a perfect backdrop for Grace’s pursuit of her mother’s killer. Suspense builds chapter by chapter, and I found myself quickly devouring the novel. There is an abrupt revelation for Grace at the end, leaving so much more for her to learn (and us to read) in the next book. I can’t wait for it to come out to unravel what may be my misconnections. Anyone who loves the subtle revelations and twists in E Lockhart’s We Were Liars will not be able to put this novel down.
Embassy Road: All Fall Down by Ally Carter. Scholastic Press, $17.99 Jan. ISBN 978-0-545-65474-6
