Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

When 12-year-old Stephanie's eccentric Uncle Gordon dies, a mysterious person bundled up in an overcoat, scarf, sunglasses, frizzy wig and hat appears at both the funeral and the reading of the will. The man, we soon find out, is none other than Skulduggery Pleasant, a walking, talking skeleton dectective of the after-life. He tells Stephanie that he thinks her uncle was murdered, and that she may be the next victim. Stephanie starts to believe him when she is attacked while alone in the house her uncle left her on the first night after she inherits it. Seems that her Uncle Gordon had connections to an underworld society, one that has certain villainous members wanting to take over the world, and she now stands in their way. A particularly evil character named Serpine is trying to obtain a scepter that will give him ultimate control. Stephanie is swept into a world of magic, secrets, power, and intrigue as she and Skulduggery try to keep one step ahead of Serpine and assorted other nefarious folk. Deadly hand-to-hand combat, nasty villains, magical derring-do, and traitorous allies will keep readers turning the pages, but it is the dynamic pairing of Stephanie and Skulduggery that provides the real magic in this most enjoyable read. The young lass eagerly jumps into this new, dangerous, action-packed life, but she isn't sure that she has the guts or the power to pull it off. Skulduggery Pleasant lives up to his name, performing amazing feats with so much self-effacing droll humor that readers will wish they had a similar skeletal friend. While older readers may scoff at some of the incredible feats, youngsters will simply enjoy the story for the fun it provides. Fans of Eoin Colfer's "Artemis Fowl" series, or anyone who likes a dash of violence and danger served up with magical humor will enjoy this book. The publisher recommends it for grades 5-8. (I would rate it PG for a couple of mild swear words.) A copy is available from SMS library.

Free Fall by Kyle Mills

Imagine taking a ride on a rollercoaster. Your heart is pumping, the adrenaline is rushing, you can't wait to see what is around the next turn, and then... the thing slows to a stop, the maintenance guy walks up and announces that there's a problem with the mechanics and you have to get off at once before the cars finish their exciting run. The ride is over. That's sort of what it was like reading Free Fall by Kyle Mills.

Now I like a good political thriller as much as the next guy, so I had high hopes that this book was going to be an exciting read. And it was...until I had gotten about 85% of the way through it, then it just kinda fizzled out. The blurb on the cover by Tom Clancy pretty much sums it all up: "Kyle Mills is a writer to watch." (Translation: "He has the potential to be a great writer, but this book doesn't represent great writing." Lots of it is very decent writing, and some parts are even very good writing. There is plenty of cat-and-mouse chasing around the globe, across different terrain, and in remote and urban settings. The characters are ex-FBI agents, political candidates, foreign diplomats, and members of the world mountain climbing community. The setting is an imagined present day during the final stages of the Presidential elections. The plot revolves around a newly discovered FBI file that had been misplaced some time during the last fifty years. In it are explicit photos of current Presidential candidates in compromising positions taken when they were much younger and sure to discredit them with the voting public. The file falls into the wrong hands several times before coming back to haunt various Washington politicos. While the file is missing is when the writing is at its best. By the time the photos make their way back home, the plot convolutions are just a bit too contrived, the characters behave in ways that stretch credibility, and the ending is a letdown. I suppose the point that the author makes about everyone having some skeletons in their closet that need to stay hidden is a valid one, and that sometimes even alleged "bad people" can turn out to be good under different circumstances. However, lessons for real life don't always translate into good dramatic fiction. If you want to take me on a rollercoaster ride, Mr. Mills, at least have the decency to let me finish the journey with as much anticipation as I had when I started. I give it 2 out of 4 stars. This is a novel for adult readers.