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Down the Rabbit Hole: An Echo Falls Mystery
Summary
Welcome to Echo Falls. Home of a thousand secrets, where Ingrid Levin-Hill, super sleuth, never knows what will happen next.
Ingrid is in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or at least her shoes are. Getting them back means getting involved in a murder investigation rivaling those solved by her idol, Sherlock Holmes, and Ingrid has enough on her plate with club soccer, school, and the plum role of Alice in the Echo Falls production of Alice in Wonderland. But much as in Alice's adventures down the rabbit hole, things in Ingrid's small town keep getting curiouser and curiouser.
A HarperAudio production.
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Reviews
I hate this book its soooooo boring
Wonderful book of suspense and intrigue that even adults will love.
While the solution to the mystery is a little obvious, Ingrid is a great spunky sleuth, and the lack of mysteries for tweens and teens makes me hope we will see a lot more of her.
I figured the mystery out about halfway through, but it was still a good book. I enjoyed Ingrid as a main character, and Nigel the dog, and Grampy were also good characters. I will continue on with the series.
When thirteen-year-old Ingrid Levin-Hill realizes that she was the last person to see Cracked-Up Katie, the town eccentric, before Katie was murdered (and that she accidentally left her soccer cleats at the crime scene), she decides to solve the case before the chief of police arrests her instead of the real killer. Along the way, Ingrid gets the lead role in the town's production of Alice in Wonderland, and discovers that Katie-- and possibly the killer-- had a connection to the theater, too. Famed adult mystery writer Peter Abrahams applies his skills to the YA genre for the first time with the perfect mix of suspense and age-appropriate action. Ingrid is an extremely believable middle-schooler whose family, school, and orthodontic problems will resonate with readers. A fast pace and strong first-person narrative from feisty Ingrid make this a great choice for reluctant readers, who will keep reading to see if they can discover the killer before Ingrid. Highly recommended for ages 11-15.
Thirteen year-old Ingrid lives in the town of Echo Falls, Conn., plays soccer in a league, performers with the local theater company, forgets to wear her orthodontist appliance most nights and admires Sherlock Holmes most of all. An attempt at independence finds her lost in the bad part of town, where she's found by the local drunken crazy known as "Cracked-up Katie", who insists on helping Ingrid. As appalled as Ingrid is to have actually talked to the woman and been in her filthy house waiting for a cab, she feels even worse to see in the paper the next morning that Katie was murdered some time after Ingrid left her house, making Ingrid, and the killer, the last people to see Katie alive. And even worse, Ingrid may have some evidence of her visit behind, which might make her a murder suspect, and if the police notice it, will also get her in trouble with her mom. Adding to her problem is that the police chief's son has a crush on Ingrid, so she finds herself seeing more and more of the chief, and she having creative differences in her part as Alice in the theater's production of "Alice in Wonderland".At just over 400 pages, there's a lot going on here, especially for a YA, but this was so well-done that I'd breeze through 50 pages without noticing. I'll continue with the Echo Falls Mysteries (this is the first) because, even though the killer was easy to spot, the story is fun and Ingrid's an interesting girl.
Good little mystery, though you figure it out far before the main character does. The pleasure lies in the rooting on Ingrid, a 13-year old who is just becoming aware of life - she's becoming aware of boys and why she might want a boyfriend; she's becoming aware of the evil that exists in the world; she's becoming aware of people outside of her own self. However, she is woefully ignorant to things like the problems in her parents' marriage (there is the implication of an affair); the problems between her dad and grandpa - her grandpa has lots of land her dad's boss wants, and her dad desperately wants to give it to his boss so he can make enough money to continue to afford the rather upscale life they live. Her brother is also becoming a football star - though there is an implication that he is taking steroids to achieve this status, and possibly having his dad give them to him. The fun is watching Ingrid become aware and explore her intelligence and blossom, I imagine much like you enjoy watching your kid grow up and understand.
"Down the Rabbit Hole", by Peter Abrahams, is about a girl named Ingrid who finds herself in the middle of a murder. Being the main suspect, she decides to solve the case herself, but later realizes that she may be risking her own life.Ingrid,the main character of the book, posseses many traits that helps her solve the mystery. She is quite smart but tends to make foolish decisions that usually get herself into trouble for example, when she sneaked out in the middle of the night. But, the most important character trait Ingrid posseses that really enabled her to solve the mystery is her dauntlessness. Most of the time, it is also what get's her into deep trouble but, combining her cleverness and courage, Ingrid always manages to overcome the obstacles."Down the Rabbit Hole" contained many suspenseful parts but, the part that was the most suspenseful would probably be towards the end, when Ingrid was fighting with the enemie. Will Ingrid die? Will the enemie die? Will the police arrive on time? These were just some of the questions going through my head when I was reading. In most books, when there is a scene similar to this one, you almost always know that the hero will win. But, in this book, the author wrote it in such a way that the reader would have no idea what was going to happen!"Down the Rabbit Hole" is an excellent mystery book that I would recommend to everyone even if you arn't a fan of mystery books!
Very well done as a mystery. Also does a good job of portraying a middle school child's life - how she inetracts with her parents and her brother (who may or may not be on steroids). Does a *wonderful* job of portraying a crush and a developing relationship with a boy (Ingrid and Joey). Particualrly liked how there is other stuff going on in Ingrid's life that we don't really get a resolution to (is her brother actually on steroids? where was her father disappearing off to? what is the deal with the Ferrands and their money? Why do her parents want her grandfather to sell his land?) That could have been annoying and red herring-ish, but instead it just reads true to a teenage girls' life - adults have their own business going onm, and you don't always know what it is.
An avid reader of Sherlock Holmes, Ingrid Levin-Hill, 13, is also a fleet-footed soccer player with a knack for stage acting–skills that come in handy when she finds herself caught in a police investigation following the murder of an eccentric woman. The deceased was associated with the Prescott Players, a local theater troupe in which Ingrid lands the title role in a production of Alice in Wonderland. Plot scenes incorporate play rehearsals, family life, middle school, and soccer games along with plenty of intriguing twists and mounting tension. Taking courage from her crusty grandfather, who refuses to sell his farm to an affluent developer, Ingrid acts with aplomb as she secretly undertakes a series of suspenseful adventures to track down the killer. She also maintains the cool-headedness to enjoy the friendship of the police chief's son, Joey Strade, while keeping the officers who'd like to question her at bay. Ingrid's poise, however, is tempered by her self-doubt and troubled dreams, making her a believable human. She and the other main characters are all solidly drawn, including the newest member of her family, a droopy-eyed dog named Nigel. An engaging book that manages to keep the pace moving forward without feeling rushed.
This was entertaining. I did like the main character Ingrid, but I felt like the mystery was pretty weak, in terms of who did it. I kept thinking it was so obvious there must be a twist coming but there wasn't. Even considering this is YA, I thought the author made it way too easy. Compared to a lot of YA coming out this is some what mediocre, but it certainly wasn't bad.
Ingrid is not afraid to break a few rules to get to the truth. She's a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes, snagged the lead role in Alice in Wonderland, busy with soccer, swamped with schoolwork, and getting involved with her first boyfriend. When she ends up at the wrong place at the wrong time and ends up at a murder scene, Ingrid realizes she might have to solve the case on her own. Although I caught on before the case was solved, it was a fun ride! There are lots of kernels here for developments in future books in the series. I'm looking forward to visiting Echo Falls again!
An interesting mystery, but there was something that just bugged me about it. The fact that she was a chronic liar and deliberately sidetracked a police investigation is one of the examples that grated on my nerves. In the end, I did not get the feeling that she truly understood how bad her choices were. I am not into soccer and at first, the immense about dialogue about this favorite game was a bit boring for me.It was a quick read, and I did enjoy it though.
I love the title "Down The Rabbit Hole" by Peter Abrahams. It proved the perfect title because throughout the mystery students and some of the people in the town are practicing a play. The play is "Alice in Wonderland." Ingrid is one of the stars in the play along with Chloe, a girl who just makes Ingrid's stomach turn with nausea. Thank goodness Ingrid can play soccer to get her mind away from all the problems that seem to shoot out of nowhere after she meets up with Cracked-Up Katie. Also, Ingrid's love for Sherlock Holmes comes in handy too.It's not long before murder happens in Echo Falls. I loved the way the mystery tied in with old black and white movies. Barbara Stanwyck's name comes up more than once during the course of the story. I wanted to head out to Blockbuster and get some of the old films I hadn't seen or rewatch others again. I also loved learning more about this person named Cracked-Up Katie. Learning about her proved to me every person has a story to tell. I think some person once said we're walking novels, all of us.Ingrid is in the eighth grade. Boy, she's curious and not afraid to try and figure out what's going on around her. There is a huge estate named Prescott Hall. This place just added to the atmosphere. As Ingrid winds her way throughout town, going in empty houses, finding a dog to keep named Nigel, a huge cat, and meeting odd people the solution begins to unwind like old tapes thrown away in a bag. Near the end the story creeped me out. Of course, I'm easy to get spooked. By the way, Stephen King recommends "Down The Rabbit Hole" by Peter Abrahams. I loved this YA mystery too. I look forward to going back to Echo Falls or somewhere else with Peter Abrahams again in another book.
From the moment Ingrid’s first sentence jumps off the page, and a lament about her braces begins, Abrahams is sitting squarely inside the reader’s mind, comfortably chatting with them. It is incredible that an adult can write so realistically from the point of view of a teenager, but Abrahams hasn’t missed anything. Comments like “When am I ever going to need algebra in later life?” and “My parents have no good reason for giving my brother a mobile and not me,” had me smiling moronically and nodding in agreement. What’s more, Ingrid has a perfectly written, self-confident manner that I can associate with teenage girls I know personally. Without a doubt, this is by far the most realistic narration through a child that I have ever read.Abrahams’ skill doesn’t end there, though. If an English teacher wants an example of masterful narrative writing, Down the Rabbit Hole is it. Abrahams has pulled every trick in the book, being stunningly creative and clever, and creating a quick-paced piece of writing that gets right to the point. One final thing to be said for Abrahams’ writing is that he knows exactly when to enter and leave a scene. While the lives of this book’s characters go on, the snapshots readers get of them are timed to begin and end perfectly for maximum impact, suspense and pace.As a crime novel, Down the Rabbit Hole is intriguing and unpredictable, a story that will have readers guessing until the end. Clues to the ‘answer’ have been cleverly hidden, just shallow enough for each reader to find a few, but not all of them. Abrahams introduces several plotlines, and then uses the murder of Crazy Katie to bring them altogether. The really good thing about this novel is that readers have a choice – they can be Sherlock Holmes and try to stay two steps of Ingrid at all times, (not an easy feat with all the plot twists!) or they can sit back and let Ingrid lead them along. Either way, the story unfolds brilliantly.I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes to read any sort of book; it has something for everybody. Suspense, romance, intrigue, action, adventure and plenty of laughs – Down the Rabbit Hole is the book that has everything!
The plot is good, yet it is told very slowly at times.
I loved this book. One time I left at home while I was at school and I was really sad. LOL. I personally thought it was like my fave show, Pushing Daisies. I think everyone should read this!!
Ingrid Levin-Hill gets lost on her way to soccer practice and Cracked-up Katie, and old recluse helps her call a taxi. The next day, Katie is murdered and Ingrid realizes she left her soccer shoes at Katie's house. When she goes to retrieve her soccer shoes, she is interrupted by the killer. As Ingrid gets more and more involved in the investigation, her life is put in danger. She must solve the murder before the murderer finds her.This was a great mystery. It gave you enough clues to figure out the solution, but kept you guessing until the end. Ingrid kept getting out of close situations that kept you reading. I'm looking forward to reading the next book Behind the Curtain.Girl as the main character. Written in third person. All of the characters were well developed. Mother, Father, Ty (brother), Grampy, Joey (boyfriend), Chief Strade (police), Nigel (dog), Mia (friend). Language was written like teenagers really talk. Several references to Sherlock Holmes and Watson. Could be tied to other Sherlock Holmes stories.
Ingrid has a leading role as Alice in the upcoming town play, "Alice in Wonderland." Just like Alice, Ingrid finds herself in a curious situation as she is befriended by the town's strange resident, Cracked-Up Katie, who later is found murdered and Ingrid could possibly be implicated. Suspense, adventure, and Sherlock Holmes-like clues are part of the story and keep a fast-pace and interest for the reader. Great read for students who like crime-solving stories.
Surprisingly good. Thirteen-year-old Ingrid is a typical teenager -- one annoying older brother; two slightly disconnected parents who nevertheless, love her; and a few good friends. She's not exactly a whiz in school, but she thinks on her feet; a handy skill for an aspiring actress and soccer player. When an impulsive decision and forgotten soccer shoes drops her smack into a murder investigation, Ingrid calls on her love of Sherlock Holmes in an attempt to investigate her way out of trouble. Abrahams created a believable teen and stuck her in the middle of a great story -- now to see if he can sustain the quality of the first installment. I'll definitely be checking to see what Ingrid gets herself into next. Not to mention, finding out how Grampy's tadpole campaign goes!
An excellent addition to our middle school mysteries collection! The 13-year-old protagonist, combined with literary allusions will make the echo falls mysteries favorites of middle school readers!This excellent mystery has all the intricacies of one of Abraham's adult mysteries! Ingrid Levin-Hill, 13, is a fan of Sherlock Holmes and uses what she learned from Holmes, plus her own courage and daring to solve a murder.
This is one of the best young adult books that I've read in a long time. Very good characters and a very good story.
I expected more overt "Alice" overtones, given the title, but the reference is simply to the play the main character, Ingrid, stars in, not to any Wonderland hijinks. Nevertheless, this was a fun YA mystery with believable characters and situations. I solved the mystery way before Ingrid, but then, I'm twice her age so I ought to be able to pick up on the clues more quickly than she! I liked her a lot - genuinely funny, with very real dilemmas - and I'm looking forward to her next mystery.